Grass Tree circuit
Download & Print Map and Notes
1 Hr
1.7 km Circuit
109 m
Moderate track
Mill Creek picnic area
This beautifully situated picnic area is located a short distance along an unsealed road, off Wisemans Ferry Rd, about 5.5km east of Wisemans Ferry. There are picnic tables, fireplaces, an information board and pit toilets. There is some excellent bush walking in the area with two signposted circuit walks starting from the end of the picnic area. There is a ‘large group’ camping area adjacent.
(0km) Mill Creek Picnic Area car park → Int of Grass Tree and 11km circuits
870 m
24 mins
84m
-48m
Moderate track
From the Mill Creek picnic area (signposted on Wisemans Ferry Rd, about 6km east of Wisemans Ferry crossing), the walk crosses from the information signs to the the ‘Start/Finish’ walking track signpost at the far end of the picnic area.
Continue straight: From the ‘Start/Finish’ walking track signpost at the end of the picnic area, the walk follows the bush track and immediately takes the right hand branch at a fork in the track (the other track is the return leg of the Grass Tree circuit). The walk passes through a mix of closed in, dense vegetation and more open forest with some beautiful views and lots of grasstrees. After crossing a creek using wooden steps and a concreted stone path, the track climbs more steeply before dropping to the signposted intersection of the ’11km Walking Track’ and ‘1.5km Grass Tree Circuit’.
Continue straight: From the ‘Start/Finish’ walking track signpost at the end of the picnic area, the walk follows the bush track and immediately takes the right hand branch at a fork in the track (the other track is the return leg of the Grass Tree circuit). The walk passes through a mix of closed in, dense vegetation and more open forest with some beautiful views and lots of grasstrees. After crossing a creek using wooden steps and a concreted stone path, the track climbs more steeply before dropping to the signposted intersection of the ’11km Walking Track’ and ‘1.5km Grass Tree Circuit’.
Grasstrees
The beautiful Grasstree is one of the icons of the Australian bush. It is a very slow growing plant, with the trunk typically only growing about one cm per year. These plants can grow and survive for several hundred years. The trunk is usually black, apparently a result of bushfires. As with some other native plants, fires can actually promote flowering and further growth. More info.
(0.87km) Int of Grass Tree and 11km circuits → 11km Big Tree creek crossing
810 m
22 mins
81m
-34m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ’11km Walking Track’ arrow along the bush track. The track climbs for a while, with nice views down into the gully, before dropping to a picturesque creek crossing marked with a small ‘walker arrow’. From here the track climbs steeply for a short distance, then passes another track marker at the start of a section with beautiful rock overhangs and boulders. The track then drops to another creek crossing, marked with a small walker sign on a boulder in the middle of the creek, beneath a huge tree with impressive roots draping over the rocks. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
(0.87km) Int of Grass Tree and 11km circuits → Mill Creek Picnic Area car park
820 m
20 mins
25m
-62m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track steeply down the hill. The track immediately goes down some steps and crosses the creek on a concreted stone path. Soon after this, the track crosses a minor gully and meanders for a while, through beautiful moist forest, before crossing the main creek again. The track continues through some drier forest for a while and arrives at the signposted track head at the end of the Mill Creek picnic area.
Continue straight: From the ‘Start/Finish’ walking track signpost at the end of the Mill Creek picnic area, the walk crosses the picnic area to the car park (Mill Creek picnic area is signposted on Wisemans Ferry Rd, about 6km east of Wisemans Ferry crossing).
Continue straight: From the ‘Start/Finish’ walking track signpost at the end of the Mill Creek picnic area, the walk crosses the picnic area to the car park (Mill Creek picnic area is signposted on Wisemans Ferry Rd, about 6km east of Wisemans Ferry crossing).
Maps for the Grass Tree circuit 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.
| Gunderman | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91313S GUNDERMAN | NSW-91313S |
| Lower Portland | 1:25 000 Map Series | 90312S LOWER PORTLAND | NSW-90312S |
| Gosford | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9131 GOSFORD | 9131 |
| St Albans | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9031 ST ALBANS | 9031 |
Cross sectional view of the Grass Tree circuit bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Grass Tree circuit
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 | 1.7 km | ||
| Time | 1 Hr | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 3/6 Moderate track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Short steep hills (3/6) |
| 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 | 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
770m of this walk has short steep hills and another 720m has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (210m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 1.5km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 210m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 1.5km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 210m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 1.5km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 210m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 970m of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 720m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 1.7km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Grass Tree circuit walk starts and ends at the Mill Creek Picnic Area car park (gps: -33.400835, 151.04778)Your transport options to Mill Creek Picnic Area car park are by;
Bus. Wisemans Ferry Dialacar provides a taxi style mini-bus service based in Wisemans Ferry. The cost is typically about per km (ex Wisemans Ferry). They will pick-up and drop-off from Sydney or the Central Coast and will happily drop walkers off or pick them up from tracks in the area. The cost for a pick-up from Gosford and drop off near Wisemans Ferry would be approximately 0 (please call for up-to-date pricing) and the minivan can carry up to 13 passengers. Phone: 0448 122 374 (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/gtc
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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