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.

Carnley Ave Reserve
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.

Blackbutt Wildlife Exhibits
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.

Rod Earp Rainforest Picnic Area
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.