Strickland State Forest Guide
A small gated day forest: Strickland Falls, Banksia Picnic Area and the arboretum. No camping.
Unofficial operator’s manual
Independent, unofficial, not Forestry Corporation, not NPWS · Content reviewed 24 Sep 2026
You cannot camp here. The gate is dawn to dusk, day use only (last-checked 24 Sep 2026). This page cannot tell you if the gate is open. Forestry Corporation of NSW owns live conditions. Confirm on the official Strickland page and closures.
- Day use
- Dawn to dusk
- Banksia picnic
- Six named walks
- No camping
- Not a national park
Plan, picnic, maps, a bed elsewhere
Not the national park
This is a State forest, not Somersby Falls
Strickland State Forest is a Forestry Corporation of NSW forest on the Central Coast. NSW Government lists it at Mangrove Road, Niagara Park NSW 2250, and says entry is at the top of Mangrove Road, Somersby. It is a small day forest, about five square kilometres, and it is not a national park. Forestry Corporation says it is gated and open from dawn to dusk, for day use only. Last-checked 24 Sep 2026. Camping is not permitted. Banksia Picnic Area is free and cannot be reserved. If you wanted Somersby Falls, that is Brisbane Water National Park. If you wanted a night in a forest, that is Olney and The Pines, on a different website. This site is an unofficial operator’s manual in the State Forest Guide Australia network.
Somersby Falls is in Brisbane Water National Park. That is a neighbouring national park, not a State forest sister. A night under trees is The Pines at Olney. First-come. A different forest. Not a bed held from here.
What kind of forest day?
Strickland Falls
1.6 km loop · medium · no clock time
From the small carpark near Banksia. Forestry Corporation describes cliffs, moss, ferns and gully rainforest. Friends of Strickland finished the track in 2003. This is not Somersby Falls.
Banksia Picnic Area
Free · you cannot reserve Banksia · not a camp
Grey gums, pink smooth-barked apples and banksias, with views toward Gosford and Brisbane Water. Start of Cabbage Tree, Stoney Creek and Strickland Falls. You cannot reserve Banksia.
The arboretum
2.3 km loop · easy · cones Jan–Mar
First government forest nursery 1886–1890. First national forestry training school 1920–1927. Remnants among Australia’s oldest plantings. Red cedar, bunya and hoop pine. There is no museum.
No camping — and not Somersby Falls
Day use only · neighbouring national park
You cannot sleep here. Cumberland is the other forest where camping is not permitted. Somersby Falls is Brisbane Water National Park, not a second gate into this forest.
Best for
A Central Coast day: Banksia if a table is free, Strickland Falls or the arboretum, and out before dusk. The easy walks are Arboretum and Bellbird.
Skip if
You need a tent tonight, or you wanted Somersby Falls in Brisbane Water National Park. A forest night is The Pines at Olney, first-come, in a different forest. Do not start a medium walk near dusk.
Picnic
Banksia Picnic Area, not a camp
One named picnic, on the ridge. Pictures are AI illustrative — not a field photograph.
- Banksia Picnic Area
The named picnic on the ridge. Forestry Corporation says grey gums, smooth-barked apples and banksias, with views toward Gosford and Brisbane Water. Free. You cannot reserve it.
How long
A day inside the gate. Not a night.
Short visit
Banksia if it is free. Arboretum Track is the easy 2.3 km loop. Bellbird is 1.3 km off that walk. No clock time is published. Not independently walked.
A longer morning
Strickland Falls, Cabbage Tree, Stoney Creek, or Ridge to Rainforest. Those are medium. Ridge to Rainforest is 2.1 km one way. Leave daylight for the walk back. Not independently walked.
Overnight
Not here. A town bed, or The Pines in Olney if you actually wanted a forest camp. First-come, in that forest. Read the no-camping page before you pack a tent.
Named walks
Six tracks, kilometres from the visitor page
Not independently walked. No clock times — the Forestry Corporation page does not publish them. If a sign on the day disagrees, follow the sign.
Strickland Falls
1.6 km loop, medium grade, from the small carpark near Banksia Picnic Area. Forestry Corporation describes the drop to the fall: cliffs, moss, ferns, palms and gully rainforest. Friends of Strickland finished the track in 2003.
Forestry Corporation: 1.6 km loop · medium. Last-checked 24 Sep 2026.
View guide →
Arboretum
2.3 km loop, easy grade, from the carpark down toward Stoney Creek and into plantings Forestry Corporation dates to 1887–1924. Red cedar, bunya pine and hoop pine. Watch for falling cones from January to March.
Forestry Corporation: 2.3 km loop · easy. Combined with Bellbird, 3.3 km. Last-checked 24 Sep 2026.
View guide →
Bellbird
1.3 km loop, easy grade, off the Arboretum Track. It follows Narara Creek through rainforest. Combined with Arboretum the official total is 3.3 km.
Forestry Corporation: 1.3 km loop · easy. Combined 3.3 km. Last-checked 24 Sep 2026.
View guide →
Cabbage Tree
1.6 km loop, medium grade, from Banksia Picnic Area. Downhill through rocky outcrops and dry forest to a grove of cabbage palms, then ferns and rocky ridges on the way back up.
Forestry Corporation: 1.6 km loop · medium. Last-checked 24 Sep 2026.
View guide →
Stoney Creek
1 km link, medium grade when joined to the Cabbage Tree loop (3.6 km return). It connects Banksia Picnic Area with the lower carpark, upstream through gully rainforest and cabbage palms.
Forestry Corporation: 1 km link · 3.6 km return with Cabbage Tree · medium. Last-checked 24 Sep 2026.
View guide →
Ridge to Rainforest
2.1 km one way, medium grade, from near the entry road to Banksia Picnic Area. Dry forest on the ridge, then moist forest and gully rainforest. Friends of Strickland hand-built it over 10 years.
Forestry Corporation: 2.1 km one way · medium. Last-checked 24 Sep 2026.
View guide →
Not a shop inside the gate
Friends of Strickland, and what is not here
There is no cafe, nursery shop or ropes course inside Strickland. This guide does not sell a ticket for the day.
- Friends of Strickland — they built and maintain tracks, with Forestry Corporation. This page does not publish a roster.
- School excursions — book with Forestry Corporation. This site does not take school bookings.
- Ourimbah State Forest Guide — a different forest. Mountain bikes and a private ropes course are on that guide, not inside Strickland.
Strickland State Forest Guide
Strickland State Forest Guide downloads
Printable planner and itineraries with the site name on them. Gate hours, a picnic, a short walk, and out before close. Official Forestry Corp / RFS links on every file.
- Planner — gate hours, leash, gas barbecues, no camping
- Itineraries — a morning picnic, a short walk, and out before the gate
- Waterfall mark + www.stricklandstateforest.com.au on every sheet
Free direct download — no email required. Maps · Itineraries · Privacy.
Part of the State Forest Guide Australia network
This unofficial Strickland State Forest guide is in that network. Not government. Not a national-park directory.
Browse state forests → stateforestguide.com.au
Sister state forests
FAQ
Is Strickland State Forest a national park?
No. It is a Forestry Corporation of NSW forest. NSW Government lists Mangrove Road, Niagara Park NSW 2250, and says entry is at the top of Mangrove Road, Somersby. About five square kilometres. Somersby Falls is in Brisbane Water National Park, a neighbouring national park, not this forest. Not a national park
Can I camp, or reserve Banksia Picnic Area?
No camping. You cannot reserve Banksia. The statewide rule that lets people camp in State forests does not apply here. Cumberland is the other forest where camping is not permitted. No camping
What time does the gate shut?
Forestry Corporation says the forest is gated, for day use only, and open from dawn to dusk. Checked 24 Sep 2026. This page cannot tell you if the gate is open. They do not give a clock time. How long
Can I bring a dog?
NSW Government lists the forest as pet friendly and says enquire. Read Forestry Corporation’s dogs page before you go. Do not take the dog to Somersby Falls. Dogs are generally not allowed in the national park. Dogs on Plan your visit
Can I drive the walking tracks?
No. Drive the forest road to the picnic and the carparks. The walks are on foot. Forestry Corporation has not published a speed limit for this forest. Plan your visit
Is this site official?
No. Independent, unofficial, not Forestry Corporation, not NPWS. An unofficial operator’s manual in the State Forest Guide Australia network. There is no cafe, nursery shop or ropes course inside this forest for us to sell.
Track names, kilometres, grades, the dawn-to-dusk gate and the nursery history come from Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Strickland page, last-checked 24 Sep 2026. The NSW Government listing supplied the street address, free entry, the five-square-kilometre line, fireplaces and the pet-friendly note. The map PDF is Forestry’s. Closures: official notices. Fires: RFS and Forestry’s solid-fuel page.
Not independently walked. The gate is dawn to dusk on the Forestry Corporation page. This page cannot tell you if the gate is open. Check closures before you go.