Blackbutt Reserve
Blackbutt Reserve provides nature trails, wildlife exhibits, children’s playgrounds and recreational facilities. It is the perfect place for a relaxing family picnic or to explore the wonders of nature.
What's On
Newcastle Permanent/Blackbutt Reserve Junior Ranger Program
The Junior and Cadet Ranger Program is an environmental education program for kids aged 6 - 10.
Theme: Bush rangers
Activities include: bush walking, shelter construction using branches, leaves etc, animal spotting, aquatic life and nature walking.
Time: 9.30 - 11.30am at Richley Reserve
Dates: 14,15.16, 21, 22, 23 July 2009
Cost: $15 per child (discounts apply for siblings and includes healthy morning tea provided by Bi-Lo)
Bookings are essential phone: 4904 3344
Spotlight adventures
Experienced guides will lead you through Blackbutt Reserve at night to discover what our animals do when the sun goes down. Observe possums, owls, bats, insects and other nocturnal wildlife. To complete the experience traditional Billy Tea and damper will be served by the campfire after the adventure
Dates: July dates TBA
Cost: Adults $10, kids $5, family $25
(includes billy tea and damper)
Bookings are essential phone: 4904 3344
WINNER - 2008 Hunter Region Awards for Excellence in Tourism
The Hunter Region Award for Excellence in Tourism recognizes the high standard of the Hunter Tourism Industry and each category is judged by industry experts across NSW.
The award exemplifies the outstanding work Staff and Volunteers accomplish to maintain and preserve the essence of Blackbutt Reserve.
Where is it?
Blackbutt Reserve is six kilometres from Newcastle’s Central Business District, nestled in the suburbs of New Lambton and Kotara. The main entry points into the Reserve are from Carnley Avenue, Lookout Road and Freyberg Street (Richley Reserve entrance).
Reserve has easy parking at various locations. Access to visitors with disabilities is available via the Carnley Avenue and Richley Reserve entrances.
Hours
Wildlife Exhibits open 9.00am to 5.00pm every day of the year.
Picnic and recreation facilities open from:
7.00am to 5.00pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)
or
7.00am to 7.00pm DST (Daylight Saving Time periods)
Entry is FREE
How to get there
By Car: There are four main entrances into Blackbutt Reserve. These include off Carnley Ave (Black Duck Picnic Area), Freyberg Street (Richley Reserve), Queens Road and Lookout Road.
By Bus: Buses pass by Orchardtown Road and Lookout Road. These buses are the 317 and 224.
By Train: The closest train station is Kotara. From here it is only a short walk to the Carnley Ave Black Duck Picnic Area.
Discover Blackbutt
Blackbutt Reserve has two main picnic areas:
Richley Reserve - entrance via Freyberg Street, New Lambton
This area is full of history, an active mine site for over 30 years the area has been restored to a beautiful peaceful picnic area. With large grassed flats, barbeques and picnic tables this is the ideal location for any family function.
Facilities: Toilets, playground, two barbecue shelters, electric and wood fired barbecues, captive wildife exhibits, information centre and two duck ponds
Black Duck Picnic Area - entrance via Carnley Avenue, Kotara
This family friendly location boasts a range of captive native wildlife exhibits including koalas, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, emus and native birds. A children’s playground, duck pond, barbeque shelters and information centre can also be found at this entrance.
Facilities: Toilets, playground, three barbecue shelters, picnic tables, electric and wood fired barbecues, captive wildlife exhibits, information centre, duck pond
The location of different walking trails are shown on the Map 1mb pdf.
Other areas within Blackbutt Reserve have been developed for recreational and picnic activities. These include:
- Dead Tree Picnic Area
- Lily Pond Picnic Area (located off the corner of Queens Road and Mahogany Drive).
-
Lookout Road upper and lower picnic areas
Contact us
Blackbutt Reserve
C/- Rangers Cottage
Carnley Avenue, Kotara NSW 2289
Telephone: 02 4904 3344
Facsimile: 02 4904 3355
Email: blackbuttadmin@ncc.nsw.gov.au
