Rod Earp Rain Forest Circuit (from Lookout Rd)

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-32.9338616,151.6910085)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Charlestown Road, A37 Turn on to Lookout Road, A37 then drive for 520 m Turn left and drive for another 140 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Lookout Road Recreation Area(off Lookout Rd, New Lambton Heights), this walk passes through metal gates and follows the 'Lower Carpark' sign and road moderately steeply downhill, while leaving the picnic area behind and to the right. This walk continues for about 300m, becoming gently downhill, until coming to a three-way intersection, with a trail and 'Sensory Trail (return)' sign on the right.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. There is water tap (about 25 m back from the start). Lookout Road Recreation Area (about 15 m back from the start). Lookout Road Recreation Area The Lookout Road Recreation Area in Blackbutt Reserve has picnic tables, a drinking fountain, shelter, picnic tables and car parking. There is ample, free car parking. The car park is open from 7am to 5pm, or 7am to 7pm during daylight savings. For further information phone: 02 4904 3344. After another 15 m head through/around the gate.
	After another 265 m turn right. After another 500 m come to the "Flying Foxes" (on your left).
	After another 295 m continue straight, to head along Rainforest Walk.
	After another 110 m veer left. After another 50 m pass the water tap (6 m on your right). Then pass the BBQ (15 m on your left).
	After another 45 m veer left. After another 55 m pass the water tap (8 m on your left). After another 20 m pass the BBQ (7 m on your right).
	After another 45 m continue straight. After another 190 m pass the BBQ (20 m on your right). After another 40 m pass the water tap (15 m on your right).
	Continue straight.
	After another 25 m continue straight.
	After another 320 m come to the end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Rod Earp Rain Forest Circuit (from Lookout Rd)

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	2 km
Time	50 min to 1 h

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Blackbutt Reserve
Blackbutt Reserve, near Newcastle, occupies over 182 hectares of land and provides visitors with the chance to enjoy nature trails, wildlife exhibits, children's playgrounds 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 can be seen within the park. There is an information cottage 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.

Lookout Road Recreation Area
The Lookout Road Recreation Area in Blackbutt Reserve has picnic tables, a drinking fountain, shelter, picnic tables and car parking. There is ample, free car parking. The car park is open from 7am to 5pm, or 7am to 7pm during daylight savings. For further information phone: 02 4904 3344.

Rod Earp Rainforest Picnic Area
This secluded, dense rainforest within Blackbutt Reserve has bench seats and a picnic table. The forest in this area hosts a large population of grey-headed flying foxes. These large bats migrate for food and then return to roost during the day. Watch out for the bat guano the ground. This picnic area feels a world away from downtown Newcastle.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Wallsend Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  
  Saturday 27 July
  
  Mostly clear.
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers about the Upper Hunter, slight chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds.
  
  Sunday 28 July
  
  8°C → 16°C
  Mostly sunny.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower. Snow possible above 900 metres. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 15.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions in the evening are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 11:00am to 1:00pm, UV Index predicted to reach 3 [Moderate]
  
  Monday 29 July
  
  5°C → 16°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Mostly sunny. High chance of showers along the coastal fringe, slight chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 900 metres. Areas of morning frost. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h tending southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 1 and 5 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 11 and 16.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Tuesday 30 July
  
  6°C → 16°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. High chance of showers along the coastal fringe, slight chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 1000 metres. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between minus 2 and 6 above zero with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 16.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Wednesday 31 July
  
  7°C → 16°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Patches of morning frost about the Upper Hunter. Medium chance of showers along the coastal fringe, slight chance elsewhere. Snow possible above 1200 metres. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between zero and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 16.
  
  Thursday 1 August
  
  7°C → 17°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Friday 2 August
  
  8°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Saturday 3 August
  
  7°C → 19°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
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