A meandering walk that takes in much of what Blackbutt Reserve has to offer. This walk completes a figure 8 while following the trails around Blackbutt Reserve. The side trip to the Wildlife Exhibits is considered a must-see. There are many opportunities to stop along this walk, be it at a seat along the way or at one of the established picnic areas. A recommended classic. Let us begin by acknowledging the Awabakal and Worimi people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
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 started From the Richley Reserve car park (next to the 'Tall Tree Ridge Walk' sign), this walk follows the footpath, while keeping the sign and pond on your right. This walk continues with the pond on your right for about 180m, until the footpath becomes gently uphill and comes to a four-way intersection, with a timber footbridge on the right and a children's playground on the left. Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sealed trail over a timber footbridge, while leaving the children's playground behind you (on the right). This walk continues, leaving the pond behind after about 80m, then comes to a four-way intersection with a gently uphill trail into forest and a timber post with chain attached directly ahead.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After another 70 m (from the Coalmine Creek) continue straight.
After another 100 m pass the picnic table (on your left).
After another 15 m turn right.
After another 15 m (from the Coalmine Creek) continue straight.
After another 95 m continue straight.
After another 255 m continue straight.
After another 25 m veer left.
After another 15 m continue straight.
After another 315 m continue straight.
After another 280 m continue straight.
After another 245 m veer right.
After another 85 m veer right.
After another 7 m (from the Ash Tree Boundary Walk) turn sharp left, to head along Ash Tree Boundary Walk.
After another 740 m (from the Ash Tree Boundary Walk) turn right (a walking track).
After another 70 m turn right.
After another 40 m pass the playground (25 m on your left).
After another 15 m find the "Carnley Ave Reserve" (45 m on your left).
The Carnley Avenue Reserve, within Blackbutt Reserve, is wheelchair accessible and has toilets, drinking fountains, gas/electric barbeques, sheltered picnic tables, a children's playground, fenced displays of kangaroos and emu, a large black duck pond and an information centre that is housed within a replica pioneering cottage. The information cottage has a range of souvenirs, focusing on quality and affordable products. A fee of $4 per vehicle can be paid from the automatic machines in the car park. The information centre is open 7am to 5pm, or 7am to 7pm during daylight savings. For further information phone: 02 4904 3344.
Veer right.
After another 15 m continue straight.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. Side trip to the bird exhibits. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip error >360 when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 15 m continue straight.
After another 10 m pass the "Information and Canteen" (10 m on your left).
After another 10 m continue straight.
After another 75 m pass the picnic table (10 m on your left).
After another 25 m pass the car park (on your left).
Veer right.
After another 130 m continue straight.
After another 290 m pass the water tap (10 m on your right).
Then pass the BBQ (25 m on your right).
From the Forest Walk turn left, to head along Forest Walk.
After another 85 m pass the water tap (45 m on your left).
After another 15 m pass the BBQ (9 m on your left).
At the intersection of Forest Walk & Rainforest Creek continue straight, to head along Forest Walk.
After another 50 m (at the intersection of Rainforest Walk & Forest Walk) turn right, to head along Rainforest Walk (a footpath).
After another 345 m come to the "Flying Foxes" (5 m on your right).
After another 55 m find the "Rod Earp Rainforest Picnic Area" (20 m on your left).
This secluded, dense rainforest within Blackbutt Reserve has bench seats and a picnic table. The forest in this area hosts a large population of grey-headed flying foxes. These large bats migrate for food and then return to roost during the day. Watch out for the bat guano the ground. This picnic area feels a world away from downtown Newcastle.
After another 420 m veer right.
After another 30 m head through/around the gate.
After another 25 m pass the water tap (about 25 m ahead).
Then pass the BBQ (about 40 m ahead).
Turn left.
After another 430 m (from the Ash Tree Boundary Walk) continue straight.
After another 7 m continue straight.
After another 125 m veer right.
After another 700 m turn left.
After another 170 m pass the picnic table (7 m on your left).
After another 35 m pass the car park (about 70 m ahead).
Turn left.
After another 50 m find the "Richley Reserve" (45 m on your right).
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.
After another 205 m pass the playground (on your right).
After another 6 m turn right.
After another 110 m (from the Coalmine Creek) continue straight.
After another 70 m come to the end.
Side trip to the bird exhibits.
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
Find the Blackbutt Wildlife Exhibits at the start.
This boardwalk in the Blackbutt Reserve offers wildlife exhibits on an elevated timber boardwalk which is wheelchair accessible. Some of the wildlife that you are likely to encounter are kangaroos, koalas, wombats, Lace monitors, Wonga Pigeons, Red-winged Parrots, Black-winged Stilt, Buff-banded Rail, Herons, Eastern long-necked Turtle, Kingfishers, Turquoise Parrot, Banded Plover, Peaceful Dove, Cockatoos, Lorikeets, True Parrots, Major Mitchell Cockatoo, Bush Stone Curlew, Long-tailed Finch and Barking Owls. Entry is free and the exhibit is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm every day (closed Christmas Day, Good Friday and until 1pm ANZAC Day). Personal koala encounters are available at 2pm daily and cost $3.50/person. For further information, phone: 02 4904 3344.
After another 15 m continue straight.
After another 20 m pass the toilet (on your left).
After another 45 m come to the end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 80 m to the main route.
Blackbutt Explorer
Grading
Class 3/6
Moderate track
Length
5.8 km
Time
2 h to 2 h 30 min
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)
Some facilities on route
Toilet: There is one 2.4 km (plus an extra 35 m along side route) from the start.
Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h shifting south to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h before dawn. Overnight temperatures falling to between 15 and 19 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
UV Alert: Sun protection 9:40am to 4:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 8 [Very High]
Tuesday 18 March
16°C → 26°C
Partly cloudy. 10% chance of rain
Partly cloudy. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending east to southeasterly before dawn then becoming light in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 11 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to high 20s.
Wednesday 19 March
17°C → 29°C
Mostly sunny. 5% chance of rain
Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 13 and 16 with daytime temperatures reaching around 30.
Thursday 20 March
17°C → 31°C
Sunny. 10% chance of rain
Mostly sunny. The chance of morning fog about the Lower Hunter. Slight chance of a shower. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening inland. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 15 and 18 with daytime temperatures reaching 28 to 33.
Bushwalk
2 h to 2 h 30 min
After another 15 m find the "Carnley Ave Reserve" (45 m on your left).
After another 50 m find the "Richley Reserve" (45 m on your right).
Toilet: There is one 2.4 km (plus an extra 35 m along side route) from the start.
Map
Notes
Terrain
Reviews
Conditions
More
After another 25 m veer left.
After another 7 m (from the Ash Tree Boundary Walk) turn sharp left, to head along Ash Tree Boundary Walk.
After another 40 m pass the playground (25 m on your left).
After another 10 m pass the "Information and Canteen" (10 m on your left).
After another 25 m pass the car park (on your left).
After another 290 m pass the water tap (10 m on your right).
Then pass the BBQ (25 m on your right).
After another 30 m head through/around the gate.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 80 m to the main route.