Luxury on the Hawkesbury
As published in Signature Luxury, Travel & Style, August 2021
Discover a hidden travel gem just moments from Sydney
The Hawkesbury River skims Sydney’s perimeter from the foothills of the Blue Mountains and all the way to Broken Bay, near Pittwater. But it’s where the river meets Berowra Waters that you’ll find Wild Luxury’s first property - Calabash Bay Lodge, fine dining and the priceless sense of rejuvenation thanks to surrounding native bush, weathered cliffs and flowing waterways.
The lodge is flanked by three national parks and can only be accessed by boat or seaplane adding to its appeal as in-the-know travellers flock here to restore their energy levels by being close to nature.
The river is steeped in Aboriginal history with the land adjacent to the Hawkesbury once occupied by the Darkinjung and Dharug peoples of the Eora Nation. They used the river as a source of food and a place for trade. In the languages of the traditional custodians the river is called Deerubben or Dyarubbin meaning ‘wide, deep water’.
It’s with a deep respect for traditional owners that we operate Calabash Bay Lodge. Kim Ellis operates Calabash Bay Lodge (and its sister property Crane Lodge in Palm Beach). There’s subtle nods to our enthusiasm for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage throughout the four bedroom property - including a hand woven pendant in the shape of a traditional fishing scoop in the master king suite. The lights are from Koskela's award-winning Ngalya exhibition in 2019. Ngalya is a Dharug word (Calabash's local traditional language) meaning “both”, and features lighting products that are hand woven using locally harvested plant fibres and natural, hand-made dyes.
Once here, we highly recommend a visit to NSW’s only pearl farm where you’ll visit the ‘Shellar Door’, seeding and harvesting demonstrations.
For lunch, head to Berowra Waters Inn. The modern Australian fine dining restaurant was reimagined by Pritzker Prize winner and Australian architect Glenn Murcutt. The restaurant serves an all Australian degustation sourced from local makers, growers and suppliers. Like Calabash Bay Lodge, you can only get here by the surrounding waterways, with the Inn’s private ferry conveying you dock to dock.
The real entertainment is of course the great outdoors
But, the real entertainment is of course the great outdoors on the river with the use of a runaround boat for fishing and adventuring. You’ll discover Calabash’s many nooks and crannies of the river by using the lodge’s double and single kayaks, Canadian style canoe or stand up paddle boards. Or, catch your dinner with rods and crab pots available for those seeking the meditative benefits of fishing. Year round, swim from the private pontoon or take the boat for a spin to a nearby secluded beach at low tide.
An equally luxe experience is opting to stay in and soak up the surroundings with an optional on-site chef for meal times. There’s eight dining spaces to choose from and the chef will serve up a five course lunch or dinner using local produce. You can also arrange yoga and meditation teachers to make the most of the lodge’s rooftop wellness studios. For true immersion, unwind with a hot stone or remedial massage by the waterfront to the sound of the lapping tides.
In winter months, families can warm by the open log fire or snuggle up in one of the many hanging chairs or a hammock to watch the river flow by. Wildflowers burst to life during July and August, known as the windy season by Aboriginal peoples in Sydney, when the days are typically cool and dry.
It’s little wonder that Calabash Bay Lodge is a favourite for those who know about the secret that is the Hawkesbury River. This really is one of the most luxurious stays on the Hawkesbury, if not Greater Sydney itself.
“Book your stay at Calabash Bay Lodge now”