Just a stone’s throw from the bustling urban areas of the Shire is an oasis of natural environs, ranging from the pristine waters of the Hawkesbury River as it meanders through the east and northwest sectors of the Shire through to the rugged cliff tops of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
At Galston Gorge, less than an hour from Sydney’s CBD, you could be forgiven for thinking that you were out in the sticks among the quaint and remote villages of the area.
Broadacre farms of roadside stalls with fresh produce and wholesale nurseries puncture the landscape. This is an area where locals have done it tough for many years with the adverse impacts of drought and now burgeoning fuel costs.
A farm gate trail for tourists has been operating for a number of years to promote the Shire’s fresh produce and provide a diverse range of paddock to plate experiences.
Recreation on the Hawkesbury
The Hawkesbury River offers many great recreational opportunities including kayaking, water skiing and fishing.
On weekends, Shire residents and visitors enjoy lazy cruises along the river with Leisure Lass, Riverboat Postman, crab and oyster cruises and many other cruise operators.
Council’s Visitors Information Centre in Hornsby provides more about the recreational choices available.
Gardens, bushland and koalas
With bushland covering about 67 percent of the Shire, bushwalking is one of Hornsby’s biggest tourism drawcards.
Steep sandstone escarpments also attract abseilers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Why not visit the picturesque Lisgar Gardens in Hornsby, Lilian Fraser Garden in Pennant Hills or the magnificent Fagan Park in Galston with its historic homestead and Gardens of Many Nations.
Further south, you can cuddle a koala at Koala Park Sanctuary in West Pennant Hills or join the local bushcare group that meets at the Community Nursery.
Whether you’ve got an hour to spare or you’re on holidays, there’s something for everyone to see and do in the Bushland Shire.
