Bushwalking track notes, photographs, maps and more for Maitland Bay Info Centre - Mt Bouddi - Maitland Bay hiking trail are found in each of the tabs below
Maitland Bay Information Centre - Mt Bouddi - Maitland Bay
Time
Distance
Climb
Style
2 Hrs 15 mins
6 km
288 m
Circuit
5.1 km ESE of Woy Woy
Bouddi National Park
Track: Hard
This track forms a loop, starting at the Maitland Bay Information Centre. The track visits Maitland Bay with an optional side trip to the S.S.Maitland Shipwreck, which is best seen at low tide. The changes in vegetation with altitude are evident with a vast array of fauna along the track.
Bushwalking can be fun and interesting when you are well prepared. Please ensure you and your group are well prepared and equipped for all possible dangers. The authors, staff and owners of wildwalks take care in preparing these notes but do not accept responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained when using these notes. Please take care and feel free to provide feedback through our website. Please note that side trips and alternate routes mentioned in these notes are not included in the tracks overall rating, distance or time estimate. The notes also only describe the side trip and alternate routes in one direction.
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Maitland Bay Centre is a brick building open on weekends and public holidays. The information centre has a carpark, phone booth and drinking water. From the carpark the Maitland Bay track can be accessed.
(0 km) Maitland Bay Information Centre to The Scenic Rd Gate Trk Track: Hard - Service Trail
Distance = 0.7 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 24 m
Descent = -49 m
From Maitland Bay Centre the track heads south towards the Telstra phone box. The track then turns left down the service trail to the gate marked with Bouddi National Park signs. From the gate the track turns left down the hill. The track then continues north east along lightly undulating service track for approximately 1km. Here the track leads to a service track on the left, the intersection.
(0.72 km) The Scenic Rd Gate Trk to Int. Strom's Fire Trail and Mt Bouddi Rd Track: Moderate - Service Trail
Distance = 1.4 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 42 m
Descent = -20 m
From the intersection the track heads north east up the hill. The track winds along the hillside, undulating for some time as the track passes a rocky outcrop on the left after approximately 300m. Then the track tends left as it climbs up the hill to the gate before the intersection.
(2.12 km) Int. Strom's Fire Trail and Mt Bouddi Rd to Dingeldei Picnic Area Walk: Easy - road
Distance = 0.6 km
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 18 m
Descent = -13 m
From the intersection the track follows the road south, away from the 'T' intersection to continue for approximately 1km to the picnic area.
Dingeldie Picnic Area and Carpark
Alt = 156
Dingeldie Picnic Area is a quiet leafy spot perched on the hill behind Mount Bouddi. The picnic area contains picnic table, toilets, bbq and rubbish facilities. The picnic area also has a new carpark with ample spaces.
(2.74 km) Dingeldie Picnic Area and Carpark to Eastern corner of Maitland Beach Track: Hard - Bush Track
Distance = 1.6 km
Time = 35 mins
Climb = 46 m
Descent = -199 m
From the carpark the track heads past the sandstone building following the 'Little Beach' sign. The track leads south east down a few flights of stairs to meander along the ridgeline for some time. The track drops into a saddle and then rises to the right of a knoll which the follows the rock of. The track then rises left to traverse the rocky knoll for approximately 100m. The track then descends from the knoll indicated by some old metal fence posts. The track continues into another saddle then rises out and over another small knoll to descend from the ridge line down many stairs. The stairs wind down the hill for some time to a sign marked intersection. From the intersection the track heads west down the hill. The track then drops into a clearing on the saddle between the headland and the spur. The track turns right to continue down steps steeply to the beach.
(4.37 km) Eastern corner of Maitland Beach to S.S. Maitland Shipwreck Optional Side Trip: Track: Hard - notrack
Distance = 0.3 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 14 m
Descent = -15 m
From the intersection follow the eastern cliff line south west out to the headland point. The track heads over rocks and boulders to the rock flats at the point. The rock flats reveal on the western side the Maitland shipwreck.
S.S. Maitland Shipwreck
Alt = 2
The S.S. Maitland was a paddle steamer brought out 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 aplty named 'Maitland Gale'. The storm which wrecked the Maitland also took numerous other ships on May 6th, 1898. Of the 36 passengers aboard the Maitland, 24 lost their lives. Many of the survivors were commended for their herosim. 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
(4.37 km) Eastern corner of Maitland Beach to Maitland Beach West End Track: Hard - beach
Distance = 0.6 km
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = -6 m
From the intersection the track heads north west along the beach to where the creek has cut its way through the sand.
From the creek the track heads west along the beach for approximately 100m to where paved steps that lead up the hill appear behind the dune in the trees.
Maitland Beach
Alt = 1
Maitland Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a 500m long sandy beach sitting north west of Putty Beach. The beaches 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 with the wreck of S.S. Maitland (after which the beach and bay are named) is found on the eastern rock point.
(4.97 km) Maitland Beach West End to Maitland Bay Information Centre Track: Hard - footpath, bushtrack, bushtrack
Distance = 1.1 km
Time = 15 mins
Climb = 151 m
Descent = -2 m
From the western side of Maitland Beach the track heads north west up the hill. The track winds its way up the hill then straightens out before the intersection.
From the intersection the track heads south west up the the hill. The track winds up the hill to a bridge. The track then continues on to pass the left of a large overhang, above which is a view from the rock landing. The track continues up the stairs for some time to the intersection. From the intersection the track heads west up the staircase. The staircase continues for some time until it reaches the car park intersection. From here the track turns right past an information board to the brick building next to the road, Maitland Bay Information Centre.
Bouddi National Park is south east of Woy Woy and encompasses the Box Head headland. Bouddi NP has numerous secluded beaches and some great surf beaches too. The park also offers fantastic coastal walking with views out from the tall headlands over Broken Bay, Woy Woy and the South Pacific Ocean. Bouddi NP also boasts one of the first marine extensions in NSW, with a 300ha protection zone out of Maitland Bay for the marine life. The mosquitoes in Bouddi NP can be fierce so it might be an idea to pack insect repellent.
Hiking near Sydney 
1 km
