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Time 1 Hr
Return 2.1 km Return
Climb 153 m
Grade 4 Hard track
Car
no_pets
From Maitland Bay Information Centre, this walk heads straight down the hill to Maitland Beach. On the way down, the track passes many rock landings which act as lookouts over Maitland Bay and the lush bush of the surrounding gullies. Maitland Bay Beach itself is a wonderful sandy beach which is popular for swimming (although there are no beach patrols).

Maitland Bay Information Centre

Maitland Bay Information Centre
Maitland Bay Information Centre, was once the old Maitland Store and residence. The store was a influential piece of infrastructure as it acted as a meeting place for Trustees and a hub for early tourism. Today the store is still a hub for tourism but as an Information Centre open on weekends and public holidays. As well as information on the area there is also parking, a public phone and drinking water.

(0km) Maitland Bay Information Centre → Int. of Maitland Bay Info Centre Trk and Bouddi Coastal Walk

distance 820 m time 18 mins climb 2m descent -112m Hard track
From the information centre, the walk passes the information sign to the start of the car park. From the car park, the walk follows the Maitland Bay sign left, down the hill. The walk then heads down the staircase for some time to a signposted intersection.
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track down the staircase. The walk winds through the forest, passing a rock platform with nice views over Maitland Bay. The track continues down the hill from the rock platform, keeping the rock face to the right and an overhang to the left, continuing for some time before crossing over a wooden bridge and going down more steps to a signposted intersection.

(1km) Int. of Maitland Bay Trk and Bouddi Coastal Walk → Maitland Beach West End

distance 250 m time 6 mins climb 0m descent -39m Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the footpath down the hill, descending some steps, towards the beach that can be heard. The walk heads down to Maitland Beach with the final stretch winding down through open scrub to the sandy beach.

Maitland 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.

Maps for the Maitland Bay Track 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 Bay1:25 000 Map Series91301N BROKEN BAYNSW-91301N
Sydney1:100 000 Map Series9130 SYDNEY9130

Cross sectional view of the Maitland Bay Track bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Maitland Bay Track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Maitland Bay Track

Altitude analysis for Maitland Bay Track

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.

Length2.1 km
Time1 Hr
.




Grade 4/6



Hard track
AS 2156.1GradientShort steep hills (3/6)
Quality of trackFormed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
SignsMinimal directional signs (4/6)
Experience RequiredNo experience required (1/6)
WeatherWeather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
InfrastructureLimited 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

This whole walk, 1.1km has short steep hills.

Quality of track

Around 820m of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 250m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.

Signs

Around 630m of this walk has minimal directional signs, whilst the remaining 430m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 1.1km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 1.1km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

630m of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) and another 250m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). The remaining (180m) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Maitland Bay Track walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Maitland Bay Track walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Maitland Bay Track walk starts and ends at the Maitland Bay Information Centre (gps: -33.520086, 151.38267)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Bouddi National Park

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.

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