Black Duck Creek Circuit Walk
Download & Print Map and Notes
1 Hr
2.1 km Circuit
89 m
Moderate track
This walk circumnavigates Black Duck Creek by following the shady Blueberry Ash trail. The walk then returns to Carnley Reserve using the Main Ridge Walking Trail. This relatively short walk has a good combination of shady moist forest and more exposed ridge forest. Make sure you visit the Wildlife Exhibit while at Carnley Reserve. A recommended walk.
Blackbutt Reserve
Blackbutt Reserve, near Newcastle, occupies over 182 hectares of land and provides visitors with the chance to enjoy nature trails[1], wildlife exhibits[2][3], children's playgrounds[4] 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[5] can be seen within the park. There is an information cottage[6] 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[7], drinking fountains[8], gas/electric barbeques[9], sheltered picnic tables[10], a children's playground[11], fenced displays of kangaroos and emu[12], a large black duck pond[13] and an information centre[14] 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[15] 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.
(0km) Carnley Avenue Reserve → Int of Blueberry Ash Walk & Carnley Trail
130 m
2 mins
9m
-1m
Easy trackFrom the intersection[16][17], this walk follows the sealed road, while initially keeping the Black Duck Pond[18] on your left and the replica pioneering cottage[19][20] directly behind you. This walk continues, passing the Black Duck Pond (on the left) and continues gently uphill[21] for about 150m (passing a sheltered picnic area[22] and children's playground on the right) until coming to a three-way intersection[23] with a gravel trail (on the left), a metal ring fence (on the right) and a 'Main Ridge Walk (loop)' sign[24].
(0km) Int of Blueberry Ash Walk and Carnley Trail → Int of Rain Forest Walk and Lookout Road
1.2 km
24 mins
72m
-25m
Easy trackTurn sharp left: From the intersection[25], this walk follows the 'Blueberry Ash Walk to Lookout Rd CarPark' sign[26] and gravel trail[27] gently downhill, while leaving the metal ring fence[28] directly behind. This walk continues, undulating through mature forest for about 800m, with Black Duck Creek visible (on the left), until coming to a T-intersection[29] with a sealed road and the 'Blueberry Ash Walk to Carnley Ave Carpark' sign[30].
Turn left: From the intersection[31], this walk follows the 'Main Ridge Walk to Lookout Rd Car Park' sign[32] and sealed road gently downhill, while keeping the valley on your left. This walk continues, undulating for about 400m through attractive forest[33][34] until coming to a three-way intersection[35] with a road and brick buildings[36] (on the left) and yellow metal posts and a 'Main Ridge Walk (Loop)' sign[37][38] (on the right).
Turn left: From the intersection[31], this walk follows the 'Main Ridge Walk to Lookout Rd Car Park' sign[32] and sealed road gently downhill, while keeping the valley on your left. This walk continues, undulating for about 400m through attractive forest[33][34] until coming to a three-way intersection[35] with a road and brick buildings[36] (on the left) and yellow metal posts and a 'Main Ridge Walk (Loop)' sign[37][38] (on the right).
(1km) Rain Forest Walk & Main Ridge Walk → Int of Lookout Road & Main Ridge Trail
150 m
3 mins
0m
-9m
Moderate trackVeer left: From the intersection[39], this walk follows the sealed road[40], while passing the two square brick buildings[41][42] (on your right) and leaving the yellow metal posts[43] (directly behind). This walk continues through a picnic area for about 160m until coming to a three-way intersection[44] with a sealed road and 'Rainforest Walk' sign[45] (on the right).
(1km) Int of Lookout Road & Main Ridge Trail → Int of Main Ridge Trail & Lookout Road
410 m
9 mins
4m
-42m
Easy trackTurn right: From the intersection[46][47], this walk follows the 'Rainforest Walk' sign[48] gently downhill, while keeping the valley on your right. This walk continues through dense forest[49] for about 170m until coming to a T-intersection[50], with a 'Rainforest Walk to Lookout Rd Carpark' sign[51] indicating a right turn.
Continue straight: From the intersection[52], this walk follows the 'Wildlife Exhibit' sign[53] and sealed road gently downhill, while keeping the valley on the right. This walk continues, undulating for about 260m until coming to a three-way intersection[54], with a 'Lookout Road Carpark' sign[55] and gently uphill sealed road on the left.
Continue straight: From the intersection[52], this walk follows the 'Wildlife Exhibit' sign[53] and sealed road gently downhill, while keeping the valley on the right. This walk continues, undulating for about 260m until coming to a three-way intersection[54], with a 'Lookout Road Carpark' sign[55] and gently uphill sealed road on the left.
(2km) Int of Main Ridge Trail & Lookout Road → Int of Boardwalk & Carnley Trail
230 m
5 mins
4m
-11m
Moderate trackContinue straight: From the intersection[56], this walk follows the 'Wildlife Exhibitions 120m' sign[57] and sealed road[58] gently downhill, while keeping the 'Lookout Road Carpark' sign[59] directly behind you. This walk continues through forest[60] for about 140m, until coming to a four-way intersection[61] with the Wildlife Exhibits boardwalk[62] (on the left), a car park[63] ahead and a disabled car park (on the right).
Veer left: From the intersection[64], this walk follows the sealed trail gently downhill, while initially keeping the 'Animals' sign[65] and elevated timber boardwalk[66] on the left. This walk continues for about 90m, passing an 'Animals' sign[67] and 'Information' sign (on the left) and concrete stairs (on the right), until coming to a three-way intersection[68][69], with a large timber fenced gate[70] (on the left).
Veer left: From the intersection[64], this walk follows the sealed trail gently downhill, while initially keeping the 'Animals' sign[65] and elevated timber boardwalk[66] on the left. This walk continues for about 90m, passing an 'Animals' sign[67] and 'Information' sign (on the left) and concrete stairs (on the right), until coming to a three-way intersection[68][69], with a large timber fenced gate[70] (on the left).
Blackbutt Wildlife Exhibits
This boardwalk in the Blackbutt Reserve offers wildlife exhibits[71] on an elevated timber boardwalk which is wheelchair accessible. Some of the wildlife that you are likely to encounter are kangaroos, koalas[72], wombats[73], Lace monitors[74], Wonga Pigeons, Red-winged Parrots, Black-winged Stilt[75], Buff-banded Rail, Herons[76], Eastern long-necked Turtle, Kingfishers[77], Turquoise Parrot, Banded Plover, Peaceful Dove[78], Cockatoos, Lorikeets, True Parrots, Major Mitchell Cockatoo, Bush Stone Curlew, Long-tailed Finch and Barking Owls[79]. 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[80] are available at 2pm daily and cost $3.50/person. For further information, phone: 02 4904 3344. More info.
(2km) Int of Boardwalk & Carnley Trail → Carnley Avenue Reserve
20 m
0m
-2m
Very easyTurn right: From the intersection[81], this walk follows the sealed trail[82] gently downhill and towards the Black Duck Pond[83], while initially keeping the large timber fenced gate[84] on your left. This walk continues for about 20m until coming to a four-way intersection[85], with the replica pioneering cottage[86][87], Black Duck Pond and a 'Richley Reserve' sign[88] (on the left).
Maps for the Black Duck Creek Circuit Walk walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
| Wallsend | 1:25 000 Map Series | 92323S WALLSEND | NSW-92323S |
| Newcastle | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9232 NEWCASTLE | 9232 |
Cross sectional view of the Black Duck Creek Circuit Walk bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Black Duck Creek Circuit Walk
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
| Length | 2.1 km | ||
| Time | 1 Hr | ||
| . | |||
Grade 3/6 Moderate track | AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6) |
| Quality of track | Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6) | ||
| Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
| Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
Around 1.7km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 390m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 1.2km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 930m follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 1.8km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 280m has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 2.1km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 2.1km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 2.1km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
A list of walks that share part of the track with the Black Duck Creek Circuit Walk walk.
Blackbutt Wildlife Exhibit
480 m Circuit, 15 mins
Very easy
Rod Earp Rain Forest Circuit (from Lookout Rd)
1.9 km Circuit, 1 Hr
Moderate track
Rod Earp Rainforest Circuit (from Carnley Ave)
2 km Circuit, 1 Hr
Moderate track
Main Ridge Circuit Walk
2.5 km Circuit, 1 Hr
Moderate track
Richley Reserve to Carnley Reserve Circuit
2.9 km Circuit, 1 hr 15 mins
Moderate track
Blackbutt Explorer
6 km Circuit, 2 hrs 30 mins
Moderate track
Blackbutt Circuit Walk
6.5 km Circuit, 2 hrs 30 mins
Moderate track
Other Nearby walks
A list of walks that start near the Black Duck Creek Circuit Walk walk.
Richley Reserve Circuit
731 m Circuit, 30 mins
Very easy
Tall Trees Circuit Walk
2.8 km Circuit, 1 hr 15 mins
Moderate track
Forestway Circuit Walk
2.7 km Circuit, 1 Hr
Moderate track
Charlestown Park track head to Merewether
7.9 km One way, 2 hrs 45 mins
Hard track
Charlestown Park trackhead to Newcastle station
12.1 km One way, 5 hrs 30 mins
Hard track
Yuelarbah walking track to Flaggy Creek
1.3 km Return, 40 mins
Easy track
Merewether to Queens Wharf
4.4 km One way, 1 hr 30 mins
Moderate track
Teralba to Charlestown Park track head
13.3 km One way, 4 hrs 30 mins
Moderate track
Teralba to Newcastle via Glenrock Scout Camp
25.7 km One way, 2 Days
Hard track
Awabakal Coastal Walk
1.9 km One way, 45 mins
Hard track
Awabakal Viewpoint Walk
948 m Return, 30 mins
Hard track
Northern Redhead Beach Walk
1.2 km Circuit, 30 mins
Hard track
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Black Duck Creek Circuit Walk walk starts and ends at the Carnley Avenue Reserve (gps: -32.937008, 151.69804)
Comments
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