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Riverboat Postman Cruise, Hawkesbury River Hidden Gem

Wondering what the Riverboat Postman Hawkesbury river cruises is like? When we found out about the Riverboat Postman Cruise , we couldn’t believe that firstly it’s a really cheap day out from Sydney via public transport and it’s a whole lot of fun too!

It’s not randomly called the Riverboat Postman Cruise. You actually go and watch the postman deliver the mail to all of the remote homes on a three hour cruise around the Hawkesbury River.

I’m sure everyone has driven over the Hawkesbury River Bridge at one time or another when driving up the coast from Sydney. It’s that moment when you cross over the bridge that you feel like you’ve completely left the city behind whilst looking over to those dreamy river vibes.

But, if you’ve always wanted to go on a Hawkesbury River cruise, we recommend going on the Riverboat Postman Cruise like we did!

When we found out about the long running tradition of the Riverboat Postman Cruise, we knew we had to check it out.

Australia Post has been delivering mail via a boat service to its remote residents on the Hawkesbury for more than 100 years. Since they opened it up to the public, you can join them at work whilst they deliver post around seven locations along the river.

We’re here to tell you all about it and how it’s become a local hidden gem. Best of all, this Hawkesbury River Cruise is an incredibly affordable day out of Sydney.

When we arrived at the ticket office we couldn’t believe how adorable it is. It’s the perfect little boat shed you could only dream of owning one yourself.

Here’s everything you need to know about doing the Riverboat Postman Cruise and what our personal highlights are too. 

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How to get to riverboat postman.

A great thing about the Riverboat Postman Cruise is that they’ve wonderfully scheduled the timings alongside the trains so that everyone can experience the famous postman run.

The cruise lasts for three hours from 10-1pm and the train arrives into Hawkesbury River station from Sydney at 9:47am and leaves at 1:24pm. Did we mention the station is next door to the Riverboat Postman as well? This means you could bring the whole family along as there’s next to no walking involved.

If you’re driving, just head over to Dangar Road in Brooklyn which takes around 1 hour from Sydney to get to. There’s a lot of free parking in Brooklyn and most parking spots will have a four hour limit which is absolutely perfect for the cruise.

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What’s the route and how much does is cost.

For a great day out with your friends or family, the Riverboat Postman Cruise costs just $58 per adult,  $18 per child or a family ticket is $135 (2 adults, 2 kids).

Above you can see where the cruise takes you. You’ll head up past Dangar Island, underneath the Brooklyn Bridge and up to the mangroves in Marlow Creek.

What’s included in the River Boat Postman Cruise?

The highlights

We were also taken to the first ever warship in Australia, the HMAS Parramatta wreck which is pretty cool to see.

We definitely recommend booking the Riverboat Postman Cruise as it gets really busy that sometimes they take out three boats!

What if you want to go on a cruise on the weekend? You can go on a three hour cruise to the popular Seven islands of the Hawkesbury on a Sunday. It leaves a little later at 11am and you’ll get a local fish & chips on board for lunch 🙂

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The Riverboat Postman

Australia’s last remaining mail boat

The Riverboat Postman is Australia’s last remaining mail boat in operation, and is one of the hidden gems of Sydney. Closer than the Blue Mountains, halfway to the Hunter Valley and only 20 minutes from the Australian Reptile Park at Kariong, the cruise offers a true “step back in time” experience with its old-school snail-mail delivery service to locals (and their dogs) who come to meet us on the wharves.

The cruise departs weekdays at 10am, returning 1pm, making it the perfect day trip!

• Nostalgic Adventure: Be part of a unique mail delivery tradition that has stood the test of time. Join the ranks of those who have kept this historic practice alive and feel the nostalgia of a simpler, more connected way of life.
• Personalised Connections: Experience the heartwarming interactions with river locals as they await their daily mail and supplies. Share smiles, stories, and a sense of community that’s hard to find elsewhere.
• Breathtaking Scenery: Immerse yourself in the ancient sandstone cliffs and lush greenery that is the stunning Hawkesbury River. Largely unspoilt National Parks and Nature Reserves, the scenery is dotted with tiny and historic water-access-only settlements, and The Riverboat Postman offers one of the best ways to see it all for yourself.
• Insider’s Glimpse: Gain an insider’s view into Australia’s past and present through the eyes of the river communities. This immersive experience offers cultural insights that will enrich your understanding of the country’s heritage.
• You’ll get to taste arguably the best ANZAC biscuits on the planet…

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The Riverboat Postman

Getting here.

We are in Brooklyn, so train is by far the easiest way to get to Brooklyn, and the trains which arrive from Newcastle at about 9.26am and from Sydney at 9.47am still allow plenty of time to get to the wharf. The station is called Hawkesbury River, and our train from Sydney Central station departs from Platform 12 at 8.45am.

If you are coming by car, there is usually enough parking at this time of the day. Parking in Brooklyn is free, some is timed parking (4 hours, which is more than enough as the cruise is just over 3 hours long) and some is untimed.

Take a cruise on the Hawkesbury Mail Boat, the famous Riverboat Postman, and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the lower Hawkesbury River as we deliver the mail and other essentials to the river-access-only settlements upriver from Brooklyn. We leave the wharf at 10am each weekday except public holidays, regardless of the weather – after all, ‘the mail must get through!

The first Riverboat Postman started the run in 1910, and the tradition continues today with Hawkesbury Cruises, the current custodian of this fabulous day trip. Our skippers are locals who have lived in the area their whole lives – be entertained by the stories of the river whilst cruising in comfort up this spectacular waterway. Be assured that at least 95% of what they say is true…

Marramarra National Park

Broken bay pearl farm, hawkesbury oyster tours, wyrrabalong national park, ettalong beach, muogamarra nature reserve, strickland state forest, ku-ring-gai chase national park, the great old north road convict trail, yengo national park, hawkins lookout, sydney seaplanes, dharug national park, wisemans ferry golf club, hunter valley zoo, watagans national park, scheyville national park, the best whale watching locations, wollemi national park, berowa valley national park, milsons passage, the pearl beach arboretum, terrigal beach, national parks, hunter wetlands national park, fishing in the hawkesbury river, the hunter valley, bouddi national park, popran national park.

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The Riverboat Postman

The Riverboat Postman - an iconic cruise just one hour from the centre of Sydney - delivering the mail to the isolated water-access-only residents of the magnificent Hawkesbury River on behalf of Australia Post (as well as other daily essentials like milk, papers, the odd bottle of rum).

Enjoy morning tea and lunch on board, complete with an entertaining and informative commentary from the local skippers. Departing every weekday with the mail from The Postie Wharf, you'll find them right next to the Hawkesbury River Train Station at Brooklyn.

The boats are large, stable and comfortable catamarans, each with a well-stocked bar on board so you can have a glass of wine or beer with your lunch.

Bookings are essential as they are often full, but payment can be made either on the day or online. The Riverboat Postman looks forward to welcoming you on board soon!

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