We begin our journey on the river flats where we explore the lush regrowth forest and hear about the layered histories of Mangrove Creek. Higher up we visit Red Hands cave and gaze out over the meandering river to spot old wharves and an abandoned cemetery. Along the way  the signs of Indigenous and European occupation are evident in the landscape. Exchange with people in rainforest, paperbark forest, hanging swamp and heathland. Enjoy stops to search for unique flora, local yabbies, and the tadpoles of the Giant Burrowing Frog, all while savouring billy tea and our special homemade biscuits.

Enjoy a day by the Hawkesbury River enjoying the wonders of local native birds.

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Our day begins catching a glimpse of the local species along the river - maybe spoonbills, wood duck and plover in the company of a Hawkesbury River bird expert followed by a morning tea at the Hawkesbury Duck workshop space.

Learn simple techniques for painting Australian birds in watercolour under the expert guidance of Central Coast artist and designer Leonie Loewe.

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Enjoy morning tea, lunch and all painting equipment provided.

Step aboard the MV Clarence Head to be taken to lunch at Dangar Island. After lunch, we cruise under the Hawkesbury River bridge with local historian David Reynolds to hear about the greatest engineering project in the world and how it foreshadowed the move towards federation. Gain insights into the 1891 drafting of the constitution with reimagined conversations aboard the steam yacht Lucinda with constitutional lawyer, Dr Shireen Morris and essayist, Elizabeth Farrelly. Actor Chris Haywood takes us behind the scenes into the smoking room on the yacht's first-floor cabin as it steamed around the river overnighting at Refuge Bay and the Basin.

Launching from Spencer we paddle with the tide past Holy Trinity Church into the serene waters of Popran Creek. Historical stories unfold through the lost names of Sawmill Flat, Kellys Creek and Neverfail island. Look out for azure kingfishers, white faced herons and soaring sea eagles. Morning tea by mangroves and Casuarina fringed wetlands. Lunch at a secret location further upstream.

An all day bush tour to the caves and sandstone country around Basalt Hill and Kulnura. In this wild landscape we'll be exploring side gullies and ridges to experience the diversity of winter flowers and rock formations. Hear about the archaeological surveys undertaken around Upper Mangrove Creek and the dating of the oldest habitation site on the Central Coast. A day of exploration, history and nature immersion. A bush morning tea on the way.

Journey into the waterways of Dyarubbin with historians, writers and storytellers for a morning river cruise exploring the secret histories of the Lower Hawkesbury. Our exploration continues with an afternoon symposium visualising rock engravings, sky connections and the archaeology of Mangrove.  Join us for a river cruise, symposium or both where Mangrove Creek meets the Hawkesbury River.

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Kayak the mysterious mangrove edged tributary known as Pumpkin Point Creek. Only accessible by small craft when the tide is right. Launching from Spencer catch glimpses of sea eagles, fishing cormorants and herons along the way. Gliding by twisted red gums and weathered rock ledges we pull in for lunch at the ruins of an abandoned homestead and hear historical tales of this remote area. Double kayaks, all gear morning tea and lunch provided.

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Enjoy a day of water colours at the Hawkesbury Duck in Spencer. Get to know the creatures of our local and Australian waters with artist and designer Leonie Loewe. Painting from a beautiful fish illustration learn techniques of texture and shading and how to turn this into a finished fishy watercolour. Hawkesbury marine stories + watercolour workshop. Morning tea, lunch and all materials provided.

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David Reynolds, local historian and President of the Dangar Island Historical Society takes us on an insiders tour of Dangar Island on the Hawkesbury River. Starting with a ferry ride to the island on a restored heritage boat, the tour explores the rich indigenous and colonial histories - from evidence of Guringai occupation to Gov. Authur Phillip's search for arable land in 1788. Lunch at waterside cafe and visit to summit for Hawkesbury River views.

Visit to the caves, overhangs and sandstone hills around Basalt Hill and Kulnura. 

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Mll Creek

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Join us for morning tea and historic conversations. Tea with flair and vintage. Christmas gifts for sale. 

Talks from local ceramic artists, demonstrations and crafts for purchase.

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Walk in wonder along bush tracks to the headwaters of Gunderman and Mill Creeks.We gradually ascend through gullies past rocky overhangs and wild flowers to Flat Rocks Ridge. High on the ridge is a large rock platform part of a long gallery stretching fo kilometers. Join us and our expert guides for time trvel, ecology and nature immersion in October.

Enjoy a walking tour of two historic cemeteries on Mangrove Creek with engaging historytller Max Bunrs-McRuvie. Hear about the stronghold of the Church of England in teh early colony, bush churches, rouge Papism and stories of the Indefatigable Reverent Alfred Glennie and his horse Mettle. Explore th elast resting places of ex-convicts, free settlers adn 'cornstalks' of Greengrove Cemetery and Holdy Trinty Church, Spencer

with Max. Chetena food and stories

Discover Spencer's hidden histories. Village tour, heritage homes and stories of the river + tea and yarns at Spencer's new museum space.

A fun filled day learning a new craft at the Hawkesbury Duck in Spencer. Enjoy a day with natural history illustrator and artist Angus Fisher using ink pen and watercolour. The day starts collecting and identifying local botanical specimens, shells, feathers and other found objects from around the river landscape. Angus introduces simple techniques for rendering their likeness in pencil, pen, ink and watercolour. Be inspired by the tradition made famous by 'first fleet artists' interpretation of Australia.

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon treat. All materials provided. 

A half day meander through the wonders of Kulnura along bush tracks of waratahs and gymea lilies. An immersion amongst the yellows, blues, pinks and whites of our spring flowers. Waratahs are blooming and lyre birds are calling!. Join us for a special botanical and nature experience.  

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​Meet for morning tea in Kulnura and travel together to the start of the adventure.​​​​​​​

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Enjoy combined morning and afternoon river cruises to the places where it all happened on the Hawkesbury River. Discover multi-layered histories aboard a classic timber ferry the MV Clarence Head. Hear from a range of specialists, from the story of indigenous Australian Bungaree to top secret Operation Jaywick, Z Special Unit, the largest construction project in the southern hemisphere and the drafting of the Constitution. Join historians, maritime archaeologists, legal experts and floating storytellers for revelations and an in-depth journey into the past.  Step ashore for lunch at Dangar Island.   ​* Combined morning and afternoon cruises include a 10% discount.

Explore the historical remains of Dubbo Gully when Mangrove Creek was a thriving community with wharves, inns and slab homes. Gain insight into the past at St Thomas' Cemetery and visit Fairview to hear about the experience of growing up in the area and the campaign to save the last remaining homestead. We will visit the original road from Sydney to the coast and hear about the haunted 'Inn of the Damned'

Sample native tea while hearing about convict rations and what was on the governor’s table. Travel to one of Gov. Darling’s planned routes from Sydney to the Hunter hacked out by the no 3 chain iron gang (now world heritage listed). Stopping at the Hawkesbury River visit the site of an abandoned tidal mill and time travel to when the river was the highway with trading and store boats plying the waterways. 

Adventure into the bush slopes behind Spencer village. With unique access we investigate fern-filled valleys, caves, and the indentations of rushing creeks. Passing through hanging swamps we view history from on high reimagining Dyarrubin 100 years ago, at first contact, and beyond into deep time. Evidence of the original custodians are written across and into this rich and sustaining landscape.

Join us for a panel presentations from a dynamic group of ceramic artists, vintage experts, and collectors. Bring your antiques and learn the art of researching design history and estimating value with Hannah Clayton Atkin, director of Swan Deverell auctioneers. Morning tea served from specialist tea enu with Australian themed cakes adn biscuits. Domestic pottery, vintage and ceramics for sale. 

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Adventure into the bush slopes behind 'Sunnyview Estate' Spencer. Gymea lily and banksia woodland lead onto a ridge top of angophoras and grass trees framing river views of Mangrove Creek. We walk through eriostemons, wedding bush and pea flowers exploring sandstone caves and overhangs. Looking across to Wendoree Park and NeverFail hear about the forgotten histories of these tiny settlements. 

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Explore the historical remains of Dubbo Gully when Mangrove Creek was a thriving community with wharves, inns and slab homes. Gain insight into the past at St Thomas' Cemetery and visit Fairview to hear about the experience of growing up in the area and the campaign to save the last remaining homestead. We will visit the original road from Sydney to the cast and hear about the haunted 'inn of the Damned'

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Sample native tea while hearing about convict rations and what was on the governor’s table. Travel to one of Gov. Darling’s planned routes from Sydney to the Hunter hacked out by the no 3 chain iron gang (now world heritage listed). Stopping at the Hawkesbury River visit the site of an abandoned tidal mill and time travel to when the river was the highway with trading and store boats plying the waterways. 

Enjoy a day by the Hawkesbury River enjoying the wonders of local native birds. Our day begins catching a glimpse of the local species along the river - maybe spoonbills, wood duck and plover in the company of a Hawkesbury River bird expert followed by a morning tea at the Hawkesbury Duck workshop space. Learn simple techniques for painting Australian birds in watercolour under the expert guidance of Central Coast artist and designer Leonie Loewe.

Learn how to paint botanical art in watercolours at this fun all day workshop on teh Hawkesbir River. You will take away your own beautiful atwork and the skils of capturig plants and flowers in stunning water colours. The day starts with a nature walk to take in the botanical woders of the area. In the workshop you will be taught how to mix and apply colours, depth and shading to bring out the details of a local native speciment. All materials provided, plus morning tea and lunch and a take home gift

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A special Spring soiree with high tea. Enjoy Sunday afyernoon in the company of like minds to travel into the past via the mystery and history of objects. Discover the stories behind strange and fatnastical artefacts collected rom river jounreys, hearth adn home, maritime exploits and living off the land. Vintage high tea with an 'eat your history' flavour and an exclusive tea menu.

Join outdoor specialist Belinda Cook on this exploration of the mailman track used since the 1820s as the connection between Mangrove Creek communities and teh Central Coast. Trace the original bridle path from teh foothills of Mount OLive to Glenworth Valley through heathland and foret canopy. Enjoy the historical storeis of smugglers, moonshiners and Mary's Valley'​​​​​​​​​​

Choose your own adventure

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Celebrating and inviting the dead - a moment to remember and honor the past. Stories and music from another time - who was here and why. Be fabulous Mexican Day of the Dead style. Skulls, skeletons, and yarns from the graveside.

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Kayak the mysterious waterways of Mangrove Creek. Launching from a private location along Oyster Shell Road we paddle towards Crafts Creek passing abandoned wharfs and hidden shacks. As we glide from the salt water towards the fresh water hear stories about the ex-convicts who moved here in the early 1800s and gain insight into the lost histories of Ironbark, Bedlam and Sugee Bag Creeks. Along the way we pay a special visit to a peaceful and remote heritage cemetery. Morning tea and lunch at secret locations upstream.

All kayaks, gear, morning tea and lunch included. Orientation provided for those new to kayaking.

Join us for a morning cruise with in-depth histories and stories associated with Broken Bay and Cowan Creek and lunch at Dangar Island. Dr Mark Dunn uncovers the history of Broken Bay Aboriginal leader, explorer, navigator and diplomat Bungaree. Cruise along the waterways around the hidden military training camp at Refuge Bay. Maritime archaeologist Stirling Smith reveals the backstory of the highly secretive seaborne raid by Z Special Unit, named 'Operation Jaywick'. Veteran actor Chris Haywood reads from the diaries of Horrie Young, the radio operator on MV Krait providing an insight into the dangers, challenges and day to day conditions of the men on the repurposed wooden fishing boat.

A half day meander through the wonders of Kulnura along bush tracks of waratahs and gymea lilies. An immersion amongst the yellows, blues, pinks and whites of our spring flowers. Waratahs are blooming and lyre birds are calling!. Join us for a special botanical and nature experience.  

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​Meet for morning tea in Kulnura and travel together to the start of the adventure.​​​​​​​

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An all day bush tour to the caves and sandstone country around Basalt Hill and Kulnura. In this wild landscape we'll be exploring side gullies and ridges to experience the diversity of winter flowers and rock formations. Hear about the archaeological surveys undertaken around Upper Mangrove Creek and the dating of the oldest habitation site on the Central Coast. A day of exploration, history and nature immersion. A bush morning tea on the way.

David Reynolds, local historian and President of the Dangar Island Historical Society takes us on an insiders tour of Dangar Island on the Hawkesbury River. Starting with a ferry ride to the island on a restored heritage boat, the tour explores the rich indigenous and colonial histories - from evidence of Guringai occupation to Gov. Authur Phillip's search for arable land in 1788. Lunch at waterside cafe and visit to summit for Hawkesbury River views.

Join us for a fun and exciting watercolour workshop celebrating

Australia’s own fluttery butterflies and moths. Under the expert guidance of artist and designer Leonie Loewe you’ll learn some cool, creative and fun techniques to paint these alluring creatures. You'll leave with a myriad of new skills even if you've never picked up a paintbrush before. All equipment, morning tea and lunch provided.

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All day adventure exploring the bridle bush tracks of the mailman's route - Ironbark catchment to Mt Olive with side trip to Donovan's Forest. Visiting rare volcanic diatreme forest, sandstone overhangs and passing through 'the eye of the needle'. On the way we hear stories of life for the creek dwellers in the 19th and 20th centuries. Physical evidence of an older culture can be seen in tessellated platform engravings along the track.

David Reynolds, local historian and President of the Dangar Island Historical Society takes us on an insiders tour of Dangar Island on the Hawkesbury River. Starting with a ferry ride to the island on a restored heritage boat, the tour explores the rich indigenous and colonial histories - from evidence of Guringai occupation to Gov. Authur Phillip's search for arable land in 1788. Lunch at waterside cafe and visit to summit for Hawkesbury River views.

Join us on an exclusive tour in the natural habitat of a number of vulnerable species of Hawkesbury river tributaries. We travel up spurs through lush forest to strands of rare biconvex paperbark and locations where the noisy pitta bird and the Sydney rock warbler have been seen. Visit red hands creek & the site of the elusive giant burrowing frog. Billy tea on route through regrowth forest once logged for orange groves and now the home of these rare wonders.

Visit to the caves, overhangs and sandstone hills around Basalt Hill and Kulnura. 

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Kayaking xx

Walk in wonder along bush tracks to the headwaters of Gunderman and Mill Creeks.We gradually ascend through gullies past rocky overhangs and wild flowers to Flat Rocks Ridge. High on the ridge is a large rock platform part of a long gallery stretching fo kilometers. Join us and our expert guides for time trvel, ecology and nature immersion in March.

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Adventure into the bush slopes behind Spencer village. With unique access we investigate fern-filled valleys, caves, and the indentations of rushing creeks. Passing through hanging swamps we view history from on high reimagining Dyarrubin 100 years ago, at first contact, and beyond into deep time. Evidence of the original custodians are written across and into this rich and sustaining landscape.

Dubb Gully with Belinda Cook

Hannah at the Duck