Bouddi National Park is on the central coast of New South Wales in Australia.

Understand

History

The Bouddi National Park was originally known as the Bouddi Natural Park. It received its name at the second meeting of the park trust held on 5 July 1936. Other names considered were Maitland Bay Park, Cape Three Points Reserve and Gerrinbombi Park. The reason for the choice was that Bouddi is the authenticated Aboriginal name of the most conspicuous feature of the district and appears on maps as early as 1828. Bouddi is an indigenous word for the heart. The trust had been founded the year earlier to manage the reserve and had representation from the NSW Federation of Bushwalking Clubs and the former Erina Shire Council.

In 1967 the park, by then totalling about 1,310 acres (530 ha), was dedicated as a national park under the newly passed legislation and was renamed Bouddi State Park. Its management became the responsibility of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and soon afterwards the trust was reconstituted as an advisory committee. On 1 January 1974, the National Parks and Wildlife Act dispensed with the category of state parks and Bouddi was renamed Bouddi National Park.

Flora and fauna

The Park contains three broad categories of vegetation: heath, Eucalyptus forest and grassy woodland.

The park contains a wide diversity of animal life. A number of mammal species, including microbats, greater gliders and other marsupials are found in the Park. Reptile species present include lace monitors, green tree snakes and water dragons. Over 150 species of bird have been documented in the area.

The marine component of the Park has similarly high biodiversity. The marine extension of the park was found to have led to a 70% increase in fish numbers in the area than nearby comparators, and 60% higher numbers of species. A number of large mammals regularly frequent the area, including humpback whales, southern right whales and bottlenose and common dolphins. Leopard seals and fur seals have occasionally been seen on coastal rock platforms.

Get in

• From Gosford, turn right at Erina onto Avoca Drive. Continue on to Kincumber and then turn right onto Empire Bay Drive.
• For Little Beach & Maitland Bay turn left onto the Scenic Road about 300 m along Empire Bay Drive. Turn right down the hill. Take the first left down Putty Beach drive. continue into National Park.
• For Putty Beach continue along Empire Bay Drive through Bensville and turn off at Wards Hill Road.
• From Woy Woy, follow the signs toward Kincumber. Take Maitland Bay Drive over the Rip Bridge and continue along Empire Bay Drive. Turn right onto Wards Hill Road before reaching the Scenic Road at Killcare Heights.
• From Palm Beach & Ettalong take the ferry to Wagstaffe.

Fees and permits

$7/car (Putty Beach only)

• Putty Beach camping area (18 sites). Fees: $8.00 per adult per night, $4.00 per child per night. Annual pass or daily vehicle entry fee of $7 also required.
• Little Beach camping area (6 sites). Fees: $8.00 per adult per night, $4.00 per child per night. No vehicle fees apply.
• Tallow Beach camping area (6 sites). Fees: $5.00 per adult per night, $3.00 per child per night. No vehicle fees apply.

Get around

The best way to get around is on foot. There are extensive walking trails from Wagstaffe in the west through to Little Beach in the east. Some of the trails are suitable for off road bicycles, but not all. The locals will not be impressed if you ride on walking tracks.

Enter by car at several points; Eagle Head road, Scenic Drive and Putty Beach Drive. Some walking is required, except for Putty Beach.

See

• 1 Allen Strom Lookout, Wards Hill Rd, Killcare, ☏ +61 2 4320 4200. 7AM-7PM. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Bullimah Lookout, At the very southern end of Bullimah Spur track. 7AM-7PM. (updated Jun 2021)
• 3 Gerrin Point Lookout, Bouddi Coastal Walk, Bouddi. (updated Jun 2021)
• 4 Marie Byles Lookout, The Scenic Rd, Killcare Heights. (updated Jun 2021)

Do

• Bouddi Coastal Walk. (updated Jun 2021)
• Bouddi guided Aboriginal heritage tours. A tour of all the Aboriginal culture in the Lower Central Coast. (updated Jun 2021)
• Bouddi Ridge Explorer. Cycle path. (updated Jun 2021)
• Box Head Track. (updated Jun 2021)
• Bullimah Spur Track. (updated Jun 2021)
• Daleys Point Walking Track. (updated Jun 2021)
• Flannel Flower walking track. (updated Jun 2021)
• Maitland Bay Track. (updated Jun 2021)
• Mt. Bouddi Walking Track. (updated Jun 2021)
• Strom Loop. (updated Jun 2021)

Buy

There are no shops in Bouddi National Park. The nearest ones are in Woy Woy.

Eat

There are no restaurants in Bouddi National Park. The nearest ones are in Woy Woy.

Drink

There are no bars in Bouddi National Park. The nearest ones are in Woy Woy.

Sleep

Lodging

There are no places to lodge in Bouddi National Park. The nearest ones are in Woy Woy.

Camping

• Little Beach Campground. (updated Jun 2021)
• Putty Beach Campground. (updated Jun 2021)
• Tallow Beach Campground. (updated Jun 2021)

Backcountry

There are none at Bouddi National Park.

Stay safe

During flood season, the beaches might smell. Stay away from them as these might be dumps from broken down buildings in Richmond or Windsor.