Hawkesbury River

Welcome to one of the longest rivers on Australia's East Coast

Hawkesbury River: Stunning from source to sea

Shucking, fishing, boating, paddling and pearling: they all happen on the majestic Hawkesbury River. Beginning where the Grose and Nepean Rivers join at Yarramundi, flowing into the Pacific Ocean at Broken Bay, the Hawkesbury River delivers a good time from source to sea.

The wide green river stretches 145 kilometres, hugged by sandstone cliffs, tiny communities accessible only by water, timber piers in oyster leases, and puttering boats in no rush to get anywhere. It links it to many picturesque waterways along the way, as well as bush reserves and creeks like Piles and Popran. Not to forget the stunning Somersby Falls and car-less carefree village of Dangar Island. This bucolic, meandering river houses a vibrant seafood sector, weaves through untouched bush landscape and is a haven for outdoor adventures. What makes this twisting, tapering river so special? It feels a world away but is tantalisingly close to Sydney.

_{Words: Lyndsey Douglas of WritersWho in collaboration with Love Our Waterways.}

Credit: James Vodicka x Destination Central Coast

ECO CERTIFIED EXPERIENCE

Immerse yourself in this truly unique, award-winning in-water experience! Shuck your own oysters and sip bubbly based on a scenic river dining table! Sydney Oyster Farm Tours are a family-run business committed to sustainable practices, ECO Certified with Ecotourism Australia.

BOOK ECO CERTIFIED OYSTER TOUR

life saving ring from yesteryear hanging on oyster shed

Credit: James Horan x Destination Central Coast

Responsible boating on the mighty Hawkesbury-Nepean

This river system supplies clean drinking water to five million residents of Greater Sydney, with Mangrove Creek Dam providing 93% of the Central Coast's water. In addition to being essential for humans, the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system boasts diverse environments teeming with vital biodiversity. Mangrove forests, saltmarshes, and seagrass beds, serve as sanctuaries for endangered species and delicate ecosystems.

Attracting over 100,000 boat licence holders and 40,000 registered recreational vessels, it’s important that boaters support the health of the river. After all, the estuary is also key to the thriving "blue economy" of the region: aquaculture, fishing, and tourism. If you enjoy eating oysters, prawns, yabbies and fish, you’ll want to protect the habitat in which they grow.

Use boat ramps for launching watercraft to preserve the foreshore
Navigate cautiously at a slow speed in seagrass areas
Responsibly manage fuel, oil, and liquid waste to prevent contamination of the ecosystem.

Historical Hawkesbury with Bernadette

After growing up in Cheshire, Bernadette Flynn left England behind when she fell in love with the Australian bush. As the Founder of Heritage Ventures based in Spencer on the Central Coast, she works with expert historians, storytellers and guides to curate a program of immersive events in the Hinterland that share the real history of place while exploring significant sites along the river.

ACCESS HER LOCAL GUIDE

BOOK HERITAGE VENTURES

visitor group around tour guides learning from old map

Credit: James Horan x Destination Central Coast

The Hawkesbury-Nepean River

Watch this video to meet the mighty Hawkesbury-Nepean River system and discover the collaborative management work taking place with Central Coast Council, Hornsby Shire Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Ku-ring-gai Council, Northern Beaches Council and The Hills Shire Council to monitor this ecosystem's health for generations to come.

RESPECT THE RIVER

For thousands of years, the Hawkesbury River has shaped the landscape, its people and its flora and fauna, allowing each to survive and thrive. Protecting this river and getting it back to its pristine past is our collective responsibility.

Things to do on the Hawkesbury River...

shucking oysters in river with waders on

Wade-in farm tours

Head out on the river with Sydney Oyster Farm Tours, run by three generations of the same family, who offer tours to the famous oyster leases. Slide waist deep into the water to dine on oysters at a table set up in the river.

pearl farm tour in shellar door area with pearls on table

Through the Shellar Door

Discover locally grown pearls at the only pearl farm in NSW. Broken Bay Pearl Farm invites you to their revamped oyster shed in Mooney Mooney to learn about the intricacies of pearl farming and the seven virtues they’re graded upon.

freshly shucked plate of oysters in servers hands

Shucked in the shed

Prefer to devour oysters while on dry land? Head to the Hawkesbury River Oyster Shed right on the edge of the river. A small oyster farm supplies the slippery delicacies straight from the source with eco-friendly practices.

group on heritage tour in the blue duck museum

Guided talks and walks

Immerse yourself in the rich history of the Lower Hawkesbury with Heritage Ventures. Explore hidden gems of Spencer, Mangrove Creek and the Hawkesbury River via walking tours, performances, history telling talks, river cruises, or 'tag along' adventures.

Paddle Popran Creek

Collect a kayak from Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures and paddle five kilometres. Wind your way through the bush and brush to the soundscape of kingfishers and bellbirds. Arms tired? All good, you’re going with the tide today.

Wisemans Ferry crossing

Enter the Central Coast from a whole new angle travelling north of Sydney via the Wisemans Ferry crossing. Car and bike friendly, the ferry operates 24-hours and links to Spencer along the river.

Dive into our history

Embark on the unforgettable Hawkesbury & Broken Bay History Ferry Tour. Cruise through magnificent waterways, delving into 250 years of Australian history. Experience live commentary, historical visuals and more, while enjoying morning tea.

Charter a fishing tour

Whether you’re looking to finetune your cast, or just looking for a reely (pun intended) good day on the water, Hawkesbury Fishing Charters cater for both. Host kids parties, family holidays, even your next staff team building aboard a charter boat.

Head back to 1910

Jump aboard the famous Riverboat Postman as the crew from Hawkesbury Cruises deliver mail and essentials (bottle of whiskey, anyone?) to river-access-only settlements upriver from Brooklyn. Hear cracking river yarns from local skippers on the way.