This is what a teenager named Marie Byles did back in 1920 when she used to holiday at Palm Beach with her family. Back then, Bouddi (as it was named on maps) was visited only by fishermen. Marie visited Bouddi often to camp on the beaches and bushwalk with her friends, and over the years she successfully campaigned to have the area set aside for public use and conservation. In 1935 it became Bouddi Natural Park and has since been expanded, eventually becoming Bouddi National Park in 1974.
Bouddi is an Indigenous word for ‘heart’ (which we think is just the perfect name!). Before Marie visited and European settlement, it is thought that around six to eight indigenous groups lived in the area. There are over 100 sites recorded including engravings, middens, rock shelters, grinding grooves and other archeological wonders. To bring some of these sites to life, and to learn about just what a significant area Bouddi was to the Indigenous people we highly recommend our private Spiritual Indigenous Experience. Hosted by an Indigenous Senior Man, his interpretation of rock engravings and cultural practices will change the way you look at Aboriginal culture.
Whether you’re looking to swim, surf, snorkel or simply relax, Bouddi offers a variety of beaches. Some are easily accessible by car, others are enjoyed by walking there. Below are just a few of the beaches you can visit in Bouddi National Park.
Killcare Beach or Putty Beach are just two ends of a 1.6 km long southeast-facing beach. Easily accessible, the western end (Killcare) is patrolled by Killcare Surf Life Saving Club with parts of it dog-friendly. Here there is a rock pool suitable for young children to paddle safely away from the waves and a kiosk serving casual take-away food. The eastern end lies within the boundaries of Bouddi National Park and marks the beginning of the renowned Bouddi Coastal Walk. At times, the beach is great for surfing. Keep an eye out for the resident pod of dolphins or passing whales.
Lobster Beach is a calm beach on Broken Bay that can only be accessed via a short but steep walking track (approximately 10 minutes walk) or boat / kayak. It faces west making it the perfect sunset spot. Due to its somewhat difficulty of access you’ll often have the beach almost to yourself with the exception of weekends during summer when pleasure craft arrive to enjoy it for the day. Due to its secluded nature we’ve chosen Lobster Beach as the perfect location for our private SUPBall & Picnic or SUP Yoga experiences.
Sometimes when you’re at Maitland Bay it can feel as if you’ve stumbled upon Di Caprio’s ‘The Beach’. And just like The Beach, it requires a fair effort to get there. No less than a 20 minute walk down a steep track, or a 3km walk along the Bouddi Coastal Track, once you arrive it’s well worth it. Its curved contour reveals different views as you walk along the yellow sand and most of the time the water is clear and inviting. It’s a marine reserve and great for snorkelling. On the eastern point you’ll find scattered remains of the shipwreck ‘The S.S. Maitland’, a paddle steamer that ran into trouble in 1898.
During spring, Bouddi National Park blossoms into a wonderland with pretty flowers. All the colours of the rainbow come out; there’s the Flannel Flower, so-named because of the soft texture of its petals, the unusual looking Red Mountain Devil, a Purple Native Iris, Magenta Lilly Pilly, the Yellow Bush Pea, Pink Eriostemon, Blue Dampiera and many more. However any time of year on a bush walking experience such as the Sundowner Stroll or the Remedy Walk, you’ll be sure to see at least a few varieties.
