Flat Rock Gully

Flat Rock Gully is a pocket of remnant bushland between Naremburn and Northbridge, and the loop through it runs 2.7 km past a creek, sandstone terracing and the ruins of a pioneer cottage. Dogs walk it on lead. Willoughby City Council has classified the gully a Wildlife Protection Area, so the lead is not a formality here.

The rules. Willoughby City Council manages the reserve and requires dogs on lead on the bushland walking tracks. The classification exists because the gully supports small birds, reptiles and frogs that a loose dog will clear out in minutes. Pick up and carry waste out. If your dog needs a run off lead, council keeps separate designated areas for that, including the Unleashed Dog Exercise Area at Chatswood.

The walk. AllTrails rates the loop easy and allows about 45 minutes for the 2.7 km. The council track through the same gully runs longer, closer to 4 km return, and is graded medium. Either way the surface is the thing to plan for: an unsealed path with wooden stairs and stepped sections, well defined but steep in places. The longer Flat Rock Gully Walking Track and Flat Rock Creek cover the same country if you want more of it.

Water and hazards. The creek runs through the base of the gully, and the crossings are the pinch point. Council warns they may not be passable after rain, and the rock is slippery when wet. Small dogs and older dogs will struggle at the crossings once the water is up.

Getting there. A small car park sits near the Small Street entrance at Willoughby, with street parking around it. The car park closes in the late afternoon, so read the sign on the way in rather than on the way out. The nearest bus stops are on Willoughby Road, about six minutes walk from the track.

Nearby with the dogs. The Incinerator Cafe is the closest, in the Walter Burley Griffin building near Small Street, with a large outdoor area. The Rusty Rabbit at St Leonards is the other local favourite. Tunks Park to Artarmon Reserve connects into the same valley system if you want to keep walking.

When to go. Mid-week, mid-morning, and give it a few dry days after rain. The gully holds shade all day, which makes it one of the better summer options on the Lower North Shore. Good for nervous dogs who want quiet, and for seniors if you skip the creek crossings.

Sources

• Flat Rock Gully | Willoughby City Council · www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au
• Flat Rock Gully Walking Track | Willoughby City Council · www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au
• Flat Rock Gully Loop, New South Wales - AllTrails · www.alltrails.com

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.