Things To Do in the Hawkesbury- Recreation
Ballooning
CLOUD 9 BALLOON FLIGHTS 
Phone: 1300 555 711
Exhilarating! Brilliant! Thrilling! And, perhaps, a bit intimidating? Ask any adventuresome soul who has just landed gently and is now celebrating with a glass of champagne and, along with a giggle, a laugh of embarrassment and a quick turn away from the camera, these are the words they use to describe their experience.
The early morning silence. The mist lingering at ground level. The patchwork of farmlands and the dark river. Rows of heavy-laden vines. Flying high above an unforgettable landscape is a memory that will last well into the future. Regardless of the words we choose to describe our ride with Cloud 9, we all rank the experience as a five-star memory.
Water Sports
Sydney International Regatta Centre
Address: Penrith Lakes, Old Castlereagh Road, Penrith
Phone: 02 4730 9760
School Holiday Programs Monday 10th - Wednesday 19th January
Call for schedule & Bookings
This internationally acclaimed rowing and flatwater canoeing Centre hosted those events at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The venue boasts throughout the year an array of water activities, from the familiar to the obscure - all loved by sports enthusiasts. Our favourite is the exciting October Masters Games - fantastic athletes!
For us ordinary athletes, the Centre is open sunrise to sunset every day and the competition lake is surrounded by two five-kilometre paths - one for cycling, one for walking and running. On the horizon, the Blue Mountains rise majestically. We love this park in the early morning - silence is rare in today's world, but wildlife calls are often all we hear when jogging along the lake.
The parklands make for a great family outing - barbecues and picnic tables are available and walkers, cyclers and rollerbladers all have their space. During school holidays, special programs for kids are on the schedule - bookings are imperative. In 2011, the January schedule includes Cinema At The Lake with five weeks of great family flicks. ($10 per car per session).
For a most special event: Sydney Festival 2011 will present a free performance on Sunday evening, 23 January. The Sydney Dance Company and the Australian Chamber Orchestra come to the Lakes for an exciting evening under the stars. (Come early with a picnic. Gates open at 5pm.) The Centre is a four-star recommendation for outings with friends, families or teammates.
Penrith Whitewater Stadium
Address: Gate E, McCarthys Lane (off Castlereagh Road), Penrith
Phone: 02 4730 4333
Squeezing into a wetsuit is the first challenge of the afternoon! A startlingly blue helmet, canary-yellow life jacket and trainers complete the 'water-ensemble'. We look and waddle like walrus, minus the tusks, and with yellow flippers. At the water's edge we receive lessons in whitewater etiquette. As the guide explains the golden rule ("Do NOT take your hand off the T-grip"), doubt creeps in . . . Maybe this is a mistake . . .
Climbing into a large rubber raft gracefully is not going to happen - a wetsuit constricts leg-lifting. Seated, we're coached on the finer points. A few tries at "paddle forward, paddle backward, lean right, lean left, etc" and we're ready - our "superteam" (of six). The guide positions the raft into the electric lift. Slowly we move uphill without effort or paddling. Once at the top, we're quickly into fast-moving water.
The first drop is a stunner, and listening to the guide's instructions becomes paramount - "forward three strokes, forward four strokes. Get those paddles in the water - you're paddling air!"
The second drop is much steeper and we're dodging rock-like obstacles, really big things! Falling out is truly a possibility! A cascade of water hits our bodies forcefully, and fills the raft: water, water everywhere! Oh, the marvel of a wetsuit - teammates without are soaked! Screams and nervous laughter are cut short - we're headed for a steeper descent! White rapids swirl around us, waves toss the raft, water swamps our ankles - now it's white-knuckle fear! The raft must be out of our control, but the guide's voice is relaxed, calm . . .
The raft drops into calm water. Just seconds though the roughest rapids; a lifetime of exhilaration. Everyone ready for the next round?
This is an adventure sport, not for the timid, but one of our four-star recommendations . . . We'd have a go again!
Located in Penrith on McCarthys Lane (off Castlereagh/Cranebrook Road), the whitewater kayaking and rafting Centre is part of an international sporting complex built for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Set in dramatic surroundings with lakes, islands and the Blue Mountains in the distance, this is a high-volume, high-effort activity!
Another 4-Star recommendation.
Butterfly Farm & Ski Gardens
Address: 446 Wilberforce Road, Wilberforce
Phone: 02 4575 1955
Situated on the Hawkesbury River and only 10 minutes north of Windsor, the gardens provides boat ramps and ski beaches. Brush up on your skills with a ski lesson! Call for details and bookings.
Del Rio Riverside Resort
Address: Chaseling Road, Webbs Creek, Wisemans Ferry
Phone: 02 4566 4330
Del Rio Resort, a holiday playground, is similar to the Club Med model offering a range of accommodation styles, a bistro, a fully licensed sports club, a variety of recreational activities and a kids' club - all in a single beautiful riverfront location.
The grounds are spacious and green from the entrance down to the boat ramps. They are well maintained, well groomed and uncluttered. The sporting and food facilities have been well designed and to ensure that a holiday is great fun for families, couples or singles, a set of common-sense rules with regard to "dress, drink and noise" apply. The staff is quite helpful and will provide advice on things to do and see in the area - there are a number of great bushwalks nearby, some are the habitat for Rock Wallaby, Glossy Black Cockatoo and the occasional reptile.
Go-Karts: The Indy 800
Address: Wilberforce Road, Wilberforce
Phone: 02 4575 1265
Hours: Daily 10am-5pm
(Joggers required)
Just minutes from Windsor across the Hawkesbury River Bridge, you'll find the Indy 800-metre course. Well designed and maintained, the tracks are open to adults and to children aged 12 and over 150cm. Single and double karts are available and priced incrementally for racing from 10 to 60 minutes. If you have your own go-kart, it's welcomed, too. On this bright day, we watch, with great curiosity as a highly keyed-up group emerge from their go-karts, yank off helmets and strip out of protective suits. Excitement still charging, laughter is loud and a bit of manly profanity fills the waiting area. Like trophies, each man holds up and examines blistered fingers - red and rough from gripping the steering wheel. They leave definitely on an adrenaline buzz!
The track is now quiet - we're ready for our turn behind the wheel. In a race suit, helmet and joggers (joggers are required), we feel dressed for the role. Yet clumsily, we drop into the seat and timidly, we ease the kart onto the track attempting to gauge how it functions. After one turn around the course, we have a feel for all the mechanisms - steering and brake! The straight runs are easy, but it's the stack of S-bends that keep one on edge. This is the place where 65km feels like 150km and we're just centimetres off the ground. A clenched jaw sees us through the hairpin turns. Demanding? Yes! Exhilarating? You bet!
(Note: Though we are definitely out of our element in the racing world, we love to drive and often take lengthy trips. At the Indy800, we had a great experience and will try it again. Great fun for a group of friends. We recommend it as a four-star experience for all us "ordinary drivers!"
NSW Ski Park
Address: 2916 River Rd, Wisemans Ferry
Phone: 02 4566 4212
Set alongside the river, NSW Ski Park is only a kilometre from Wisemans Ferry village, just past Webbs Creek Ferry.
The park is quite casual and has caravan and camping facilities in a rustic and shady setting. Only a few cabins with toilets are available and showers are located with group amenities. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept under strict control. Picnic and barbecue facilities are on site and a weekend kiosk serves hot items, soft drinks and ice-cream. The facility is popular with waterskiers, fishermen, and those who want a budget-minded holiday on the river.
Hawkesbury Powered Parachute Centre
Address: Fields in Richmond and Windsor
Phone: 02 4576 6028, mob 0414 862 397
Hours: 6.30 am - 12 noon weekends & holidays
Extreme sport in rural Hawkesbury? Flying at 1000-5000 feet in a Group D ultra light? Who would have anticipated such adventure over the winding Hawkesbury River and its rural backdrop?
Are you after that adrenal rush, an electrifying kick in the abdomen? Instructor Graeme Hutchinson who flies with you can provide the thrill. Just ask! As well as a buzz, you'll experience gorgeous scenery along the ride.
Lawn Bowls
Wisemans Ferry Bowling Club
Address: 5565 Old Northern Road, Wisemans Ferry
Phone: 02 4566 4307
Email: manager@wfbc.com.au
Wisemans Ferry Bowling is situated in a pastoral spot, only metres from the river, and the view across the river takes in steep walls of sandstone and the drama of the historic Great North Road. It is quite the view and guests often find a table on the covered patio overlooking the pitch and out to this dramatic setting.
Tour groups from across NSW often make the Club a stop, for rarely is there a day without fun activities from bingo and trivia to golf.
"Barefoot" bowls in the summer is a highlight - in January, we plan to give this a go and we'll post to the Blog.
Mick's Bistro is open all day on weekends. The Bistro is a great stop before you trek up the Great North Road (now a designated World Heritage site) just across the river.
Call the club for special events and activities.
Golf
THE Hawkesbury is home to numerous courses and these three offer some serious golfing along with spectacular views - bush or river.
Lynwood Country Club
Address: 4 Pitt Town Bottoms Road, Pitt Town
Phone: (02) 4580 2800
Hours: Golf course open from 6:30 am; Terrace Grill open from 11:30 lunch, 5:30 dinner; Call for bookings
Lynwood Country Club - only 50 minutes from Sydney - is set in the beautiful Hawkesbury lowlands of Pitt Town, where native Australian grasses, wet lands and natural rough create a unique wild mood. With wetlands comes native birdlife (Pitt Town Lagoon - home of the Lynwood Club - has been a breeding and nesting ground for centuries), and the "locals" share the course with little complaint... The course is difficult, but the panoramic view out to the Blue Mountains eases the pain somewhat.
Each time we visited, we noticed a special atmosphere at Lynwood - people are enjoying the setting. A friendly game of cards; a business meeting; friends enjoying lunch at the Terrace Grill; or a slow beer on the verandah while you cool down - the clubhouse has become the hub of sociable activity. Pleasure for everyone! Everyone welcome!
Rum Corps Barracks Golf Centre
Address: 61 Hawkesbury Valley Way, Windsor
Phone: 02 4577 6600
Call for details about mid-week specials - a great offering!
Rum Corps Barracks Golf sits adjacent to the Sebel Resort on Hawkesbury Valley Way and offers an easy-walking nine-hole course of beautiful greens amid rolling hills. Of course, a number of holes may test your patience and your temper!
The Pros hold ladies' and kids' clinics each Sunday morning and the clinics are quite popular, so sign up early. Social players are welcome at all times. The Barracks is family-friendly, and Alison and her staff are proof of that.
Check out the pro shop's sports clothing and accessories. It is stocked to overflowing and you won't beat its prices anywhere. If you arrive without your gear, the pro shop can outfit you with rental equipment at a reasonable price. Motorised buggies make for a more relaxing game, if not a faster one. Players often gather on the Barracks' covered terrace for a cool drink - ease your way back into reality before you join the afternoon traffic.
Wisemans Ferry Golf Club
Address: 5564 Old Northern Road, Wisemans Ferry
Phone: 02 4560 0582
The Golf Club at the Retreat is a nine-hole par 34 course along the Hawkesbury River. The stunning views must be a distraction, even for a pro! The course is open to non-members. Clubs and golf carts are available for hire at the golf shop.
Windsor Country Golf Club
Address: McQuade Avenue & Bell Street, South Windsor
Phone: 02 4577 4390 (office) or 02 4577 3718 (golf shop)
While you can see this beautiful 18-hole course from Hawkesbury Valley Way (across from Sebel Resort), the entrance to the facility is tucked away in a South Windsor residential area.
Open seven days a week (except Christmas Day), the club hosts conferences and seminars, special corporate golf days and of course wedding events.
The Bistro is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch; Wednesday, Friday and Sunday for dinner.
Trekking, Trails & Tours
The Great North Road
Address: Settlers Road, Wisemans Ferry
Phone: 02 4320 4204
National Parks & Wildlife Service
Always carry water and stay on the main road
The Great North Road is a 240-kilometre civil engineering tour de force built with convict labour between 1826 and 1836 to provide an overland route to the Hunter Valley. Today, the section at Wisemans Ferry, completed c. 1828, is closed to vehicular traffic including motorcycles.
Take the Wisemans Ferry and turn left onto Settlers Road toward St Albans. The gated entrance is about 500 metres from the ferry and the entrance for trekkers is to the right of the gate.
The full three-kilometre walk - a loop - will take about three to four hours depending upon your stamina - the trek is a gradual but steep incline, and one should be fit. Late September to mid October is a perfect time for this trek. Wear a hat and layered clothing - weather can turn hot or cold quickly. As always, a water supply is imperative.
Along the road, sandstone walls loom, shifting from grey to gold to black. Convicts, some in chains, chipped, picked and blasted this massive rock face to extract sandstone blocks. Hangman's Rock is a dramatic point in the trail.
It is 1.8 kilometres to the summit of Devines Hill and there are interpretive signs along the way - among the best we have seen in our travels. Here you can find stone retaining walls up to 12 metres high. This adventure has our four-star recommendation!
Hawkesbury Harvest - FarmGate Trail
"The country experience on the doorstep of Sydney"
Phone: 0406 237 877
Today, farms nestled along scenic drives of Bilpin, Castlereagh, Ebenezer, Pitt Town, Maroota and Wisemans Ferry provide an abundance of fresh seasonal produce. Roadside produce stands (the FarmGateTrail) signal "what's in season": oranges - Navel, Valencia and mandarin; peaches and nectarines, melons and apples, green and pink; walnuts, chestnuts and pecans; blueberries, raspberries and strawberries - mouth-watering freshness. Food ripened naturally in its environment and not a refrigerated one is food that has flavour and tang!
Outlook at Hawkins Lookout
Address: Wisemans Ferry Road
This is the best "photo op" spot in this part of the Hawkesbury. It is a lookout and not a trail for walking. We love the view when a slight mist hovers. But sunny, misty or overcast weather, the river below is quite beautiful. A picnic table and a barbecue are available but rarely in use. Perhaps the noise from the road is a deterrent. Roadway signs in either direction mark Hawkins Lookout, but the entry often takes drivers by surprise.
Hawkesbury Sightseeing Tours
Address: Wilberforce
Phone: 02 4575 1421, 0408 751 422
Janice Hart, host of this touring company, offers personalised chauffeured tours - in a luxury four-wheel drive - for small groups only. Half day or full day - call for fees.
Good AZ Gold Tours
Address: Oakville
Phone: 02 4573 6181, 0408 973 267
Large, deluxe air-conditioned buses, coaches for 24 and custom-made tours: boutique wineries, historic Hawkesbury, FarmGate Trail, garden and gallery to name only a few. Call for fees and specialised tour schedules.
Spas
Villa Thalgo Day Spa at Sebel Resort
Address: 61 Richmond Road, Windsor
Phone: 02 4577 1254
Email:
Occasionally we find an activity that is "over the top" in scope or concept. Award-winning Villa Thalgo Spa is such a place. The management has put together a concept of health, exercise, relaxation and indulgence in one package - and critics agree - "Best Hotel Day Spa" in Australia and New Zealand was awarded to Villa Thalgo.
Feeling pampered is food for the soul; a magnificent swimming pool and an "analytic" pool with hydrotherapy stations, food for the body. And massage therapy? Though the choices are varied, we recommend the hot stone massage - exquisite and intense simultaneously.
While often we wince at the term "healthy food", the lunch menu at Villa Thalgo was first-rate and we felt rather virtuous at our choice - beyond a doubt, extraordinary food for the body.
Serene, calming, beautiful - words that come to mind when describing the surroundings and the environment of Villa Thalgo - give yourself and someone you love a very special treat. Another four-star recommendation.
Parks & Picnics
Wisemans Ferry Park
Address: Old Northern Road, Wisemans Ferry Ramp
This beautifully kept public park is designed to please everyone, with considerable green space for running and jumping, abundant trees for climbing and lots of picnic tables and barbecues for a sizzle. Gazebos for a drizzly day keep your picnic dry and if you've arrived without a hamper, a kiosk is handy. Much of the green space abuts the river - it's a remarkable park with ample parking.
It's the perfect place for ferry-watching, as the ferry dock is across the road.
Cattai National Park
Address: Wisemans Ferry Road, Cattai
Phone: 02 4572 3100
Entry Fee - Bookings essential
Off Wisemans Ferry Road, Cattai National Park is quite large, with many picnic shelters and wood barbecue areas (wood is provided). Tables are plentiful and placed throughout the park.
The camp site area is riverside and shady, though there are many open sunny areas for children to run around. We saw numerous campers on a sunny Sunday, though with the spacing between sites, you won't feel crowded.
With the heavy rains during October and November, many deep holes make driving into the camp site slow and often hazardous on a family sedan. However, maintenance work on these roads has begun and the problem should be remedied soon.
Boat launching or landing is not permitted and the park does not provide electricity.
North Richmond Heritage Park
Address: Beaumont Road (off Terrace Road), North Richmond
Locating the heritage park is a bit of a challenge. From North Richmond's business centre (Bells Line of Road) turn right at the traffic light (the only one in North Richmond) onto Terrace Road. Once on Terrace Road, it is only metres to Beaumont Avenue. Turn right; continue past Panthers Club and downhill into a residential area. At first appearance, the road seems to end, but continue on past the residences and the road again widens and rolls into the park - a wide green space full of surprises. This riverside park is large, perfect for kids to run and roll around in the grass. Near the car parking area, on a Sunday afternoon we saw only a minimal activity on a small skate park.
An interesting combination of art and science is only a few steps from the skate park- an analematic sundial in the shape of a figure eight. A nearby description reveals the secret - if you don't know. The sundial is cast in a bed of river rock and sandstone - very artistic and symbolic of the Hawkesbury.
Along paved footpaths, wheelchair access is made easy to the covered and shady picnic and barbecue areas, as well as other open space with a river view. And on the riverbank, we saw a couple fly-casting, perhaps hoping for dinner.
Walking downhill from the sundial, we found this area to be most interesting. Here the chatter or squeals of small children are no longer heard and a grove of tall trees shades the area down to the river. Yet sunlight peeks through - a lovely dappled effect. Bring a handy picnic rug as this is the perfect spot for couples - a romantic picnic with your newly purchased wine from our Hawkesbury vintners.
Howe Park
Address: Terrace & Kable Streets, Historic Windsor
A two-kilometre footpath meanders along The Terrace and the riverbank, perfect for a brisk aerobic walk or a slow amble. The greater part of the footpath is paved, but as you walk with the river on your right, the pavers end and the path becomes one of finely crushed rock. This may create a slight challenge if you are pushing a pram, but think of the biceps you'll develop!
A few shaded tables, with a river view, provide space for picnics or your favourite board game.
If you are walking towards the Hawkesbury River Bridge, an obscured staircase leads down to the river's edge. As you cross under the bridge, where Windsor's graffiti artists play, be prepared for loud echoing traffic noise above.
Climb the set of steps. A few metres beyond the bridge, you'll find tall wooden remnants of the old Windsor Wharf where, in Macquarie's day, convicts were brought ashore from Sydney. Today, a new wharf has replaced the old, but waterbirds still find a resting place on the old pilings.
Governor Phillip Park
Address: George Street, Windsor
No Entry fee
Governor Phillip Park is located on the north-east side of George Street in Windsor, beyond the Bridge Street roundabout and downhill through a residential area. The street ends at Governor Phillip Park, a perfect playground and often a crowded scene of boats, jet skis, waterskis and wakeboards.
With picnic areas, gas barbecues and ample spots for fishing, it is no wonder families love to play along the river here. It is spacious and shaded areas are available. However, swimming is not advised.
The park has ramp facilities, so if you own a boat, kayak or other water-going craft, this is the perfect point to access the river.
Please visit our Blog posts at
http://www.villagesofhawkesbury.com/blog/
throughout the year as we
will visit and include information on additional parks
throughout the region.
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