Discover the Hawkesbury River in Australia

Where do stressed out Sydney dwellers go to relax? The answer is the Hawkesbury River.

The Hawkesbury River is less than an hour from bustling Sydney, Australia and flows past national parks, riverside hamlets, historic townships, honeycomb colored cliffs, inlets and bays.

The country surrounding the Hawkesbury is fertile farming country and sustains alpaca studs, vegetable farms, flower acreage and vineyards. If you would like some extra information on wine and farm trails then go to www.hawkesburyharvest.com.au.

Houseboats

It has to be said that the best way to enjoy the Hawkesbury River is relaxing on a houseboat. But be warned the prices of these go through the roof during the summer and school holidays. There are many companies and most are based at Brooklyn. Below I have listed a few you may wish to take a look at:

Able Hawkesbury River Houseboats - www.hawkesburyhouseboats.com.au. 3008 River Road, Wisemans Ferry. Tel: 02 4566 4306, 1800 024,979

Brooklyn Marina - www.brooklynmarina.com.au. 45 Brooklyn Road, Brooklyn. Tel: 02 9985 7722.

Holidays Afloat - www.holidaysafloat.com.au. 65 Brooklyn Road, Brooklyn. Tel: 02 9985 7368

Ripples Houseboats - www.ripples.com.au. 87 Brooklyn Road, Brooklyn. Tel: 02 9985 5555

Fun stuff

Australia's last operating mail boat the Riverboat Postman (www.hawkesburyriverferries.com.au, Postman Wharf, Brooklyn, Tel: 02 9985 7566) chugs up the Hawkesbury as far as Marlow Mon-Fri 9.30am. During the summer though there are extra 'coffee cruises'.

Close to Brooklyn you will find a restaurant called Peats Bite (www.peatsbite.com.au), which has been run by the same family since 1981. Linger over lunch; take a dip in the pool and or shimmy away on the dance floor. And the only way to get to Peats Bite is by boat.

As you go further upstream you will come to a narrow waterway that takes you from the Hawkesbury to the river town of Berowra Waters. Here you will find a few businesses, residences and boat sheds.

To explore the river hire an outboard dinghy from the Berowra Waters Marina (www.barbecueboat.info)

A short way from here you will come across the Berowra waters Inn (www.berowratersinn.com) that is reputed to be one of this regions best restaurants and again can only be accessed by boat.

The hamlet of Wisemans Ferry spills over a bow of the Hawkesbury River where it slides east towards Brooklyn. It is around here that the convict built Great North Road was constructed to link Sydney with Hunter Valley. Approximately 15km of the road has been preserved and today makes a great mountain bike trail.

The social hub of Wisemans Ferry is the Wisemans Inn (www.wisemansinnhotel.com.au) and on offer here are great rooms, a bistro and an extremely decent pub. At the weekends you will find many bikies and country singers enjoying the inn.

So when in Sydney follow the locals for fun and relaxation.

Source: Australia - The Lonely Planet