STRICKLAND WATERFALL, PATONGA CREEK, KARIONG FALLS - 9 TO 13 MAY 2020

9 MAY 2020

An early morning hike along the Cabbage Tree and Strickland Falls tracks at Strickland State Forest with Jacinta.

These tracks are accessible from the top car park forming a loop track.

The hike started with gymea lilies along the track edge. A change of scenery with some rock formations and the vegetation changed to grass trees.

A short descent lead to Strickland Falls. I never seen the falls with a great deal of water. The water drops in parts along a semi circle of cliffs. The area seems to be always dark and this reflects in the tall trees and sparse ground cover.

The track follows along the creek and joins onto the cabbage tree track. The vegetation is of a drier type and there was more sunlight.

A well trodden but narrow track with some interesting rock and vegetation features.


10 MAY 202

Happy Mother's Day Jacinta :)

11 MAY 2020

An early hike around the rocks at Terrigal Haven.

The tide was low, the swell smallish, the weather clear, the temperature crisp. Heaps of good ingredients for a hike.

I took my time. soaking in the view and the smaller things in life.

A late morning kayak along Patonga Creek.

I timed this with the tide just on high. This worked out well as I had the tide in my favour going up and down the creek.

It was a good paddle. The wind was blocked, the sun was shining, the water was mostly clear and there were a lot of reflections on the water.

The creek starts wide but narrows considerably about half and winds in and around the mangroves.

There were fewer oyster leases than I previously remember which made for an easier kayak.


12 MAY 2020

A short mountain bike ride at Kincumba Mountain.

I wasn't feeling the best so I just did a few tracks close to the car park.


13 MAY 2020

A mountain bike along along Tommos Loop with a hike to Kariong Falls in Brisbane Water National Park.

An easy ride along Tommos Loop on the bike with a couple of steep downhills.

I turned off the main trail and on to the track to Kariong Falls. I rode a short distance and hid the bike in the bush and continued by foot.

It was a steep eroded hike down to the falls with some views and some interesting rock formations. It was so quiet around the falls which tumbled down into a clear pool of  deep water. I wander around the pool edge and eventually sat on a comfortable rock in the sun and soaked in the tranquility.

I had my time there in seclusion and passed four people along the track back to Tommos Loop. I retrieved my bike and continued my ride along the loop till the main road. It was a fast and quick return to the van.

STRICKLAND SF- CABBAGE TREE AND STRICKLAND FALLS TRACKS MTB - 16 MAY 2018

PARKING

Drive along Strickland Forest Road and park at the Banksia Picnic Area.

I started this ride at the beginning of the Cabbage Tree Track, which is at the south end of the picnic area.

The track was narrow with steep loose sections, small drop offs, tree roots and lots of rocks. The plants grew a little over the track in parts. It looks like it wallops you but it is actually quite soft.



About half of this track was downhill and the other half uphill.

I continued on and reached the Strickland Fall Track.



This track had a reasonable downhill then it was up, down and very rocky until reaching the falls. I wandered around the falls which were more like a drip today.

After the falls, it was necessary to carry the bike up the steps. The track was slightly undulating from here to the carpark.

A good ride but to me it was about half riding and half walking the bike.

BEACHES, BOUDDI NP MTB, STRICKLAND SF HIKE - 8 NOVEMBER 2017

7 November 2017

A late afternoon bike ride at Bouddi National Park along the Turkey, NW Ridge and Strom tracks. A fast ride as I did not have a camera with me. :)

8 November 2017

A late start check of the surf at Wamberal Beach. The surf was messy.

I continued on to Toowoon Bay but the wind was too strong. And damn the coffee cafe was closed.

Plan C was a hike. so I detoured over to Strickland State Forest. The GPS took me a different way than I normally go from home. It was an interesting drive past farms and crossing two bridges over the main freeway between Sydney and Newcastle.



I parked at the top carpark. there was a guy there and his dog there. We started chatting and he had just returned from working in the bush (out in the far west)).

I hiked along two tracks - the Cabbage Tree track and the Strickland Falls track. They were both great hikes passing between huge boulders and through rainforest. As their names implied, the first track passed heaps of Cabbage Trees and the second lead to Strickland Waterfall.

The falls were flowing lightly but it's the general quietness that is the main attraction to me. Silence that was so profound that it's overpoweringly loud. It seems funny to write it that way but it seemed the best way to describe it.

CENTRAL COAST - Strickland State Forest - Strickland Falls Cabbage Palm Trail - HIKE - 31 december 2011

The day was looking cool and overcast for a summer's day.



I drove to Strickland State Forest down Strickland Forest Road an parked at the Banksia Picnic area. There were picnic and wood bbqs and compost toilet.

I took the track towars Stricland Falls. The track was easy to follow . It wound its way on a sandy track through overgrown vegetation and pass rocks and cliff faces. Eventually, a sign was reached and the falls were only a short distance more to walk.

The falls were small and fell only a short distance. Still, it was very quiet and peaceful. A nice spot to rest awhile and take in the scenery. The rocks around the waterfall were very slippery. I had one big slide when scramb;ing back from the falls.

I then followed the Cabbage Tree Trail which was easy walking with a steady upward incline about ten minutes after passing the turnoff for the Stoney Creek Trail. The trail ended at the Banksia picnic area.

There was also a lookout over a part of Gosford near the picnic area.

Note: the Cabbage Tree trail would be good for mountain biking.