We just finished two blogs in our series on Bouddi National Park. We told you about its diverse landscapes, aboriginal history, and beautiful beaches in our first blog and then we featured some of the best walking trails in part two on Bouddi National Park. In our final blog post in the series on Bouddi National Park, we are going to feature the biking trails and cycling spots within the park. Although Bouddi National Park is known for its bushwalking trails and beach tracks, there are 3 biking trails that are quite spectacular in their own right. Biking allows you to see more of the park first hand in a smaller amount of time. Of course, if you camp here overnight, you can take in more of the National Park’s diverse landscapes and beaches over several days.
Maitland Bay Information Centre in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Bouddi National Park Map Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Getting to Bouddi National Park
Bouddi National Park Map Photo Credit: Google Maps
Gosford Car Hire Map Photo Credit: Budget.com.au
Even though you’ll be biking in the park, you still need to get to the park from wherever you are coming from. Bouddi National Park is located about a 30 minute drive north of Sydney and very close to the town of Gosford. You can hire a car in Gosford or pick up a rental vehicle in nearby Mardi at the Tuggerah car hire location. Of course, there are plenty of convenient Budget car rental locations all around Sydney too. Let our car rental agents know your travel plans so that they can give you local tips and recommend the best vehicle for the terrain you will be driving on. If you are bringing your own bikes with you, ask if the vehicle you are renting has a bike hitch or room to accommodate them inside. Gosford is on New South Wales’ Central Coast. Here are some other blogs we have covered that include holiday ideas for Sydney, the New South Wales Central Coast, and surrounds:
Amazing Outdoor Wedding Destinations near Sydney
Road Trip: Sydney to Melbourne
Things to Do on Holiday in Sydney
Sydney Holiday Ideas for Families with Kids
Places to see in and Around Sydney
Sydney’s Famous and Secret Beaches
The Amazing Pacific Coast Drive: Sydney to Brisbane
Things to Do at Taronga Zoo in Sydney
Visit Australia’s Oldest National Park: Royal National Park
Quirky Places to Stay in NSW near Sydney
Best Scenic Drives: Greater Blue Mountains Drive
Bike Trails of Bouddi National Park
Just as with bush walking, whenever you are going cycling or mountain biking be sure to exercise safety precautions before you go. This means to let someone know where you are going and when you will return, take plenty of drinking water and apply sunscreen regardless of the season or level of sunshine. Review the details of each track or trail before embarking on your adventure and make sure that everyone in your party is up to the fitness level listed as the grading. Remember also that the grading represents the most difficult part of the trail, so the entire trail is likely not as hard as the listing. If you are unsure, check with the Maitland Bay Information Centre to address your concerns. You can bring fishing gear and swimming essentials with you. Use caution as none of the beaches are patrolled. As always, remember to observe the protected status of all National Parks: Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. Now, here are highlights of Bouddi National Park walks.
Bouddi Ridge Explorer Mountain Bike Trail
Bouddi Ridge Explorer Mountain Bike Trail in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Allen Strom Lookout in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Daleys Point Trail in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Bouddi Ridge Explorer Mountain Bike Trail Map Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Bouddi Ridge Explorer mountain biking trail allows you to see a big variety of the scenery of Bouddi National Park since it is a 10 km loop and the longest mountain biking trail in the park. Allow 4 hours for this medium graded bike trail. It combines several other trails including the Strom loop, Rocky Point trail, Daleys Point trail and MacMasters Ridge trail. The Strom loop and Rock Point trails are easier sections while the Daleys Point and MacMasters Ridges trails require a greater level of fitness and mountain biking experience. You can park your car at the Maitland Bay Information Centre and start your ride there. Follow the signage throughout the park. When you return, you can change it up and take The Scenic Road and Turkey trail.
Rocky Point Trail
Rocky Point Trail in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Rocky Point Trail in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Allen Strom Lookout in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Rocky Point Trail in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
If you are an inexperienced cycler or just starting out with mountain biking, then the Rocky Point trail is great because it is an easy route that still delivers on the beautiful scenery along the way. It is a 1 km route one-way and you should allow about 30 minutes to complete it. The trails are well defined. Start out off Wards Hills Road and end at Allen Strom Lookout.
Strom Loop
Strom Loop in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Strom Loop in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Strom Loop in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Strom Loop Map Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Strom Loop is also an easier track for beginner cyclists. You can also walk this trail. Along the way there is a fully-equipped picnic area, so plan to bring lunch. The loop is 5 km and takes about 30 minutes to complete on bike. Or you can cut it down to a one-way trail that is 3 km long and ends at the Mount Bouddi (Dingeldei) picnic area.There are plenty of birdwatching opportunities here and you might catch a glimpse of an echidna or a swamp wallaby during the day. Many of the animals in the park are nocturnal.
Allen Strom Lookout
Allen Strom Lookout in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Allen Strom Lookout in Bouddi National Park Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
Allen Strom Lookout Map Photo Credit: NationalParks.nsw.gov.au
The Allen Strom Lookout is definitely a highlight of the park. The view is serene and picturesque. Most of the biking trails we have talking about lead you to or near the lookout. The views include Hardys Bay to Wagstaffe and Ettalong. You can usually see as far as Brisbane Water National Park. Shades of blues and greens dominate the landscape and the bay is dotted with boats. You can reach the lookout on foot or by cycling.
National Parks of New South Wales
Visiting the National Parks is a great way to enhance your holiday, or even take a long weekend getaway. You definitely have one nearby wherever you are in New South Wales, or even on the border of the adjacent states because there are over 850 national parks in NSW. Explore as many as you can and choose your favourite. Let us know which one it is and why. We will be highlighting some of the most popular ones, make sure we include your favourite! We originally journeyed through many of the National Park in Queensland and now we are making our way through New South Wales.
Here are some of the previous New South Wales National Parks we have featured:
Hiking in Barrington Tops National Park
Camping in Barrington Tops National Park
The Oldest National Park in Australia, Royal National Park
The Rainforest Way highlighted Wollumbin National Park and Nightcap National Park
Our post about some of the Best Nature Walks in New South Wales included Dorrigo National Park and Eurobodalla National Park
Oxley Wild Rivers National Park was covered in our blog post about Wandering the Waterfall Way
Barrington Tops National Park is so vast that it took 4 blog posts to cover it all including:
Hiking in Barrington Tops National Park,
Looking Out Over Nature in Barrington Tops National Park, and
Camping in Barrington Tops National Park
A Look at Lane Cove National Park
Capertee National Park and Gardens of Stone National Park
