Bouddi Coastal Walk from Putty Beach in the Bouddi National Park: Why is it so good?

The Bouddi Coastal Walk from Putty Beach to MacMasters Beach on the New South Wales Central Coast offers fabulous coastal scenery. But the walking trail through the Bouddi National Park also offers migrating whales and the PS Maitland Shipwreck.

Sydney is famed for its coastal walks – the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is the classic. But there are also some fine coastal walks on the Central Coast just to the north.

One short option stretches through the Brisbane Water National Park, heading from Patonga Beach to Pearl Beach. But the Bouddi Coastal Walk is arguably the New South Wales Central Coast’s greatest walking route.

Bouddi Coastal Walk from Putty Beach

The Bouddi Coastal Walk is, as the name suggests, in the Bouddi National Park. It runs from Putty Beach to MacMasters Beach, both to the south of Gosford. The walk through this scenic Central Coast national park stretches for 8km one way, and should take most people between three-and-a-half and four-and-a-half hours to complete.

It’s a fairly easy-going walking trail, and is rated as Grade 3 more for length than anything else. Good chunks of the Bouddi Coastal Walk are along specially constructed boardwalks.

So, you’ve set aside half a day to do the Bouddi Coastal Walk. What are you going to see on the way? Well, for a start, there’s a whole lot of Pacific Ocean. Crashing waves meeting an end against cliffs and headlands are par for the course. But the Bouddi Coastal walk also offers clutches of forest amid the sweeping views

Starting from near the Putty Beach campground, one of the first highlights is the Tessellated Pavement. This strange, swirling coastal rock formation looks a little like the rings of tree stump stretched out along the coast.

The Tessellated Pavement in Bouddi National Park is one of the highlights of the Bouddi Coastal Walk from Putty Beach. Photo courtesy of Central Coast Tourism.

Gerrin Point Lookout on Bouddi Coastal Walk

You can nip down to Bullimah Beach from there or continue along to the Gerrin Point Lookout. Backed by rainforest, the Gerrin Point Lookout is one of the best places in the Bouddi National to see migrating whales in the winter months.

On the way to MacMasters Beach, the Bouddi Coastal Walk also passes beaches at Maitland Bay and Little Bay. At the eastern edge of Maitland Bay, you can see the PS Maitland shipwreck, sacrificed to the sea. The Maitland Bay Track also branches off here.

There are other contenders for the best walk on the Central Coast. But if it’s coastal scenery you’re after, it’s tough to trump the Bouddi Coastal Walk from Putty Beach.

Killcare Beach, by the way, is the western extension of Putty Beach.

While on the Central Coast, you can try surfing at Terrigal or Forresters Beach. Alternatively, visit the Australian Reptile Park near Gosford and see Aboriginal art at the Bulgandry rock art site.