Bellbird Trail

Download & Print Map and Notes

1 hr 15 mins

3.3 km Circuit

89 m

Moderate track

A great walk, passing through plenty of the Strickland rainforest, and among the tall tress of the arboretum. You are likely to have the sound of Bellbirds adding to the atmosphere along parts of this walk. There are a number of picturesque creek crossings along the way, one with a small suspension bridge. The Banksia picnic area is a very short deviation off the road if you want to make use of the facilities.

Strickland State Forest

The Strickland State Forest, managed by State Forests of NSW, is located on the NSW Central Coast, close to the F3. The Strickland State Forest has a wide range of vegetation, including patches of rainforest along the sheltered creeks. The walking tracks take in some beautiful scenery, including a mixture of native forest and the remnants of an old arboretum. 'Strickland is no longer actively harvested and is managed for education and recreation purposes'. The 'Friends of Strickland' undertake projects including the construction of walking tracks. Note: Access into Strickland is during the daytime only with the entrance gate being unlocked between 7am and 5pm (Apr - Oct) and between 7am and 7pm (Nov - Mar) [3] More info.

Banksia Picnic Area

This picnic area is in the Strickland State Forest, on the NSW Central Coast. The facilities include picnic tables, pit toilets, BBQ fire places, garbage bins and tank water. A few bush walking tracks start from the picnic area.

(0km) Strickland Lower car park → Int of Stoney Creek and Bellbird trails

80 m

2 mins

-4m Moderate track

From the car park, the walk follows the 'Walking Trails' arrow along the management trail. The walk passes an information board, with a map of the walking trails, and continues a short distance to an intersection just before the creek crossing.

(0km) Int of Stoney Creek and Bellbird trails → Arboretum junction

450 m

8 mins

-10m Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, the walk crosses the creek and follows the 'Arboretum Loop Trail' arrow along the old management trail. The trail meanders through shaded forest, filled with cabbage palms, for some time before reaching a signposted intersection with a bush track.

(1km) Arboretum junction → Suspension bridge intersection

130 m

2 mins

-11m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Arboretum Trail' arrow down the timber steps and along the overgrown management trail. After a short distance, the walk crosses a suspension bridge over Narara Creek, bends to the left and almost immediately reaches an unmarked intersection with a narrow bush track, to the right.

(1km) Suspension bridge intersection → North int of Arboretum Loop and Bellbird trail

100 m

2 mins

0m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the old management trail away from the suspension bridge. The walk soon arrives at the intersection signposted 'Arboretum Loop Trail'.

Strickland State Forest Arboretum

This arboretum is apparently one of the oldest in Australia, with plantings dating from 1887-1924[5]. Numerous signs have been placed along the walking tracks to identify some of the species of trees. There are very tall, and impressive, examples of Hoop Pine, Bunya Pine, Tallow Wood and Red Cedar. More info.

(1km) North int of Arboretum Loop and Bellbird trail → Bunya pine grove

430 m

7 mins

-2m Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Arboretum Loop Trail' arrow along the bush track, away from the old management trail. The walk passes through moist forest, filled with cabbage palms, with the creek visible to the left. The walk crosses over a number of fallen tree trunks with steps cut into them. There are small signs in places identifying some of the trees. After a while the walk passes a track marker arrow, where a large fallen tree trunk spans the creek, to the left. The walk then passes a 'Forest Arboretum' information board and continues, passing a metal box on a post (marked 'Water Research'), and following several track arrows to reach an intersection with a management trail (with a gate visible to the left). There is a grove of tall 'Bunya Pine' trees beside this intersection.

(1km) Bunya pine grove → South int of Arboretum Loop and Bellbird trail

220 m

5 mins

-9m Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the old management trail away from the nearby gate, going gently up the hill. After a short distance the walk arrives at an intersection with a bush track, signposted 'Bellbird Trail'.

(1km) South int of Arboretum Loop and Bellbird trail → Bellbird Narara crossing

780 m

16 mins

35m

-21m Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Bellbird Trail' arrow along the bush track, going up the hill. There are some track markers on short brown posts in this area, although they are often obscured in the undergrowth. The narrow, and sometimes faint, bush track goes through vine filled forest for a short distance to a 'T' intersection marked with a number of arrows.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track, in the opposite direction to the arrow on the tree, following the short brown arrow post. The walk follows the narrow bush track for some time through beautiful forest, filled with cabbage palms, ferns and vines. Narara Creek is often visible just to the right. After a while, the walk arrives at some concreted steps just before crossing Narara Creek.

Bellbirds

The Bellbird (more properly known as the Bell Miner) is a member of the Honeyeater family. These birds live and breed in large colonies, aggressively defending their territory. More often heard than seen, their call is described as a "Sweet, musical, bell-like 'tink'". They are 'mostly olive-green, with a short, down-curved, bright yellow bill, a red-orange bare eye patch and orange-yellow feet and legs'. More info.

Bellbird Trail Narara crossing

This picturesque crossing of Narara Creek is on the 'Bellbird Trail' in the Strickland State Forest. It is a great spot to break for a rest, or lunch, on your walk. There are no facilities, however, there are some steps and rocks to sit on while you soak up the scenery.

(2km) Bellbird Narara crossing → Strickland Lower car park

1.2 km

23 mins

36m

-32m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the concreted steps, the walk crosses Narara Creek and follows the bush track, which immediately bends to the right, following the creek downstream. The walk passes signs naming some of the trees and meanders through the beautiful forest for some time before reaching an intersection signposted 'Return To Carpark'.
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Return To Carpark' arrow along the old management trail, going up the hill. The trail meanders through shaded forest, filled with cabbage palms, for some time before crossing Stoney Creek to an intersection signposted 'Stoney Creek Walk Trail'.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail up the hill, away from the creek crossing. The walk passes an information board, with a map of the walking trails, and soon reaches the car park.

Maps for the Bellbird Trail 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
Wyong	1:25 000 Map Series	91312N WYONG	NSW-91312N
Gosford	1:100 000 Map Series	9131 GOSFORD	9131

Cross sectional view of the Bellbird Trail bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Bellbird Trail

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	3.3 km
		Time	1 hr 15 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	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
		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 3km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 320m is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

Around 2.9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 490m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 3.2km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 160m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 2km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.3km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 1.8km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 1.5km is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 3.2km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 130m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Bellbird Trail walk.

Stoney Creek Trail

2.2 km One way, 1 Hr

An excellent walk, spending much of its time in the shaded, rainforest-filled valleys of the Strickland State Forest. From the dry eucalypt forest around the Banksia picnic area, the walk soon descends into moist forest, filled with ferns and cabbage tree palms. You could make this a return walk by

Total climbing: 58m

Moderate track

Arboretum Loop Trail

2.3 km Circuit, 1 Hr

A very nice walk through a mixture of native (regrowth) forest and one of Australia's oldest arboretums. The arboretum has both native and exotic trees, with the plantings dating from 1887-1924. This walk takes you along some of the rainforest-clad creeks of Strickland State Forest, before crossing

Total climbing: 45m

Moderate track

Strickland Tour

8.1 km Circuit, 3 hrs 30 mins

A grand tour of the Strickland State Forest. This great walk covers most of the established walking tracks in Strickland and enjoys much of the excellent scenery available in the area. Plenty of time is spent in the lush green, rainforest-filled valleys, and there is some really nice boulder and cli

Total climbing: 402m

Moderate track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Bellbird Trail walk.

Cabbage Tree Trail

1.7 km Circuit, 1 Hr

A beautiful walk from the Banksia picnic area. This walk starts in the dry eucalypt forest, typical of the hilltops in the area, and descends to areas of lush forest, filled with cabbage tree palms and ferns. Some interesting boulder outcrops and the great variety of vegetation just add to the scene

Total climbing: 115m

Moderate track

Strickland Falls Loop Trail

1.8 km Circuit, 1 Hr

A loop walk with plenty of excellent scenery. The walk starts in the dry eucalypt forest around the Banksia Picnic Area and soon descends into lush green rainforest remnants, filled with ferns and cabbage tree palms. The walk includes some great scenery along the base of the cliff line and around th

Total climbing: 133m

Moderate track

Strickland Falls

1.7 km Return, 45 mins

This walk from the Banksia picnic area, to the Strickland Falls, includes a fantastic variety of forest scenery. The falls themselves are often just a trickle, although the scenery in the area makes the walk well worthwhile. The cliff lines and boulders around the falls are interesting and there are

Total climbing: 87m

Moderate track

Strickland Falls and Cabbage Tree loop

3 km Circuit, 1 hr 30 mins

This excellent loop walk combines the Strickland Falls and Cabbage Tree loop walks. The walk starts in the dry eucalypt forest around the Banksia Picnic Area and soon descends into lush green rainforest remnants, filled with ferns and cabbage tree palms. The walk includes some great scenery along th

Total climbing: 221m

Moderate track

Somersby Store to Ourimbah Valley Trackhead

6 km One way, 2 hrs 30 mins

Starting with a walk through the streets of urban Somerbsy, you soon leave the farms and head into Palm Grove Nature Reserve. First you will follow the signposted track down the open dry ridge to the dense rainforest. In this valley you can explores the moist rainforest with towering Eucalypts, Str

Total climbing: 194m

Hard track

Somersby Store to Greta Road

21.1 km One way, 8 hrs

This section of the Great North Walk starts from the Somersby General Store and winds north, through the Jilliby State Conservation Area, and finishes at the corner of Greta Road and Cherry Lane. At just under 20km, this full day walk explores the Palm Grove, Hidden Valley and Ourimba Creek tracks,

Total climbing: 924m

Hard track

Somersby to the Basin Campsite

47.4 km One way, 3 Days

This three day walk starts at the Somersby General Store and follows the Great North Walk, heading north, into the the Jilliby State Conservation Area where the first nights campsite is at Stringy Bark Point. The walk continues north, out of the Conservation Area, to Yarramalong for the second night

Total climbing: 2032m

Hard track

Somersby to Yarramalong via Stringy Bark Point

26.7 km One way, 2 Days

This section of the Great North Walk starts form the Somersby General Store and follows the Great North Walk north into the Jilliby State Conservation Area to Stringy Bark Point campsite. On day two, the walk continues north through the forest and around the back of some farmland to Cherry Lane, and

Total climbing: 1201m

Hard track

Somersby Falls

426 m Return, 20 mins

This short walk starts from the Somersby Falls picnic area and follows the series of waterfalls along Floods Creek. The picnic area provides barbeques, picnic tables, toilets and ample parking. This walk could make part of a great family day out in the area. The main falls drop onto a large rock pl

Total climbing: 39m

Moderate track

Gosford to Lisarow

11.3 km One way, 4 hrs 30 mins

This walk is a great way to explore the ridge-top bushland between Gosford and Lisarow. Passing through Rumbalara and Katandra Reserves, there are several picnic area, lookouts and other facilities scattered along the way. At times you will forget you are anywhere near houses, and at other points

Total climbing: 479m

Hard track

Ironbark Loop

643 m Circuit, 30 mins

A short, interesting walk in the Rumbalara Reserve, near Gosford. This short circuit walk takes in some nice scenery and a couple of the interesting bronze sculptures found in the reserve. Some short deviations from the walk take you to viewpoints with great views over Gosford and the surrounding ar

Total climbing: 29m

Moderate track

Tottenham Place to Wannagan Lookout

900 m Return, 30 mins

A steep walk from North Gosford to the top of the Rumbalara Reserve. There is some great scenery along the way, and the views from the Wannagan Lookout, back over North Gosford and the surrounding area, are great. An optional sidetrip to the bronze sculpture of Edward John Eyre adds some historic in

Total climbing: 80m

Hard track

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Bellbird Trail walk starts and ends at the Strickland Lower car park (gps: -33.379942, 151.32508)

Car. There is free parking available.<br /> (get details)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Strickland State Forest

Strickland State Forest is a small pocket of bushland east of the freeway near the Somersby interchange, on the NSW Central Coast. The well signposted entrance from Mangrove Rd has a gate that is unlocked at 7am and is re-locked at 5pm (7pm Nov-March) every day. The forest has a picnic area with wood-fired BBQs and some good walking tracks. The forest is classified as a Flora Reserve and boasts a wonderful transition from dry to wet sclerophyll and then to rainforest as you move deeper into the valleys.

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