Getting Woy Woy is easy. No timetables or bookings are needed. A train leaves for Woy Woy from Central every half hour, between the hours of 05:00 am and midnight, seven days a week. The same for trains from Woy Woy to Central. If you use your Gold Opal card, the return trip will only cost you $2.50. The travel time to Woy Woy from Central is a little less than one hour and fifteen minutes. Here’s the timetable. https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/intercity-trains/ccn/02CCN
Once you depart Central the train whizzes through the suburbs and makes a stop at Strathfield, Epping and Hornsby. The train then climbs through into Cowan and descends down into the little town of Hawkesbury River, then across the Hawkesbury River bridge and runs along the shore of Mullet Creek into Woy Woy. It’s one of those trips where you just start to enjoy the scenery and bingo, the train arrives at your destination.
If you enjoy water views, grab yourself a window seat on the right-hand side of the train.
The Woy Woy Fishermen’s Wharf is just a couple of minutes’ walk north of Woy Woy station. Once you alight the train at Woy Woy, you will see Brisbane Water just ahead, so head in that direction. There is only one exit from the station.
The people at the Woy Woy Fishermen’s Wharf have a long history in the seafood business and are experts at cooking fish and chips. Furthermore, their prices are reasonable. Mullet or blackfish and chips start at just $9.90 in the takeaway section of the restaurant. There are usually about five or six varieties of fish available, ranging up in price. It’s a simple system, you choose your fare, order, pay and you’re given a number which is then called when it’s ready. In the meantime, find yourself a table and seats. If you want a more upmarket atmosphere, there’s a restaurant at the front of the building overlooking the water.
Lunching at the take-way section of Fishermen’s Wharf is sometimes like lunching in a restaurant inside a bird sanctuary. Seagulls, pigeons and ducks wander in looking for anything edible. Often a mother duck will waddle in with her brood in tow all in search of some hot chips. They appear unfazed by the human beings in their company and more concerned about being pecked or chased off by their competition – the pigeons and seagulls. A sign asks the patrons not to feed the birds. But you will know when someone accidentally does drop a chip to the floor as all hell breaks loose as they all rush in for the prize. Fortunately, the pelicans don’t venture in among the tables but prefer to hang out on the grassy patch near the restaurant.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, around 3 pm, local conservationist, Wendy Gillespie comes down to the Fishermen’s Wharf to feed and to give a talk about them. Wendy has been working for the last 20 years on the conservation of aquatic birds, particularly pelicans who suffer from getting tangled in and swallowing fishing lines and hooks. The pelicans know of her impending arrival and a large pod waits patiently for Wendy to arrive. The fun really starts, and all hell breaks loose, when a bucket of fish heads and bones are bought out.
More information about Wendy Gillespie and Sunday afternoon at the Fishermen’s Wharf at:
https://www.woywoyfishermenswharf.com.au/meet-wendy-gillespie-pelican-appreciation-sessions
Enjoy your day at Woy Woy.