The Maitland Bay Track is a short but steep bushwalk in Bouddi National Park on the Central Coast that leads to the beautifully isolated beach of Maitland Bay.
The track showcases the beauty of the national park, with beautiful lush rainforest and stunning ocean views to enjoy. Stroll further along the beach to Bouddi Point, and discover remnants of an old shipwreck.
| Maitland Bay Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 1.8 km return |
| Distance to Bouddi Point: | 3.6 km return |
| Time: | 1-2 hours (depending on stops) |
| Grade: | Moderate (steep parts) |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
Getting There
The Maitland Bay Track is located in the southern part of the Central Coast, approximately 90 minutes of driving from the Sydney CBD.
The quickest way to get there from the M1 Motorway is via Woy Woy Road to Woy Woy, followed by Maitland Bay Drive, Empire Bay Drive, Wards Hill Road, and The Scenic Road to the Information Centre.
Parking is available near the Information Centre located at the intersection of Maitland Bay Drive and The Scenic Road in Killcare Heights (see map location).
The starting point of this track is about 100 metres south of the information centre. Below is a map of the walk.
Track Notes
Bouddi National Park on the Central Coast is a great weekend destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with many exciting walking tracks and some of the most beautiful beaches in New South Wales to explore.
One of those popular walks is the Maitland Bay Track. This well-maintained walking trail is just under 2 km long (return) and has a few steep sections. It’s a family-friendly walk, but it is quite steep.
Maitland Bay Information Centre
Before starting the Maitland Bay Track, it’s worth paying a visit to the charming information centre, if it’s open.
The small building was once the Old Maitland Store and residence, one of the earliest homes in the Killcare Heights area.
The store was associated with the history of Bouddi National Park and the development of Killcare Heights.
The information centre is open from 11 am until 3 pm on the weekends and public holidays.
Into the Bush
To start the walk to Maitland Bay, look for the Bouddi National Park sign, which marks the start of both the Maitland Bay Track and the Bullimah Spur Track.
After about 100 metres, the path arrives at a junction where you need to keep going straight ahead, as the path to the right is the Bullimah Spur Track.
As you make your way down through the forest, you will soon start to see glimpses of Maitland Bay and the ocean.
Be mindful that while going down to the beach is very easy, going back up can be a bit of a challenge, especially for young children.
It takes around 20 minutes to get to the beach, but it will take twice as long to get back up to the car park via the steep walking path.
Maitland Bay Beach
Maitland Bay is a beautifully secluded beach in Bouddi National Park.
On an average Sunday, you typically won’t find more than a handful of people at the beach, which can be quite refreshing if you’re from Sydney.
Keep in mind that Maitland Bay Beach is unpatrolled, so please be careful if you’re planning to go for a swim.
The water can be quite rough there at times, so we don’t recommend swimming at Maitland Bay if the weather is very windy.
Bouddi Point
From the beach, we recommend continuing the walk to Bouddi Point at the eastern end of the beach.
Not only are the views fantastic along the way, but you will also be able to discover some remnants of an old shipwreck.
The S.S. Maitland Shipwreck
In May 1898, the coastal paddle steamer S.S. Maitland ran aground at the eastern end of Maitland Bay during a vicious storm.
Remembered as the “Maitland Gale”, this storm caused the sinking of several other ships along the coast of New South Wales, but the Maitland disaster claimed the most lives.
More than 120 years later, some of the remnants of this shipwreck are still visible at low tide.
It’s worth walking the extra stretch from the end of the Maitland Bay Track to Bouddi Point to discover these historical remnants.
Seeing these remnants makes you think about what the passengers and crew on board the S.S. Maitland must have gone through on that fateful night.
On Saturday 14th October 1961, a monument was dedicated to commemorating the sinking of the S.S. Maitland as a maritime disaster.
The monument stands next to the information centre, and is a replica of the bell of the ship.
The bay was previously known as Boat Harbour but was renamed Maitland Bay following the disaster.
More Hiking Nearby
Once you’ve completed the Maitland Bay Track, there are a couple of options for more hiking nearby if you’re keen.
The most logical option is the Bullimah Spur Track, which also starts from the information centre. This short bushwalk heads south towards the Bullimah Outlook, with beautiful views of Putty Beach, Box Head, Broken Bay, Lion Island, and Palm Beach.
Another option is the Bouddi Spur Walking Track, which starts from the Dingeldei picnic area. This scenic trail meanders through scenic bushland until it connects with the Bouddi Coastal Walk.
For even more hikes, check out our guide to the best walking tracks in Bouddi National Park.
