Bouddi National Park is located on the Central Coast, about a 1.5-hour drive from the Sydney city centre. Went hiking last weekend and felt regretful: such a beautiful place! Wish we discover this place earlier!
The experience was fantastic! Due to its distance, there weren’t many visitors, making it very comfortable!
Here, you’ll find iconic rocks and a coastline shaped by millions of years of natural craftsmanship with various shapes, lines, and geometric patterns that are absolutely stunning.
The iconic rock resembles a chessboard, and it’s hard to believe it’s a creation of nature! This magical place is a must-see, and it’s my first time witnessing something so extraordinary!
Unique and unusual rock!
The highlight of Bouddi National Park is the unique Rock, distinctive orange-red square-shaped rocks by the sea, each with concentric circles resembling tree rings, giving the appearance of slices of toast stacked together.
In addition to Iconic Rock, the park’s forests and beaches are also stunning. The beach at sunset looks so unreal, like something out of a fairy tale.
Hiking trails
The hiking trails are well-maintained, with an information center at the entrance, providing a great overall experience of a user-friendly forest park!
We balanced scenery and distance as didn’t want to walk too much. The one-way total length is 4 km, Grade 3 difficulty, can be completed in about an hour, making it relatively simple and easy. However, with photography and a picnic, it’s probably a half-day activity!
The starting point is at Bouddi National Park Information Centre, where there’s a free parking lot. Start with the Maitland Bay track; if you have time, you can play at Maitland Bay Beach! Then continue with Bouddi Coastal Walk, and Iconic Rock is along this route.
Finish at the Putty Beach parking lot. If you don’t want to walk back, you can call an Uber here! The return Uber is approximately $15.
If you have limited stamina and aren’t seeking a physical workout, you can stop at Gerrin Point Lookout.
Additional tips
- Plan your time, check the weather, avoid being out after dark, and protect yourself from rain and sun exposure.
- Ensure an adequate supply of drinking water and snacks!
- Most areas have good signal reception.
- Wear waterproof and slip-resistant shoes for hiking; shoes may get dirty, so please avoid wasting your expensive footwear.
- Public restrooms are recommended at the starting point, and there are also facilities near the destination.
- Do not play near cliff edges; beware of large waves!
- No pets allowed.