Holiday houses in Hawkesbury River

Snaking around northwestern Sydney for 120 kilometres before emptying into the sea at Broken Bay, the majestic Hawkesbury River forms a natural border between Sydney and the New South Wales Central Coast. Traditionally a rich source of food and a place of trade for the Dharug people, the upper Hawkesbury’s Aboriginal Custodians, the region saw pioneering farming families arrive in 1794, after which the river became an important 19th-century route for transporting produce to Sydney.

Bordered by several national parks, with more than a dozen small towns — including the five historic Macquarie Towns — dotted along its banks, the Hawkesbury River today is a popular recreation area. Kayaking, waterskiing, fishing, river cruising, and bushwalking opportunities abound, with scenic flights from Sydney offering another stunning way to experience the dramatic waterway. Near the mouth of the river, oyster farms supply the region with fresh molluscs year-round.

The Hawkesbury region spans a large area, with variations in climate, but in general the summers are hot and the winters are cool. Summer is a great time for water sports, while the spring, autumn, and winter months are ideal for activities like bushwalking, with the cooler weather complemented by a lower risk of bushfires and storms. Winter also sees the town of Windsor host the quirky Winterfest medieval fair over a weekend in late June. Fruit picking is possible year-round in the Hawkesbury Valley, while the second Sunday of November sees the river mouth town of Ettalong Beach host the Brisbane Water Oyster Festival. There’s good fishing throughout the year, particularly downriver, with prized mulloway biting around the beginning of winter.

Macquarie Towns

Established by Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1810 in a bid to improve Sydney’s food security (indeed, within five years the region was providing half of the city’s grain), the Macquarie Towns of Richmond, Windsor, Wilberforce, Pitt Town, and Castlereagh are rich in pioneer heritage. Windsor is the hub — home to an excellent museum and a handful of 19th-century architectural gems.

Hawkesbury Harvest Farm Gate Trail

Taste the fruits of the Hawkesbury region — literally — by hitting the Hawkesbury Harvest Farm Gate Trail, which winds from Castle Hill (home to the bimonthly Castle Hill Farmers and Fine Food Market), in the east though the Hawkesbury Valley and mountains to the west. Along the trail you’ll discover apple orchards, walnut farms, cideries, and an excellent native foods boutique.

Get on or in the Water

The stretch of river between Windsor and Wisemans Ferry is particularly popular for water skiing and wakeboarding. In the lower Hawkesbury, Brooklyn is a good place to hire kayaks and houseboats (which you don’t need a boat licence to captain). From pretty Patonga Beach on the northern side of the river mouth you can kayak up into Brisbane Water National Park, or take a scenic ferry ride to Bobbin Head in Kur-ing-gai Chase National Park to the south.