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Central Coast Bushwalk

Girrakool Piles Creek Loop (4km)

A 4km loop featuring waterfalls, stepping stones, a suspension bridge, and wildflower displays through Girrakool.

At a glance

Distance
4km circuit
Time
2 hours 30 min to 3 hours
Grade
Grade 5, experienced bushwalkers only, rough, steep and unmarked
Ascent
150m
Dogs
No
Toilets
Yes
Parking
Yes
Sign up for BushwalksStart Point

If you are planning on camping at point 7 near the suspension bridge, here is where you park your car.

Walk directions

  1. Start at Girrakool Picnic Area, head south to the send of the car park and the start of the walk: -33.431943, 151.276599 Google Maps Link
  2. The start of the walk, veer right: -33.433366, 151.275473 Google Maps Link
  3. Head left across the stepping stones over the top of the waterfall: -33.433684, 151.275221 Google Maps Link
  4. Veer right staying on the trail trail: -33.433966, 151.27529 Google Maps Link
  5. Veer right to stay on the trail: -33.438371, 151.26711 Google Maps Link
  6. Turn Right down the hill to cross the suspension bridge: -33.44296, 151.265731 Google Maps Link
  7. Turn right after the suspension bridge: -33.442597, 151.265731 Google Maps Link
  8. Turn right and follow the signs back to the carpark or alternatively turn left and see another beautiful red waterfall on the way back to the carpark: -33.433331, 151.275135 Google Maps Link
Girrikool waterfall with a lot of water
This is a beautiful walk with many waterfalls, along the bottom and top of cliff lines, with a suspension bridge and lovely wildflowers. It starts at a picnic area, so its a great place to have lunch as well.
Hiker wearing a wide brim hat and sunglasses beside Piles Creek at Girrakool
Father carrying a smiling baby beside a cascading waterfall on the Piles Creek loop
Mother and baby in a carrier smiling in front of a fast flowing Girrakool waterfall
Hiker pauses on a stepping stone crossing watching ducks on Piles Creek
Girrikool waterfall
Piles Creek rushing over rock shelves beside a stepping stone crossing
Great North Walk trail sign marking the Piles Creek and Girrakool Loop junction
Beautiful tree at piles creek loop
Beautiful tree at piles creek loop
suspension bridge at girrikool piles creek loop
small waterfall at girrikool piles creek loop
Banksias at Girrikool Piles loop
Banksias at Girrikool Piles loop
Banksias at Girrikool Piles loop
Leaning tree trunk arching low over a puddle on the Piles Creek loop track
small waterfall at girrikool piles creek loop
Girrikool waterfall with so much water
Girrikool waterfall with so much water

What does Girrakool mean?

Girrakool is a local aboriginal word that means "Place of Waters", an apt name for this walk with many waterfalls.

Similar Bushwalks

Strickland Arboretum (1.8km)Kariong Brook Falls (4km)Wildflower Guide
The cover of A Cornucopia of Central Coast Walks: watercolour wildflowers, including a waratah and orchids, on a bright yellow background

The book

15 waterfall walks in the book

A Cornucopia of Central Coast Walks has a waterfall section with 15 walks, including Somersby Falls, Gap Creek Falls, Strickland Falls and Kariong Brook Falls. Each one has a map and numbered directions, alongside over 100 other walks on the Coast.

See the book
The cover of The Bush Wee: a girl with red bunny ears and a starry blue dress peeks out from behind a tree beside a waterfall

A picture book

A picture book with a waterfall in it

In The Bush Wee, a little explorer swings on a vine, splashes through a waterfall and climbs a great big tree, then realises there is no toilet for miles. It is my read aloud picture book for children aged 2 to 7, set in the Central Coast bush.

See the picture book
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This walk is on Darkinung country. Good Architect acknowledges the Darkinung people as the Traditional Custodians of this land and we pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging. Darkinjung Land Council.