Quite a few plus walkers are away at the moment so it was a small group of seven who started from Killcare SLSC. It was worth the sand walking along Putty Beach to be able to see a pod of cavorting dolphins fairly close to the shore. They were moving too quickly to get a decent photo but the yellow-tailed black cockatoo permanently on the bench at the end of the beach always poses patiently for even the slowest photographers.
1. Wave surging up Putty Beach 
2. Ready for the first big climb 
3. Patiently waiting
Stairs rise abruptly at the north end at the beginning of the Bouddi Coast Walk, a mix of trail and boardwalk high above the rocky waterline. We stopped at several lookouts for views of the famous tessellated pavement and unimpeded sea views to the horizon on this bright, clear morning. 
4. The Bouddi Coast Walk 
5. And more... 
6. The famous tesselated pavement
The trail follows the coast, finally descending to the beach at Maitland Bay where we found a shady spot at the north end for morning tea. We didn’t manage to see the wreckage of the paddle steamer for which the bay is named. As the story goes, the hull was damaged at Long Reef, water flooded in, extinguishing the fires for the steam engine and the ship drifted north until it foundered on the rock shelf below Bouddi Point at what was then called Boat Harbour. Its skeleton is visible when the tide is right. But there were other sights, such as Maitland Bay's own lowkey attempt at Sculpture by the Sea.
7. Scorpion? 
8. Teepee 
9. Quadruped
A steep flight of stairs at the north end of the beach re-joins the Bouddi Coast Walk and continues steeply up, via many well-made stairs, onto the saddle of the Bouddi Point Headland and continues climbing up Mount Bouddi via the Bouddi Spur track to Dingeldei picnic area. It was too early for lunch, so we continued to the top of Mount Bouddi Rd, then turned south along Strom’s fire trail, an easy, level walk.
10. Burrawangs along the way 
11. And eucalypts 
12. Xanthorrhea
Recent fire hazard reduction burning had cleared much of the undergrowth along the side of the trail, so we managed to spot an echidna before it scuttled into an overgrown ditch and pressed itself into the side, trying to be invisible. From there, it wasn’t far to lunch near the Information Centre on The Scenic Road. A short stretch of road walking along The Scenic Rd led to the Marie Byles lookout with Barrenjoey and the distant Bahai Temple clearly visible. About 350 metres past the lookout, a track descends through an open, grassy area down to Jacqueline Avenue.
At the far end of the road, behind the houses there is a small rocky lookout, a stunning display of flannel flowers and a steep, rough track down to Putty Beach campground from which there is easy access to the beach. The walk south along the beach was slower on this return trip and the brisk nor-easter made for a rather chilly coffee stop at the SLSC.
13. Flannel flowers 
14. A rough descent 
15. Some parts were rather steep 
16. Bouddi NP
Walkers: Leah and Trudy (leaders) with Celia, Hazel, Peter T, Sue K (visitor), Wendy L
First aid (thankfully not needed) by Trudy and tail-end Charlie was Peter
Words: Leah and Photos: Trudy (3,7,13,14) Peter (1,2,4,5,6,10,11,12) Leah (8,9)