So you’ve ‘done’ The Riverboat Postman. What’s next?
The possibilities are limited only by your imagination! We can take you to islands (well, a couple of them anyway), cruise you into secluded bays, and share with you some more stories of this spectacular waterway. Scroll right to the bottom of the list and you’ll find our downloadable PDF brochure with information about private charters - birthdays, anniversaries, ashes scattering - any event where you’d prefer to have the boat to yourselves.
The below itineraries are suggestions for group bookings of 25 passengers or more, and are subject to vessel availability on any given day. Prices per head for non-exclusive use (i.e. another party may join your cruise up to the capacity of the vessel) are the same as for The Riverboat Postman and for Sunday on the Hawkesbury - click here for details.
Seven Islands of the Hawkesbury
Learn the history of the islands of the river on our most popular cruise - Lion, Dangar, Spectacle, Long, Peat, Milson and Bar Islands. Cruise past the water-access-only settlements of the lower Hawkesbury, and see the wreck of the HMAS Parramatta, Australia' s first warship, and find out how it ended up lying at the bottom of the cliff! The views to the ocean behind Lion Island make for some spectacular photos, as will the close-up view of some ancient Aboriginal rock carvings at Eagle Rock near Broken Bay. This cruise includes our Postie-Ploughman’s lunch served on board.
Dangar Island Tour & Cruise
Before it received its current name, this little island just off the mainland held thousands of years of indigenous storylines. Following white settlement, Dangar Island played an important role in the discovery of much needed farmlands for the newly colonised Sydney. Governer Phillip used the Island as a base for his explorations of the Hawkesbury River, resulting in the farming settlements of Windsor and Richmond. Later, the Island housed the construction workers for the Railway Bridge, completed in 1889. Enjoy a guided tour of this historic island (or a cruise around it for those who don't wish to walk), followed by our Postie-Ploughman’s lunch on board the boat.
Bar Island Tour & Cruise
After decades of complete isolation, historic Bar Island has a brand new wharf and is ready for visitors! Take a walk after morning tea and see the remains of one of our earliest graveyards, and the newly restored church chimney. This is a tiny island steeped in thousands of years of history and is well worth a visit. The walk is followed by our Postie-Ploughman's lunch on board.
Military & Political History of the Hawkesbury
See the wreck of Australia' s first warship, HMAS Parramatta, as well as the beautiful Refuge Bay, which was the secret training base for the Z Force Commandos during WW2. It was also the departure point for the successful Operation Jaywick, where 14 commandos launched a raid on Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour. Refuge Bay also hosted the 1891 Convention during which plans were drawn up by political leaders of the day for the Constitution of Australia. This cruise includes our fabulous Postie-Ploughman’s lunch served on board.