Join me on a walk through Bouddi National Park ~ a special place I love to share, I'm Monique, the Marketing Manager at Nancybird.

When venturing out, I always reach for my cosiest Nancybird pieces. On this occasion, it was the Cara Roll Knit, our warmest layer, paired with a couple of stunning feature bags and a scarf, all designed to complement the natural surrounds.

For me, visiting my local national park, Bouddi, is more than just time spent outdoors. It’s a reconnection with a place I love deeply. I’ve been coming here since I was a child, visiting my grandparents on holidays, and now I live nearby, close to my parents. Just over an hour from Sydney, this stretch of protected coastline on the NSW Central Coast feels far removed from the city. It’s where the bush meets the sea in the most spectacular ways.

On this day, after many days of rain, a bright window of sunlight appeared. Everything glistened with life. The bush was alive with energy. Black Cockatoos called overhead, their cries echoing through the trees. A wallaby spotted me from below and quickly darted through the undergrowth. Looking out toward Putty Beach, late autumn florals burst into colour, banksias popped with bright oranges, and lichen glowed luminous on ancient sandstone. I paused in one of my favourite spots to take in the view, listen to Fairy Wrens chattering, and enjoy that quiet joy that comes from slowing down.

Bouddi holds a special place in many hearts, and its protection is thanks in large part to Marie Byles a pioneering conservationist and bushwalker who, in the 1930s, campaigned to preserve this land. It became one of Australia’s first national parks and a rare and early example of successful environmental advocacy.

But long before that, Bouddi was and always will be Guringai and Darug Country, and is also known to be connected to the Darkinjung people, the Traditional Custodians of this land. The name ‘Bouddi’ is believed to be an Aboriginal word meaning ‘heart’ or ‘sacred place,’ a fitting reflection of its spiritual and ecological significance.

As I walked the trails wrapped in warmth, I feel that connection too. I love the quick changes of scenery In between open headlands and shaded bush tracks, surrounded by the twisting branches of striking red Angophoras.

Whether you’re climbing up steep paths lined with flannel flowers or pausing to soak in the view across to Sydney, there’s a walk here for everyone. A refreshing stroll down Maitland Bay Track will reward you with a dip in deep waters, and if you’re lucky, a coffee from Arnie’s Caravan on the way back.

Bouddi is a place worth visiting, where magic awaits around every corner. A place where nature is quiet but powerful, and where everything feels a little more grounded.