Hawkesbury River Cruises
This is the ultimate in river cruises!!
This experience will provide memories for a lifetime.
The ultimate in River Cruises
Don’t miss out – Summer almost fully booked – there has been a big demand for our tours coming out of lockdown
Full refund if still locked down
Book now – pay later
Meandering down the Hawkesbury River Cruises aboard a barbecue boat or smaller boat provides a truly Australian experience. Don’t waste your time in a bus trip to the Blue Mountains. Instead, explore the Hawkesbury River (only one hour from Sydney ) that remains in its natural state as a national park for everyone to enjoy; most of it is still the same as it was 228 years ago when Europeans first arrived in 1788.
Spectacular Hawkesbury river scenery and secluded beaches only accessible by boat
Learn the rich history of 50,000 years of Aboriginal living off the land..
Explore aboriginal sites, rock carvings and middens
Hand feed native birds, hopefully you will feed the most beautiful King Parrots and lots of other native birds.
Delicious French inspired barbecue, best quality wine and beer.
Chantal provides an entertaining and fun experience
A professional guide providing you with local knowledge of aboriginal sites, flora, fauna and history
Chantal tours can be given in both French and English.
Learn the secret river history from a local – from big bush fires, to the convict orchards.
Visitors embark their vessel at the Berowra Waters Public wharf and the tour begins.
We cruise past Calabash Bay where there are a few famous Aussies living in seclusion. This will be followed by a National park area where there is nothing but nature. Last bit of civilisation is at Collingridge Point, named after George Collingridge who was one of the first Europeans to have settled here with his wife Lucy.
Visit to Aboriginal site(s) to inspect rock carvings and possibly middens. The Dharug tribe moved into the Hawkesbury area about 50,000 years ago but the population numbers didn’t really develop much until about 4,000 years ago. There are thousands of aboriginal middens all along the river – old piles of oyster shells and ash from fires.
The Boats
Wide range of boats is able to be hired from local marina. For tours Chantal is charging from $200 for 2 hours.
Chantal's boat - polycraft
2 Hours - up to 4 ppl-
Includes
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Protective cover
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Swim ladder
Blue polycraft With suncloth
6 Hours - up to 4 ppl-
Includes:
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Protective cover
Luxury BBQ Boat
6 Hours - up to 8 ppl-
Includes:
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Toilet
-
BBQ
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Swim ladder
Luxury BBQ Boat +
6 Hours - up to 6-12 ppl-
Includes:
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Toilet
-
BBQ
-
Swim ladder
We supply fuel, lifejackets, water and sunscreen
We can supply fishing gear on request – all you need to do is buy some bait at the marina
You can choose to captain the boat or for us to skipper for you. No boat licence is required.
Gourmet lunches (extras)
Next is your optional French inspired gourmet barbecue or fresh Hawkesbury seafood surrounded by natural bushland, near the local, hidden spectacular beaches. Any tours with lunch we will also include a complimentary extra hour to the tour. You will have a choice of eating on the BBQ boat, at a secret picnic spot only accessible by boat or at Chantal’s home with stunning views across the bay. All lunches are lovingly prepared for your tour and we welcome your input on the menu to make it exactly what you are after.
*Reference images.
BBQ Lunch
Sample menu (menu can be adjusted):-
Includes:
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Gourmet sausages.
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Cooked on the boat or in secret picnic spots only accessible by boat.
Gourmet BBQ Lunch
Sample menu (menu can be adjusted):-
Includes:
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Homemade Dips
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Trout fillet bathed in olive oil, lemon and parsley
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Marinated lamb cutlets
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A french "Salade de tomates"
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A french "Salade Verde"
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A particularly special creamed dill potato salad.
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A cheese platter and fruit of the season.
Seafood platter
Fresh local supply when available-
Includes
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1 Doz local Sydney rock oysters
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1/2 a kilo of local prawns
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A homemade smoked salmon
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Dip and crackers.
Photo Gallery - Hawkesbury River Cruise
Bird feeding at Chantal’s
Chantal’s home is on the Hawkesbury River waterfront and on the edge of National Parks. So there is a very wide range of spectacular birds to feed each day.
The Hawkesbury River and Aboriginal Sites
The Hawkesbury river is the longest coastal river in NSW. It is 120 k long from where the Nepean and Grose river meet the Hawkesbury. It was a vital source of water and food for the Aborigines and it was critical for the survival of the early British colony living in Sydney. The Aboriginal name for the Hawkesbury river is Dyarubbin meaning wide deep water.
About Chantal
Chantal has lived on the Hawkesbury for over 10 years she combines her love of adventure, the water and food and fun into an entertaining tour with great food and spectacular river scenery. She became a qualified tour guide in 2005. She has been guiding all over Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury for the last 15 years making her an expert in our rich history.
She was drawn to live on the river where there is only boat access (no road access). She knows the Hawkesbury area well and provides as much information as you can take in the tour.
She was brought up in England by a French mother and English Father making her totally bilingual. Her mother’s French inspiration and cuisine flare has been passed on so that she produces great French & southern Mediterranean food. There is a good chance that a French Rose de Provence will be in the picnic. She has sailed across the Atlantic twice and won the Sydney to Hobart. She loves people, nature and food and really looks forward to hosting a great time for you and your friends.
Contact Chantal
Please phone or leave an email message below. Reservation essential!
E-mail: chantal.herlihy@gmail.com
Telephone: 02 9456 4811