After visiting the nearby Trial Bay Gaol, we stopped at Back Creek Bridge before driving further up the coast. Located in the town of South West Rocks, the footbridge crosses a creek (called South West Rocks Creek) to a track through the mangroves.
A large car park next to the creek has room for plenty of visitors. Opposite the bridge a café serves meals and drinks, so you can sit and relax while admiring the scenery. We bought a coffee, sat near the creek before walking over the footbridge.
The bridge has a raised section towards the far bank. This allows boats to pass underneath but is also popular for children to jump off into the deeper water. Younger children and their families were closer to the shore in the shallow protected lagoon area.
Lagoon and BridgeFootbridge Over South West Rocks Creek
Built to access and promote a new housing development at Northbridge, Long Gully Bridge has wonderful crenellated battlements making it look very medieval. Originally built as a private steel suspension bridge in 1892, the bridge was transferred to the Department of Main Roads in 1935. To ensure its ability to sustain increased traffic, it was converted to a concrete arch bridge in 1939. The sandstone towers were retained during this transformation, which is great as they still exist today.
Our first view of the bridge was from below during our walk of the Flat Gully Creek Walking Track. This let us look up at the bridge from below where you get some great perspective views of the sandstone towers. After returning to our car, we drove to the bridge and parked in a side street so that we could view the bridge up close.
Being part of Strathallen Avenue it’s a major road into the area and is very busy. Because of this, taking photos can be difficult if you want them free of cars. We waited patiently until the opportunity arrived and took some good photos.
This was an interesting bridge to visit, especially after walking the Flat Gully Creek Track. this bridge is similar to Hampden Bridge in Kangaroo Valley.
From The Cricket Fields Looking up at the BridgeThe Bridge from belowLong Gully Bridge from belowThe crenellated turreted towersThe crenellated turreted towers
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.
Easy start to the Walking TrackSmall section of boardwalkWater stained boulders on the side of the trackTrack descending to the gully floorStone Steps of the trackStone Steps of the trackFlat Rock Gully Walking Track
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.
Stepping stones over Flat Rock CreekFlat Rock Creek with moss covered retaining wall
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.
From The Cricket Fields Looking up at the BridgeThe Bridge from belowLong Gully Bridge from below
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.
Indigenous art work on the Flat Rock Drive underpassIndigenous art work on the Flat Rock Drive underpass
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.
