New South Wales · Attraction
Blackbutt Reserve
Wild bushland, free to roam
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Covering 182 hectares of native bushland between the suburbs of New Lambton and Kotara, Blackbutt Reserve is Newcastle's largest urban nature reserve and home to a free wildlife exhibit where visitors can see koalas, kangaroos, wombats, echidnas, emus, and native parrots at close range. Over 10 kilometres of walking trails wind through blackbutt and turpentine forest, and picnic facilities with barbecues make it a popular destination for families on weekdays and weekends alike.
The land has a layered history: it was mined for coal by the Scottish-Australian Mining Company from 1863, and a 19th-century brick-lined mine shaft was discovered during construction works in 2014. The NSW Government resumed the land in 1938 and placed it under Newcastle City Council trusteeship; restoration efforts began in earnest from 1963 after the reserve had been overtaken by weeds. Today the bushland supports grey-headed flying foxes, brush-tail possums, and powerful owls alongside the wildlife exhibit animals.
The wildlife exhibits are open daily from 10am to 4.30pm and entry is free, though the reserve's main carparks charge a fee. The exhibits are closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and before 1pm on Anzac Day. Picnic areas and walking trails are accessible daily from 7am to 7pm.
A highlight for families is the opportunity to see koalas in a natural bushland setting without a theme-park admission fee. The reserve also has a children's playground in the recreational area, named after conservation advocate Joe Richley who was instrumental in protecting the land from a proposed highway in 1974.
Scenic views
