A great family length walk that takes in both of the large reserves in the Blackbutt Park. This walk starts at Richley Reserve and travels to Carnley Reserve and the Wildlife Exhibits before returning a different way to Richley Reserve. Never far from facilities, this walk suits families or those who want to stay on the wider trails. An excellent walk. 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), this walk follows the car park gently downhill, while leaving the ponds directly behind you. This walk continues for about 150m, to find a three-way intersection, with a metal gate and 'Blackbutt Reserve - Freyberg St Entrance' sign (on the right). This walk turns right and continues gently uphill for about 45m, passing through the metal gate, until coming to a three-way intersection with a sealed trail and 'Tall Tree Walk (loop)' sign (on the left).....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After another 15 m continue straight.
After another 65 m pass the car park (10 m on your right).
After another 20 m continue straight.
After another 55 m turn right.
After another 15 m (from the Coalmine Creek) continue straight.
After another 35 m pass the picnic table (4 m on your right).
Turn left.
After another 660 m turn left.
After another 170 m (from the Ash Tree Boundary Walk) continue straight.
After another 130 m turn sharp left.
After another 100 m turn right.
After another 35 m turn right.
After another 30 m continue straight.
After another 50 m cross the bridge (about 9 m long)
Then find the "Carnley Ave Reserve" (45 m on your right).
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.
After another 45 m continue straight.
After another 35 m turn right.
After another 80 m pass the picnic table (10 m on your right).
After another 75 m find the "Blackbutt Wildlife Exhibits" (25 m on your left).
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.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. Side trip to the Koala Exhibit. To start this optional side trip veer left here. On returning from this side trip error >360 when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
Continue straight.
After another 25 m pass the "Information and Canteen" (10 m on your right).
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. Side trip to the bird exhibits. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip turn sharp left when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
Continue straight.
After another 15 m continue straight.
After another 15 m veer left.
After another 15 m pass the playground (25 m on your right).
Then pass the picnic table (20 m on your right).
After another 20 m turn left.
After another 70 m (from the Ash Tree Boundary Walk) turn right, to head along Ash Tree Boundary Walk (a vehicle track).
After another 135 m (from the Ash Tree Boundary Walk) continue straight (a footpath).
After another 170 m continue straight.
After another 170 m pass the picnic table (7 m on your left).
After another 20 m 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 40 m pass the picnic table (on your right).
After another 70 m (from the Coalmine Creek) continue straight.
After another 70 m come to the end.
Side trip to the Koala Exhibit.
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After another 65 m come to the end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 65 m to the main route.
Side trip to the bird exhibits.
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
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.
Richley Reserve to Carnley Reserve Circuit
Grading
Class 3/6
Moderate track
Length
2.7 km
Time
45 min to 1 h 15 min
Quality of track
Smooth and hardened path (1/6)
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 1.6 km (plus an extra 35 m along side route) from the start.
Partly cloudy. Winds south to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening.
Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions for the rest of the day are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
Wednesday 19 March
17°C → 30°C
Sunny. 5% chance of rain
Partly cloudy. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn then becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 11 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to high 20s.
UV Alert: Sun protection 9:40am to 4:30pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]
Thursday 20 March
17°C → 32°C
Mostly sunny. 5% chance of rain
Sunny. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 13 and 16 with daytime temperatures reaching around 30.
Friday 21 March
18°C → 32°C
Partly cloudy. 20% chance of rain
Mostly sunny. The chance of morning fog about the Lower Hunter. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to around 16 with daytime temperatures reaching around 30.
Mostly sunny morning. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to around 17 with daytime temperatures reaching around 30.
Sunday 23 March
19°C → 30°C
Possible shower. 40% chance of rain 0 → 1mm
Possible shower.
Monday 24 March
19°C → 27°C
Possible shower. 40% chance of rain 0 → 1mm
Bushwalk
45 min to 1 h 15 min
Then find the "Carnley Ave Reserve" (45 m on your right).
After another 75 m find the "Blackbutt Wildlife Exhibits" (25 m on your left).
After another 50 m find the "Richley Reserve" (45 m on your right).
Toilet: There is one 1.6 km (plus an extra 35 m along side route) from the start.
Map
Notes
Terrain
Reviews
Conditions
More
After another 15 m continue straight.
After another 65 m pass the car park (10 m on your right).
After another 55 m turn right.
After another 50 m cross the bridge (about 9 m long)
After another 15 m pass the playground (25 m on your right).
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 65 m to the main route.