26/09/2026
Today we had a guest Event Reviewer.
Sunil Pentil as below.
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What a beautiful morning for my first visit to Blackbutt parkrun for Event # 624.
This morning marked parkrun location number 102 for me, and getting there meant a very early start and a two-hour drive from Sydney to Newcastle. Was it worth it? Absolutely!
From the moment we arrived, there was a lovely atmosphere. Ben, today’s Run Director, and the wonderful volunteer team made us feel immediately welcome. There were also plenty of parkrun tourists visiting from other events, and what I particularly loved was seeing some of those tourists volunteering as well as visiting. That, for me, sums up the parkrun community perfectly.
The First Timers Welcome from Richard was one of the best I’ve experienced. We were given a really clear idea of what awaited us, but my favourite part was the 3D map of the course and its hills. After 102 different parkrun locations, this was a first for me! Looking at those hills on a 3D map probably should have been our warning of what was coming!
And yes… Blackbutt has hills!
When the climbs became particularly steep, the volunteers stationed along the course were brilliant, cheering and encouraging everyone to keep going. Those few words of encouragement somehow become much more powerful when your legs are asking why you drove two hours from Sydney to run up a hill!
Thankfully, what goes up must eventually come down, and the long downhill section gives you an opportunity to get some time back. But I actually found this part required just as much concentration. Uphills challenge your lungs and legs but downhill running challenges your control. With other parkrunners around, you need to manage your speed, watch your footing and resist the temptation to simply let gravity do all the work.
But the hills aren’t what I’ll remember most about Blackbutt.
I’ll remember running past emus!
Blackbutt Reserve is a beautiful, shaded piece of Australian bushland, with native wildlife including emus, wallabies, kangaroos and koalas around the reserve. There aren’t too many Saturday morning 5Ks where wildlife spotting becomes part of your parkrun experience, and that made Blackbutt feel particularly special.
The cooler conditions and tree cover also made for lovely running weather, and despite being in Newcastle, at times the course feels like you’ve escaped completely into the bush.
There were 211 participants this morning and, although there were no official parkrun milestones to celebrate, there was certainly another reason for the locals to be excited. With the Newcastle Knights playing the Penrith Panthers in tomorrow’s NRL Preliminary Final, there were plenty of Knights supporters around and a definite sense of Newcastle finals fever!
For future tourists, the practical side is easy too. There are toilets near the start and paid parking within Blackbutt Reserve, with parking revenue helping support the reserve and its facilities. Street parking is another option, but expect roughly a 400–500 metre walk to the start.
After 102 different parkrun locations, it takes something a little different to really stick in my memory. Blackbutt managed exactly that.
The hills challenged me, the downhill kept me concentrating, the emus made me smile, and the volunteers reminded me once again why travelling around and discovering new parkrun communities is something I enjoy so much.
Thank you Ben and the entire Blackbutt volunteer team for such a warm welcome. The two-hour drive from Sydney was absolutely worth it.
Location #102 complete and Blackbutt is certainly one I won’t forget.
And to all those Newcastle Knights supporters we met this morning, good luck for tomorrow.
