Just over an hours drive north-west of Sydney and nestled at the foothills of the Blue Mountains region is the Hawkesbury Valley.

Originally the home of the Darug Clan of the Aboriginal people, the region was discovered by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1789 on his search for fertile farmland. Today, there are a number of preserved and restored historical buildings that are still in use.

Known as the ‘food basket’ for Sydney, the Hawkesbury region grow a large number of produce that can be found for sale at stalls along the roads throughout the valley. Some of the orchards are also open to visitors to pick their own. There are boutique cheese makers and wineries, as well as a number of artisans living and working in the region.

The Hawkesbury Valley is located in the larger Hawkesbury River Region that include the Hawkesbury River Gateway, Hawkesbury Highlands, Hawkesbury River Heartland, and Sydney Hills Region.

Check out our listing of Hawkesbury accommodation. In addition to our listed online travel guide information, contact the local tourism visitor centre for your destination for more attractions, tours, local maps and other information.