Maitland Bay Info Centre – Mt Bouddi – Maitland Bay
Download & Print Map and Notes
2 hrs 15 mins
6 km Circuit
287 m
Hard track
Maitland Bay Information Centre
Maitland Bay Information Centre, was once the old Maitland Store and residence. The store was a influential piece of infrastructure as it acted as a meeting place for Trustees and a hub for early tourism. Today the store is still a hub for tourism but as an Information Centre open on weekends and public holidays. As well as information on the area there is also parking, a public phone and drinking water.
(0km) Maitland Bay Information Centre → The Scenic Rd Gate Trk
720 m
16 mins
24m
-49m
Hard track
From Maitland Bay Information Centre, this walk heads along the footpath towards the public phone box. The walk then turns left down the management trail, to the gate marked with ‘Bouddi National Park’ signs.
Turn left: From the gate, this walk turns left, heading down the hill. The track then continues along the lightly undulating management trail, leading soon to an intersection with another management trail on the left.
Turn left: From the gate, this walk turns left, heading down the hill. The track then continues along the lightly undulating management trail, leading soon to an intersection with another management trail on the left.
(0.72km) The Scenic Rd Gate Trk → Int. Stroms Fire Trail and Mt Bouddi Rd
1.4 km
25 mins
42m
-20m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk heads up the hill, leaving the management trail and gate behind on the left. The walk winds and undulates for some time as it passes a rocky outcrop and a house (both above on the left). The walk climbs up a small hill, to pass a gate and continue onto the road.
(2.12km) Int. Stroms Fire Trail and Mt Bouddi Rd → Dingeldei Picnic Area
620 m
12 mins
18m
-13m
Easy track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk leaves “Strom’s Fire trail” gate behind on the right and follows the road down the hill. The walk continues for a short time down to a car park and picnic shelter.
The Dingeldei Memorial Shelter
The Dingeldei Memorial Shelter was built in 1962, thanks to volunteers. A.W. (Bill) Dingeldei was a trustee of the park who did considerable work on it himself. Today the Dingeldei picnic area is a quiet, leafy spot, perched on the hill behind Mount Bouddi. The picnic area contains a picnic table, toilets, BBQ and rubbish facilities. It also has a new car park with ample spaces.
(2.74km) Dingeldei Picnic Area and Carpark → Bouddi Lookout
890 m
21 mins
38m
-74m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the Mt Bouddi carpark (at the end of Mt Bouddi Rd, off Scenic Road), this walk heads past the sandstone building, following the ‘Little Beach’ sign. The walk goes down a few flights of stairs, and meanders for some time, passing some old metal fence posts, passing through another saddle, and arriving at Bouddi Lookout, on a small rocky outcrop.
Bouddi Lookout
Bouddi Lookout, Bouddi National Park, is a great first look at the Bouddi Coast as you come out of the bush on Bouddi Spur. There are views of the Pacific Ocean crashing into the heath covered headlands in front of the lookout. Not as grand a view as other lookouts in the area, but worth a pause on your way to the Bouddi Coast Track.
(3.63km) Bouddi Lookout → Int. Bouddi Trail and Dingeldei Picnic Trail
350 m
8 mins
0m
-56m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the lookout, the walk follows the bush track down the ridge line. The walk winds down the hill for some time, using a lot of steps, to a signposted intersection.
(3.98km) Int. Bouddi Coastal Trk and Dingeldei Picnic Trail → Eastern corner of Maitland Beach
390 m
13 mins
7m
-67m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Maitland Bay’ arrow along the bush track, going down the hill. After a while, the walk drops into a clearing, on the saddle between the headland and the spur, and turns right, going down some steep steps to the beach.
(4.37km) Eastern corner of Maitland Beach → S.S. Maitland Shipwreck
310 m
7 mins
14m
-15m
Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the cliff line out towards the sea, beneath the rocky headland. The walk heads over rocks and boulders, to the rock flats at the point. Here lies the S.S.Maitland shipwreck. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer left.
S.S. Maitland Shipwreck
The S.S. Maitland was a paddle steamer brought to Australia from Glasgow, Scotland, to transport people and cargo between the Hunter and the Hawkesbury Rivers. There was no rail line from Newcastle to Sydney in the 1800’s. The Maitland was on its route out of the Barrenjoey Headlands when it was overwhelmed by the aptly-named ‘Maitland Gale’. The storm which wrecked the Maitland also took numerous other ships on May 6, 1898. Of the 36 passengers aboard the Maitland, 24 lost their lives. Many of the survivors were commended for their heroism.
Wreckage of the Maitland can still be seen today, with parts of the boiler and a section of the iron hull strewn across the rock flats of the point. The bay was previously known as Boat Harbour, then renamed Maitland Bay after the disaster in 1898. More info.
(4.37km) Eastern corner of Maitland Beach → Maitland Beach West End
600 m
10 mins
7m
-6m
Hard track
Turn right: From the eastern end of the beach, this walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean to the left. The walk continues along the beach to an area where a creek has cut its way through the sand.
Continue straight: From the creek, this walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean on the left. The walk leads to the base of some paved steps, which lead up the hill away from the beach.
Continue straight: From the creek, this walk heads along the beach, keeping the ocean on the left. The walk leads to the base of some paved steps, which lead up the hill away from the beach.
Maitland Beach
Maitland Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a 500m-long sandy beach sitting north west of Putty Beach. The beach’s south-westerly aspect provides views over the South Pacific Ocean to Barrenjoey and Avalon headlands at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River. A creek breaks the centre of the beach, and the wreck of S.S. Maitland (after which the beach and bay are named) is found on the eastern rock point.
(4.97km) Maitland Beach West End → Maitland Bay Information Centre
1.1 km
24 mins
151m
-2m
Hard track
Veer right: From the western end of Maitland Beach, the walk follows the paved track up the hill at the point marked by the sign. The track winds its way up the hill then straightens out before the signposted intersection.
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Parking Area’ sign along the bush track. The track winds up the hill to a bridge and then continues on, passing a large overhang (on the right), above which is a view from a rock landing. The track continues up the stairs for some time, coming to an intersection.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk goes up the staircase, following the ‘Parking Area’ sign up the hill. The staircase continues for some time until it reaches the car park intersection. From here, the walk turns right, passing an information board, to the brick building next to the road – Maitland Bay Information Centre.
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Parking Area’ sign along the bush track. The track winds up the hill to a bridge and then continues on, passing a large overhang (on the right), above which is a view from a rock landing. The track continues up the stairs for some time, coming to an intersection.
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk goes up the staircase, following the ‘Parking Area’ sign up the hill. The staircase continues for some time until it reaches the car park intersection. From here, the walk turns right, passing an information board, to the brick building next to the road – Maitland Bay Information Centre.
Maps for the Maitland Bay Info Centre – Mt Bouddi – Maitland Bay walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
| Broken Bay | 1:25 000 Map Series | 91301N BROKEN BAY | NSW-91301N |
| Sydney | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9130 SYDNEY | 9130 |
Cross sectional view of the Maitland Bay Info Centre – Mt Bouddi – Maitland Bay bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Maitland Bay Info Centre – Mt Bouddi – Maitland Bay
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
| Length | 6 km | ||
| Time | 2 hrs 15 mins | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
| Signs | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
| Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
2.7km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 2.3km has short steep hills. Whilst another 620m is flat with no steps and the remaining 390m is very steep.
Quality of track
4.1km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 960m follows a clear and well formed track or trail. Whilst another 620m follows a smooth and hardened path and the remaining 390m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.
Signs
3.1km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 2.3km has minimal directional signs. The remaining (620m) is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 6km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
2.3km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 2.1km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats). The remaining (1.6km) has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Maitland Bay Info Centre – Mt Bouddi – Maitland Bay walk starts and ends at the Maitland Bay Information Centre (gps: -33.520114, 151.38269)Your main transport option to Maitland Bay Information Centre is by;
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/h
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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