Last verified 07/26
Bouddi National Park has some of the Central Coast's best coastal walks, lookouts and secluded beaches. Some of the park's best beaches are only accessible on foot.
The park stretches along the coast between Killcare and Macmasters Beach. Although it feels remote, it’s easy to reach and one of the easiest national parks on the Central Coast to enjoy for just a few hours.
If it’s your first visit, I recommend starting at Putty Beach. Walk the coastal track towards Gerrin Point Lookout. If you have more time, continue to Maitland Bay.
This guide will help you choose where to start, what to see and which part of Bouddi National Park suits your day.
Bouddi National Park Quick Guide
- Best for: Coastal walks, secluded beaches and ocean views
- Best starting point: Putty Beach
- Best walk: Bouddi Coastal Walk
- Best easy walk: Little Beach trail
- Best beach: Maitland Bay
- Camping: Little Beach, Putty Beach and Tallow Beach campgrounds
- Parking: Putty Beach parking is $8; other access points are free
- Location: Between Killcare and Macmasters Beach
Bouddi National Park Map
Use the map below to choose where you want to go before you start driving. I’ve marked the main access points, beaches, walks and lookouts.
Where to Start in Bouddi
Bouddi National Park has several access points. Which one you use depends on the beach or track you’re heading to.
Putty Beach has the largest car park and toilets on site. It’s the main access point for the Bouddi Coastal Walk, heading towards Gerrin Point Lookout and Maitland Bay. Parking costs $8 a day. All other access points are free.
Beachview Esplanade, Macmasters Beach is the other end of the Bouddi Coastal Walk.
Grahame Drive, Macmasters Beach is the access point for Little Beach.
Maitland Bay Information Centre gives you access to Maitland Bay and the Bullimah Spur Track.
Mount Bouddi Road is the access to Mount Bouddi walking track. You can combine it with the Maitland Bay track to form a longer loop.
Hawke Head Drive leads to Tallow Beach, Box Head and the Flannel Flower walking track. The access road is unsealed and can be bumpy.
Wards Hill Road, corner Maitland Bay Drive, Killcare Heights, is the access point for Allen Strom Lookout and Daleys Point walking track.
Best Things do Do in Bouddi
Not sure where to go? Here are my picks, based on many visits.
- Best for your first visit: Walk from Putty Beach to Gerrin Point Lookout
- Best longer walk: The full Bouddi Coastal Walk
- Best easy walk and picnic: Little Beach
- Best secluded beach: Maitland Bay
- Best for whale watching: Gerrin Point Lookout in winter
- Best for mountain biking: Bouddi Ridge Explorer
If you only have half a day, start at Putty Beach and walk towards Maitland Bay. Turn around whenever you’ve gone far enough.
Best Bushwalks in Bouddi
Choose a short lookout walk, a beach track or the full Bouddi Coastal Walk.
Putty Beach to Gerrin Point Lookout
This 2.4 km return walk follows the coastal track to Gerrin Point Lookout. Allow about one hour. It’s best for first-time visitors who want big views without a long walk.
This 8.5 km one-way walk links Putty Beach with Macmasters Beach. Allow 3½ to 4½ hours. It’s best for fit walkers who want to see more of the coast.
This steep 2 km return track leads down to Maitland Bay. Allow about one hour. It’s best for beach lovers who can manage the climb back up.
Mount Bouddi Walking Track
This 2.4 km return walk leads from Mount Bouddi picnic area to Maitland Bay. Allow 30 minutes to 1½ hours. It’s Grade 3 and suits walkers who want a quieter track with bushland and coastal views.
Bullimah Spur Track
This 2.4 km return track leads to a quiet lookout above Maitland Bay. Allow about 45 minutes. Choose it for coastal views away from the busier tracks.
This easy 1.5 km return walk leads through bushland to Little Beach. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes. It’s best for families and anyone wanting a short walk with a picnic by the water.
This 3.1 km return walk leads to Box Head Lookout. Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. It’s a good choice for an easy-to-moderate walk with wide views.
Flannel Flower Walking Track
This 2.9 km return bushwalk leads towards Lobster Beach. Allow about one hour. It’s best for walkers who want bushland, wildflowers and bay views.
This steep 2.4 km return walk leads down to Tallow Beach and its small campground. Allow about one hour. It’s best for beach lovers who can manage the rocky climb back up.
Read our guide: 10 best walks in Bouddi National Park
Explore Bouddi’s Beaches
Bouddi National Park has several beaches, but they offer very different experiences. Some are easy to reach, while others need a bushwalk.
Putty Beach
Putty Beach is my pick if you want easy access. You can walk straight from the car park to the sand.
It’s my favourite spot to swim in Bouddi. The water is usually calm. It gets busy in summer, though I’ve never had trouble finding a parking spot.
Maitland Bay
Choose Maitland Bay if you want a more secluded beach and don’t mind walking to reach it.
Several tracks lead here. The quickest starts near the Maitland Bay Information Centre. The Bouddi Coastal Walk and Mount Bouddi walking track also pass through.
The direct Maitland Bay track has a steep return climb, though it’s well maintained. We’ve done it with our four-year-old and carried him part of the way.
We love swimming here when the ocean is calm. Maitland Bay isn’t patrolled, so check conditions before you get in.
Little Beach
Choose Little Beach for an easy walk and a picnic by the water.
Our family has spent many afternoons here, sitting on the grass while kids play nearby.
I wouldn’t choose Little Beach for swimming. Surfers use the bay, and there’s a popular campground here too.
Lobster Beach
Choose Lobster Beach for a sheltered spot on the Broken Bay side of the park.
The quickest access starts from High View Road at Pretty Beach. You can also reach the beach along the Flannel Flower Walking Track.
Tallow Beach
Choose Tallow Beach if you want fewer people and don’t mind a steep walk down.
It sits in the southern section of the park, near Box Head. The access road from Hawke Head Drive is unsealed and can be bumpy. I’ve driven it in a normal car, but a four-wheel drive is more comfortable.
Tallow Beach is unpatrolled and rips can occur.
Whale watching
Winter is my favourite time for whale watching in Bouddi. I’ve seen whales many times from the coastal walk, especially from late June through July.
Gerrin Point Lookout is a good place to stop and scan the water. I’ve also spotted whales from the rocky headlands further along the coast.
Camping in Bouddi
You can camp at Putty Beach, Little Beach and Tallow Beach.
Putty Beach campground is the easiest option if you want to stay near the Bouddi Coastal Walk. You can park nearby and reach the beach without a long walk.
Little Beach is a walk-in campground. The track isn’t difficult, but you’ll need to carry your camping gear to the site.
Tallow Beach is a walk-in campground in the southern section of Bouddi. The steep track from the car park is 1.2 kilometres each way. You’ll need to carry your camping gear and drinking water.
Book your campsite before you arrive.
Go mountain biking
Bouddi National Park has cycling trails through the inland bushland.
Allow about four hours for the full loop. The route has easy sections but also includes steeper and more demanding tracks.
The 10 km Bouddi Ridge Explorer is the main mountain biking loop. It combines Strom Loop, Rocky Point Trail, Daleys Point Trail and Macmasters Ridge Trail.
I’ve ridden the trails and they’re fun. You spend more time in the bush than beside the coast, so the ride feels very different from the coastal walks.
If you’re newer to mountain biking, Rocky Point Trail is one of the easier options.
Plan your visit
Bouddi National Park is easy to visit for a few hours or a full day.
Bring water and food for the longer tracks. You won’t find shops inside the national park.
Toilets are available at Putty Beach and the Little Beach and Tallow Beach campgrounds.
None of Bouddi’s beaches are patrolled.
Dogs aren’t allowed in Bouddi National Park.
Check current alerts and track closures on the official Bouddi National Park page before you leave.
Where to eat nearby
For a meal or coffee afterwards, head to Killcare or Hardys Bay. Both are a short drive from Putty Beach. This is my preferred area to stop after walking from the Putty Beach side of Bouddi.
From the Macmasters Beach side, you’ll find a couple of cafes in town.
📖 Local Directory for places to eat:
Where to stay near Bouddi
Stay around Killcare, Hardys Bay or Pretty Beach for easy access to the southern side of Bouddi National Park.
Macmasters Beach is more convenient for Little Beach and the northern end of the coastal walk.
You can also camp inside the park at Putty Beach, Little Beach or Tallow Beach.
Getting to Bouddi National Park
Bouddi National Park is on the southern Central Coast, around 90 minutes north of Sydney by car.
Drive towards Killcare for Putty Beach and the southern end of the Bouddi Coastal Walk.
For Maitland Bay, head to Maitland Bay Information Centre on The Scenic Road.
Use MacMasters Beach for the northern end of the coastal walk. Grahame Drive is the access point for Little Beach.
For Box Head, Tallow Beach and the Flannel Flower walking track, head towards Hawke Head Drive. The final road section is unsealed and can be bumpy.
Public transport is less practical because the park has several access points. A car is the easiest option for most visits.
Explore More
Central Coast Beaches
From sheltered bays to open surf beaches, find the right Central Coast beach for your next visit.
Pretty Beach Visitor Guide
Discover quiet foreshore parks, bay walks and access to Lobster Beach.
Central Coast Bushwalks
Find short walks, coastal tracks and longer bushwalks across the Central Coast.
Hardys Bay Visitor Guide
Find waterfront cafés, kayak hire and places to explore near Bouddi National Park.
Killcare Visitor Guide
Discover beaches, walks, places to eat and things to do around Killcare.
Macmasters Beach Visitor Guide
Plan your visit to MacMasters Beach, from the beach to nearby walks and places to explore.