Looking for the perfect gift idea, or even just a way to say thanks? Why not gift a Heritage Ventures experience? A Heritage Ventures Gift Voucher unlocks workshops, eco adventures, river cruises, historical walking tours and more. Our digital eGift Vouchers are a great way to let someone know you’re thinking about them. Gift a voucher sent directly to your friends email for them to choose any event and use whenever they want.

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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.

On this Autumn walking tour we drop down into Dubbo Gully to Mangrove Creek and explore the hidden sites of a former community. First fleet lemons and blackberries, former orchards and slab huts. Our expert guide illuminates the histories of settlers from the 1830s and 1840s and living stories from growing up in the area - hear about what happened at 'the Matchbox' and 'Mead Gully'. We trace the original road from Sydney to the coast across heritage wooden bridges within the extraordinary landscape of gymea lilies, sandstone bluffs and trickling creeks.

Fascinated by our local fungi?  Join us at the Hawkesbury Duck for a fungi forage and painting workshop.​

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. Hear about McCarthy's explorations around Flat Rocks Ridge and other galleries between Gunderman and Mangrove Creek with Paddy Pallin in the 1940s. Join us and our expert guides for time travel, ecology and nature immersion in August.

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.

A journey into deep time sandstone country. From history you can read in the rock to sandstone out in the landscape. UNESCO world heritage listed Old Great North Road. 

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To be announced

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A National Trust Heritage Festival event.

Views to Broken Bay and the mouth of the Hawkesbury River. Explore histories of first contact and what Lieutenant Cook and Governor Arthur Philip first saw here. ​

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o be announced

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A National Trust Heritage Festival event.

Join our expert heritage guide to hear the stories of food on the Lower Hawkesbury River–from the Singleton's 1820's tidal mill at Mill Creek, Gunderman to cabbage tree huts, wheat and maize production and the early barter systems. We visit the route hacked out by the No 3 iron gang in 1827-1832 - one of Gov. Darling's 'Great Roads' at Finch's Line - now part of a joint World Heritage listing and finish at the enchanted bend of the Hawkesbury River known as Trollops Reach.

A Central Coast Harvest Festival event​

A half day meander through the wonders of McPherson State Forest along bush tracks of waratahs and gymea lilies. Hear about histories of Kulnura 'up in the clouds' and the evidence of indigenous occupation around the forest. 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, nature and history experience.  

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

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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. ​

We're back with our flagship event for the year. Voices from the Secret River with Associate Professor Grace Karskens, eminent historians, fabulous raconteurs and maritime experts. Enjoy a day immersed in river history. Morning river cruise and afternoon symposium.

Explore the incredible Hawkesbury landscape from a comfortable and easy to operate double sea kayak. Join us for a paddle along one of the Hawkesbury River's most beautiful creeks. 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 Kendall island. On the way catch a glimpse of the old school pick-up stop and abandoned wharves where once floating stores and butcher boats delivered to the small community of remote creek-dwellers.​

Winter Warmer for the solstice. Taste your history with talks, brews and music. Billy tea and damper paired with single origin bush honey, accompanied by the fascinating story of bees and flower synergy. Discover the traditional flavors of native tucker and hear about Bush to Bowl, a remarkable social enterprise. Sample warrigal greens and native thyme omelette, roasted corn ('Hawkesbury Duck'), and colonial bush tea while enjoying captivating historical yarns. Sip on medicinal brews learning about key botanicals of a modern herbal apothecary, served alongside sweet treats inspired by the Australian bush. Explore a selection of bush-inspired foods and crafts, available directly from their creators—perfect for a unique gift. ​