Flat Rock Gully Walking Track

Stepping stones over Flat Rock Creek

Flat Rock Gully Walking Track

Located in the Sydney council of Willoughby, Flat Rock Gully Walking Track is a 4km return trip through bushland bordering a small creek. Utilised for the disposal of domestic and industrial waste until 1985, the area became overgrown with weeds. Following the closing of the tip and associated incinerator, the area has been landscaped and bush land regenerated. The result is a beautiful walk, through trees and ferns in the centre of Sydney.

Parking

Parking is available near the start of the track at Small Street where a gated entrance leads to parking spots. Additional parking at the netball courts, near the old incinerator is a five-minute walk away.

Flat Rock Gully Walking Track

Starting off with bitumen and a section of boardwalk, the track appears an easy hike. However, this soon gives way to rougher sections of rock and dirt track. Sections have steppingstones added to aid walking in wet conditions and in going up and down the slopes. In wet and rainy weather, these areas become very slippery, so good hiking boots are needed, as well as being careful.

Council Bush Regenerators, contractors and volunteers have done an amazing job reducing the weeds present along the track. As a result, you can now walk through remnant Australian bush while in the centre of Sydney.

Flat Rock Creek

The creek crossing is a series of steppingstones, which will be slippery when wet and during high rainfall may be submerged. At the crossing, a stone embankment prevents erosion of the creek banks and has become overgrown in moss. This makes the area look old and overgrown, but also extremely slippery.

Long Gully Bridge

Crossing the gully at the end of the walk is Long Gully Bridge. Built to access a housing development at Northbridge in the 1890s, the false crenellated turreted towers make it look very medieval. Under the bridge, a large, landscaped area was once the council tip. The 30 metres of fill has been rehabilitated into playing fields, where we saw a game of cricket being played.

Flat Rock Drive Pedestrian Underpass Indigenous Art Work

Pedestrian access from the track to the baseball diamond and netball courts is via an underpass under Flat Rock Drive. If you park at the netball courts, this is the best way to get to the track.

Decorated with large indigenous murals unlike many underpasses left in dull concrete. Not far from here is the Henry Lawson Cave, where the poet would sleep off a drinking session at the local tavern.

What Did We Think?

This was a really fun track to walk. Moderately difficult and a little slippery in the wet, the walk through remnant forest and along a creek was fun. Looking at the underside of the bridge and the decorated underpass were added bonuses.

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Comments

15 responses to “Flat Rock Gully Walking Track”

  1. Mike and Kellye Hefner Avatar

    This is fabulous! It is so wonderful when a formerly trashed area becomes something so beautiful. I love the underpass mural too!

    1. Destinations Avatar

      A lot of work has gone into restoring it. Certainly worth the effort. As you say, it’s great when a trashed area is regenerated.

  2. Alison Avatar

    Nice walk but I could see how slippery it was!

    1. Destinations Avatar

      Thanks for reading. Pleased that you liked it.

      1. Alison Avatar

        🙂

  3. trumstravels Avatar

    I love that Indigenous artwork, it’s quite lovely. On the water stained boulders, there are red spots. Is that from the water?(iron) or just the colour of the boulders?

    1. Destinations Avatar

      I think it’s iron staining on the boulders. Not 100% though. The aboriginal art work is great. Really brightened up what is usually a dull place.

  4. wetanddustyroads Avatar

    A trail with many different ‘feelings’ … paved pathway, boardwalk, stone track. Oh, and a lovely bridge too!

    1. Destinations Avatar

      Isn’t it great when you find walk with different materials to walk on? Adds to the enjoyment.

  5. Mélodie @OurLakeDistrictEscapades Avatar

    Beautiful the bridge is gorgeous 😍.

    1. Destinations Avatar

      It’s great that some buildings and bridges can be built to be beautiful and not just functional.

  6. 100 Country Trek Avatar

    Nice place to hike. Anita

    1. Destinations Avatar

      Thankyou for reading. Pleased that you liked it.

  7. markbierman Avatar

    Beautiful hiking trail! I would love to go there, someday. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Destinations Avatar

      It’s a great little trail, pleased that we could show it to you.

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