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BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
Central Coast Ferries 0418 631 313 3.15 hours Morning Tea complimentary Adults $45 Conc. $40 Child $25 Group bookings welcome Current dates below and new dates are constantly being added. |
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TOUR DATES 2020
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Due to COVID-19 we have cancelled all our tours up until July.
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GOSFORD/BRISBANE WATER Tour
Departs Woy Woy wharf on ferry 'Sorrento' Friday 13th November - Book Now |
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BROKEN BAY/HAWKESBURY RIVER Tour
Departs Brooklyn Public Wharf on ferry 'Sorrento' (Public Wharf is about 50m past the 'Riverboat Postman' wharf) Departs Patonga Wharf 9am (by arrangement only) returns approx. 1pm Friday 24th Juy - Book Now |
Download Brochure for both tours
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GOSFORD/
BRISBANE WATER TOUR SUBJECTS Departs Woy Woy Wharf 9.35am returns at 12.45pm > Governor Phillip arrives only weeks after establishing a colony at Sydney > When the waterways were the highways > The origins of Gosford-Woy Woy-Umina-Davistown-East Gosford etc. > Timber getting in the once great forests > 500 registered wooden vessels built > The Maitland shipwreck > Woy Woy Tunnel - longest in Australia > 1900s thriving tourist industry |
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BROKEN BAY/
HAWKESBURY TOUR SUBJECTS Departs Brooklyn public wharf 9.35am returns 12.45pm (public wharf is about 50m past the 'Riverboat Postman' wharf) Departs Patonga Wharf 9am (by arrangement only) returns approx. 1pm > River bed minefield > West Head defences with its amazing inclined railway > Eight submarines rendezvous to attack Sydney > HMAS Hawkesbury > The Woy Woy WWII airfield > Juno Point WWII defences > WWI HMAS Parramatta & Swan wrecks – Australia’s first naval fleet > The Hawkesbury River Rail Bridges - How were they built? Why did the first one fail? |
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TOUR MAP Gosford/Brisbane Water starts at No. 1 Woy Woy
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TOUR MAP
Gosford/Brisbane Water
1. Woy Woy then 2. Rock Davis Shipyard....etc
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TOUR MAP Broken Bay Lower Hawkesbury starts at No. 1 Brooklyn
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TOUR MAP Broken Bay Lower Hawkesbury, starts at
1. Brooklyn then 2. HMAS Swan....etc
SLIDESHOW BELOW
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Peter Rea TV INTERVIEW - NBN NEWS
Secrets of the Hawkesbury River Revealed - HMAS Swan PLAY THE VIDEO www.nbnnews.com.au/2017/12/31/secrets-of-the-hawkesbury-river-revealed/ |
On the BROKEN BAY / LOWER HAWKESBURY FERRY TOUR, we will take you to some of the most amazing historical sites in Australia and, here is some of what you will see on screen. ...AND WHAT WE VISIT
* 500 ships built at Gosford is part of the Gosford Brisbane Water History Ferry Tour.
* 500 ships built at Gosford is part of the Gosford Brisbane Water History Ferry Tour.
REVIEWS
Shena - Facebook 2020
Today I cruised the Hawkesbury with Central Coast ferries for the history & heritage tour. We were taken to so many interesting places with the very knowledgeable Peter Rea. Do yourself a favour & check their website for Peter's next tour. He's entertaining & insightful. Thankyou Peter for a great day.
Julie - Facebook 2020
This is a wonderful way to discover Hawkesbury and Brisbane Water history. The story will unfold as soon as you set sail. Peter Rea is an engaging historian who has spent decades collating evidence, he has climbed rock faces and traversed the water front of this vast landscape to bring you an absolute charming presentation. Take your friends and set sail for discovery. Enjoy
Carol - Facebook 2019
Excellent morning. Amazing facts and stories presented in an entertaining and enthusiastic way. I haven't been on any history tour that comes close to Peter's presentation. He is clearly has a vast knowledge of his subject, and is available at times during the tour if you wish to discuss things with him. Big shout out to Central Coast Ferries for their great service. Note. Much of the history presented concerns the military history of the area, which is fascinating when you are looking at the installations being described.
Tony - Facebook 2019
Last week a group of sailors from Lake Macquarie did the Broken Bay ferry tour with Peter and George. Most of us are regular visitors to the area so felt that we had little to learn. How wrong we were! The trip was fantastic - Peter’s depth of knowledge and enthusiasm know no bounds. He is extremely personable and delivers an enormous amount of information in a way that really resonated with our group. Suffice to say we had a great time and highly recommend the tour - it was money and time very well spent.
Caroline - Facebook 2019 - Fascinating + very informative.
sh48au - Trip Advisor 2018
A must do tour. This ferry tour was both enjoyable and highly informative. Peter, who presented the talk was entertaining, passionate about our history and so knowledgeable. I learnt so much about our efforts during WW2 and the history of the railway. A must do tour for everyone as we are taught so little about our history. All who went with our Probus group found this tour excellent and would like to do the Brisbane Waters River Ferry Tour soon.
Sandra - Facebook 2018
What a wonderful tour. Peter is so knowledgeable and passionate about the area. We learnt so much about our history that we weren't aware of. It is a tour that I would recommend to everyone.
"This ferry tour explores the maritime history of the Broken Bay area of the Central Coast from Patonga to Brooklyn. Peter Rea, an extremely knowledgeable local history expert, gives a very professional and detailed history of the magnificent waterways from early colonisation to the current day. His research into shipping, wrecks and the invasion of Japanese submarines during WW11 is extensive and is supported by a detailed digital record of original photographs and documents. His accompanying delivery is informative and organised, as well as providing glimpses of real lives of the times. I would highly recommend this to any history buffs and anyone with an interest in the local area. It is a very pleasant way to spend a few hours with like-minded people".
lifeofreilly - Trip Advisor 2017
"...thank you again for the brilliant Hawkesbury River History Tour I went on today. Wonderful weather and you gave us a tour which was amazing! Your wealth of knowledge about the war, maritime and rail history of the Hawkesbury was exceptional.
Sue - Facebook 2017 - I would recommend this as a must do to all of my friends."
Gwen - Facebook 2017 -"I have been on the Hawkesbury trip twice, and am going again next week. Great, and Peter knows his stuff, and what's more, has been in to investigate the sites."
Fiona - Facebook 2016 "Great tour"
Debbie - Facebook 2015 "Brilliantly done! Everyone should make this tour a "must do".
Shena - Facebook 2020
Today I cruised the Hawkesbury with Central Coast ferries for the history & heritage tour. We were taken to so many interesting places with the very knowledgeable Peter Rea. Do yourself a favour & check their website for Peter's next tour. He's entertaining & insightful. Thankyou Peter for a great day.
Julie - Facebook 2020
This is a wonderful way to discover Hawkesbury and Brisbane Water history. The story will unfold as soon as you set sail. Peter Rea is an engaging historian who has spent decades collating evidence, he has climbed rock faces and traversed the water front of this vast landscape to bring you an absolute charming presentation. Take your friends and set sail for discovery. Enjoy
Carol - Facebook 2019
Excellent morning. Amazing facts and stories presented in an entertaining and enthusiastic way. I haven't been on any history tour that comes close to Peter's presentation. He is clearly has a vast knowledge of his subject, and is available at times during the tour if you wish to discuss things with him. Big shout out to Central Coast Ferries for their great service. Note. Much of the history presented concerns the military history of the area, which is fascinating when you are looking at the installations being described.
Tony - Facebook 2019
Last week a group of sailors from Lake Macquarie did the Broken Bay ferry tour with Peter and George. Most of us are regular visitors to the area so felt that we had little to learn. How wrong we were! The trip was fantastic - Peter’s depth of knowledge and enthusiasm know no bounds. He is extremely personable and delivers an enormous amount of information in a way that really resonated with our group. Suffice to say we had a great time and highly recommend the tour - it was money and time very well spent.
Caroline - Facebook 2019 - Fascinating + very informative.
sh48au - Trip Advisor 2018
A must do tour. This ferry tour was both enjoyable and highly informative. Peter, who presented the talk was entertaining, passionate about our history and so knowledgeable. I learnt so much about our efforts during WW2 and the history of the railway. A must do tour for everyone as we are taught so little about our history. All who went with our Probus group found this tour excellent and would like to do the Brisbane Waters River Ferry Tour soon.
Sandra - Facebook 2018
What a wonderful tour. Peter is so knowledgeable and passionate about the area. We learnt so much about our history that we weren't aware of. It is a tour that I would recommend to everyone.
"This ferry tour explores the maritime history of the Broken Bay area of the Central Coast from Patonga to Brooklyn. Peter Rea, an extremely knowledgeable local history expert, gives a very professional and detailed history of the magnificent waterways from early colonisation to the current day. His research into shipping, wrecks and the invasion of Japanese submarines during WW11 is extensive and is supported by a detailed digital record of original photographs and documents. His accompanying delivery is informative and organised, as well as providing glimpses of real lives of the times. I would highly recommend this to any history buffs and anyone with an interest in the local area. It is a very pleasant way to spend a few hours with like-minded people".
lifeofreilly - Trip Advisor 2017
"...thank you again for the brilliant Hawkesbury River History Tour I went on today. Wonderful weather and you gave us a tour which was amazing! Your wealth of knowledge about the war, maritime and rail history of the Hawkesbury was exceptional.
Sue - Facebook 2017 - I would recommend this as a must do to all of my friends."
Gwen - Facebook 2017 -"I have been on the Hawkesbury trip twice, and am going again next week. Great, and Peter knows his stuff, and what's more, has been in to investigate the sites."
Fiona - Facebook 2016 "Great tour"
Debbie - Facebook 2015 "Brilliantly done! Everyone should make this tour a "must do".
