Australia Beyond the Opera House: A Coastal Walk Worth Slowing Down For

On Australia’s Central Coast, a walk from Putty Beach to Gerrin Point became a morning of ocean views, bush trails and unexpected perspective.

Standing in front of an enormous stretch of ocean, it becomes difficult to take your own importance quite so seriously.

The things that occupy our minds during the week can feel overwhelming. Yet beside the sea, with waves arriving one after another, those same thoughts begin to find their proper size.

That was the feeling I carried away from a spring morning in Bouddi National Park, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia.

Ahilya and I had set out from Putty Beach for a coastal walk. Along the way, we found a quiet beach, striking rock patterns, a bushland climb and a lookout over Maitland Bay. What I remember most, however, is how the landscape kept encouraging us to pause.

A different side of Australia

For many people overseas, Australia brings to mind the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and famous city beaches.

This journey offered another picture: wooden boardwalks beside the ocean, vegetation reaching towards the shoreline and paths that disappear into the bush before revealing another view.

Our route followed part of the Bouddi Coastal Walk, starting at Putty Beach and continuing towards Gerrin Point, with a stop at Bullimah Beach. I also walked a little beyond the lookout before turning back.

It was a day for exploring at our own pace, rather than trying to complete the entire coastal track.

Beginning at Putty Beach

By the time we arrived, the weekend was already unfolding along the sand.

Families were spending time beside the water. Children played, people relaxed on the beach, and the sunny morning gave us a welcoming start.

After crossing a short stretch of sand, we reached the stairs leading onto the coastal track. As we climbed, Putty Beach began to open out behind us.

With every few steps, the view changed. The beach became part of a wider landscape: shoreline, water, bush and sky.

It reminded me how often we need a little distance before we can see something more clearly.

Following the boardwalk beside the ocean

The walk soon took us through a patch of bush before opening onto the coast.

Green vegetation grew beside the path. Beyond it, the ocean stretched towards the horizon. Waves broke against the rocks below, spreading white foam across the darker surfaces before retreating.

The boardwalk gave the journey a gentle rhythm. Walk for a while, stop to look, then continue until something else caught our attention.

Spring added smaller details to the larger scene. Flowers appeared along the track, and the coastal breeze made it tempting to linger.

There was no shortage of scenery to film. There were also moments when I simply wanted to put the camera down.

Rock patterns that made me look twice

One of the most surprising sights was beneath us.

Along the rocky shoreline, a striking pattern resembled a surface laid out in tiles. At first glance, it was easy to imagine someone had arranged the stone deliberately.

This was the tessellated pavement: a naturally patterned rock surface that became one of the memorable details of the walk.

I stood looking at the shapes, thinking about how quickly we usually pass things by. Had I been concentrating only on reaching the next stop, I might have missed it.

The coast offered plenty of grand views, but this smaller detail held my attention just as strongly.

Bullimah Beach: a reason to stop

A path leading away from the main track took us down towards Bullimah Beach.

The beach felt tucked into the landscape, with bush behind it and rocky edges framing the water. A few people were enjoying the sand and shoreline, but there was still a wonderful sense of space.

Ahilya decided to stay here for a while.

I understood why. Sometimes you reach a place that asks very little of you. You can sit, listen to the water and enjoy being there.

I chose to continue towards Gerrin Point, but her decision stayed with me. There is value in recognising when you have already found somewhere worth remaining.

Visitors should remember that Bullimah Beach is unpatrolled. Enjoying the view from the sand is a rewarding part of the experience in itself.

From coastal walk to bushland hike

Beyond Bullimah, the character of the journey changed again.

The trail towards Gerrin Point led through bush, with a climb that made this section feel more like a hike. After the open coastline, the more enclosed path brought my attention back to the vegetation and the ground ahead.

This variety was part of the pleasure.

I had set out expecting a coastal walk. Within the same morning, I was experiencing a boardwalk, a beach stop and a bushland climb.

Each section gave the journey a different pace.

Gerrin Point and the view over Maitland Bay

At Gerrin Point, the landscape opened once more.

From the lookout, the ocean filled the distance and Maitland Bay curved into view. After walking through the bush, that sudden sense of space felt especially powerful.

I paused to look for whales, hoping I might be lucky enough to spot one offshore.

None appeared during my visit.

But Maitland Bay gave me more than enough reason to stay. The shape of the coastline, the blue water and the surrounding bush made this a moment worth enjoying without waiting for anything else to happen.

I continued a little further, stopping for another view of the bay and noticing an unusual rock formation beside the track. Then it was time to turn back.

Why the return journey felt different

Walking back along the same route could have felt repetitive.

Instead, it became another part of the discovery.

Views that had been behind me were now ahead. Different angles revealed details I had barely noticed on the outward walk. The same coastline looked familiar, yet held my attention in new ways.

The landscape had not changed. My direction and attention had.

Perhaps that was the most useful thought I brought home from the day. We do not always need an entirely new destination to experience something differently. Sometimes we need to slow down, turn around and look again.

Planning your own Bouddi Coastal Walk

This story follows our outing from Putty Beach towards Gerrin Point, including a Bullimah Beach stop and a short extension beyond the lookout. Your distance and walking time will depend on where you turn back and how often you stop.

For your own visit:

• Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for steps and uneven paths.
• Carry drinking water, sun protection and a hat.
• Allow time to enjoy the beaches and lookouts rather than rushing between them.
• Stay on designated tracks and follow signs near cliffs and rock platforms.
• Check current access, park alerts, parking information and conditions before travelling.
• Remember that beach conditions can differ from the impression given by a photograph.

For current visitor information, visit the NSW National Parks website.

Watch the journey with Hindi commentary

I filmed this walk to share the experience with viewers who enjoy discovering Australia through Hindi travel storytelling.

Come along from Putty Beach towards Gerrin Point, with a stop at Bullimah Beach and views across the Bouddi coastline.

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Which would make you pause longest: the beach, the bush trail or the view from the lookout?

Words and travel film: Rajesh Thakur — Rajesh Thakur Explorer.