Putty Beach Campground

Putty Beach Campground is the largest and most accessible campground in Bouddi National Park, sitting steps from the sand on the NSW Central Coast, about 90 minutes from Sydney. Where Little Beach requires a walk-in and Tallow Beach needs a 4WD, Putty Beach is drive-up, reasonably well-equipped, and the obvious starting point for families or anyone exploring the park for the first time. The Bouddi Coastal Walk starts at the eastern end of the beach.

There are 20 marked, unpowered sites arranged around a grassy central area, separated by native vegetation and well-shaded by trees. Most sites take one large tent (up to 6 people) or two small tents (up to 6 people total). Sites 13 and 18 are smaller — one small tent and a maximum of three people. Tents only throughout the campground: overnight stays in vehicles, campervans, and rooftop tents are explicitly prohibited. Small bitumen carparks sit along Putty Beach Road which runs through the campground, with a larger carpark at the end of the road.

Facilities are the best of any campground in the park: flush toilets, cold showers, free gas BBQs, drinking water, rubbish and recycling bins, and a picnic shelter. No fires, no generators, no pets, no mobile reception. Park entry is $8 per vehicle per day, payable at the carpark via card machine or Park’nPay app.

The Bouddi Coastal Walk departs from Putty Beach’s eastern end, connecting south to Maitland Bay (with the SS Maitland shipwreck visible offshore), then on to Little Beach and MacMasters Beach. Gerrin Point Lookout is a short walk from the campground with good ocean views. The Maitland Bay track is one of the most popular day walks on the Central Coast. Whale watching from the headlands runs May to July and September to October. Brush turkeys are a constant presence at camp. Sea eagles, echidnas, and tree frogs are throughout the park. Fishing is permitted outside the Bouddi Marine Extension area with a current NSW recreational fishing licence.

Booking is essential via NPWS. Putty Beach is the most popular campground in the park and books out well ahead for school holidays and long weekends. No pets permitted. Check NPWS local alerts for any closures before the drive.