Page 178 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

176  NE W SOUTH W ALES AND A C T

2Windsor
* 1,850. £ @ @ n Hawkesbury
Valley Way, Clarendon (02) 4560 4620.
∑ hawkesburytourism.com.au
Windsor was named by
Governor Macquarie and
this well-preserved colonial
settlement is one of the five
“Macquarie towns”. Established
on the banks of the
Hawkesbury River in 1794,
the town provided farmers
with both fertile land and the
convenience of river transport.
In the centre of town, St St Matthew’s Church in Windsor, designed by Francis Greenway
Matthew’s Church, designed
by Francis Greenway, is a fine This attractive settlement was coastline have now evolved
example of Georgian colonial established five years earlier, into one continuous beachside
architecture and is considered in 1789. The farmstead of suburb, stretching as far south
to be his most successful work. Mountainview, built in 1804, as Ku-ring-gai Chase National
Park (see p130)rk (see p130)rk
Other buildings of interest is one of the oldest surviving Pa Pa . Gosford itself sits
include the Macquarie Arms, homes in the country. on the calm northern shore of
which claims to be Australia’s Brisbane Waters, an excellent
oldest hotel, and the Hawkes­ spot for sailing and other
bury Museum, set in a Georgian 3Gosford recreational activities. The
residence. The museum * 155,000. £ @ @ g nearby coastal beaches are
chronicles Windsor’s early n 1300 130 708, (02) 4343 4444. renowned for their great
colonial history. surf, clear lagoons and
∑ visitcentralcoast.com.au
long stretches of sand.
E Hawkesbury Museum Gosford is the principal The beaches here are
8 Baker St, Windsor. Tel (02) 4560 town of the popular so numerous that it is
4655. Open 10am–4pm Wed–Mon. holiday region known still possible to find a
Closed Good Fri, 25 Dec. & as the Central Coast, deserted spot in any
and provides a good season except high
Environs base for touring the summer. The Forest
One of the other five “Macquarie surrounding area. The of Tranquility –
towns” is Richmond, which lies rural settlements that A kangaroo at the Forest Australian Rainforest
6 km (3.5 miles) west of Windsor. once dotted this of Tranquility Sanctuary is located in a
valley of subtropical and
temperate rainforest. There are
undercover picnic areas, play
areas, barbecue facilities, a
kiosk and Function Centre, in
addition to 5 km (3 miles) of
beautiful rainforest walks.
The Australian Reptile Park is Australian Reptile Park is Australian Reptile Park
home to many types of reptiles,
including crocodiles, massive
goannas, snakes and other
species. The park offers wildlife
shows such as crocodile
feeding, venomous snake and
spider milking and a picnic area
where you can hand-feed the
friendly kangaroos that share
the grassy space.
Memorial Park, located in the
town of The Entrance, is a short
drive north of Gosford. See
dozens of pelicans vying for fish
from the human feeders at the
free pelican feeding show that
Entrance to the Australian Reptile Park in Gosford takes place at 3:30pm daily on
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp483–4 and pp507–9