There are no grander waters in this country than Sydney Harbour and the nearby Broken Bay-Hawkesbury system. These deep valleys were carved by ancient rivers through millennia of Hawkesbury sandstone. One waterway is almost as it was in 1788 – the other is the most sophisticated boating venue in Australia.

Sydney Harbour is an eclectic mix of busy commercial fairways for freight and passenger traffic and a playground for recreational boats of all types. Just around the point from a busy wharf could be a tranquil inlet for a picnic or a classy waterside eatery.

Boat ramps are scattered around the Harbour’s foreshores and marinas and yacht clubs abound. Home to the start of the world-renowned Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, there are a large number of sailing events on the waterway every week.

Believe it or not, the Harbour also has some of the best fishing in the state. There’s been no commercial fishing for several years and water quality improvements mean a thriving environment for yellowtail kingfish, bream, mulloway, whiting, flathead, tailor and most other temperate species.

Humpback whales often call in for a visit during their migration, as do a host of tropical fish such as mackerel and tuna, while the offshore grounds are famous for blue, black and striped marlin and other gamefish.

If Sydney Harbour nurtures humanity, Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River system highlight nature’s glory, with dense native forests and national parks adjoining deep, sheltered cruising grounds.

There are numerous safe anchorages throughout the Hawkesbury River and the adjoining Cowan Creek system, along with some world-class marinas. Boaters could spend their entire lives exploring this unique part of the world – and always find something new!

The fishing, particularly for mulloway, bream and bass, is excellent from September to May, while Broken Bay (where this massive system enters the ocean) is a popular recreational fishery throughout the year for Australian salmon, yellowtail kingfish and myriad other species.

The middle reaches of the Hawkesbury River, accessible from Sydney’s north and west, are also the domain of towsports, with endless miles of water ski and wakeboard bliss.