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Rehabilitating Kooragang Wetlands
The Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project (KWRP) began in 1993 with a goal to re-create habitat for fish, shorebirds and other wildlife in the Hunter estuary.
Visitors are welcome to visit Ash Island for a guided or self-guided tour. Boardwalks, walking tracks, cycleways and interpretive signage around the island provide visitors with a unique experience as they explore the wonders of this special place. To find out more, download our informative guide map Exploring Kooragang Wetlands, go to www.hcr.cma.nsw.gov.au/kooragang, call 02 4964 9308, or drop in at the old Schoolmasters House from Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm. Access is via the Ash Island Bridge at the lights near McDonalds on the Pacific Highway at Hexham.
What's happening at Kooragang Wetlands
Dead Mangrove Creek Rehabilitation Project 16-May-2013
The Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority plans to undertake rehabilitation works within and adjacent to Dead Mangrove Creek on Ash Island, a tributary of the Hunter River near Newcastle.
16-May-2013
Farewell to board members 22-Apr-2013
The contributions of two Hunter-Central Rivers CMA’s board members were honoured at a recent board meeting.
22-Apr-2013
Kooragang Wetlands and the Macquarie Collector’s Chest 13-Apr-2013
An exciting exhibition of the original Macquarie Collector’s Chest – complete with specimens from Ash Island - is on at Newcastle Art Gallery until 5 May.
13-Apr-2013
Fire and rain no barrier to Kooragang Wetlands volunteers 13-Feb-2013
Pilgrims Triangle was the site for the first tree planting day this year for Kooragang Wetlands volunteers.
13-Feb-2013
Kooragang Wetlands volunteer wins WetlandCare Art Competition 10-Feb-2013
Congratulations to Kooragang Wetlands volunteer Bob Seal for winning the open art category of WetlandCare Australia’s National Art and Photography Competition.
10-Feb-2013
Start the New Year by volunteering at Kooragang Wetlands 15-Jan-2013
Looking for some volunteer work? Meet like-minded folk and learn more about the natural environment by joining the Kooragang Wetlands Landcare group this Sunday 20th January on Ash Island.
15-Jan-2013
World Wetlands Day celebrates wetlands from the Hunter to Japan 15-Jan-2013
Hexham Swamp and Kooragang Wetlands will be on display at Stockland Wallsend Shopping Centre to celebrate World Wetlands Day next month.
15-Jan-2013
Kushiro Wetland on display at Kooragang Wetlands 14-Jan-2013
A beautiful exhibition of 22 photographs from Kushiro International Wetland Centre will be exhibited as part of the 10th Anniversary of the Ramsar listing for the Hunter Estuary Wetlands, sponsored by the CMA.
14-Jan-2013
Kooragang Wetlands inspire artwork 12-Jan-2013
The setting of Kooragang Wetlands and the volunteers who help to enhance them was the inspiration for an amazing woodcut by Bob Seal.
12-Jan-2013
Myall Coast Historical Society visit Kooragang Wetlands 1-Dec-2012
Historical enthusiasts visited Kooragang Wetlands for a day to hear about the Hunter estuary islands many changes over time since the late 1700s.
1-Dec-2012
Shorebirds at Stockton Sandspit 30-Nov-2012
Hundreds of shorebirds attended the community event Welcome Shorebirds, held at Stockton Sandspit on Sunday 18 November.
30-Nov-2012
Geography students from Linuwel School visit Kooragang Wetlands 1-Nov-2012
Enthusiastic students from Linuwel School at East Maitland spent 4 days at Kooragang Wetlands as part of their Geography studies.
1-Nov-2012
Welcome the shorebirds at Stockton Sandspit 31-Oct-2012
The community are invited to Stockton Sandspit in the Hunter River estuary on Sunday 18 November to welcome some special shorebirds to town and get involved in fun activities to learn more about this important bird site.
31-Oct-2012
Kooragang Dykes restoration proves popular for migratory shorebirds 29-Oct-2012
Restoration work on the Kooragang Dykes has proved successful with a recent bird survey by Hunter Bird Observers Club recording over 500 birds of various species roosting there.
29-Oct-2012
Kooragang Wetlands from a different angle 20-Oct-2012
Kooragang Wetlands volunteers leapt at the chance to sharpen up their photography skills at a recent creative photography workshop.
20-Oct-2012
You are invited to Kooragang Wetlands Trivia Night 21-Sep-2012
Don’t miss the Kooragang Wetlands annual fund raiser Trivia Night on Friday 19 October. There are great games to be played and awesome prizes to be ...
21-Sep-2012
Hunter Christian School’s community service day at Kooragang Wetlands 21-Sep-2012
Kooragang Wetlands welcomed Year 9 and Year 7 boys from Hunter Christian School recently for a day of work.
21-Sep-2012
Shorebirds welcome at Tomago Wetlands 17-Sep-2012
Recent sightings of Black-winged Stilt, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Latham’s Snipe and Dotterels in Tomago Wetlands are very exciting news for the wetland rehabilitation project.
17-Sep-2012
Kooragang Wetlands connection with Ludwig Leichhardt School in Germany 30-Aug-2012
The Ludwig Leichhardt School in Germany hosted a special guest recently, with a visit from Professor John Rostas from Newcastle, who presented the school with the Ash Island Series of Historical Drawings.
30-Aug-2012
New arrivals to Hunter River Estuary 18-Aug-2012
Spring is almost here and the typical visitors for this time of year are starting to arrive in the Hunter River Estuary.
18-Aug-2012
Funding for ‘Informed and Engaged Volunteers’ at Kooragang Wetlands 25-Jul-2012
Kooragang Landcare volunteer Julia Brougham has once again been successful in securing funding for the Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project (KWRP). The project ‘Informed and Engaged Volunteers’ is funded by the Australian Government’s Community Action Grant program and will deliver a range of workshops, training courses and information sessions for Kooragang Landcare Volunteers.
25-Jul-2012
Tree planting at Kooragang Wetlands 15-Jul-2012
Despite the chilly wind, the turn out of Kooragang Landcare volunteers on Sunday 15 July for tree planting on Ash Island was an impressive 33, including several new comers. Ash Island is part of the Kooragang Wetlands Rehabilitation Project that has been operating since 1993. In that time, over 170,000 trees have been planted, by volunteers.
15-Jul-2012
Raymond Terrace Venturers at Kooragang Wetlands 29-Jun-2012
The regular Kooragang Wetlands volunteers were joined by Raymond Terrace Venturers this month for tree planting day on Sunday 17 June on Ash Island. The Venturers tackled weed removal and put in a massive effort with 2 very full trailer loads of weeds removed by hand along the track to Scotts Point Way.
29-Jun-2012
Arden Anglican College students learn about ‘Ecosystems at Risk’ 29-Jun-2012
Year 12 students from Arden Anglican College visited the lower Hunter Valley this month for a 2 day excursion as part of their Geography studies. The students are studying ‘Ecosystems at Risk’ and came to Kooragang Wetlands on 14 June for a guided tour of Ash Island led by the CMA’s flood and wetlands education officer Amanda Hyde. Students were required to undertake a local scale study of a wetland ecosystem, including its history, current threats and management practices including ...
29-Jun-2012
Students help out at Kooragang Wetlands 19-Jun-2012
The rainy weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of students from the Hunter Christian School on their Community Service Day at Kooragang Wetlands on Ash Island on Friday 1st June. Almost 40 Year 7 students, accompanied by three teachers, assisted with a range of activities including planting, weeding and rubbish collecting.
19-Jun-2012
Students visit Hunter Valley 30-May-2012
For two days in May, 15 students from Ryde TAFE visited the Hunter Valley for a field trip as part of their studies for the Diploma of Conservation & Land Management, coordinated by the CMA’s flood & wetland education officer Amanda Hyde. The focus on the first day was on wetland rehabilitation and involved a tour of the Kooragang Wetland and Hexham Swamp Projects.
30-May-2012
Volunteers welcome at Stockton Sandspit 17-May-2012
You may be surprised what you find under Stockton Bridge. It’s a popular spot in the Spring and Summer with visitors from as far away as the Arctic Circle. The visitors are of the feathered kind and include Bar-tailed Godwits, Pacific Golden Plover, Red-necked Avocets and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Stockton Sandspit provides valuable habitat for these migratory waders and shorebirds for feeding and resting before embarking on their long journey home.
17-May-2012
Wet summer ideal for frogs 4-Apr-2012
The wet summer appears to have been favourable for frogs at Kooragang Wetlands, with frequent sightings of two species in particular. The Bleating Tree Frog, Litoria dentata, and the Dwarf Tree Frog, Litoria fallax, have been easily spotted throughout the day in the gardens near the Schoolmasters House.
4-Apr-2012
Back to the River Festival - 29 April 2012 22-Mar-2012
Come ‘Back to the River’ and celebrate the history of the Hunter River islands at Kooragang Wetlands on Sunday 29 April on Ash Island. ‘Back to the River’ is this year’s theme for the Family Festival and will highlight the remarkable history of the early days of settlement on the islands that are now known as Kooragang and Ash Islands.
22-Mar-2012
Volunteers welcome at Kooragang Wetlands 22-Mar-2012
Have you ever wondered what’s across the bridge opposite McDonalds at Hexham? Ash Island Bridge is the gateway to Kooragang Wetlands and visitors are welcome to explore the thriving wetlands and rainforest on walking tracks, cycleways and boardwalks. There are also picnic shelters, popular fishing spots, a public jetty and bird observing opportunities.
22-Mar-2012
On Ash Island today you'll find over 300 species of indigenous plants, including more than 27 threatened species, and one threatened community...