BOUDDI NP STROM LOOKOUT TRACKS MTB - 30 MARCH 2016

I checked a few beaches for a surf but the tide was low and at most beaches the waves were closing out.

I went to plan b which was a bike ride. I drove to Bouddi National Park and parked at the carpark at the top of Maitland Bay Drive.


I peddled in the direction of the Strom Lookout. The track was wide as it also is a rarely used service road.

On the left, I noticed a small track and followed it. It was windy and fun and a little damp from the recent rains. It ended at a culvert that ran beneath the road. Water was running out of the drain and into a small pool which flowed a short distance to a cascade over a sheer drop. I inched towards the edge but it was certainly an intimating drop. The mosquitoes at this stop were horrendous so I didn't stay long.

I back tracked and followed the main trail. I came across another track which meandered narrowly for a short distance before rejoining the trail. Half way along this track there was another track that lead downhill. I will have to try this one next time I'm here.

I followed the trail till the end then backtracked to the Strom lookout turnoff. This was a short track that ended in a fenced lookout area with a vista over Brisbane Water from Hardy's Bay to Ettalong.

A fun 2.84 km ride with side tracks and not fun mosquitoes.

CENTRAL COAST MTB - BOUDDI - ROCKY AND DALEYS POINT - 14 march 2015

distance 8.51 km
elevation range - 89 m

I started at car park at the corner of Wards Hill and Maitland Road.

I started on the trail to Strom's lookout. It was pretty easy. The last part was a short track through the bush then an excellent view over Brisbane Water.

Back tracking to the car park I turned off a narrow little track that joined onto Rocky Point trail. It was fun and zigzagging.

The track along Rocky Point was okay and wide. I took a turn to the left that lead to a high outcrop of rocks above the Rocky Point trail. It was a good view and the top of the trees was at my height.

Further along there were three more turn offs. The first went to Daley Point north. It was rough and fun in parts and ended above a water tank.

The second track lead to Aboriginal engraving area and a long escarpment with views over Brisbane Water. The tracks were through low dense bush that were cleared on the large sandstone rocks. There were a few tracks joining the larger rocks together. The carvings were very hard to see but I always get a funny feeling when I go to these sites. It is a mixed of amazement that people had been in this spot for tens of thousands of years, a sense of loss that they were no longer here and should be and a sense of respect like I am in a place of importance like a church or mosque. Mainly, I feel like I am intruding in a mixed sense.

The third turn off was the Fishermans Trail which lead steeply downhill for a fair distant to the housing at the base of the escarpment. From here, I followed the street to a track to Rileys Bay but there was no track so I had to back track. I walked most of the way to the top as it was very steep.

I returned to the car park hot and sweaty and feeling good. I drove to Terrigal Haven and had a swim. Nice!