Del Rio Resort, Webbs CreekCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a morning coffee by the Hawkesbury River at Del Rio Resort, Webbs Creek.
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Romance + water views + gourmet food + cosy big bed. All the right ingredients to ignite those fuzzy feels with your other half. Here’s a true romantic’s guide to the Hawkesbury.
Explore historic towns like Windsor
The Hawkesbury’s idyllic food bowl stretches east from Bilpin in the lower Blue Mountains to Ebenezer on the Hawkesbury River, and it’s only a 40-minute drive between them. In the centre of the region you’ll find the colonial-era towns of Windsor and Richmond.
For an insight into the region’s past, take the Windsor Heritage self-guided walk around the colonial-era town or tackle part of the Convict Trail, which follows the route of the 240km Old Great North Road built by convicts between 1826 and 1836. Visit the oldest church in Australia in Ebenezer and step back in time at the Australiana Pioneer Village — a heritage-listed open-air museum set on the banks of the Hawkesbury River.
Sample the region’s great produce
Known for its authentic field-to-fork experiences, the Hawkesbury region produces everything from apples and stone fruit to vegetables and beef. Follow the Hawkesbury Harvest Farm Gate Trail to visit the makers at source.
For a loaf of sourdough straight out of a wood-fired oven, seek out some Bowen Mountain Bread at the Richmond Good Food Market. At Tizzana Winery in Ebenezer, sample wines and olives in the National Trust-listed sandstone building. Around a bend in the river sits the Cooks Shed, where you might catch one of Sydney chef Martin Boetz’s special event food-lovers’ dinners. And for a taste of fresh crushed cider, head into the Blue Mountains to Hillbilly Cider Shed in Bilpin.
Streetscapes, Windsor Credit: Destination NSW
Shops along George Street in the historic suburb of Windsor.
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Streetscapes, Windsor Credit: Destination NSW
Shops along George Street in the historic suburb of Windsor.
Cooks Shed, Sackville Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying scenic views overlooking the Hawkesbury River at the Cooks Shed lookout, Sackville.
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Cooks Shed, Sackville Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying scenic views overlooking the Hawkesbury River at the Cooks Shed lookout, Sackville.
Stay in a character-filled retreat
A 10-minute drive from Bilpin, nestled amid the hills and orchards of picturesque Kurrajong Heights, is the beautiful heritage restaurant Lochiel House. Here, the original furnishings bring to life the character of the historic property as the chef cooks up local produce with modern Asian influences. You can stay the night in The Coach House, a cosy couples’ getaway on the Lochiel House estate.
Nearby, another option for staying overnight — and in full country-manor elegance — is the all-inclusive Spicers Sangoma Retreat, which offers a short break in the bush that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.
Follow the river north to Del Rio Riverside Resort at Wisemans Ferry, a 45-minute drive from Windsor. The resort features water-view cabins against a majestic mountainous backdrop, as well as lodges for large groups and a campground. It has easy access to the river, where visitors can kayak, learn to water ski or even hire a houseboat.
Go for a hike or a ride
There are plenty of outdoor adventures on land, too. Be sure to visit the Vale of Avoca lookout, which offers glorious views across the deep gorges of the lower Grose Valley. Keen cyclists should head to the mountain bike trails and cycling routes of the Richmond Lowlands, while horse riders can embark on a trail ride at the Hawkesbury Valley Equestrian Centre.
Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain Credit: Destination NSW
Woman relaxing in the bath with views at Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain.
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Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain Credit: Destination NSW
Woman relaxing in the bath with views at Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain.
Vale of Avoca Lookout, Grose Vale Credit: Destination NSW
Couple watching a scenic sunset over the Hawkesbury Valley from the Vale of Avoca lookout in Grose Vale.
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Vale of Avoca Lookout, Grose Vale Credit: Destination NSW
Couple watching a scenic sunset over the Hawkesbury Valley from the Vale of Avoca lookout in Grose Vale.
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Look At Me Now Headland, Emerald BeachCredit: Destination NSW
See wildlife in a whole new way in New South Wales.
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NSW’s animals are as welcoming as its locals. From kangaroos to snoozing koalas — and everything furry or finned in between — Australia’s wild animals are as unforgettable as the land they call home. Here’s where to find these incredible creatures in their natural habitat across New South Wales.
See kangaroos by the sea
Thrill to the sight of kangaroos, one of Australia’s most iconic native animals, in the wild all across Country NSW. Keep an eye out for eastern grey kangaroos at beautiful Diamond Head Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park on the Barrington Coast, a 3.5-hour drive north of Sydney. Let the unforgettable sight of a mob of ’roos backdropped by the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean put a spring in your step as you stroll along the 1.6km loop trail at the Look At Me Now Headland in the Moonee Beach Nature Reserve, at Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast. And refresh with a dip in the ocean as curious eastern greys look on from grassy clearings at Depot Beach and Pebbly Beach in Murramarang National Park, a four-hour drive from Sydney on the spectacular NSW South Coast.
Gaze up at koalas
Discover the eucalypt forests around eastern NSW and you may well spot a koala snoozing among the gum-trees. Marvel at these tree-dwelling marsupials from viewing platforms in the stunning bushland at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, less than an hour’s drive from Newcastle, or three hours north of Sydney. Then settle into your four-star glamping tent, studio room or deluxe suite at the sanctuary for a night among these iconic creatures. Head to Guula Ngurra National Park, an easy two-hour drive south of Sydney in the Southern Highlands, to hike through some of the 3,358 hectares of protected koala habitat in the recently created park (Guula Ngurra means “Koala Country” in the local Gundungurra Aboriginal language). Or hone your spotting skills at Narrandera Koala Reserve, around an hour’s drive from the regional town of Griffith in the Riverina region in the state’s southwest, where more than 200 koalas live among river red gums.
Dive in with wild dolphins
Come fin to fin with wild dolphins with Dolphin Swim Australia in Port Stephens, just an hour’s drive north of Newcastle or three hours from Sydney. Feel a surge of adrenaline as a catamaran tows you through the ocean among these playful creatures. Prefer to stay dry? See Port Stephens’s resident pod of bottlenose dolphins, many of them so friendly that the locals know them by name, on an outing with Imagine Cruises. Or head south for close encounters with dolphins in sheltered Jervis Bay, on the NSW South Coast, with Dolphin Watch Cruises Jervis Bay and Jervis Bay Wild.
Shoal Bay, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Dolphins swimming in Shoal Bay, Port Stephens.
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Shoal Bay, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Dolphins swimming in Shoal Bay, Port Stephens.
Whale watching, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
A whale breaches out of the water off Sydney waters.
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Whale watching, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
A whale breaches out of the water off Sydney waters.
Let whales stir your spirit
Marvel at the majesty of humpback whales as they travel along the New South Wales coastline from May to November each year. Embrace the sublime as you witness some of the 40,000 humpback and southern right whales that make their way along on the ‘Humpback Highway’ from Antarctica to the warm waters of their breeding grounds in the north. Clamber aboard a boat for an unforgettable day of whale watching in Sydney, join a cruise from seaside towns or find the perfect vantage point on land to see these magnificent creatures leap from the water all along the NSW coastline.
Meet a Tasmanian devil
Get up close with free-roaming Tasmanian devils without leaving mainland Australia at Aussie Ark’s wildlife sanctuary in the rugged Barrington Tops, a five-hour drive northeast of Sydney. Feel yourself moved by the stories you’ll hear on Aussie Ark’s 2.5-hour guided Devils in the Wild tour — the team behind this conservation initiative is breeding a wild population of the endangered carnivores to ensure their survival. And be astonished as you see Tasmanian devils thriving in the wild and, if you visit in breeding season, dote on super-cute devil joeys exploring their surroundings.
Play with seals
Come alive with a sense of joy at Montague Island Nature Reserve, a revered wildlife destination that’s home to little penguins, a huge colony of Australian fur seals and 90 types of birds just 9km off the town of Narooma, in the South Coast’s Eurobodalla region. Be delighted by their playfulness as you discover why friendly fur seals are called the puppies of the sea on a seal snorkel with Narooma Charters. Or delight to the sight of penguins waddling back to their nests after a day of fishing on a sunset tour with Montague Island Discovery Tours.
Montague Island Highlight Selects Credit: Destination NSW
Be immersed in wildlife experiences off Montague Island.
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Montague Island Highlight Selects Credit: Destination NSW
Be immersed in wildlife experiences off Montague Island.
Be captivated by a platypus
Be rewarded for your patience when you spot a platypus in the wild: while platypus inhabit a number of regions in NSW, these shy little icons can be very tricky to find. Increase your chances by visiting Bombala, about an hour’s drive from Cooma in the Snowy Mountains — it’s known as ‘Platypus Country’ because a large number of these mysterious monotremes (egg-laying mammals) live there. Practise mindfulness at the Bombala Platypus Reserve, 4.5km outside of town, where a viewing platform over the river makes spotting them easier. Or try a guided Platypus Walk with Vision Walks Eco-Tours near Byron Bay, on the far North Coast.
Bliss out with turtles
Discover the underwater wonderlands of the North Coast at Cook Island, less than 1km offshore from Fingal Head, just south of Tweed Heads on the far North Coast of New South Wales, to encounter astonishing numbers of green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles. Deepen your respect for the incredible beauty of the underwater world on a memorable snorkelling tour with local operators such as Watersports Guru or Cooly Eco Adventures.
Take off to an island of seabirds
Look at the skies with awe as hundreds of thousands of seabirds wheel above you on Lord Howe Island, 700km northeast of Sydney in the Pacific Ocean. Fill your diary with sightings of the 130-odd permanent and migratory bird species found on the country’s premier bird-watching destination. Come in winter to see providence petrels circle in spectacular courtship rituals during their breeding season, while shearwaters return in awe-inspiring flocks at dusk each day from spring to late autumn (September to May).