highlights

• Hear histories of Broken Bay and the search for the river in the early colony 

• Experience the best views where the Hawkesbury river meets the sea

• Afternoon coffee at Patonga Boathouse.

the tour

Join us on a walking tour from Popran to one of the best views on the Central Coast connecting history, landscape and waterways. Hear histories of Broken Bay from Cook's journey up the coast in 1770 to Governor Philip’s expedition in March 1788 and much older traditions evidenced in the surrounding landscape of middens and engravings. Our tour starts in the quiet fishing village of Patonga (Badanga ‘oyster’ in the local language) where we explore sandstone rock formations before climbing up from Dark Corner through rain forest, open forest and heathland with botanical interpretations en route. At our first look-out towards Lion Island we consider the the formation of the landscape from sandstone carried from Antarctica 300 million years ago and learn about maritime histories of Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River trade. At our second look out an even more expansive vista opens out connecting the Pacific Ocean to Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River. From here we look out and hear about Bungaree named ‘chief of the Broken Bay tribe’ by Gov. Macquarie and why he was the most celebrated man in early Sydney. We return at a leisurely pace to Patonga for an afternoon coffee at the boathouse. The day is structured to take advantage of the Patonga Boat House Ferry Merinda 11 running Palm Beach to Patonga return (weather permitting).