Dangar Island, NSW - The Place That Time Forgot

We're spending 24 hours on Dangar Island.

Dangar is on the Hawkesbury river near Brooklyn about one hour's drive north  of Sydney. A perfect weekend getaway distance.

No private cars are allowed on the island.

You can get here by private boat, water taxi or by using the local ferry service.

Only about 200 residents live here permanently but during the holiday season numbers swell.

The Island was bought by the Danger family in 1864 who leased some of the island  to the Union Bridge Company of Chicago while they were building the original Hawkesbury River rail bridge.

About 400 Americans and their families lived here while the bridge was being constructed between 1886-1889.

The preferred way of carting your goods around the island is by wheelbarrow

Every family has its own!

We're staying on the Brooklyn facing side of the island in Serenity on Dangar a lovely glass tree-house holiday home

No roughing it .... all the mod-cons were here

.... including a commercial-size kitchen

Then it was off to explore. A full circumnavigation takes about 1 hour and winds through bush and gardens.

on the lookout for some grub...

exotic native flowers

secret gardens

..even a rambling pumpkin patch. The locals have learnt to become self-sufficient and there are many vegie patches.

Not 100% sure but this imposing turreted mansion looks like the original Dangar family estate.

a ginger flower

A productive vegetable garden

sorry girls - nothing for you

a magnificent white spider orchid

Another native tree with extraordinary blossoms



They remind me of hula skirts

For dinner its off to the only evening eating spot - the local club. Under the whirring ceiling fans and humid night air we dine on steak and fresh grilled garfish

The next morning our water taxi is at our mooring to collect us...

And take us back to Brooklyn. It feels like we have been away for a week. That's what Danger does to you.