Holiday houses in Wisemans Ferry

Less than an hour’s drive from Sydney, in the heart of the Hawkesbury River and at the end of a winding road through rugged bushland, you’ll find the charming town of Wisemans Ferry. There’s plenty of accommodations at Wisemans Ferry from which to choose, and the village also offers a gallery, a few boutique shops, and a well-known pub — a great spot to enjoy some lunch while overlooking the river. The area has a rich Aboriginal and European history, and was named after its founder, a British expat of the same name. You can still see Wiseman’s hand-hewed sandstone residence in the village.

Wisemans Ferry is also home to a ferry service, the oldest ferry crossing still in operation in New South Wales. You can picnic along the banks of the river, go fishing, kayak, water-ski, or even hire a boat or houseboat. Local farms offer fruit picking during the winter, and the Wisemans Ferry park has barbeques, picnic areas, and some excellent playgrounds. The surrounding Dharug National Park is an ideal destination for bushwalks and picnics as well as mountain biking, and also offers camping at Mill Creek and Ten Mile Hollow.

Wisemans Ferry is a relaxed and friendly village that’s lovely to visit at any time of the year. Whether you’re staying for a weekend, or wanting a longer getaway, this is an appealing destination, especially for families. The weather in Wisemans Ferry is relatively mild and temperate, and extreme conditions are rare. During the warmer months, the area is a popular destination for water-skiing and swimming, and there are several ski-parks dotted along the Hawkesbury River. It’s also a great season for picnics by the river, and enjoying the outdoor playgrounds. The cooler months are ideal for bushwalking, as trails can get very hot and humid during the peak of summer and keen anglers are attracted to the fishing opportunities all year round.

Bushwalking

The surrounding Dharug National Park offers an abundance of walking trails, including the 1.6 kilometre Grass Tree Circuit, which is great for families, an 11 kilometre Devines Hill Loop, and the longer 18 kilometre Dubbo Gully Loop Trail. A great thing to do is walk the Convict Trail, which runs north from Sydney all the way to the Hunter Valley. Most of this road continues to be used today, but it’s a great chance to see some of the brilliant engineering work from centuries of hard work and sweat.

Hawkesbury River

The Wisemans Ferry, sharing its name with the town, is a small and charming cable ferry that provides a passage across the Hawkesbury River for both people and vehicles. It’s free, and runs day and night, seven days a week. Take a trip over the river to see what the northern side of the river has to offer, or to continue heading north to the Hunter Valley.

Mandarin picking

Thanks to the area’s fertile soil, Wisemans Ferry is surrounded by pretty orchards and rich farmland. Going mandarin picking at one of the local family farms is always a popular activity that the whole family will love.