Forestway Circuit Walk

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-32.9303982,151.7036808)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From City Road, A43 Turn on to Northcott Drive, B63 then drive for 2 km At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Carnley Avenue and drive for another 220 m Turn right onto Birdwood Street and drive for another 105 m Turn left onto Freyberg Street and drive for another 560 m Keep right onto Mahogany Drive and drive for another 280 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Mahogany Picnic Area (on Queens Rd, New Lambton), this walk passes around the locked gate and follows the gently uphill trail for about 70m (with picnic tables on the right), until coming to toilets (on the left) and a three-way intersection, with two 'Forest Way Walk' signs directly ahead.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Mahognay Picnic Area (Queens St) (about 25 m back from the start). Mahognay Picnic Area (Queens St) The Mahogany Drive picnic area in Blackbutt Reserve has toilets, picnic tables, a water tap, an elevated timber barbecue and car parking. The car park is open from 7am to 5pm or 7am to 7pm during daylight savings. For further information phone: 02 4904 3344. After 25 m to find the car park.
	After another 20 m turn left.
	After another 210 m continue straight.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Richley Reserve (Four Way Intersection). To start this optional side trip turn sharp left here. On returning from this side trip veer left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 185 m continue straight. After another 210 m continue straight.
	After another 160 m turn right.
	After another 220 m continue straight.
	After another 140 m (from the Ridgeway Road) turn right, to head along Ridgeway Road (a residential road). After another 420 m (at the intersection of Croudace Street & Ridgeway Road) continue straight, to head along Ridgeway Road.
	After another 295 m turn right.
	After another 325 m veer left. After another 200 m find the "Lily Pond Picnic Area" (on your left). Lily Pond Picnic Area The Lily Pond picnic area in Blackbutt Reserve feels like a small, watery oasis surrounded by eucalyptus forest. There is an attractive tropical water lily pond with a healthy cover of Nymphaea, which is particularly beautiful when flowering. Also at this picnic area are bench seats, picnic tables, small grassed areas and an elevated timber barbecue.
	After another 120 m veer right.
	After another 90 m continue straight.
	After another 75 m continue straight.
	After another 35 m come to the end.

An optional side trip to Richley Reserve (Four Way Intersection).

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 40 m turn right.
	After another 120 m veer right.
	After another 125 m come to the end. About 25 m past the end is a playground . Turn around and retrace your steps back the 285 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Forestway Circuit Walk

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	2.7 km
Time	1 h to 2 h

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Blackbutt Reserve
Blackbutt Reserve, near Newcastle, occupies over 182 hectares of land and provides visitors with the chance to enjoy nature trails, wildlife exhibits, children's playgrounds and recreational facilities. The reserve is the perfect place for a relaxing family picnic or to explore on a bushwalk. Native wildlife, such as the Powerful Owl and the Grey-headed flying fox can be seen within the park. There is an information cottage at Carnley Avenue, which is open 7am to 5pm, or 7am to 7pm during daylight savings. The reserve has car parking at Carnley Avenue, Richley Reserve, Lookout Road and Mahonoy Drive. For more information, phone 02 4904 3344.

Mahognay Picnic Area (Queens St)
The Mahogany Drive picnic area in Blackbutt Reserve has toilets, picnic tables, a water tap, an elevated timber barbecue and car parking. The car park is open from 7am to 5pm or 7am to 7pm during daylight savings. For further information phone: 02 4904 3344.

Lily Pond Picnic Area
The Lily Pond picnic area in Blackbutt Reserve feels like a small, watery oasis surrounded by eucalyptus forest. There is an attractive tropical water lily pond with a healthy cover of Nymphaea, which is particularly beautiful when flowering. Also at this picnic area are bench seats, picnic tables, small grassed areas and an elevated timber barbecue.

Richley Reserve
The Richley Reserve, within Blackbutt Reserve, has a park office, large pond areas with swans (beware the swans as they defend their territory), sheltered picnic tables, water taps, toilets, open grassed areas, a children's playground, electric barbecues and a car park. The Richley Reserve car park has disability friendly parking and is open from 7am to 5pm or 7am to 7pm during daylight savings. For further information phone 02 4904 3344.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Wallsend Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
  
  Wednesday 8 January
  
  24°C
  Showers. Possible storm.
  90% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers, tending to rain north of Newcastle during the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe. Winds south to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. Daytime maximum temperatures between 19 and 24.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:50am to 5:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 12 [Extreme]
  
  Thursday 9 January
  
  17°C → 27°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 6mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 13 and 17 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s.
  
  Friday 10 January
  
  18°C → 28°C
  Shower or two. Possible storm.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 10mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 14 and 18 with daytime temperatures reaching 24 to 29.
  
  Saturday 11 January
  
  18°C → 30°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 9mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 15 and 19 with daytime temperatures reaching 25 to 30.
  
  Sunday 12 January
  
  18°C → 31°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Monday 13 January
  
  18°C → 33°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Tuesday 14 January
  
  19°C → 34°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
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