Please note - Membership of our Facebook page is not membership of NBC. Click here for NBC Membership information.

For details of our Activity Grading System click here.

Bookings are required for all activities by 2 days prior to the activity (unless a start time is shown, in which case members may simply turn up).  

Emails often go astray so if you don't receive a timely response after emailing a leader please email activities@newcastlebushwalkingclub.org.au with details and we will follow up with the leader if required.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR VISITORS:

Visitors must always contact the leader before attending any activity - if you simply show up without contacting the leader beforehand you will not be allowed to join the activity

When requesting to join an activity please provide the leader with information on your experience and background sufficient that they can assess if the activity is suitable for you.  Also, please provide a phone number in case the leader needs to discuss any matters regarding your participation in the activity.

Visitors will be required to read and sign an Acknowledgement of Risks and Obligations at each activity. For details click here

FUTURE ACTIVITIES THAT MAY REQUIRE EARLY BOOKINGS - Details can be found after the list of current confirmed activities below

• Expressions of Interest - Solitary Islands Coastal Walk - 26 April to 1 May 2026 - please see details at bottom of the page.  This walk is now fully subscribed but the leader is keeping a wait list in case of cancellations

• Expressions of Interest - Kayaking the Length of Lake Macquarie in early March 2026 - The NBC paddling group are planning to paddle the ~30km distance from Speers Point at the top of the lake to Chain Valley Bay at the bottom on either 3rd, 10th or 17th March depending on suitable weather conditions being available (10th of March is currently the preferred date depending on weather) - an early start (~5am) and car shuffle will be involved.  There will be several stops along the way and a BBQ lunch at the end ($5 each paddler for food).  For those wanting to join in but not go the full distance, paddling from Speers Point to Wangi and driving to Chain Valley Bay for the BBQ is an option.  Only capable experienced kayakers with sit-in sea kayaks should consider this - NBC members only.

If you are interested please contact Glen H  - glenhollingshed@gmail.com

CURRENT CONFIRMED ACTIVITIES

Wednesday, February 04, 2026

Walk - Blackbutt Reserve Circuit Walk 7kms. A walk through the diverse flora and fauna of Blackbutt Reserve. The walk is on well maintained trails with some hard surfaces and leaf litter. There are some steep hills. During morning tea there will be the opportunity to visit the wildlife exhibit. Bookings required

Leader: P Forbes - paforbes11@gmail.com

Thursday, February 05, 2026

Ride - Broadmeadow Stadium to Teralba.

Ride to Wallsend, over the Tramway to Glendale, over Five Island Bridge to Teralba for coffee before returning to the stadium.  Approx 35km.  Start from the stadium at 8.00am or meet at Wallsend car park , Kemp Street, Wallsend at 8.30a.m.

Leader: Judy Wilson - judygeoffwilson@hotmail.com

Saturday, February 07, 2026

Walk - Heaton Gap and Murrrel’s Road – 8km, S-R-600.  Steep 1.5km climb then easy dirt road walking out to 63R. Out and back hike starting from the Watagan Forest Motel. Multiple views.  Bring MT and Good Fitness. Around 2.5hrs duration. 8km Distance, S-R-600, Map QUORROBOLONG 1:25000.  Bookings Required.

Leader: Steven M - Stevenmoore@outlook.com.au

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Kayak - Valentine

Leader: George C - georgecowan59@yahoo.com.au

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Walk - Waverton Station to Wynyard Station - 12.5kms, well made tracks with some street walking, lots of steep stairs.  Grade S-E-60.  Details: Visit Balls Head Sustainability Centre and old coal loader, Blues Point, Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden, past Luna Park (just for fun), across the harbour bridge, through The Rocks to Barangaroo then to Wynward. Historical sites and lovely harbour views.  Bring MT and lunch. Meet on 7:21 train from Newcastle Interchange, 7:45 Fassifern, 8:02 Morisset, 2nd last carriage upstairs. Change at Hornsby for North Shore line. Return from Wynyard via Central.  There are alternatives for finishing for anyone who wants a shorter distance, please discus with the leader.

Leader: Laura F - muktipriya@outlook.com  - 0491 712 813

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Ride - Carrington to Whitebridge. Maybe 34km. Ride along Throsby Creek, through the TAFE, over Waratah Station, past Broadmeadow Stadium onto Adamstown and then along the Fernleigh Track to Whitebridge. Coffee at Whitebridge, then return via a similar route. Meet in Fitzroy Street Carrington, just off Cowper Street. It's the first left after the bridge. There are toilets at the start. There are toilets at Whitebridge Station

Leader: Judy W - judygeoffwilson@hotmail.com

Friday, February 13, 2026

Short Walk - Ken and Audrey Owens 4km walk at Redhead

Leader: Judy W - judygeoffwilson@hotmail.com

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Walk - Birubi Point to One Mile Beach return. Scenic, undulating coastal walk. 5hrs, 14km. Medium grade. Bring morning tea and lunch. Snacks available at One Mile Kiosk. Anyone interested in car sharing from Fern Bay to Birubi please contact leader.

Leader: Geoff C - geoffcrofts744@gmail.com

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Kayak - Ash Island Hexham

Leader: Glen H - glenhollingshed@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Walk - Stockton Peninsula Loop.  Total distance 6.6km.  Start Stockton Surf Life Saving Club Carpark, Pitt Street, Stockton.  Meet 9.00am in the covered picnic facility.  Public toilets available at the start and at several locations along the route.  Bring morning tea and water.  Flat easy walk, great views.  

Leader: Mark F - baxter4n4n@outlook.com

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Ride - Suggestion: Wallsend to Carrington. 30km. Ride to Callaghan, Warabrook, Waratah, then Carrington for coffee. Return via TAFE. . Meet in the car park, Kemp Street Wallsend

Leader: Leader Required

Friday, February 20, 2026

Short Walk - Morpeth - between 4-5kms.  9am start, walking through ‘The Common’ then back along the riverbank onto Steamer Street via Closebourn House, then back to the Courthouse. If people want to stay and look through Muesum (there is a small charge)

Leader:  Prue W - Pruew73@hotmail.com

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Walk - Yacaaba Headland Circuit Hawks Nest SM 9km 218m.  Start at Jimmy's Beach and on to Bennett Beach, Yacaaba Headland and back to Jimmy's Beach on the Port Stephens side. Bring morning tea and will have lunch back at Jimmy's Beach.  Meet at Heatherbrae Bunnings carpark, to the left as you drive in for a car share, OR at Jimmy's Beach carpark. For this walk a reminder is necessary to inform you that the climb to the summit of Yacaaba Headland is very steep and on a rough rocky track.  Frank  0402456459

Leader: Frank K - frank.kupina@live.com.au

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Kayak - Bolton Point

Leader: Glen H - glenhollingshed@gmail.com

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Walk - Fassifern station to Toronto baths and return. About 9km

Leader: Viola O - violap@tpg.com.au

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Committee Meeting

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Ride - Suggestion: Kotara to Nobbys. 31km. Ride the Raspberry Gully Track to Adamstown, on through Merewether, Nobbys and Carrington and return via Tighes Hill. Meet at start of shared pathway in Aberfeldy Close, at corner of Kirkdale Drive, Kotara South. (The bottom of the hill.) Grade M-E-150.

Leader: Leader Required

Friday, February 27, 2026 

Short Walk - Merewether baths to Bogey Hole return. About 6km.

Leader: Viola O - violap@tpg.com.au

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Walk - Abbotts Falls Circuit Watagan Forest  SM/G4 - 8kms 4 hours.  Walk starts from the Watagan Forest picnic ground then to German Point road. Walk along the road for about 2km then get onto a gentle down hill bush track to the cliff line for Dora Creek and the falls. Up to now it has been easy walking. To get down the cliff face there is a 6 metre drop down a slot in the rock wall, there is a rope to grab onto to help you down. If you feel you can't manage that then the walk is not for you, we do not come back that way. Morning tea is at the falls. From there it is a short STEEP scrub bash to the STEEP bush track taking you out of the valley. From the top it is an easy walk along fire trails back to the picnic ground for lunch.  Meet at Freemans Waterhole Shell service station end.  Leader mobile 0402456459

Leader: Frank K - frank.kupina@live.com.au

Tuesday, March 03, 2026

Kayak - Black Neds Bay

Leader: Glen H - glenhollingshed@gmail.com

Wednesday, March 04, 2026

Walk - Bagnall's beach to Tomaree Summit via Inner Lighthouse return. 5hrs. Mostly flat harbourside walk except for Tomaree summit which is 146m high but has superb views. Anyone interested in car sharing from Fern Bay to Bagnall's beach please contact leader

Leader: Geoff C - geoffcrofts744@gmail.com

Thursday, March 05, 2026

Ride - Pelican to Caves Beach. 30km. Ride to Blacksmiths, Swansea Heads, Caves Beach, Pirrita Island, then back to cars. Meet at the boat ramp Lakeview Pde Pelican. Grade M-E-100.

Leader: Margaret M - philandmarg@gmail.com

Friday, March 06, 2026

Short Walk

Leader: Leader Required

Saturday, March 07, 2026

Walk - Rocky Crossing – The walk commences from the Williams River Picnic area, initially on the Bluegum Loop Track (anticlockwise) for a couple of kilometres and then on to the Rocky Crossing trail up to Rocky Crossing and return. The walk finishes on the Bluegum Loop Track which leads back to the picnic area.  The track basically follows the Williams River, ascending steadily from the start all the way to Rocky Crossing. There are side tracks at a couple of points providing good access to the river.  Total distance 16kms.  Grading M-M-100

Leader: Max G - Max.Gentle@Outlook.com

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Kayak - Cams Wharf

Leader: Glen H - glenhollingshed@gmail.com

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Walk - Berowra to Mt Kuring-Gai via Cowan Creek – This is a station to station walk commencing at Berowra and ending at Mt Kuring-Gai.  The trail, which starts as the Berowra Walking Track initially drops steeply into Waratah Gully before continuing on to Cowan Creek.  The trail follows the creek for some 5km before turning north away from the creek on to the Mt Kuring-Gai Track which leads back up to the ridge line and on to Mt Kuring-Gai.  From the ridges above Cowan Creek, this walk takes in some great lookouts (especially around Mt Kuring-Gai) as well as some enjoyable walking along Cowan Creek.  Total distance 10km, all on track, steep and rocky in places.  Map Hornsby 1:25000   Grading   S-M-550.

Leader: Max G - Max.Gentle@Outlook.com

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Feature Night - Nothing planned at the moment - If you can talk on a club related topic or would like to see a presentation on a particular topic please contact activities@newcastlebushwalkingclub.org.au with your suggestion

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Note - there are two rides planned for today

Ride - Suggestion: Swansea to Whitebridge. Approx. 30km. Ride to Belmont, then the Fernleigh Track to Whitebridge and return. Meet in Pirrita Island carpark (the start of the new boardwalk, drive in via Dobinson Drive) Swansea. Toilets in the car park.

Leader: Leader Required

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Ride - Vacy – East Gresford Loop 45 km. Riding on shoulder of mostly sealed road, some gravel. Quiet roads and pretty countryside, with some hills. Morning tea at cafe in East Gresford. Optional lunch after ride. Park on access road alongside the Sports Grounds / Toilets - across the road from the General Store Cafe. For GPS aim for 803 Gresford Road, Vacy.

Leader: Bob L- robert.l.nbw@gmail.com

Friday, March 13, 2026

Short Walk - Walk through Lorn and Old Bolwarra. Meet in Maitland Park at 8:50am - park near the pool, where there are toilets available and depart 9am. Bring morning tea, or purchase from a local cafe on the way. Duration: 2 hours, approximately 6kms. Mostly flat, suburban roads and footpaths.

Leader: Lyn P - pritchardlyn@gmail.com

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Walk - Heaton Gap and Taylors Road.  Steep 1.5km climb starting from the Watagan Forest Motel then easy dirt road walking out to 116R along Taylors Road where we will have MT. After this we will then go off-track and drop down to a creek near 56R and do some creek hopping following this back to Heaton Rd having lunch along the way. Bring MT, Lunch and Good Fitness. 11km Distance, S-R-500, Map QUORROBOLONG 1:25000.  Bookings Required. 

Leader: Steven M - Stevenmoore@outlook.com.au

FUTURE ACTIVITIES THAT MAY REQUIRE EARLY BOOKINGS

Sunday, April 26 to Friday May 1, 2026

This walk is now fully subscribed but the leader is keeping a wait list in case of cancellations

Expressions of Interest - Solitary Islands Coastal Walk - The walk traverses 60km of beaches and rainforest on the Coffs Coast. Enjoy whale watching, birdwatching and swimming on your journey from Red Rock to the coastal village of Sawtell. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful walk on the east coast of NSW. The Solitary Islands coastal walk links a string of idyllic golden beaches, rocky headlands and lush rainforest along the Coffs Coast. 

https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/solitary-islands-coastal-walk

The entire walk is 60km, but I propose to only walk 40km over 3 days. Each day will be 3 to 4hrs & rated G3 by NPWS:

    Day 1: Woolgoolga to Moonee Beach, 15.4km.

    Day 2: Moonee Beach to Park Beach, 13.4km.

    Day 3: Park Beach to Sawtell Beach, 12.4km.

Every day will involve a car shuffle & we will be always walking north to south so that the sun is behind us. Low tides are in the mornings, so that’s when we will be walking.

Time frame:  

Sunday 26 April 2026: Arrive in Coffs Harbour & check into your pre-arranged accommodation.

Monday 27 to Thursday 30 April: We will be walking 3 of these days, with one free day for sightseeing or bad weather backup.

Friday 1 May: Check out of you accommodation & travel home.

I intend to book a cabin in Big4 Park Beach, Coffs Harbour because of its central location, but there are multi accommodation options in Coffs so feel free to book wherever you want.

https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/nsw/north-coast/park-beach-holiday-park

If you are interested or have any questions please contact me by email. There will be a minimum & maximum number.  

Organiser: Alan S - alan.scott3@bigpond.com

To see our full program please have a look at our latest magazine here. Note that the program in the magazine is subject to change and once confirmed it is put on this web page above.