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Length: 2.8km
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Duration: 1.5hrs
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Grade: 3
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Style: One Way
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Start: 160 Kilkenny Rd, Somersby
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End: 160 Kilkenny Rd, Somersby
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Location: Palm Grove Nature Reserve
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Closest Town:
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Distance from CBD: 81.1 km
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State: NSW
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Latitude: -33.333915
Longitude: 151.2945783
Keep the Trail Access info current...

Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.


2WD Access


4WD Access


Public Transport


Bitumen Road


Gravel Road


Steep Road


Winding Road


Speed Bumps


Vehicle Ford


Entry Fee


Large Car Park


Small Car Park


Accessible Parking


Accessible Toilet


Public Toilets


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Picnic Shelter


Picnic Table


BBQ Facilities


Campfire Pit


Camping Area
Keep the Trail Features current...

Palm Grove Nature Reserve...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.


Concrete Path


Timber Boardwalk


Gravel Path


Sandy Trail


Rough Trail


Undefined Trail


Prams & Strollers


Manual Wheelchair


Motorised Wheelchair


Bicycle Trail


Mountain Bike Trail


Historic Rail Trail


Dog Friendly


Urban Walk


Coast & Beach


Historic Lighthouse


Waterfalls & Lakes


Rainforest Walk


Goldfields & Mining


Heritage Walk


Aboriginal Art


Alpine Region


Alpine Huts


Exposed Ledges


Rock Scrambling


Steep Terrain


Bush Bashing


River Crossings


Scenic Viewpoints


Well Marked


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Fishing Spots


Swimming Spots


Overnight Campsites


Trail Running


Horse Riding
Hike Summary
The iconic and much-loved Great North walk is a 250km track that runs between Sydney and Newcastle in NSW. In Palm Grove Nature Reserve, visitors can enjoy a picturesque sample of this walk, making it either a great self-contained bushwalk or part of a bigger walking adventure. The trail's scenic views begin at the end of Kilkenny Road on the Somersby Plateau and finish on Ourimbah Creek Road, Palm Grove.
Meander through open forests dominated by majestic Sydney blue gums, Sydney peppermint, blackbutt, ironbark and turpentine before descending into the cool moist rainforest over a pristine creek, where cabbage tree palms, corkwood, sassafras and giant strangler figs flourish over a carpet of green ferns, vines, shrubs and orchids.
The track is undulating with some small, steep sections and a creek crossing. It's a short, accessible walk that brings you to a beautiful forested area, where you can enjoy birdwatching and wildlife photography. The calls of the frogs that call the area home can be heard throughout the reserve, particularly after heavy rain.
Interpretative signs located along the track provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the plants and animals found along the way and encourage you to explore the environment through your sense of smell, hearing and touch. For a longer section of the walk be sure to try Great North walk - Brisbane Water National Park.
About the region
Palm Grove Nature Reserve, near Gosford on the NSW Central Coast, is a great place for frog enthusiasts, birdwatching, photography, picnicking and bushwalking.
Moss-covered boulders, dramatic rainforest ferns and wild bird and frog calls all combine to make Palm Grove Nature Reserve – all 240ha of it – a magical place for a wilderness escape. It’s also an easily accessible getaway, being located in the Ourimbah Creek valley, just a few kilometres northwest of Gosford.
This is also a special place for observing unusual and threatened species. In particular, a number of interesting and unusual frogs call the reserve home, including the red-eyed green tree frog and stuttering frog.
One of the highlights of Palm Grove Nature Reserve is the chance to experience a part of the iconic Great North walk, which runs all the way from Sydney to Newcastle. This scenic walking track, with its varied terrain and abundance of wildlife, is a great favourite with those interested in birdwatching, bushwalking and photography.
Getting there
To Kilkenny Road. Great North walk - Palm Grove Nature Reserve is in Palm Grove Nature Reserve. To get there:From the F3 Freeway, take the Peats Ridge Road exit.Take the first right into Wisemans Ferry RoadTurn right onto Dog Trap Road and then turn left onto Kilkenny RoadFollow to the entrance of Palm Grove Nature ReserveAlternatively, if beginning from Ourimbah Creek Road:From the F3 Freeway, take the Pacific Highway exit for Ourimbah.Head south along Pacific HighwayTake the first right into Ourimbah Creek Road and continue for approximately 9.5km Park entry points Kilkenny Road See on map Ourimbah Creek Road See on map Parking Parking is available at end of Kilkenny Road and Ourimbah Creek Road.
Tips
Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go birdwatching.
Check the weather before you set out as a creek crossing on Kilkenny Road is required to get to Palm Grove Nature Reserve.
There is limited/no mobile reception in this park.
Visit NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for more information on this trail.
The longitude and latitude of the start and end points are approximately only and should not be used for navigation purposes. Please contact me if you know the correct coordinates.