Ironbark Loop
Download & Print Map and Notes
30 mins
643 m Circuit
29 m
Moderate track
Rumbalara Reserve
Rumbalara Reserve lies just to the east of the Gosford CBD and is part of Gosford’s Coastal Open Space System (COSS). There is an extensive set of well marked walking tracks within the reserve. Yaruga Picnic Area has free electric BBQs while both Yaruga and Nurrunga picnic areas have toilets, picnic tables, nearby lookouts and proximity to walking tracks. The picnic areas are accessed via Dolly Ave, Springfield, with the gate being locked at 8pm each evening[1]. The Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre, at the end of Donnison St, Gosford, is one of several good access points to the walking tracks in the lower section of the reserve. More info.
(0km) End of Dolly Ave → Sir Charles Kingsford Smith sculpture
80 m
2 mins
0m
-10m
Moderate track
From the end of Dolly Ave, in the Rumbalara Reserve, Gosford, this walk goes down the steps and rocky track, passing a ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’ sign, to the right. The walk goes across the middle of the picnic area for a short distance, to the sculpture of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
Sculptures in Rumbalara
There are four bronze figurative sculptures in the Rumbalara Reserve that were ‘commissioned in the series “Salute to Famous Australians”, which includes Captain Charles Sturt, Edward Eyre, and Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.’ Matthew Flinders is the fourth in the series. They were ‘commissioned by Sara Lee Kitchens (Australia) Pty Ltd and Gosford City Council for the State Bicentennial Celebrations 1987.’. Smith and Flinders are the most easily reached, at the Nurrunga picnic area. More info.
(0.08km) Sir Charles Kingsford Smith sculpture → Junction of Ironbark, Casuarina and Flannel flower walks
250 m
5 mins
11m
-10m
Moderate track
Turn sharp right: From the sculpture, this walk goes along the edge of the picnic area, in the direction pointed by Sir Charles’ raised right elbow, keeping the picnic area to the right. The walk soon arrives at an ‘Ironbark Loop’ sign on the northern edge of the picnic area.
Continue straight: From this ‘Ironbark Loop’ sign, this walk follows the ‘To Casuarina Track’ arrow along the management trail, initially keeping the picnic area to the right. The walk continues, passing a toilet block, to the right, then arrives at a sign, beside the road, pointing back to ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’.
Continue straight: From the ‘Ironbark Loop’ sign, the walk immediately crosses the road and follows the bush track a little to a track junction with signposts for the ‘Ironbark Loop’, the ‘Casuarina Track’ and the ‘Flannel Flower Track’
Continue straight: From this ‘Ironbark Loop’ sign, this walk follows the ‘To Casuarina Track’ arrow along the management trail, initially keeping the picnic area to the right. The walk continues, passing a toilet block, to the right, then arrives at a sign, beside the road, pointing back to ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’.
Continue straight: From the ‘Ironbark Loop’ sign, the walk immediately crosses the road and follows the bush track a little to a track junction with signposts for the ‘Ironbark Loop’, the ‘Casuarina Track’ and the ‘Flannel Flower Track’
(0.34km) Junction of Ironbark, Casuarina and Flannel flower walks → Matthew Flinders sculpture
180 m
4 mins
7m
-10m
Moderate track
Turn sharp right: From the track junction, this walk follows the ‘Loop to Gosford’ arrow (Casuarina Track) along the bush track, directly away from the nearby car park. After a short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection signposted for the ‘Casuarina Track’ and the ‘Ironbark Loop’. At the time of writing, this part of the Casuarina Track, going down the hill, was closed[4].
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’ arrow (Ironbark Loop sign), along the bush track, keeping the views of Gosford to the left. After a short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection, with an ‘Ironbark Loop’ signpost pointing back ‘To Casuarina Track’, beside a sculpture of Matthew Flinders.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’ arrow (Ironbark Loop sign), along the bush track, keeping the views of Gosford to the left. After a short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection, with an ‘Ironbark Loop’ signpost pointing back ‘To Casuarina Track’, beside a sculpture of Matthew Flinders.
(0.52km) Matthew Flinders sculpture → End of Dolly Ave
120 m
3 mins
11m
0m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track in the opposite direction to the ‘To Casuarina Track’ arrow, leaving the sculpture behind on the right. The walk then goes across the end of the picnic area to the sculpture of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
Turn right: From the sculpture, this walk goes across the middle of the picnic area. After a short distance, the walk goes up a rocky track and some steps, passing a ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’ signpost, to the left, arriving at the end of Dolly Ave.
Turn right: From the sculpture, this walk goes across the middle of the picnic area. After a short distance, the walk goes up a rocky track and some steps, passing a ‘Nurrunga Picnic Area’ signpost, to the left, arriving at the end of Dolly Ave.
Maps for the Ironbark Loop 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 Ironbark Loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Ironbark Loop
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 | 643 m | ||
| Time | 30 mins | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6) |
| Quality of track | Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) | ||
| Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
| Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
Around 570m of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 70m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 530m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 110m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
This whole walk, 640m has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 640m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 640m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 480m of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 160m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Ironbark Loop walk starts and ends at the End of Dolly Ave (gps: -33.423117, 151.34897)Your main transport option to End of Dolly Ave is by;
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/il
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 🙂
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