Welcome to the Hawkesbury Valley
Welcome to the Hawkesbury Valley, a country community just one our northwest of Sydney with a population of 65,000. Originally the home of the Darug community, it was discovered by Governor Phillip in the 18th Century, and was one of Australia's earliest colonial settlements
The rich fertile floodplains stretching along the Hawkesbury River provided then, and still today, much of Sydney's fresh produce. Come and visit on a weekend, and one will see many produce stalls dotted along the country roads. The area is nestled amongst two of NSW's greatest national parks, being the Blue Mountains and Wollomi National Park, and along its fringes are plenty of area for recreational activities from abseiling and canyoning for the adventurous to quiet bush walks or a paddles on the canoe for those who just wish to be close to nature
Being one of Australia's earliest settlement areas, there are, still a large number of heritage buildings left intact here, and a historical tour will take you right back in time of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Grab a tour map at the tourist information centre and go on a self-guided tour or join one of the historical tours which are run regularly in the area.
For those who enjoy the good life, why not indulge yourselves by visting the boutique wineries, then try some of the locally made chevre cheese, smoked goods and fresh fruits before settling down at one of the more extravagant guest houses or retreats.
For the families, there are plenty to do, like visiting the heritage farm, picnicking at one of the national parks, some of which provides a safe bicycle trails to suit children of all ages or just wading through some of the quieter shallows of Colo River.
A little over an hour by road or train, north west of Sydney, you'll find the historic Windsor Township. Set on a high bank of the magnificent Haweksbury River, at the foot of the Blue Mountains, Wollemi National Park and surrounding National Parks.
In 1810 Governor Lachlan Macquarie established the township of Windsor which was previously known as 'Green Hills'. Windsor, as a river port, became the lifeline of the early Sydney settlement as the colony's granary. Now, 200 years later, the pioneering spirit of our early settlers, and thousand years of Dharug Aboriginal history can be experienced throughout the Hawkesbury Valley.
Visit the Hawkesbury Museum of local history and its RAAF display, or many other places of historic significance.
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