Rainforest walk to Riverside Park
Hunter Wetlands National Park
Overview
Rainforest walk to Riverside Park, near Newcastle, is suitable for walking or cycling and crosses Ash Island, ending by the river where you can fish and birdwatch.
- Where
- Hunter Wetlands National Park in North Coast
- Accessibility
- Medium
- Distance
- 2km one-way
- Time suggested
- 1hr 45min - 2hrs 15min
- Grade
- Grade 3
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- It’s a good idea to put insect repellent on before you set out
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch
Variety is the spice of this excellent walk from the western side of Ash Island, through its interior, finishing at the picnic area by the river. Stroll through wetlands and rainforest before arriving on the edges of Kooragang City Farm. Here, you’ll see vegetable and bush food gardens, egrets and ibis feeding in the fields and historic silos that are part of the island’s farming past. You’ll also pass the ruins of Milham’s Farmhouse, established here in the 1860s.
You’ll soon arrive at Riverside Park, where you can go fishing off the jetty, look out over the mangroves and relax at the picnic area. The birdlife around the river is worth observing through a set of binoculars. Sea eagles soar overhead, pelicans float past, and cormorants can be seen hanging out their wings to dry.
Subscribe to Naturescapes
Subscribe to our Naturescapes e-newsletter which is packed with the latest information, experiences and events in NSW national parks. Your next park adventure starts here.
Saving Our Species program
Australia is home to more than 500,000 animal and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Saving our Species is a statewide conservation program that addresses the growing number of Australian animals and Australian native plants facing extinction.
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Newcastle office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- 02 4946 4100
- npws.lowerhunter@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 1 Wetlands Place, Shortland NSW 2307
Park info
- in Hunter Wetlands National Park in the North Coast region
Hunter Wetlands National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
What's nearby:
Things to do (13)
- Adventure sports (1)
- Birdwatching and wildlife encounters (5)
- Canoeing/paddling (1)
- Cycling (1)
- Environmental appreciation/study (1)
- Fishing (2)
- Historic heritage (2)
- Other experiences (2)
- Picnics and barbecues (3)
- Sightseeing (2)
- Walking (6)