Flat Rock Gully
This is a lovely little bushland escape in the middle of a busy urban landscape.
The hour-long walk is a favourite with locals, dog-walkers and joggers and though there are a few rocky bits, and uneven up and down paths, it’s not a difficult walk by any means.
And you can finish it off with a swim at the local leisure centre or all day breakfast and coffee at the popular Incinerator Cafe.
To start
There is plenty of parking at Willoughby Leisure Centre (assuming the netball isn’t on, in which case, good luckl!) So park here and walk to the end of Small Street.
At the entrance to the trail you'll see the map below which has instructions for accessing Willoughby Council’s Walks app and guided tour of the area. You can download the app here if you like or just follow the trail.
With or without the app, the path can get a little confusing at times and the signage isn’t great. But if you do wander off track, it’s unlikely you’ll be lost for long and you’re sure to find a local who’ll know the way.
The Trail
The path winds through pretty bushland, under canopies of eucalypts and tree ferns and past trickling waterfalls that become cascades after a downpour. It’s cool in here but the abundance of shade means the gully can get very muddy, so it’s best avoided after heavy rain.
As you walk along, watch out for tree roots and mossy rocks. Keep an eye out also for one of the thirteen species of lizard that scurry along the path or hunt by the creek beds. Birds are in abundance here too though you’re more likely to hear than see them. There are over 100 bird species living in the bushland around the gully and you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one of the falcons, sea eagles or powerful owls that roost in the tall trees. I saw some pretty blue wrens but not much more.
You’ll cross the creek at a couple of points, over flat rocks and some well-placed stepping stones before rising again on your way to Tunks Park.
Tunks Park
Rising out of the gully you soon reach drier ground and a wider path to the Park. Tunks Park is known for its playing fields and boat launching facilities and for the huge bridge that hovers above it, carrying traffic between North Sydney and Willoughby council areas.
The heritage listed Long Gully Bridge is quite an imposing sight when you come across it for the first time, especially from below. Dating back to 1892, the bridge is composed of twin Gothic sandstone towers and a detailed concrete arch with a span of roughly 100 metres.
Tunks Park is the turnaround point and you can venture as far as the waterfront and nearby playground, or take a short turn around the off-lead area before turning back to the path from which you came.
Head back toward the creek and cross back over the stepping stones. But when you come to the flat stone crossing, stay on the left side and follow the path which rises along what is called Dawson Track. If you hit the roadway, you’ve gone too far up. Back track a little to follow the path that winds along the ridge before descending a little and eventually meeting up with the main path back to the leisure centre.
To Finish
The path opens up from here on and you can hear the hum of traffic as it follows the line of the nearby road. Continue along the pathway as it winds under the small though decorative tunnel and continue on to skirt the playing fields and lower netball courts of the Leisure Centre and up to Hallstrom Park.
Lawson’s Cave
Along the path, look out for Lawsons Cave, a large overhanging rock to the left of the path where Henry Lawson used to sleep off the effects of his visits to a nearby tavern. Lawson lived in the area in the early part of last century and was known locally for composing poems on cue in return for a drink.
The path to Halstrom Park is just a little way beyond the cave. Look out for the sign and follow the path as it winds to the right and on up the hill to the park.
The park is a popular one and features some quirky iron and timber sculpture, great playground equipment and a bike track for the little ones.
From here it’s just a short walk back to the Willoughby Leisure Centre car park via, if you like, coffee at the Incinerator Cafe.
The Incinerator
The Incinerator Cafe and Art Space sits on the site of the old council incinerator designed by Walter Burley Griffin and associates in the 1930s. If you’re wondering what that spiky steel structure is beside the cafe, it’s a lift providing access to the art space and amenities. The surround, titled Exoskeleton Lift, is sculptor Richard Goodwin’s ode to Burley Griffin.
The cafe has been operating as a successful local hub since 2014. Its lofty and attractive interiors play homage to the site’s industrial roots, with colours, materials and shapes chosen to echo the original.
The cafe is open daily from 7:30am - 3:00pm (Sundays 8 - 2:30) serving all day breakfast and lunch and great coffee.
The Art Space downstairs is operated by council and features high quality exhibitions by artists and arts groups working across a range of media. Opening hours vary. Check here for further details.
