Guringai Walk
Download & Print Map and Notes45 mins
1.2 km Circuit
80 m
Moderate track
(0km) St Johns Lookout car park → Southern end of Guringai walk
80 m
1 mins
2m
-1m
Easy track
From the car park, this walk heads across the clearing away from the main picnic area (keeping the road up the hill to the right). The walk soon comes to an intersection and a ‘Guringai walk’ sign.
(0.08km) Southern end of Guringai walk → Post 8
420 m
10 mins
18m
-47m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Guringai Walk’ sign down the gentle hill. The walk passes some grass trees and angophoras as is zigzags down the hill. Soon after the track crosses a small timber bridge, the walk follows the base of the cliff until coming to the number ‘8’ post marking a large Blackbutt tree.
Blackbutt
This Blackbutt tree is found at the base of the cliff next to post 8 on Guringai walk. The Eucalyptus pilularis is the scientific name for this tree that can grow as high as 70m. The tree has a brown fibrous bark on the lower half then a smooth grey bark at the top. The trees name ‘pilularis’ is Latin for small pill, referring to the tree’s fruit
(0.51km) Post 8 → Int of Toomey and Guringai Walks
360 m
10 mins
30m
-22m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From post ‘8’, this walk heads down along the track, keeping the valley to the right. The track follows the base of the cliff and, soon after climbing over a rise and coming very close to the cliff, the walk passes a section with broken glass (this is directly below St Johns Lookout). The walk continues along the base of the cliff then up a series of stairs. Just after flattening out, the track comes to a signposted intersection, with a sign pointing back along ‘Guringai Walk’.
(0.87km) Int of Toomey and Guringai Walks → Upper Int of Toomey walk and Katandra Horse track
70 m
2 mins
18m
-4m
Easy track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Lookout’ sign up the stairs and turns left. The track soon bends sharply right and then leads past some timber posts, coming to an intersection with the Katandra Horse track.
(0.94km) Upper Int of Toomey walk and Katandra Horse track → Toilet block
170 m
3 mins
9m
-3m
Easy track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill and through the gap in the fence to a ‘Toomey walk’ sign, pointing back down the hill. At this sign, the walk turns left and heads through the picnic area, passed another sign (again pointing back to ‘Toomey walk’) and comes to a footpath in front of a toilet block.
(1.1km) Toilet block → St Johns Lookout
40 m
1 mins
0m
-12m
Very easy
Veer left: From the toilet block, this walk follows the footpath past the information sign to the fenced and signposted ‘St Johns Lookout’ At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left .
St Johns Lookout
This fenced lookout is found at the top of Katandra Reserve, near the toilets. The lookout was upgraded by Gosford Council in September 2009 and now provides a safer platform and easier access. From the lookout, there are extensive views south-east over Matcham, Erina Heights and Terrigal, out to the ocean. The Guringai Walk passes below the lookout – please take extra care to not drop anything from the platform.
(1.1km) Toilet block → St Johns Lookout car park
130 m
2 mins
3m
-3m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the toilet block, this walk heads across the picnic area, passing the BBQ and keeping the lookout to the left. The walk soon comes to a information sign and car park (signposted as Katandra on Toomeys Rd).
Maps for the Guringai Walk walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Gosford | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91312S GOSFORD | NSW-91312S |
Gosford | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9131 GOSFORD | 9131 |
Cross sectional view of the Guringai Walk bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Guringai Walk
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 1.2 km | ||
Time | 45 mins | ||
. | |||
Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Short steep hills (3/6) |
Quality of track | Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6) | ||
Signs | Clearly signposted (1/6) | ||
Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
790m of this walk has short steep hills and another 240m has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (210m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
This whole walk, 1.2km follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
This whole walk, 1.2km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 1.2km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 1.2km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 1.2km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Guringai Walk walk starts and ends at the St Johns Lookout car park (gps: -33.406508, 151.39009)Your main transport option to St Johns Lookout car park is by;
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Hunter weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/gw
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
Comments