Hawkesbury, NSW Australia

On the edge of the Wollemi and Blue Mountains National Parks, The Hawkesbury River stretches from the Gateway of the Hawkesbury River around Brooklyn all the way through the lush Valley to the Highlands at the foot of the Blue Mountains. It’s flanked by five rivers, The Nepean, Hawkesbury, Grose, Macdonald and Colo.

Cruise and explore these waters for weeks, or divulge in a peaceful overnight anchorage in a hired boat or a waterfront B&B and wake up to lapping of the tides and the cackle of Kookaburras, Whip Birds and Sea Eagles.

Dotted with numerous secluded small towns and villages, more than 70 percent of the Hawkesbury is National Park including World Heritage listed wilderness areas.

The region is perfect for bushwalking, camping, canoeing and swimming activities, as well as an abundance of picnic and BBQ locations.

For the more adventurous try abseiling or canyoning, or tour the glow worm caves.

Hawkesbury residents and visitors enjoy magnificent rural and bushland settings, a vibrant cultural life and thriving economy.

The entire region is renowned for adventure, nature, art and history lovers, and it’s a significant source of Sydney’s fresh fruit, produce and farmland product.

Discovered in 1789, the Hawkesbury is one of the oldest colonial settlements in Australia. Many of the area’s original buildings have survived and are still standing today, making the region a remarkable “time capsule” of Australian Colonial History.