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.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/rainforest-walk-to-riverside-park/local-alerts
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
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.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Rainforest walk to Riverside Park.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
2km one-way
Time
1hr 45min - 2hrs 15min
Quality of markings
Clearly sign posted
Experience required
No experience required
Gradient
Flat
Steps
No steps
Quality of path
Formed track, some obstacles: The first 240m of the walk is along a metal boardwalk. After this the track becomes a dirt track until you reach Milham Road, which is bitumen.
Other barriers
Gates: There's a locked gate where the walk meets Milham Road. There is pedestrian access around this gate.
Other barriers: Part of the walk goes along a road as it heads to Riverside Park. Please be mindful of vehicles as you walk.
Accessible options
The first 240m of this walk is along an accessible metal boardwalk. The boardwalk doesn't have handrails.
The track becomes a dirt path beyond the wetlands. It's mostly flat, but uneven, grassy and narrow in sections and it may be muddy or submerged after rain. Assistance may be required for people with reduced mobility.
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Rainforest walk to Riverside Park is in the Ash Island precinct of Hunter Wetlands National Park. To get there from Newcastle:
- Head north along the Pacific Highway towards Hexham
- Cross the Ash Island Bridge then turn left onto Scotts Point Way
- Park at the end of Scotts Point Way
- The walk commences to the right
Parking
You can park on Scotts Point Way at the start of this walk. There's also a bitumen carpark at the end of the walk at Riverside Park.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Hunter Wetlands National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
With the weather mild, now is the time to get those bicycles out and ride the paths around Ash Island.
Spring
Pack a picnic to eat at Scotts Point or Riverside Park This is also the time you'll see the cream flowers of the mangroves .
Summer
This is the best time for birdwatching at Stockton Sandspit, as many of the migratory birds are here feeding. Make sure you're there at low-tide.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
20°C and 25°C
Highest recorded
42°C
Winter temperature
Average
10°C and 18°C
Lowest recorded
1.8°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
March
Driest month
November
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
283.7mm
Facilities
Drinking water is not available in this area so you'll need to bring your own supply.
There is a toilet at Riverside Park at the end of the walk.
Seats and resting points
There are 3 sandstone slab benches at the start of the walk. They don't have backrests or armrests.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
- The first 240m of this walk is along an accessible metal boardwalk. The boardwalk doesn't have handrails.
- Beyond the wetlands, the path becomes a dirt path. It's mostly flat, but uneven, grassy and narrow in sections. It may be muddy or submerged after rain. Assistance may be required for people with reduced mobility.
- Part of the walk goes along a road as it heads to Riverside Park; you'll need to be mindful of vehicles along this section.
- There's a locked gate where the walk meets Milham Road. There is pedestrian access to go around this gate.
- here are 3 sandstone slab benches without backrests or armrests at the start of the walk.
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Rainforest walk to Riverside Park is in Hunter Wetlands National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
All-ages adventure
The action all starts at Riverside Park. Here, you'll find a picnic area and paths leading off around Ash Island. They're all flat and wide, so perfect for getting kids on their bikes for some fresh air. Take a walk through the wetlands and identify different species of birds. Head to the deepwater jetty and do some fishing. There's quite the underwater bounty around here and, whether your spot is the jetty or the river foreshores, you can haul in flathead, whiting, tailor and bream.
- Rainforest walk to Riverside Park 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.
- Riverside Park The family-friendly Riverside Park, near Newcastle, is the perfect base for cycling, walking, fishing and birdwatching on Ash Island.
- Scotts Point Way to Riverside Park trail Enjoy an easy walk or bike ride along the river on the Scott Point to Riverside Park trail, Ash Island, as it takes you past excellent spots for fishing and birdwatching.
Early evidence
Get a taste of some of the area's history. From the picnic area at Riverside Park, you can walk through the Kooragang City Farm precinct and find the ruins of the farmhouse and dairy built by William Milham, who ran a property here with the first European owner of Ash Island, AW Scott. Also on the island is a heritage-listed World War II radar 'igloo'.
- Rainforest walk to Riverside Park 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.
- Scotts Point Way to Riverside Park trail Enjoy an easy walk or bike ride along the river on the Scott Point to Riverside Park trail, Ash Island, as it takes you past excellent spots for fishing and birdwatching.
Feather bluster
The Hunter River and its estuaries are home to a number of habitats - freshwater wetlands, mangroves and coastal rainforest among them - making the area a haven for birdlife. More than 200 species of birds live here or pass through on their migration. Head to Stockton Sandspit, where shorebirds - plovers, oystercatchers and curlews, to name a few - roost and feed on the mud flats. Along the river foreshore, you'll also likely see pelicans, spoonbills, black swans and, sweeping over the water searching for fish, sea eagles and swamp harriers.
- Guided kayak adventures at Smiths Island Spend a day exploring mangrove forests and islands by kayak on this tour of Hunter Wetlands National Park with the friendly guides from the School of Yak. It’s a great way to reconnect with nature in this birdwatchers’ paradise around Smiths Island.
- The Earth's environment Did you know that over 10 per cent of NSW is a national park? That’s over 7 million hectares. This Stage 2 (Years 3-4) Geography excursion is delivered Hunter Wetlands National Park.
World-class wetlands
Hunter Wetlands National Park makes up part of the Hunter Estuary Wetlands Ramsar site (the Ramsar convention recognises wetlands of international importance). This peaceful area is important for many species of birds, including 45 that migrate internationally. The green and golden bell frogs, both threatened species, breed in the freshwater lagoons. The mangroves here also provide maternity roosts for tiny bats, including the eastern free-tail bat.
- Rainforest walk to Riverside Park 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.
- Riverside Park The family-friendly Riverside Park, near Newcastle, is the perfect base for cycling, walking, fishing and birdwatching on Ash Island.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
-
Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
The grey-headed flying fox is Australia's largest native bat, with a wingspan up to 1m. This threatened species travels up and down south-eastern Australia and plays a vital role in pollinating plants and spreading seeds in our native forests.
Plants
-
Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina)
Grey mangrove is the most common and widespread mangrove found within intertidal zones across Australia, and throughout the world. Growing to a height of 3-10m, they thrive best in estuaries with a mix of fresh and salt water. They excrete excess salt through their long thick leaves, and absorb oxygen through their aerial root system.