Hawkesbury

From CruisersWiki

Revision as of 02:07, 18 June 2008

Hawkesbury

Background

About 5 hours easy sailing, or 3 hours in good weather, north of Sydney, the Hawkesbury and Pittwater areas are often overlooked by Sydneysiders. The Hawkesbury inlet is vast (see map above) and from a yachtsman's point ov view only marred by the 11.8m MHWS clearance under the Brooklyn rail bridge. Even for tall masted vessels this leaves quite an area for exploration, including Pittwater and Cowan Creek.

The best book for reference while sailing in the Pittwater / Hawkesbury area is Cruising the NSW Coast by Alan Lucas. It contains details of all of the moorings, anchorages, and other facilities in ports up and down the NSW coast.

Charts

Charts of Pittwater are readily available, but the harbour pilots contained in the cruising guide mentioned above, along with a depth sounder, are your best guides. Pittwater and Broken Bay are wide and deep throughout, shoaling to depths that involve working a tide in the upper reaches of the Hawkesbury, the entrances to Brisbane Water, and upper reaches of the Cowan inlet.

The main overhead obstruction is the rail bridge mentioned above: Map

Radio Nets

Submit details of local radio Nets.

Approach and Navigation

The mouth of Pittwater is wide, deep, and well sheltered.

Routes to/from

Marinas and Yacht Clubs

Pittwater

Pittwater is that part of the Hawkesbury Estuary that is immediately adjacent to Barrenjoey Head (the southernmost headland of the Hawkesbury Inlet) and extends southwards as far as Newport. This is considered part of Sydney by the locals, rather than being part of the Central Coast, which most of the rest of the Hawkesbury is part of.

Careel Bay

Newport

Church Point

Cowan Creek

Cowan Creek runs south west from the main part of the Hawkesbury itself. Basically, turn left as you get towards Patonga Beach, and continue south west. It's a long and deep inlet with many branches and bays. It's the main part of the Hawkesbury that can be reached without going under the Mooney Mooney rail bridge.

• Cottage Point Marina
  • Google maps link: Map
• Empire Marinas, Bobbin Head
  • Google maps link: Map
• d'Albora Marinas, Akuna Bay
  • Google maps link: Map

Brisbane Water

This is the northern arm of the Hawkesbury Inlet. Study the pilot guides and charts with a great deal of care, as the approaches around Box Head are heavily sand barred, and subject to fairly swift tidal currents. Obtain local knowledge if possible before approaching the inlet.

Brooklyn

Outside the bridge:

• Hawkesbury River Marina, ph: 9985 7858
  • Dangar Rd, Brooklyn
  • Google maps link: Map

Inside the bridge:
Sandbrook Inlet is the name for the body of water between Long Island and the mainland, on the south shores of the Hawkesbury. You need to pass under the rail bridge (11.8m clearance MHWS) to reach this area.

• Dolphin Boatshed Marina, ph: 9985 7307
  • Google maps link: Map
• Fenwicks Marina, ph: 9985 7633
  • 31 Brooklyn Road, Brooklyn
  • Google maps link: Map
• Brooklyn Marina, ph: 9985 7722
  • 45 Brooklyn Road, Brooklyn
  • Google maps link: Map
  • Berths are $14.50 per foot per calendar month, so for a 42' yacht this is $609/month. Moorings are $6 per foot per calendar month - minimum charge $170, so for a 42' yacht this is $252/month. Other fees and charges on this page (pdf file).
• Brooklyn on Hawkesbury Marina and Apartments, ph: 9985 7892
  • 55A Brooklyn Road, Brooklyn
  • Google maps link: Map
• Wharf St Marina, ph: 9985 7074
  • 1 Wharf Street Brooklyn
  • Google maps link: Map
• Long Island Marina, ph: 9985 7538
  • 59-65 Brooklyn Road, Brooklyn
  • Google maps link: Map
• Sandbrook Inlet Marina, ph: 9985 5500
  • 87 Brooklyn Road, Brooklyn
  • Google maps link: Map
  • Berths are $14.50 per foot per calendar month, so for a 42' yacht this is $609/month. Moorings are $6 per foot per calendar month - minimum charge $170, so for a 42' yacht this is $252/month.

See also:

• Sydney Morning Herald article about Brooklyn - mentions the marina services and things to do in the area.
• Train timetables - to and from Hawkesbury River station (at Brooklyn). Scroll down to the Newcastle and Central Coast line and click on WD/WE next to Newcastle to Central (inbound) or Central to Newcastle (outbound) timetables.

Anchorages

List details of all safe anchorages in the area.

Tourism & things to do ashore

List places of interest, tours, eateries, etc.

Marine stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

• Whitworths is the best known marine chandlery in Sydney, and operates 5 stores.
• BIAS Boating Warehouse is also a good supplier of all marine equipment. Their showrooms are more widely distributed than those of Whitworths.
• Bargain Boat Bits sell boat bits, sometimes at a bargain price. Caveat: shop around, as the name of the store may not reflect any relation to having consistently the lowest prices.
• Aquatronics in Brookvale are probably the best suppliers / installers / repairers of anything electronic on your boat.

Offshore Islands

List Islands

References & Publications

Publications, Guides, etc.

• AFLOAT Magazine

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on the Cruiser Log Forum

External Links

Links to relevant websites.

• NSW Marine Directory
• On line Street Directory covering the area.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences:

Template:Guide1

.