Bouddi Spur to Maitland Bay

The Dingeldei Memorial Shelter

The Dingeldei Memorial Shelter was built in 1962, thanks to volunteers. A.W. (Bill) Dingeldei was a trustee of the park who did considerable work on it himself. Today the Dingeldei picnic area is a quiet, leafy spot, perched on the hill behind Mount Bouddi. The picnic area contains a picnic table, toilets, BBQ and rubbish facilities. It also has a new car park with ample spaces.

(0km) Dingeldei Picnic Area and Carpark → Bouddi Lookout

890 m
21 mins
38m
-74m

Moderate track

From the Mt Bouddi carpark (at the end of Mt Bouddi Rd, off Scenic Road), this walk heads past the sandstone building, following the ‘Little Beach’ sign. The walk goes down a few flights of stairs, and meanders for some time, passing some old metal fence posts, passing through another saddle, and arriving at Bouddi Lookout, on a small rocky outcrop.

Bouddi Lookout

Bouddi Lookout, Bouddi National Park, is a great first look at the Bouddi Coast as you come out of the bush on Bouddi Spur. There are views of the Pacific Ocean crashing into the heath covered headlands in front of the lookout. Not as grand a view as other lookouts in the area, but worth a pause on your way to the Bouddi Coast Track.

(0.89km) Bouddi Lookout → Int. Bouddi Trail and Dingeldei Picnic Trail

350 m
8 mins
0m
-56m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the lookout, the walk follows the bush track down the ridge line. The walk winds down the hill for some time, using a lot of steps, to a signposted intersection.

(1.24km) Int. Bouddi Coastal Trk and Dingeldei Picnic Trail → Eastern corner of Maitland Beach

390 m
13 mins
7m
-67m

Hard track

Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Maitland Bay’ arrow along the bush track, going down the hill. After a while, the walk drops into a clearing, on the saddle between the headland and the spur, and turns right, going down some steep steps to the beach.

Maitland Beach

Maitland Beach, Bouddi National Park, is a 500m-long sandy beach sitting north west of Putty Beach. The beach’s 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, and the wreck of S.S. Maitland (after which the beach and bay are named) is found on the eastern rock point.

(1.63km) Eastern corner of Maitland Beach → S.S. Maitland Shipwreck

310 m
7 mins
14m
-15m

Hard track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the cliff line out towards the sea, beneath the rocky headland. The walk heads over rocks and boulders, to the rock flats at the point. Here lies the S.S.Maitland shipwreck.

S.S. Maitland Shipwreck

The S.S. Maitland was a paddle steamer brought to Australia 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 aptly-named ‘Maitland Gale’. The storm which wrecked the Maitland also took numerous other ships on May 6, 1898. Of the 36 passengers aboard the Maitland, 24 lost their lives. Many of the survivors were commended for their heroism. 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.

Maps for the Bouddi Spur to Maitland Bay walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Broken Bay	1:25 000 Map Series	91301N BROKEN BAY	NSW-91301N
Sydney	1:100 000 Map Series	9130 SYDNEY	9130

Cross sectional view of the Bouddi Spur to Maitland Bay bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Bouddi Spur to Maitland Bay

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

		Length	3.9 km
		Time	1 hr 45 mins
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
		Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
		Signs	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
		Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
		Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
		Infrastructure	Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

Around 1.2km of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 700m is very steep.

Quality of track

Around 1.2km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 700m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.

Signs

Around 1.2km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 700m has minimal directional signs.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 1.9km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 1.6km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 310m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 1.2km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 700m has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Bouddi Spur to Maitland Bay walk starts and ends at the Dingeldei Picnic Area and Carpark (gps: -33.516278, 151.40326)
Your main transport option to Dingeldei Picnic Area and Carpark is by;

Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)

Fire Danger

Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.

Forecast snapshot

Park Information & Alerts

Download Pdf

Open iPhone app

Short URL = http://wild.tl/mbts

Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)

Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂

Bouddi Spur to Maitland Bay

The Dingeldei Memorial Shelter

(0km) Dingeldei Picnic Area and Carpark → Bouddi Lookout

Moderate track

Bouddi Lookout

(0.89km) Bouddi Lookout → Int. Bouddi Trail and Dingeldei Picnic Trail

Moderate track

(1.24km) Int. Bouddi Coastal Trk and Dingeldei Picnic Trail → Eastern corner of Maitland Beach

Hard track

Maitland Beach

(1.63km) Eastern corner of Maitland Beach → S.S. Maitland Shipwreck

Hard track

S.S. Maitland Shipwreck

Maps for the Bouddi Spur to Maitland Bay walk

Cross sectional view of the Bouddi Spur to Maitland Bay bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Bouddi Spur to Maitland Bay

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Some more details of this walks Grading

Gradient

Quality of track

Signs

Experience Required

weather

Infrastructure

Similar walks

Other Nearby walks

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

Fire Danger

Weather Forest

Park Information & Alerts

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