The Best Hawkesbury River Accommodation For A Weekend Escape From Sydney

The Boatshed is a cosy cabin with rustic charm, offering uninterrupted views of the Hawkesbury River from car-free Dangar Island. Accessible by boat, ferry or water taxi, this unique retreat accommodates up to three guests plus pets if arranged prior.

The open-plan studio has a well-equipped kitchen and comfy queen bed, with made-up double and single sofa beds available upon request—perfect for kids or an extra friend. The shady balcony and downstairs deck make for ideal sunrise-watching spots, while the private jetty invites swimming, fishing and kayaking.

Explore the island on foot by heading up the stairs to the island's main walking track, grab a bite from the cafe or bowling club (but check their hours first), and check out Bradley’s Beach, just a sandy stroll along the beachfront.

Nestled amongst the trees at Berowra Waters is the family-friendly River Treehouse Escape. The light-filled space features four cosy bedrooms fitting eight people, a living room with a fireplace, a modern loft kitchen and a spacious dining room that overlooks the Hawkesbury River.

The property is accessible via boat only with pick-up and drop-off from Berowra Waters Marina included, plus a tinny, kayaks, and SUPs provided to explore hidden beaches and top dining spots nearby like Peats Bite, Berowra Waters Inn and famed Italian restaurant A Chef Secrets just a short paddle away.

Amaroo Cottage and Boathouse is a beautifully restored 1920s waterfront property, offering an unparalleled Hawkesbury River stay for six. 

The main cottage accommodates four guests in two bedrooms, with an expansive verandah connecting the master and lounge room, a redesigned kitchen incorporating the original sandstone walls and tranquil gardens featuring a BBQ area with picnic tables—perfect for enjoying a morning coffee or an afternoon spritz in the sun. 

The front boathouse studio has room for two more guests with its own double bed and private jetty. Accessible only by boat, this serene sanctuary is ideal for family holidays or romantic getaways for three couples.

Make the most of the Hawkesbury River at Marramarra Lodge, an adults-only, all-inclusive retreat with 14 contemporary residences. Choose from three accommodation styles: the Peninsula Tent on the riverbank, the Hawkesbury Bungalow framed by bush and river, or the secluded Bay Bungalow; each offers spacious river-stone bathrooms and large balconies with jaw-dropping views. 

Enjoy guided walks, kayaking, paddleboarding, mud-crabbing, fishing, champagne and oyster cruises, or a helicopter tour to the Hunter Valley. Relax with aromatherapy at Iyora Day Spa and dine at the guest-only Budyari Restaurant featuring local, seasonal produce with rotating daily menus. 

Perched above Patonga Beach and the Hawkesbury River, Patonga House offers a secluded stay set on ten acres of lush bushland. The two-level property features two bedrooms and two bathrooms on each floor, a modern kitchen equipped with Smeg appliances and comfy boucle couches in the lounge room spilling out onto the shaded balcony with expansive views.

Embrace year-round relaxation in the sparkling heated magnesium pool and the outdoor panoramic sauna before cooling off in the open-air shower. Located just two minutes from Patonga Beach, Pearl Beach and the renowned Boathouse Hotel, the property is easily accessible to all vehicles with ample parking.

If a private beach, pontoon, and total seclusion sounds like your kind of escape, this off-grid, adults-only hideaway at Coba Point is for you. Completely powered by renewable energy and accessible only by boat, the Hawkesbury River house is all about laid-back luxury—think a cosy queen bedroom, reading nooks, a grassy garden with a hammock, and a wraparound balcony with a BBQ, daybed, and outdoor table, plus an extra studio for a potential double date, available on request.

Resting at the point where Berowra Creek joins the Hawkesbury River, next to the renowned Peats Bite Restaurant, Sunny River Cottage is a peaceful four-bed, three-bath retreat for eight, designed by Tamsin Johnson, with stunning northerly river views from every room. 

This eco-friendly, eclectic stay is perfect for groups, featuring a showstopping glass sunroom, fully-equipped kitchen, designer bathrooms with patterned tiling, both an indoor fireplace and outdoor fire pit, plus its own private jetty for docking a BYO boat.

Arrive by boat from Kangaroo Point, near Brooklyn, only 45 minutes from Sydney (transfer included with stay) or travel in style by seaplane from Sydney Harbour, just a scenic 20-minute flight away.

This hideout in Gunderman is perfect for families or small groups of seven, offering three bedrooms and two baths with spectacular river viewpoints throughout the house. 

Conveniently accessible by car, the airy property features an open-concept living and kitchen space, along with a kid-friendly, converted garage-turned-games room.

Outside you’ll find an expansive deck with shaded sunbeds and a hammock, a private jetty for fishing and swimming off, and an open fire pit surrounded by timber bench seating—the prime spot for roasting marshmallows and stargazing. 

While guests are supplied with 3.5L of water, bringing additional drinking water is recommended as the property relies on a rainwater collection and septic system.

Once a post office, The Patonga Cottage is a charming, coastal holiday home situated on the Patonga foreshore beside The Boathouse Hotel and Restaurant, only an hour out of Sydney.

Suitable for eight guests, the property boasts four air-conditioned bedrooms, a living room with a flat-screen TV, an equipped kitchen leading into an alfresco terrace with a large dining table, a private heated pool, and an outdoor fireplace.

Located just a stone's throw from delicious dining options, the Patonga to Pearl Beach walking track and Pearl Beach tennis courts, there’s plenty to do, making this spot an ideal getaway for a fun-filled yet relaxing stay.