Set against the protected Muogamarra Nature Reserve, the small town of Milsons Passage nestles itself in the meandering waters of the famous Hawkesbury River. This is where you’ll find Macky's, a charming cottage on the water’s edge. The beauty of the place is in its seclusion with access only by boat and few neighbouring properties.

Waking up on the river is serene with no other sounds than the birds and the breeze. For us, the morning was misty and magical, watching the sunrise over the escarpment. We took the river in the kayaks, exploring the bends until we were exhausted and earned ourselves a big brunch.

A narrow forested waterway diverts from the Hawkesbury and peters down to the river town of Berowra Waters, where a handful of small restaurants, boat sheds and residences cluster around the free ferry across Berowra Creek. We drove our boat leisurely down to lunch before returning home to indulge in a hot meal, a bottle of wine and some card games on the timber deck before drifting off to sleep to the rhythm of the gently lapping waves.