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Length: 1km
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Duration: 30mins
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Grade: 2
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Style: One Way
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Start: Millams Rd, Kooragang
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End: Millams Rd, Kooragang
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Location: Hunter Wetlands National Park
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Closest Town:
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Distance from CBD: 161 km
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State: NSW
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Latitude: -32.8447935
Longitude: 151.6974196
Keep the Trail Access info current...

Select items to indicate conditions for access to the trail.


2WD Access


4WD Access


Public Transport


Bitumen Road


Gravel Road


Steep Road


Winding Road


Speed Bumps


Vehicle Ford


Entry Fee


Large Car Park


Small Car Park


Accessible Parking


Accessible Toilet


Public Toilets


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Picnic Shelter


Picnic Table


BBQ Facilities


Campfire Pit


Camping Area
Keep the Trail Features current...

Hunter Wetlands National Park...
Select items to indicate features found along the trail.


Concrete Path


Timber Boardwalk


Gravel Path


Sandy Trail


Rough Trail


Undefined Trail


Prams & Strollers


Manual Wheelchair


Motorised Wheelchair


Bicycle Trail


Mountain Bike Trail


Historic Rail Trail


Dog Friendly


Urban Walk


Coast & Beach


Historic Lighthouse


Waterfalls & Lakes


Rainforest Walk


Goldfields & Mining


Heritage Walk


Aboriginal Art


Alpine Region


Alpine Huts


Exposed Ledges


Rock Scrambling


Steep Terrain


Bush Bashing


River Crossings


Scenic Viewpoints


Well Marked


Drinking Water


Untreated Water


Fishing Spots


Swimming Spots


Overnight Campsites


Trail Running


Horse Riding
Hike Summary
Did you know mangroves are excellent fish nurseries? That there is a plant called sea celery? Or that saltmarsh is classified as an Endangered Ecological Community? You can learn all about these issues and more on The Welcome walk in Hunter Wetlands National Park. Walking along the raised boardwalk, you'll meander above the saltwater wetlands of the Hunter River estuary, maybe spotting a fish or two or crabs.
This short walk is ideal for walking with children. You can set your own gentle pace, peeking and pointing at the wildlife and exploring the intricate world beneath you. Birdwatch as you go - there will be plenty of water birds about - and check out the interesting grasses and aquatic plants within the saltmarsh ecosystem.
You're bound to get some great photos any time you visit, but many say this walk is at its best in spring, when delicate cream-coloured flowers adorn the mangroves.
Take a virtual tour of The Welcome walk captured with Google Street View Trekker.
About the region
Just a short drive from Newcastle is Hunter Wetlands National Park, a wildlife sanctuary with family-friendly walking, cycling, fishing and birdwatching. It’s hard to believe Hunter Wetlands National Park, a haven for nature-lovers, is so close to the city of Newcastle. Pop the kids and their bikes in the car and head to Ash Island, where Riverside Park is just the spot for a picnic and easy cycling – or walks if you prefer – through rainforests and mangroves. You can also meander to the old World War II radar station or explore the ruins of Milham’s Farmhouse.
Getting there
To The Welcome Walk carpark. The Welcome walk is in the Ash Island precinct of Hunter Wetlands National Park. To get there:Cross the Ash Island Bridge off the Pacific Highway at HexhamTurn right onto Schoolhouse RoadPark at the information shelters, where the walk begins. Park entry points The Welcome Walk carpark See on map Parking Parking is available at the starting point for The Welcome walk.
Tips
Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch.
This walk takes you to the Schoolmasters House, which today is used as a base for the Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project (KWRP). The KWRP undertakes conservation projects in the Hunter estuary and has an extensive volunteer program.
Visit NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for more information on this trail.
The longitude and latitude of the start and end points are approximately only and should not be used for navigation purposes. Please contact me if you know the correct coordinates.