Charter area explained: Exploring Pittwater & the Hawkesbury by boat
A vast, sheltered cruising area shaped by nature
One of the great advantages of boating with Church Point Charter is the scale and variety of the charter area. Stretching across Pittwater, the Hawkesbury River and its sheltered tributaries, the area offers an enormous amount to explore — all within calm, protected waterways.
Rather than feeling confined, most people are surprised by just how expansive the cruising area feels. In fact, the Pittwater–Hawkesbury charter area is significantly larger than Sydney Harbour, offering more distance, more quiet bays and far fewer crowds.
Pittwater: calm, connected and easy to explore
At the heart of the charter area is Pittwater, a long, naturally sheltered waterway framed by the Northern Beaches on one side and bushland on the other.
Pittwater is known for:
Calm, forgiving conditions
Short distances between bays
A mix of quiet coves and waterfront villages
Easy, relaxed cruising
Many day charters spend their entire time exploring Pittwater alone — swimming, going ashore, and enjoying the scenery without ever feeling the need to venture further.
Pittwater
The Hawkesbury River: space, scale and stillness
Heading north, Pittwater opens into the Hawkesbury River, where the landscape becomes broader and more remote.
Compared to Pittwater and even Sydney Harbour, the Hawkesbury offers:
Much longer cruising distances
A stronger sense of space and quiet
Deep bushland surroundings
Ideal conditions for overnight and multi-day charters
For many guests, this is where the experience truly slows down and begins to feel far removed from the city.
Lower Hawkesbury Berowra Patonga
Cowan Creek and sheltered tributaries
Branching off the Hawkesbury, Cowan Creek and nearby creeks offer some of the most peaceful boating in the region.
These waterways are characterised by:
Winding, protected channels
Steep sandstone and bushland shorelines
Very calm water, ideal for swimming and relaxing
A strong connection to surrounding national park
They’re especially popular with first-time boaters, families, and anyone looking for a quieter, nature-focused experience.
Moorings throughout the charter area
Across Pittwater and the Hawkesbury, boating is supported by hundreds of public and private moorings, spread throughout bays, creeks and popular stopping points.
Using moorings keeps boating simple and relaxed:
You can stop easily in calm locations
Popular bays are well serviced
Overnight stays feel straightforward and unhurried
The abundance of moorings is one of the reasons this charter area works so well — it allows guests to focus on enjoying where they are, rather than worrying about logistics.
Mobile reception and staying connected
Despite the natural surroundings, most of the charter area has mobile phone reception, particularly across Pittwater and many parts of the Hawkesbury.
While coverage can vary slightly in deeper creeks and sheltered bends, guests are often pleasantly surprised by how connected the area feels. This provides reassurance for:
First-time boaters
Families
Anyone wanting the comfort of being reachable
It’s another reason the area feels accessible without losing its sense of escape.
National Park waterways
Much of the charter area borders Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, creating a rare experience where bushland, sandstone cliffs and waterways blend seamlessly.
From the boat, the park reveals:
Forested slopes reaching the water’s edge
Sandstone formations shaped over time
Abundant birdlife and marine life
Exploring these stretches by water offers a calm, immersive way to experience the park, without crowds or foot traffic.
How people typically explore the area
Most charters don’t try to cover everything — and that’s exactly why the experience works so well.
Common approaches include:
Day charters staying within Pittwater, with swimming and village stops
Overnight charters heading into the Hawkesbury or Cowan Creek
Multi-day charters combining Pittwater villages with quiet river bays
Because the waterways are well connected and naturally sheltered, it’s easy to shape the experience around how much time you have and how you want each day to feel.
Bigger than Sydney Harbour — and far calmer
While Sydney Harbour is iconic, Pittwater and the Hawkesbury offer:
A larger cruising area
More sheltered, natural waterways
Far fewer commercial vessels
A slower, more relaxed pace
For many guests, it’s this combination of scale and calm that makes the experience so memorable.
Less about distance, more about experience
Rather than asking “How far can we go?”, most people find it more useful to think about:
How long they want to spend cruising
Whether they prefer moving or staying put
Day trips versus overnight stays
Within the charter area, there’s ample variety to suit all of these styles — without needing to rush or plan too tightly.
