Yes you can defiantly get there by bus or taxi

Sorry, can't help you with this one.

There is a car park off carney ave paid parking not sure of the fees and free parking off Freyberg st lower down bottom car park

Koalas have sharp claws. I wouldn't want to hold one without appropriate training and clothing. It is also very stressful for the Koala. You can feed them though and a sneaky pat! Koala holding is a heavily regulated experience and you cant do it in any park in NSW (or couldn't last year when I last looked into it). There are places in QLD where it is possible.

it's easiest by taxi or similar... buses woukd be slow, but if you have a few hours or more well worth it!

If you continue down Carnley Avenue from the Blackbutt Reserve entrance you come to some shops on Orchardtown Road. There's a pub (the Blackbutt Hotel), a fish'n'chip shop (Blackbutt Fish and Chips) and an excellent bakery/cafe (Euro Patisserie) which is one of the best places in Newcastle to buy cakes and pastries. Euro Patisserie is now also open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights - I went a couple of weeks ago and it was excellent. There's another cafe a little further along (Little Lane Espresso) and a Chinese takeaway (Putra Chinese). All of these are within 1km of the Carnley Avenue entrance to Blackbutt Reserve.

and yes can taxi. use Uber alot cheaper.

Dogs on a leash or not are not permitted at Blackbutt Reserve. You now have to pay $4.00 per hour for parking but I think that is cheaper for a whole family to pay that instead of an individual entrance fee. Of course if you are getting public transport you wouldn't have to pay for parking. It is well worth it . A little piece of paradise . It takes 35 minutes by bus from Newcastle to Carnley Avenue where the Blackbutt Reserve is. Or you could get an Uber car which I love for convenience. If you are going bush walking whilst at Blackbutt it is recommended you wear long sleeves and long pants. Take a picnic or meat for a BBQ and you are guaranteed a very enjoyable day.

I second the above. It would be two buses and like 1.5km+ walking, taxi would definitely be easiest :)

Wildlife Exhibits open 10am to 5pm every day (closed Christmas Day, Good Friday and before 1pm ANZAC Day). Picnic and recreation facilities open from 7am until 7pm. Entry is FREE Please Note: Car parks located at Carnley Ave and Richley Reserve attract a fee of $1.80 per hour or $5.00 per day