Welcome to your ultimate retreat for relaxation and indulgence.

 

We’re excited to be welcoming you as our guests to Calabash Bay Lodge!

The following welcome kit outlines some of the info you’ll need to know before you arrive, and will get you in the mood for what to expect once you’ve checked in. Make the most of your stay with a combination of active experiences, adventuring or surrender to the pleasures of pure relaxation and indulgence.

 

Arrival Information

 
 

  • Calabash Bay Lodge is only a 1 hour drive from the Sydney CBD via the Sydney Newcastle M1.

    Drive towards Newcastle, and take the Berowra exit, 2nd exit along the freeway travelling north after the Mt Colah/Kuringgai Chase National Park exit.

    Calabash Bay Lodge is also reached easily from Sydney’s north-west and west via the M2 and M7 tollways. From Pennant Hills Road, you can use the Northconnex tollway via the left lane or carry on and follow the road signs to Berowra.

    The M2 can be a good option if the traffic north on the Pacific Highway during peak hour is already banked up. The M2 is accessed by taking the Lane Cove Tunnel when travelling north from the city via the Warringah Freeway.

    You can exit off the M2 at either the Pennant Hills Rd exit, and then take Northconnex, or beforehand at the Beecroft Road exit, and from there follow the road signs towards Hornsby.

    On approach to Hornsby, you can either turn right onto the M1 (faster usually), or stay on the old Pacific Highway until you reach the Berowra Waters Rd turn-off. Berowra is clearly signposted from Hornsby via both routes.

    Travelling south towards Sydney from the Hunter Valley or Central Coast via Pacific Mwy/M1, the Berowra turnoff is the 1st exit after Brooklyn, signposted as Pacific Hwy/B83/Berowra from Pacific Mwy/M1.

    You can also travel through Dural & Arcadia to the western side of Berowra Waters, which is a pleasant drive past garden centres, small hobby farms and horse studs.

    When you reach the Berowra exit on the M1, this is the time to call Manuel on 0403 545 297 and let him know your location.

    Follow the old Pacific Highway north and turn left at the next lights into Berowra Waters Road, which is clearly signposted. Continue along Berowra Waters Road, following the signs to Berowra Waters.

    After the roundabout opposite Wilks the barber shop and prior to the shopping centre, turn left and continue down Berowra Waters Road. Continue down the windy gully road for 4km, taking special care as the road narrows to a single lane in many places. Cars do travel up frequently.

    NB there is NO mobile phone reception down the gully road through the national park.

    If you need to divert your phone to the Lodge's landline (02 9456 3845), please do so well before passing the national park entrance sign. There is a Telstra phone booth at the ferry if you get caught out with a flat battery or forget these instructions.

    NB the timing of your arrival is paramount to your transfers and check in running smoothly. If you are running late and do not advise Manuel, there will be a charge of $25.00 + GST per half hour, after the pre-arranged meeting time.

  • Seaplanes are available from Rose Bay and Palm Beach by prior arrangement.

    Your seaplane pilot will automatically liaise with our team, so you will pull up directly at Calabash Bay Lodge’s private pontoon or be met by our boat for transfer across if arriving on a low tide.

    It’s quite the thrilling arrival! We can’t wait to see your photos.

  • We welcome guests who wish to travel on their own boats into Berowra Creek via the lower Hawkesbury River, or via launch at the Dusthole Bay Berowra Waters or Mooney Mooney boat ramps.

    Please contact us ahead of time for special check-in arrangements.

View from the living room across a marble topped kitchen island towards the kitchen hobs and pantry.

What's at the Lodge

Living + Dining

  • LG OLED TV (superior to 4K)

  • Apple TV with Netflix, Disney, Apple+, Amazon Prime, Stan, Binge + Kayo Sports, & extensive classic and new release movie collection

  • DVD Player & Small DVD Collection

  • Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 bluetooth speaker

  • Latest lifestyle & general interest magazines

  • Selection of art and photography books

Bedrooms

  • Wild Luxury custom beds made in Sydney by AH Beard, producer of King Koil

  • Sumptuous 100% French linen bed-sheets and blankets from Australian good night’s sleep connoisseurs Bemboka + Bedouin Societe

  • Microcloud pillows and duvets

  • Bathrobes from Bemboka

  • Classic book library in master king bedroom

Bathrooms

  • Luxury amenities from cult Australian spa brand Sodashi, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand & body cream, and hand soap (the Founder is a neighbour!)

  • Organic cotton towels by Bemboka

  • Face washers, Hand towels and Bath mats from our friends at Saarde

  • Toilet paper - no need to stock up!

Kitchen

  • Unlimited Sparkling, Still and Hot water on Billi Tap over sink

  • Nespresso coffee machine & capsules including decaf

  • Marimekko teapot

  • Luigi Bormioli Champagne glasses

  • Luigi Bormioli Red & White wine glasses

  • Luigi Bormioli Hi and Low ball tumbler

  • Brian Tunks cut glass tumblers

  • Chopping boards, both wooden and plastic for meat and seafood preparation

  • Global knife set

  • Esteele induction + gas hob pot and pan set, including vegetable steamer

  • Colanders

  • 10 piece Robert Gordon dinner set, including 3 size of plates including entree, bread and dinner, large and small bowls, and tapas and oil vessels.

  • Large assortment of ceramic serving platters especially designed for Wild Luxury from our talented ceramicist Pottempered

  • Variety of salad and serving bowls from Robert Gordon and others

  • Cheese board and accompanying Lagouile knifes

  • Baking and roasting trays

  • 4 slice stainless steel toaster

  • Cordless stainless steel kettle -
    if you can’t figure out the Billi tap on sink, or you’re a purist!

Pantry + Basic supplies

  • Vittoria Plunger Coffee

  • Nespresso Coffee Capsules, including decaf

  • Assorted Twinings teas including English Breakfast, Earl Grey and herbal teas

  • Assorted spices & seasonings, including peppercorns and sea-salt

  • Extra virgin olive oil

Outdoor

  • Large Weber Q barbecue on entertaining deck, with foil trays provided if needed

  • Citronella mosquito coils

  • Aerogard

  • Sunscreen

Communications + Other

Mobile Phones
Reception outside of the Telstra 4G network can be temperamental.

To avoid missing an important call, we recommend diverting incoming calls to your phone before entering the national park to our landline at the Lodge – 02 9456 3745.

Outgoing telephone calls are permitted, restricted to local, national & mobile calls.

Internet
Wireless ASDL2+ via Telstra (no NBN on river) + Satellite Wifi via Space-X Starlink, is provided complimentary to Calabash Bay Lodge guests with unlimited downloads. If you find one network isn’t performing, switch

Telstra Network: CALABASH 5G/ CALABASH
Starlink: CALABASH STARLINK
Password: lodgeguest

Local Dining

Berowra Waters Inn

1 Calabash Point, Berowra Waters NSW 2082
Ph: 02) 9456 1027
Email: reservations@berowrawatersinn.com
Web: www.berowrawatersinn.com

OPENING HOURS
Lunch
Thursday to Sunday 12pm to 3pm
Dinner
Friday & Saturday 6.30 to 8.30pm
Reservations in advance are essential.
NB Closed annually from 13th July to 14th August.

Enjoy a long degustation lunch or dinner during your stay down at the exclusive waterfront access only Berowra Waters Inn restaurant. Designed by legendary Australian architect Glenn Murcutt, this award-winning waterfront restaurant is led by head chef and owner Brian Geraghty, and recently earned two chef’s hats in the SMH Good Food Guide.

The Inn also provides complimentary boat transfers for Calabash Bay Lodge guests direct from our private pontoon, giving you the opportunity to try the matched wines to their degustation only menu.

Bar Angophora on the Inn’s outdoor deck is available by phone booking only, please call in advance to reserve a table. Here you can experience a specially curated bar menu of modern Australian food and wine.

A Chef’s Secret

Lot 466 Berowra Water Rd, Berowra Waters NSW 2082
Entry adjacent the Berowra Waters ferry, or by wharf in front.

Ph: (02) 9456 6614
Email: contact@achefsecrets.com
Web: https://www.achefsecrets.com/

OPENING HOURS
Lunch
Wednesday to Friday 12pm - 2.00pm
Saturday & Sunday      12pm - 2.30pm
Dinner
Friday & Saturday        6pm - 8.30pm
Reservations in advance are essential.
NB Closed between 14th Dec 2022 and 13th Jan 2023.

Located right near the Berowra Marina, the lunchtime crowd at A Chef’s Secret is a mix of Sydneysiders in the know and locals who have pulled up to the restaurant pier in their dinghies and greet Roman-born chef and restaurateur Mario Nogarotto like an old friend.

The restaurant, located in an 1898 boat shed, is open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday and dinner Fridays and Saturday nights. The dining experience is in perfect symbiosis with the waterway which Mario says reminds him ‘of a little slice of Lake Como’.

Enjoy Sydney rock appellation oysters, fried school prawns and fingerlime, cured hiramasa kingfish and the testun al barolo (drunken cheese) with fruit mustard for afters.

Estuary

Kangaroo Point, 1420 Pacific Highway, Brooklyn NSW 2083

Ph: 02) 9985 7881
Email: events.estuaryrestaurant@gmail.com
Web: https://estuaryrestaurant.com.au/

OPENING HOURS
Breakfast à la carte - Weekends from 8am-10.30am
Lunch - Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm
Saturday Night Dinner from 6pm

BOAT MOORING
Call Luxury Afloat in advance: (02) 9985 7344

Estuary’s philosophy is to provide a menu inspired by simplicity and great Australian seafood. They aim to locally source their produce and encourage sustainable fishing practices.

Saddles

20 Ashbrookes Rd, Mt White NSW 2250
Ph: 02) 02 4370 1152
Email: eat@saddlesmtwhite.com.au 
Web: https://saddlesmtwhite.com.au/

OPENING HOURS
OPEN 7 DAYS FOR BREAKFAST & LUNCH 8AM – 5PM
Open 7 days for breakfast and lunch 8am - 5pm
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
Reservations in advance are essential.

Set on 28 Acres of sprawling bushland in the heart of Mount White, Saddles is a gourmet eatery and bakehouse located just an hour north of Sydney and another 25 mins from the Berowra Waters eastern marina.

Their seasonal menu is wholesome, simple yet elegant and thoughtfully curated to showcase Australian cuisine. Where possible, they use a range of native, bush-inspired ingredients including lemon myrtle, strawberry gum and pepper berry.

Peat’s Bite

NB TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO FIRE IN 2021. Reopening date still TBA.

Sunny Corner, Hawkesbury River
Ph: 02) 9985 9040
Email: bookings@peatsbite.com.au
Web: www.peatsbite.com.au

OPENING HOURS
Lunch – Saturday & Sunday
Reservations in advance are essential.
NB Often are closed for private events like weddings.

Peat’s Bite is a secluded water access only restaurant situated due north of the Lodge by boat at a water-access only location at Sunny Point on the Hawkesbury River.

A regular lunch at Peats Bite takes up most of the afternoon as guests sit back and enjoy the food, the wine and the live music. It is not uncommon for diners to have a between course dip in the pool or sit out on the lawn with coffee and dessert looking over the vista that is the Hawkesbury.

A water taxi can be arranged directly to and from Calabash Bay Lodge with Peat’s Bite.
NB Use of the Lodge’s guest boat is not permitted due to the distance and operating area restrictions.

Water Vista Cafe

199 Bay Rd, Berowra Waters
Ph: 9456 4665
Web: https://www.watervistacafe.com.au/

OPENING HOURS

closed on Mondays
9am-4.30pm Tues-Thur
8am-8pm Fri & Sat
8am-4pm Sunday

WATER VISTA CAFE offers a delicious range of food options, from breakfast, lunch, dinner & cakes.

Options for GF, VEG, & V. 

Self-catering tips

If you’re planning to cook yourself, you’ll need to bring along perishables, including milk, butter, fruit & veg, eggs, meat, and the main ingredients you would normally use to prepare meals.

If you’re staying for a 2 night weekend, you need to plan to cater for 2 dinners, 2 lunches and 2 breakfasts.

We would advise you to bring a generous amount of breakfast provisions like eggs, bacon, pancake mix, cereal, yoghurt etc that you can pick and choose from over each day; ingredients for several lunches - we always recommend a generous supply of ham off the bone, mustard, yummy sourdough bread, gourmet sausages to cook on the BBQ & mixed salad leaves.

You’ll also need supplies for your dinners, but don’t forget there’s always the option of grilling the fresh fish any keen fishermen will catch during your stay.

We always recommend you bring along as much of what you’ll need for your stay with you when you arrive - as once you’re relaxing on the water you really won’t feel like getting back into your car and facing civilisation! There are however multiple shopping options nearby and off river should you find you need something you’ve forgotten or if you need to restock. See the Shopping tips below for more information.

Shopping

BEROWRA WATERS MARINA
199 BAY ROAD, BEROWRA WATERS

There is a well-stocked shop with essentials like fresh milk, bait, beer and wine, some deli items and snack foods open between 8.30am and 5pm during weekdays and until 6pm at weekends. You can use the guest boat supplied and tie up at the adjacent jetty or public wharf.

BEROWRA VILLAGE
1C TURNER ROAD, BEROWRA HEIGHTS

For everything else, you’ll need to head back to the car and zip the 10 mins up the gully road to the Berowra Village local shopping centre at Berowra Heights. Here you’ll find a Coles supermarket, butcher, Baker’s Delight, newsagent, chicken shop & a larger bottle shop, Sushi and Thai restaurants, and cafés Laurella and Coho for a coffee pit stop and bite to eat. The Berowra Village is our recommended spot to stop in for any self-catering supplies when you’re first arriving.

Centre’s general opening hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday: 9am - 9pm
Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Some speciality stores are open earlier or later.

HORNSBY WESTFIELD
236 PACIFIC HIGHWAY, HORNSBY

More extensive shopping facilities are also available at the Westfield shopping centre at Hornsby, at 236 Pacific Highway, another 20 mins south of Berowra Heights. There you’ll find Coles who also do Click and Collect, Aldi, and lots of speciality stores. The Westfield can be reached en route to Calabash Bay Lodge if you don’t turn right onto the M1 freeway but continue straight on the Pacific Highway when driving north.

 

Guest Responsibilities

Now to the serious side of your stay. As the booking coordinator, it is your responsibility to ensure that every member of your group is aware of and understands our terms and conditions of rental. Please make sure in particular policies with respect to noise, additional guests and care of the property are adhered to, as these will be strictly enforced.

NB Calabash Bay Lodge is a No Smoking Property.

 

  • Parties and Functions are strictly prohibited at all times.

    Use contrary to this will result in immediate termination of the rental, loss of security bond, and you will forfeit any claim to refund of monies for rental paid prior to commencement.

    Disturbance to our neighbours and the riverfront community, including excessive noise, particularly loud music and voices in the outdoor areas – beyond what is a reasonable community standard for an area seeking to protect its tranquil environmental qualities – is strictly prohibited and may result in termination of rental and loss of bond.

    Neighbours are in residence full-time in the immediate vicinity, and we request your understanding in respecting their right to privacy, and the peaceful enjoyment of their homes without disturbance.

    In accordance with NSW noise pollution law, please cease noise and move indoors after 11pm on weekends & by 10pm on Sundays and weekdays.

    Please also be aware that water is a natural amplifier, particularly at night, & the natural acoustics of Calabash Bay mean noise from the Lodge can impact residents on properties some distance away from the Lodge.

  • Under no circumstances are more than 8 guests allowed at the property at any one time, except by prior approval by management.

    This will be strictly enforced. Contravening this condition may result in immediate termination of the rental and/or loss of bond.

  • On departure, the property should be left in a similar state to its condition on arrival. We expect our guests to treat the property with the care and respect they would afford their own home. Our team will brief you on this during your orientation briefing.

    We appreciate your taking along with you on your departure transfer, as per staying in a national park, as much of your rubbish & recycling as possible and placing in the council garbage & recycling bins near the public jetty where your car will be parked.

    We use the credit card details supplied at time of booking for your security bond, which is applied on the day of arrival as a hold and released after departure when our terms and conditions of rental are successfully met. In the event of any breakage, damages or excess cleaning requirements, we will refund the difference less applicable charges to you.

    Swimming from the property’s frontage, use of boats, kayaks, SUPs and fishing equipment provided is at your risk & you will be liable for any damages to property or equipment or loss.

    Due to the remote location of the property, interruptions to utilities such as water or power may occur. Calabash is backed up by an LG battery, and our invertor will automatically switch over in the event of black out so there is no interruption. Certain appliances however will be limited in operation while on battery. Please report any concerns during your stay in this event to Manuel.

    If you or any members of your group have any further questions, please ask during your orientation briefing upon arrival to the Lodge. or please contact us during your stay.

  • The boat included as part of our rates is a tiller steer runabout boat – with automatic start, weather-proof bimini (canopy), full tank of fuel included, and seats up to 5 persons. It is fitted with a 10 knot restrictor to make it suitable for unlicensed drivers.

    As part of our check-in procedure, you’ll receive a briefing on safe operation. At the end of the briefing you will be given a boat use agreement, where you will acknowledge receipt of the safety briefing and that use of the boat is at your own risk before use is permitted.

    Lifejackets, including for children, mandatory safety equipment, and a full tank of fuel are provided. We ask you the ages of any children ahead of your stay to ensure we have the legally correct lifejacket size. Lifejackets for children can be by age and weight.

    NB The boat is not licensed to be driven after dark, so that needs to be taken into consideration if you have any late arriving guests you are planning to collect yourself. In that scenario, an additional boat transfer with one of our team members will need to be booked and paid for in advance with our reservations team.