Paddling in Berowra Valley National Park

Berowra Valley National Park sits on the northern edge of Sydney, where sandstone-walled creek valleys cut through dense bushland between suburbs like Hornsby Heights, Thornleigh, and Cherrybrook.

The paddling here is quiet water — tidal, sheltered, and slow — not whitewater. This is a park for canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards on a creek system that feels genuinely remote despite being minutes from the city.

Berowra Creek is the main waterway and the reason most paddlers come. It runs roughly 25 kilometres through the valley before joining the Hawkesbury at Sunny Corner.

The creek is graded S01 to S02 — flatwater with mild tidal influence — and the classic trip runs from Berowra Waters boat ramp to Twin Beaches and back, a 20-kilometre return that works as a day paddle with a swim and picnic, or an overnight with a camp at the remote site near the beaches.

Tides matter here: plan your day so the tide works with you rather than against you on the return leg. Crosslands Reserve is the other main access point, sitting close enough to the suburbs to make a half-day paddle easy.

The creek above Crosslands is quieter and narrower, drawing paddlers who want to push further into the valley's bushland. The surrounding ridgelines and sandstone escarpments make the paddling feel more isolated than the distance from Sydney would suggest.

Because this is a national park managed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the usual state fishing rules apply on the water, but check with the park directly for any conditions specific to Berowra Valley — rules on camping, access points, and overnight trips can change.

No-licence kayak and canoe hire is available at Berowra Waters for those without their own gear. The water here rewards patience.

Bring a tide chart, give yourself time to drift, and don't be surprised if the creek feels prehistoric — because in most ways, it still is.