Rusden Head Walking Track NSW (9.8 km)
Morton National Park
Nearest Town
Milton-Ulladulla
Starting Location
Little Forest Car Park
Car park for the Little Forest Walking Track, Florence Head Walking Track and Rusden Head Walking Track
Finish Location
Little Forest Car Park
Rusden Head Walking Track review
The Rusden Head walk starts off with a walk along the Little Forest walking Track but rather than turning around when the Little Forest Track intersects the management trail you turn to the right and instead of going straight ahead to Florence Head, you turn hard right again along the management trail and travel towards Rusden Head. The track surface varies from natural track, through to timber boardwalks in a few areas where it becomes quite muddy, and the very occasional bit of rock as you start approaching the cliff edge. There is no really difficult area on the track to negotiate however this track is wetter than the Florence Head Track. The track gradient is flat-ish but you do have a sense walking slightly up hill for most of the track with the occasional down hill section.
There is no signage once you go past the start of the fire trail but there are also no turnoffs to negotiate either. There is also no real warning that you are coming close to the cliff edge but the trees thin out quite quickly so there aren’t really any safety issues, although I would keep an eye on young children.
Access to the cliff edge is very easy and you have spectacular views across the adjacent valleys and directly towards Pigeon House Mountain. Unlike the Florence Head Track you can’t see the ocean from this lookout as it faces directly inland from the coast. You can spend time exploring the cliff edge however the views don’t change too much like they do with Florence Head.
Like other tracks in this area the vegetation changes, particularly on the first section of the track that then merges into native forest/heathland that is home to a large amounts of birdlife. In fact if you are an avid bird watcher, choose this track over the adjacent Florence Head track if you only have the time to do one trail.
The whole trip will take a fit walker about 2.5 hours so it is worth while taking some snacks or lunch to spend time taking in the views once you reach you destination.
Please note that the phone signal is at best intermittent along this track.
Start of Track at the car park
Interpretive signage explaining what’s there. This signage is only on the first part of the trail which is the Little Forest Walking Track. Once you have come to the Rusden Head turn off, there is no more signage
Track example on the first part of the trail
Banksia in flower during winter
The vegetation changes a number of times along the first part of the trail which forms the Little Forest walking Track.
End of the Little Forest walking Track. Turn right here and just a few metres around the corner you will come across two additional signs including the trails to Florence Head and Rusden Head
Sign to walking trails. Turn right at this sign for Rusden Head or take the left fork towards Florence Head. Please note that in turning right to Rusden Head the entire trip length is 9.8 km. The sign as written seems to indicates the trail should be about 11 km
The start of the Rusden Track section of the trail
Sundews on the trail
Wet track with boardwalk sections. Some of the boardwalk is in a state of disrepair so watch where you put your feet
Track example rock section. There is not much rock on the trail, the surface is mainly soil covered in grass
There is a nice campsite about half way to Rusden Head on the right hand side of the trail
Wildflowers
Eastern Yellow Robin. There are a lot of birds along the trail. Pick this track over Florence Head if you want bird life
Isopogon species
Trees along track. This track has much more tree level vegetation and with it a lot more bird life
Panoramic view from the cliff edge
Sitting on the cliff edge looking towards Pigeon House Mountain
There are some good rock climbing walls at the base of this cliff range from about 15-30 metres in height
Looking down into one of the valleys for the cliff top
Getting There
Image from Google Maps showing how to get the the Little Forest Carpark.
Travel north from Milton-Ulladulla and turn on to Porters Creek Road. Follow along Porters Creek Road until you come to Mt Bushwalker Road and follow the signs to the left for approximately 2.5 km. You will come to the service road first but keep on going for about 30 metres and you will come to the carpark. There is a sign just in along the turnoff road but it is partly overgrown.
The road is in good condition and suitable for normal cars unless is has been raining very heavily.
Highway turnoff onto Porters Creek Road
Google Maps will take you to this gate which is the maintenance road for this area. The turn off to the carpark is 30 metres further on to the left
This sign to the Little Forest Walking Track carpark although partially obscured is visible as you approach the turn off, you just need to look left. This carpark is also the starting point for the walk to Florence Head and Rusden Head which takes in the little Forest Walking Track which is the first part of both the longer tracks
Disclaimer
This walk was undertaken by the team from Australian Hiker