Blue Gum Hills Regional Park: Discover Newcastle’s Mining Past

Take a trip out to Blue Gum Hills Regional Park at Minmi / Fletcher. This is a lovely large bushland park and features a unique playground reflecting the history of the area with a mining theme. The playground was recently updated and now includes a musical play space, balance logs, and sand and play area.

The area was an open cut mining site beginning in the 1840s. The operation ran until the late 1980s and then the area was restored as a community park. Read the signs about the Blue Gum Hills Regional Landcare Group efforts to remove weeds and regenerate the native bush.

This regional park is ideal for those looking more for a natural park.

Instead of the usual playground equipment, there’s instead a unique playground that reflects the history of the area with a mining theme.

The playground has been recently refreshed and looks great.

There’s a mine tunnel that kids can climb through and a manual conveyer belt with rocks to move.

Kids can enjoy hunting for sticks to play the drums and pipes found in the musical playspace.

Your kids can practice their balancing skills over the wooden stumps.

There’s also a maze with an overlooking observation deck so you can watch your kids run around and get lost!

There is plenty of space to spread out and enjoy picnic or ball games. You’ll find picnic tables and barbecues scattered around the park.

If you feel like walking, there are walking tracks throughout the park including the easy 2.5km Heritage Walking Track which takes you past coal mining infrastructure.

Along the way, you’ll spot the large 1870s brick tower of an original ventilation shaft from the old mine.

It’s a fun nature walk for kids as it’s mostly flat. This peaceful walk wanders through bushes and trees and you can hear birds chirping away.

You can also bring your bikes and explore the trails. We saw a few families on bikes tackling the Loop Trail.

Please note that that walkers and cyclists should remain on recognised tracks and trails as there are areas in the park that are subject to mine subsidence.

With loads of free BBQs, picnic shelters, walking tracks and tons of grass, it’s perfect for a family outing or gathering such as birthday party. Just be sure to take mosquito spray in summer as the mosquitoes can be bad.

Within the park is the Tree Top Adventure Park, an adventure experience for kids and adults in which participants use a network of rope bridges and flying foxes to move from one tree to another. (Advance bookings required).

Good to Know

Address: Minmi Road, Minmi, NSW
Ideal Age: All ages
Public Toilets: Yes at car parking area
Water Fountain: No. Bring your own drinking water.
Picnic Facilities: Covered picnic shelters. Note that there are no rubbish bins at Blue Gum Hills so you will need to take your rubbish home with you.
BBQ: Yes. Many in park.
Nearby Café: No

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