Grass Tree circuit

Download & Print Map and Notes

1 Hr

1.7 km Circuit

109 m

Moderate track

This beautiful circuit walk goes through a range of dry and wet forest along the valley, and offers some great views. There are plenty of grasstrees along the way to add to the scenery and the creek crossings are very picturesque. The optional side trip adds some beautiful rock overhangs to the scenery and gives a taste of the scenery on the longer 11km Circuit walk.

False Sarsparilla (Hardenbergia Violacea) adds a splash of colour July-October

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'.

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.

(1km) 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.

(1km) 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).

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

Altitude analysis for 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).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Grass Tree circuit walk.

11km Circuit

8.2 km Circuit, 4 hrs 15 mins

This excellent circuit walk offers a lot of beautiful scenery and views. Although shorter than the name suggests, it is a reasonably tough walk, with some steep rocky sections. The sections in the gullies and valleys are mostly very moist with lots of ferns, while the higher sections are through dri

Total climbing: 634m

Hard track

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Grass Tree circuit walk.

Western Commission Track to Dubbo Gully

28.3 km One way, 2 Days

This two day walk follows a series of historic roads along clear and wide management trails. This walk explores the great views from Western Commission Track, the sandstone handicraft on the Old Great North Road and the farming history of Ten Mile Hollow, and also offers a side trip to Clare's Bridg

Total climbing: 1249m

Moderate track

Finchs Line viewpoint

4.4 km Return, 2 hrs 15 mins

This pleasant walk follows part of the historic Finchs Line road, the original route for the Great North Road up the hills just north of Wisemans Ferry. The walk starts in moist, fern covered scenery and climbs to drier forest and some stunning views over the Hawkesbury river and Wisemans Ferry area

Total climbing: 373m

Moderate track

Devines Hill

3.6 km Return, 2 hrs

A great walk with some really nice scenery and plenty of history. This walk follows the well formed Devines Hill ascent portion of the Old Great North Road. The convict built road is impressive and there are good information signs along the trail. The visible remnants of the Old Great North Road inc

Total climbing: 257m

Moderate track

Devines Hill and Finchs Line circuit

9.9 km Circuit, 4 hrs 30 mins

A great walk with a mixture of historic remnants of the Old Great North Rd, and some beautiful views over the Hawkesbury river and other valleys. Most of this walk follows parts of the convict built road, and a number of information signs along the way give a good insight into the construction and h

Total climbing: 547m

Moderate track

Great North Road and Dubbo Gully

27.3 km One way, 2 Days

This walk follows a section of the Old Great North Road along the borders of the rugged Yengo and Dharug National Parks, to then visit more historic sites in Dubbo Gully. This is more of a historic journey than you typical bushwalk. There is a campsite at Ten Mile Hollow providing a comfortable pla

Total climbing: 1372m

Hard track

Hangmans Rock

2.2 km Return, 1 hr 15 mins

A relatively short walk with some really nice scenery and some of the historic highlights of the Old Great North Road. This walk climbs part of the well formed Devines Hill ascent. The remnants of the convict built road are impressive and there are good information signs along the trail. The visible

Total climbing: 176m

Moderate track

Shepherds Gully

4.3 km Return, 2 hrs

The long, gentle climb along Shepherd's Gully has some beautiful scenery and some historic remnants of the Old Great North Road. While the remnants of the road construction are not as impressive as those on the main Devines Hill ascent, they are still interesting. The optional side trip to Hangmans

Total climbing: 244m

Moderate track

Shepherds Gully and Devines Hill

4 km One way, 2 hrs

A great one-way walk which offers some beautiful scenery in the moist and shaded parts of Shepherds Gully, some bigger views on Devines Hill and plenty of Old Great North Road history. There are plenty of information signs along the way giving some good background on the convict build roads, making

Total climbing: 257m

Moderate track

248 Track

8.3 km Return, 3 hrs 15 mins

A nice walk through Popran National Park with good views along the way. The optional side trip to Mt Olive adds some great views and scenery. If you have a car with good ground clearance, you could drive to Ironbark picnic area and start the walk from there.

Total climbing: 255m

Moderate track

Emerald Pool circuit from Ironbark Rd

10.8 km Circuit, 4 hrs 15 mins

A great circuit walk in Popran National Park, to the beautiful Emerald Pool. This walk passes through a variety of vegetation and offers some great views along the way. Emerald Pool is a really beautiful spot and it is well worth spending some time exploring around the creek. The optional side trips

Total climbing: 344m

Hard track

Ironbark Rd to Glenworth Valley

10.1 km Return, 4 hrs 15 mins

This walk, mostly in Popran National Park, passes through a great variety of scenery and beautiful views. The early part of the walk, along a ridgetop, is through relatively dry forest with some great views, while the steep but beautiful descent to Glenworth Valley is through moist, fern filled fore

Total climbing: 492m

Hard track

Mt Olive

4.4 km Return, 2 hrs

A very nice walk to a viewpoint on top of Mt Olive, in Popran National Park. The walk passes through nice forest, and offers good views over Popran National Park from the top of Mt Olive. If you have a car with good ground clearance, you could drive to the picnic area, making the walk shorter.

Total climbing: 151m

Hard track

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)

Bus. Wisemans Ferry Dialacar provides a taxi style mini-bus service based in Wisemans Ferry. The cost is typically about $1 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 $150 (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.<br /> (get details)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Dharug National Park

Named after the traditional custodians (the Darug People), this park has much history and some great sandstone formations. The wildflowers in spring add a wonderful touch of colour to the bushland. The Old Great North Road including its quarries, bridges and other features improves access and provides a great deal of interest for visitors. Close to Sydney and Gosford, it feels like stepping back in time when visiting this park.

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