About Briar
Briar Jensen is a Sydney-based freelance travel writer. Her blog covers travel tips, reviews, insights and inspiration, travel accessories and gadgets.
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Last night I had the chance to see the movie Top End Wedding. What an awesome showcase of the Northern Territory and in particular the beautiful people of the Tiwi Islands. I did a day trip to the Tiwi Islands a few years ago with @aatkings and it left a lasting impression, from the vibrant colours of the landscape, art and fabrics to the beautiful people who love singing and dancing. Here is one Tiwi Islander preparing for a performance. @astw_inc @astw_portraits @ausoutbacknt #ntaustralia #topendweddingThe Hawkesbury River is made for mucking about in boats, whether it’s a kayak or runabout, cruiser or houseboat. It’s the Secret River depicted by Kate Grenville’s book of the same name and it twists and turns on itself endlessly. It’s also a peaceful river, well most of the time, except for when the ski races are on! #hawkesbury #hawkesburyriver #wisemansferry @visitnsw #boating #riverlifeI hate it when daylight savings ends. But we are making the most of a beautiful sunset up the end of America Bay in beautiful Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park listening to the waterfall behind us and ducks quacking as we watch the sun disappear behind the hills. #bliss. @astw_inc @nswnationalparks #hawkesburyriver #boatingPhu Quoc Is Vietnam’s largest island, but it’s closer to Cambodia; known for its beaches, over 50% is forested national park; and it produces fish sauce, pepper and pearls. It’s #vietnam minus the incessant scooters of Saigon or the hubbub of Hanoi. To learn more about this island read my story in the latest issue of @vacationsmag on sale now. @astw_incCobham Hall, the sandstone home of Solomon Wiseman (see previous post) now forms part of the Wisemans Inn Hotel, aka the Wisemans Ferry pub. The front portion of the upstairs section has been stripped back to expose historic construction techniques and decorated with period furniture to make a small museum with excellent information open weekend afternoons. This little village has a lovely gallery @ferryartists a great little restaurant @busbyscaferestaurant with escarpment views, a grocer-Café and accommodation with a golf course and pool @retreatatwisemans making it an excellent weekend getaway. Not forgetting the #hawkesburyriver of course. @visitnsw #wisemansferry #theriversjustthebeginningMeet Solomon Wiseman, pioneer, inn keeper and ferry master, after which this tiny town on a bend in the Hawkesbury River is named. He is the inspiration and main character of Kate Grenville’s novel The Secret River. I loved learning more about him and the area in Grenville’s companion book, Searching for the Secret River, which describes her research. And the ferry service he started is still going! #wisemansferry #kategrenville #hawkesburyriver @visitnsw- My Tweets
Category Archives: Hawkesbury
Do Sydney’s Great North Walk one leg at a time
Fancy tackling the Great North Walk from Sydney to Newcastle, but don’t have the time to do the full 260km in one thru-hike and/or a bit nervous of getting lost along the way? That’s exactly how I felt. Billed as Australia’s … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Events, Great North Walk, Hawkesbury, National Parks, New South Wales, Travel, Walking
Tagged Day hikes, day walks Sydney, Great North Walk, national parks
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Postcard of the week – Hawkesbury
I was eagerly anticipating the television mini-series of Kate Grenville’s bestselling novel The Secret River, a story of conflict between the First Australians and early European settlers, which recently aired on the ABC, both to see how the story played out … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Hawkesbury, National Parks, Postcards, Sydney, Travel
Tagged Australia, Cowan Water, Hawkesbury, Hawkesbury River, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, sydney
2 Comments
Gift an experience: 10 Sydney experiences to inspire, excite and thrill
Can’t think of a gift for that special someone? Then give them an experience they will remember long after the Christmas tree has dropped its needles. Here are ten Sydney experiences for the grandkids to the grandparents, the adventure-lovers to … Continue reading
Posted in Adventure, Animals, Australia, Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Segway, Sydney, Travel, Travel Accessories & Gadgets
Tagged animal parks, family fun, Hawkesbury, jet boating, sailing, Segway, sydney, travel
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Sandstorm of Fairytales & Fables in Windsor
The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Narcissus, Gollum, Icarus and other fabled creatures have come to life under the shady jacarandas, oaks and pepper trees on the banks of the Hawkesbury River at Windsor, in Sydney’s northwest, for the 2nd Hawkesbury … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Hawkesbury, Sydney, Travel
Tagged family fun, Hawkesbury, sand sculpting
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Ballooning in the mist
It might be the middle of winter, but getting up early and rugging up for a hot air balloon flight has its rewards as my son and I found out this morning on a flight over the Hawkesbury Valley with … Continue reading
Posted in Adventure, Hawkesbury, Sydney, Travel
Tagged family fun, Hawkesbury, sydney, travel
4 Comments
Pick me! Bite me! (Hawkesbury Farm Gate Trail)
‘Bite Me!’ screams the shiny red gala as I pluck it from the tree. I oblige, crunching into the crisp white flesh, juice dribbling down my chin. The flavour is far sweater and fresher than any store-bought apple I’ve tasted recently, … Continue reading
Posted in Food & Wine, Hawkesbury, Travel
Tagged Farmgate, Food and Wine, Hawkesbury, travel
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Sleeping with pioneers
I love it when people are passionate about what they do, and there are plenty of passionate people in the tourism industry. But there are some people whose personal commitment outshines others and Joyce Stepto is one of them. For a start, she … Continue reading
Posted in Accommodation, Hawkesbury, Travel
Tagged accommodation, Bed and Breakfast, cancer, Hawkesbury, travel
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