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Astills picnic area
Attraction
Park alerts
Werakata National Park
1 current alert · Checked 14 Oct 2026, 8:05 am
- Elsewhere in the parkClosed areas
Werakata National Park partial closure for ground shooting for feral animal control
Small areas within Werakata National Park may be intermittently closed from 5pm to 5am between Monday 21 July 2025 to Friday 11 September 2026 for ground shooting for feral animal control.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office.
About
Astills picnic area is the ideal place for a feed. It's rarely busy, and the picnic tables let you sit and take in the surroundings, with plenty of open grassy areas for games or chilling out.
Towering trees soar above you, so tuck yourself under the shade while reading a book. In spring, you'll see lovely heath flowers like purple happy wanderer, yellow hairpin banksia, red mountain devil, and the pretty purple thyme honey myrtle.
After lunch ride the bikes around Deadmans mountain bike loop, an east 8km ride through Hunter Valley bushland. On a sunny winter's day, rug up, pack the thermos and enjoy the amazing variety of birds from the comfort of your eucalypt canopy. Owls, speckled warblers, black-chinned honeyeaters, grey-crowned babblers, and serenading kookaburras, will keep you company.
Know before you go
Werakata National Park · North Coast
Get together for a picnic near Cessnock under the shady gums at Astills picnic area, then head off for a bike ride through Werakata National Park.
- Accessibility
- Medium
What to bring
- Drinking water
- Clothes for all weather conditions
- Sunscreen
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Where you'll be
Lovedale NSW 2325
Hours
Open 24 hours