The Welcome walk

The Welcome Walk is a short, easy outing through the Hunter River estuary in Hunter Wetlands National Park, Shortland. The 1km one-way route takes around 20 to 40 minutes and follows a raised boardwalk above saltwater wetlands, offering a close look at the estuary’s grasses, aquatic plants and saltmarsh habitat.

It is particularly suited to birdwatchers and families. Water birds are often seen along the route, while fish and crabs may be visible below the boardwalk. Spring is noted as a special time to visit, when cream-coloured flowers appear on the mangroves. Bring drinking water, sunscreen and a hat; binoculars are useful if birdwatching is your focus.

The walk also leads to the Schoolmasters House, now used as a base for the Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project. The project supports conservation work in the Hunter estuary and has an extensive volunteer program. Interpretive information along the walk introduces the role of mangroves as fish nurseries, the sea celery plant and the endangered ecological community status of saltmarsh. With its gentle pace and compact distance, it works well for a family outing, a solo nature walk or a relaxed Newcastle visit focused on wetland wildlife. The walk may close during poor weather or periods of fire danger, so check current alerts before setting out.