The Regions
Experiences for Hawkesbury Valley
Experiences
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Find out more about the features, attractions and landscapes of Hawkesbury Valley.
Aboriginal Heritage
The Hawkesbury Valley region is the traditional country of three Aboriginal language groups - the Wannaruah in the far north, the Darug in the south and the Darkinjung in between. Many thousands of years of interaction with a rich assemblage of environments has created a heritage of thousands of occupation, rock art and spiritual sites across a richly storied country. Some of the oldest and most complex rock art - such as the Eagles Reach site - has been re-found deep in the wilds of Wollemi National Park, where to unfamiliar eyes it would seem impossible to live, let alone create great art.
- Finchley Aboriginal Area (Yengo NP)
- This is the best place to see samples of the physical heritage of local Aboriginal people. Many engravings of human and animal figures and other motifs are spread across a large natural expanse of Hawkesbury sandstone. Boardwalks enable easy viewing without damage—please stay on the paths. The best viewing is early and late in the day when the sun is at a low angle. Platform engravings such as these are believed to have been made in two stages. Firstly, sharp rocks and hammerstones were used to create an initial 'dotted' outline of pecked pits. Then the 'dots' were joined together by grinding a complete groove. This was a skilled and time-consuming process which suggests the work was very significant to spiritual life. The site is reached by a 10 km drive from George Downes Drive near Laguna and along the Yango Creek Road and Finchley Track—which is usually negotiable in an ordinary car with care.
- Mount Yengo (Yengo NP)
- This isolated peak, visible for great distances all around, is a strong example of the less tangible spiritual Aboriginal heritage. The flattened top of the mountain was caused when the creation being Biaime stepped off the world into the sky.
- Mount Tomah Botanic Garden
- The Darug uses of local plants are explained on a number of informative signs in the garden, and a booklet is available.
Camping
- Mogo Camping Area (Yengo NP)
- A peaceful bush setting close to walking tracks, Finchley Trig and Finchley Aboriginal Site. Park entry and camping fees apply.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- fees
- walking
- Finchley Camping Area (Yengo NP)
- A small, low-key area adjacent to Finchley Aboriginal Area. Park entry and camping fees apply.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- Big Yango (Yengo NP)
- A remote area on an old grazing property near Mount Yengo, with two campsites: Blue Gums and Mountain Arm. Permit required, 4WD access only, park entry and camping fees apply.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- 4WD
- walking
- Mill Creek Camping Area (Dharug NP)
- Situated beside a clean running creek and surrounded by dense eucalypt forests, Mill Creek is about 8 km from Wisemans Ferry on the northern side of the Hawkesbury River. Adjacent to walking tracks. Park entry and camping fees apply.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- water
- fireplace
- walking
- fees
- Wheeny Creek Camping Area (Wollemi NP)
- Wheeny Creek, a tributary of the Colo River, lies 14 km along Comleroy Road (4 km unsealed) from Kurmond on Bells Line of Road. The camping and picnicking sites are spread along grassy terraces beside the sandy creek and beneath tall mountain blue gums.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- Burralow Creek Camping Area (Blue Mountains NP)
- Burralow Creek, a tributary of the Grose River, can be reached from Kurrajong Heights (4WD) and east of Bilpin on Bells Line of Road (2WD in dry weather only).
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- 4WD
- walking
- Cathedral of Ferns Reserve (Mount Wilson, Blue Mountains City Council)
- A delightful site with excellent forest walks and central to all the local features.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- walking
Canoeing
The Hawkesbury River and the Colo River offer flatwater canoeing opportunities. The flowing part of the Colo River (upstream of the Putty Road bridge) is best in moderate water levels. The lower Colo and the Hawkesbury are tidal and can be paddled anytime (but beware of speedboats and water skiers).
Galleries, Museums and Collections
- Hawkesbury Museum, Windsor (02 4577 2310)
- Open daily with a variety of displays, including about the Royal Australian Air Force, pioneer families and riverboats.
- Hawkesbury Regional Gallery (02 4560 4441)
- A major art gallery. Closed Tuesdays.
Guided Activities
The National Parks and Wildlife Service runs guided walks, talks and tours through the Discovery program during school holidays and some other periods. Activities are conducted in the World Heritage Area and other nearby reserves. Contact Blackheath (02 4787 8877) in the south of the Hawkesbury Valley region or Gosford (02 4320 4200) for the north.
Mount Tomah Botanic Garden (02 4567 2154) also runs activities for booked groups and for the public at other special times.
Other operators offer tours throughout the Hawkesbury Valley region, guided fishing activities and more.
Historic Sites and Heritage
The Hawkesbury Valley was one of the first areas settled out of the British colony at Sydney, and is rich in colonial history, buildings and other structures.
- Cattai National Park
- Early farm buildings include an 1821 cottage and a windmill believed to be the oldest industrial building in New South Wales. Park entry fee applies.
- St Matthews Anglican Church, Windsor
- Built in 1817 to a design by convict architect Francis Greenway.
- Ebenezer Uniting Church
- Dating from 1809, this is now the oldest operating church in Australia. Open daily, free entry.
Mountain Biking
The Hawkesbury region is one of the best parts of the greater Blue Mountains for the mountain bike touring enthusiast. Several rides have camping opportunities.
Discovery Trail 1: Kurrajong is a fine tour, whether enjoyed over one hard or three easy days. Discovery Trail 2: The Mounts is mostly sealed roads but the connection across Bowens Creek gorge is very scenic, while Discovery Trail 17 from Bulga to Wisemans Ferry is a long and less remote outing.
Out of the Macdonald Valley, you can ride the actual Old Great North Road or the Womerah Range trail - both fine bush tours with campsites. Further north, the Settlers Trail and the Yango Track-Howes Trail cross Yengo National Park to the Putty Road. The latter route also leads to Big Yango and its campsites.
Shorter day rides include the Wheelbarrow Ridge Trail (public road) through Parr SCA, the Culoul Range and Grassy Hill trails off the Putty Road towards the Colo Gorge, and the Banks Wall trail near Mount Banks.
Nature Study
Information on local natural heritage is available at through the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and on informative signs at a number of visitor sites throughout the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and other nearby reserves.
Mount Tomah Botanic Garden is an important source of natural heritage information, with a strong focus on plants. A self-guided audio tour is available with stories on the evolution of Australian and Blue Mountains plants, and a major World Heritage exhibit will soon add to the attractions at the garden.
Signage on The Botanists Way, at Clarendon (between Richmond and Windsor) and at Scenic Hill above Lithgow provides detailed information on the botanical heritage of the Bells Line of Road corridor. Signs about local features are displayed at some other visitor sites along the way.
Overnight Bushwalks
The expansive wilds of Wollemi, Yengo, Blue Mountains and Dharug National Parks spreading out from the Hawkesbury Valley are all available to experienced walkers capable of enjoying rough and untracked country. There are also several tracked overnight walks which nevertheless require planning, navigation skills and detailed maps.
- Old Great North Road (Yengo NP and Dharug NP)
- The historic road can be walked (or cycled) in either direction from near Wisemans Ferry to Mogo Camping Area, with an overnight camp at Ten Mile Hollow. There is no water along the track.
- Womerah Range (Yengo NP and Parr SCA)
- The Womerah Range trail traverses remote country between the Macdonald Valley and the Putty Road. It can be walked or cycled over two days with a camp at Heartbreak Hill.
- Mailes Ridge, Colo River (Wollemi NP)
- The marked route along Mailes Ridge starts from the T3 Trail at Mountain Lagoon, traverses the ridge and descends steeply to the Colo Meroo campsite on the banks the Colo River. Return the same way.
- Pierces Pass and Grose Valley (Blue Mountains NP)
- The Pierces Pass track, off Bells Line of Road, descends steeply into the Grose Valley and Wilderness. Across the river, a rough, unmarked track leads either upstream to a campsite at Burra Korain or downstream to Blue Gum Forest and the Acacia Flat campsite. You can return the same way, or walk through Burra Korain to Mount Victoria, or via Acacia Flat to either Blackheath (several routes) or the Mount Hay Road near Leura.
Picnicking
- Mogo (Yengo NP)
- A peaceful bush setting close to walking tracks, Finchley Trig and Finchley Aboriginal Site. Park entry fees apply.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- fees
- walking
- Finchley (Yengo NP)
- A small, low-key area adjacent to Finchley Aboriginal Area. Park entry fees apply.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- Big Yango (Yengo NP)
- A remote site on an old grazing property near Mount Yengo. Park entry fees apply.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- 4WD
- walking
- Mill Creek (Dharug NP)
- Situated beside a clean running creek and surrounded by dense eucalypt forests, Mill Creek is about 8 km from Wisemans Ferry on the northern side of the Hawkesbury River. Adjacent to walking tracks. Park entry fees apply.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- water
- fireplace
- walking
- fees
- Wheeny Creek (Wollemi NP)
- Wheeny Creek, a tributary of the Colo River, lies 14 km along Comleroy Road (4 km unsealed) from Kurmond on Bells Line of Road. The camping and picnicking sites are spread along grassy terraces beside the sandy creek and beneath tall mountain blue gums.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- Burralow Creek (Blue Mountains NP)
- Burralow Creek, a tributary of the Grose River, can be reached from Kurrajong Heights (4WD) and east of Bilpin on Bells Line of Road (2WD in dry weather only).
- Facilities:
- picnic
- camping
- toilets
- BBQ
- 4WD
- walking
- Waratah Native Garden (Blue Mountains NP)
- This secluded picnic site is reached from Bells Line of Road 7 km west of Bilpin. The Gorge walking track starts from here.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- walking
- toilets
- Berambing (Blue Mountains NP)
- A roadside area on the northern side of Bells Line of Road, 10 km west of Bilpin and just before the road climbs up onto Mount Tomah.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- toilets
- Mount Tomah Botanic Garden (Bells Line of Road)
- Extensive areas to picnic on green lawns amongst the gardens. Entry fee applies.
- Facilities:
- lookout
- picnic
- toilets
- café
- walking
- Mount Banks (Blue Mountains NP)
- The picnic area is amongst scribbly gums and wattles, adjacent to Grose Valley views and walking tracks.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- lookout
- walking
- toilets
- Pierces Pass (Blue Mountains NP)
- A small and shady site off Bells Line of Road, at the top of Pierces Pass walking tack into the Grose Valley.
- Facilities:
- picnic
- walking
- toilets
- Mount Wilson
- The garden village of Mount Wilson, 6.5 km off Bells Line of Road has several picnic areas, including the Cathedral of Ferns Reserve (Blue Mountains City Council).
- Facilities:
- picnic
- walking
- toilets
- eat
- Bowens Creek
- A small picnic spot at the end of the trafficable part of Bowens Creek Road below Mount Irvine.
- Facilities:
- picnic
Scenic Lookouts
- Finchley Trig (Yengo NP)
- A wide panorama over Yengo NP to the high volcanic peaks on the western edge of Wollemi National Park, and from Mount Wilson in the south to the edge of the Hunter Valley in the north. Aboriginal engravings and camping area nearby.
- Facilities:
- lookout
- picnic
- toilets
- T3 Lookout (Wollemi NP)
- The most accessible viewpoint over the Colo Gorge country of the Wollemi Wilderness.
- Facilities:
- lookout
- Bellbird Lookout (Bells Line of Road)
- A roadside view from across the Hawkesbury Valley.
- Facilities:
- lookout
- picnic
- Vale Lookout (Blue Mountains NP)
- A view over the lower Grose Gorge, reached from North Richmond or Kurrajong along Cabbage Tree Road.
- Facilities:
- lookout
- Mount Tomah Botanic Garden (Bells Line of Road)
- Big views to the north over the World Heritage Area as far as Mount Yengo - and even to Barrington Tops on a very clear day! Entry fee applies.
- Facilities:
- lookout
- picnic
- toilets
- walking
- café
- Mount Banks (Blue Mountains NP)
- Glimpses into the depths of the Grose Valley from the carpark, off Bells Line of Road.
- Facilities:
- lookout
- picnic
- toilets
- Wynnes Rocks (Mount Wilson)
- Looks across the valley of Bowens Creek to the Bell Range.
- Facilities:
- lookout
- picnic
- Du Faurs Rocks (Blue Mountains NP)
- A view to the north over the Wollangambe River and Wollemi Wilderness from Mount Wilson.
- Facilities:
- lookout
Short Walks
- Circuit Flat Bridge and Old Great North Road (Yengo NP)
- From the back of the Mogo Camping Area a pleasant winding track leads to Circuit Flat Bridge on the Old Great North Road, an impressive example of colonial engineering. Allow 2 hours return.
- Facilities:
- walking
- Old Great North Road (Dharug NP)
- See drystone walls with blocks of up to 600 kg placed by convicts. The 1829 Devines Hill ascent is 2 hours return, starting from Settlers Road 0.5 km west of Wisemans Ferry. The first attempted ascent via Finch's Line (1828) is a full days' return walk with wide views over the Hawkesbury River. The two walks can be combined for a 9 km circuit (including 2 km along Wisemans Ferry Road).
- Facilities:
- walking
- Bob Turners Track (Wollemi NP)
- The only easy way into the Colo Gorge - reputedly the longest in Australia. A long but gradual descent (4 hours return) leads to a large pool on the Colo River. The walk is signposted just west of Colo Heights, on the southern side of the Putty Road. A 2WD dirt road leads 3 km to the start of the track.
- Facilities:
- walking
- Crawfords Lookout (Wollemi NP)
- From the end of the Culoul Range Trail, an easy ridge-top stroll leads to a spectacular viewpoint above the junction of Wollemi Creek and the Colo River, deep in the heart of very wild country. Allow 3 hours return.
- Facilities:
- walking
- Burralow Creek (Blue Mountains NP)
- A steep, half-hour descent takes you from the Burralow Trail near Kurrajong Heights to the flat (camping area) on Burralow Creek. From the flat, the one-hour return Bulcamatta Falls Track explores a narrow gorge with a small waterfall.
- Facilities:
- walking
- The Gorge (Blue Mountains NP)
- If you're picnicking at Waratah Gardens, this one-hour return walk takes you into a mossy tributary of Hungerfords Creek.
- Facilities:
- walking
- Mount Tomah Botanic Garden (Bells Line of Road)
- You can stroll for a few minutes or hours on a network of paths, many with informative signs, through the very diverse gardens and native vegetation of the mountain-top.
- Facilities:
- symbol
- Mount Banks (Blue Mountains NP)
- A steep, one-hour return walk ascends from the picnic area, through heathland to tall forest on the basalt summit of Mount Banks - named in 1804 by English explorer George Caley for his mentor Sir Joseph Banks. Or follow the fire trail around the side of the mountain for an 11 km return walk to cliff-edge views over the Grose Valley from Banks Wall.
- Facilities:
- symbol
- Walls Lookout (Blue Mountains NP)
- A one-hour return walk through heath leads to a cliff-top vantage point over the Grose Valley. Starts from the carpark at the top of Pierces Pass Road. Stay back from the unfenced cliff-edge.
- Facilities:
- symbol
- Rigby Hill (Blue Mountains NP)
- From the picnic area at the end of Pierces Pass Road, a steep track leads to the top of Rigby Hill, another heathy, windswept viewpoint over the Grose Valley.
- Facilities:
- symbol
- Pierces Pass (Blue Mountains NP)
- This long and steep descent, an old Aboriginal pass and then a bridle route, is still the easiest way into the Grose Valley and Grose Wilderness. Allow 3 hours return, or continue overnight to Blue Gum Forest or Burra Korain.
- Facilities:
- symbol
- Mount Wilson
- Several walks of varying length from the Cathedral of Ferns Reserve and nearby will take you in amongst warm temperate rainforest and tall open eucalypt forest. A longer track (2 hours return) descends to the Wollangambe River.
- Facilities:
- symbol