Ferntree Gully Circuit, near Rylstone NSW

A great circuit walk through rainforest in Ferntree Gully near Rylstone, visiting a couple of good lookouts for views back down into the gully.

Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW

The circuit walk through Ferntree Gully Reserve passes through a scenic gully containing interesting rainforest vegetation. This includes various types of ferns as the name suggests, as well as vines and trailing roots reaching down over rocks to find the ground below. There are also good views from above the gully. It’s a short but rewarding walk that I recommend if you are in the region around Rylstone.

There’s information on the Visit NSW website, (at least there was, not so sure now), but there’s a simple map of the walk at the trail head (see below). We did the circuit including the short boardwalk side trip and the two lookouts (leaving out the Wheelbarrow Track). If you want another good walk to do in the area then drive over to Dunns Swamp and do the Pagoda Lookout Track.

Ferntree Gully Reserve
This is the sign at the start. We walked clockwise taking in the lookouts on the way back. I don’t think we’ve ever done the Sydney Peppermint Walk.

Ferntree Gully Circuit: The Scenery

Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
A narrow section of the gully near the start.

Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW

Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
Rocks are no obstacle for these trees.
Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
A friendly echidna provided me with my first full face shot. They usually curl up into a ball on approach, and this guy only halfheartedly did this. After this walk we drove on to the Warrumbungles in the evening and I ran over an echidna on the road, which made a very disconcerting wet splatting noise 🙁
Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
Inside the gully.
Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
More roots action.
Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
A tangle of root and/or vines.

Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW

Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
Climbing out of the gully.
Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
Looking down on Ferntree Gully from Ted Daniels Lookout.
Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
The view from Ted Daniels Lookout.
Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
A panorama from Norm King Lookout.
Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
Looking down into Ferntree Gully from Norm King Lookout.
Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
The view from Norm King Lookout.
Ferntree Gully Reserve, near Rylstone NSW
The view from Norm King Lookout.

Author: Edward Hathway

I'm a clinical psychologist and keen hiker.

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