Jerusalem Bay is Cowan Creek at its most severe and most beautiful: a long, narrow inlet driving deep into the Ku-ring-gai Chase escarpment near the Hawkesbury end of the creek, with ridges rising steeply on both sides, water dark and deep to the edges, and a silence that makes people lower their voices without noticing. Bushwalkers know it as the spot where the Great North Walk touches salt water; boaties know it as the quietest lunch anchorage on the whole system. Here’s how to get in, where to lie, what to expect for swimming, and how to do it if you don’t own a boat.
Boats for quiet-water days
Pricing, photos and open dates across the fleet.
Where is Jerusalem Bay and how do you get there?
It opens off the southern shore of lower Cowan Creek, in the stretch between Cottage Point and the creek’s junction with the Hawkesbury near Brooklyn. Coming from Bobbin Head or Cottage Point, run downstream and watch the southern wall — the bay’s entrance is understated for what’s behind it. From Brooklyn or the Hawkesbury, turn up into Cowan Creek and it’s one of the first major inlets on your left. From Pittwater it’s the full Broken Bay crossing, round West Head, then up the creek — a proper outing, comfortably done in a day. The moment you turn in, the geometry changes: the bay runs long and narrow between steep ridgelines, more gorge than cove, and the further in you go the stiller it gets. Wind struggles to reach the inner half from any direction, which is why you’ll often find glass in here while the main creek is ruffled.
Where do you anchor, and what’s the catch?
Depth is the whole game. Jerusalem Bay stays surprisingly deep for most of its length — the drowned-valley walls continue underwater — so casual anchoring mid-bay means more chain than most small boats carry. The working method: head towards the inner half where the bottom finally eases, anchor on mud with generous scope, and check the set. If a public courtesy mooring is free, take it and observe the tag’s time limit. Leave the fairway clear — the bay is narrow enough that an anchored boat mid-channel inconveniences everyone. Etiquette matters more here than almost anywhere on the creek: the acoustics are amphitheatre-grade, so wash and stereo volume both travel embarrassingly far. The reward for doing it right is absolute: cut the engine in the inner bay on a weekday and the loudest sound is cicadas and the occasional train horn drifting over the ridge from the Cowan line — a strangely lovely combination.
What do you do once you’re in there?
Swim, eat, and let the place work. The water is deep, cool and clean-looking — this is swim-off-the-boat territory rather than beach-towel territory, as the shoreline is mostly rock and mangrove with only small pockets of sand at the head. At the bay’s end the Great North Walk comes down to the water, and fit crews sometimes land a tender and walk a stretch of the track for the view back down the bay; wear real shoes, it’s steep, and remember it’s national park — everything comes back aboard. Fishing the drop-offs along the walls is a local staple, worked on tide changes. Mostly, though, Jerusalem Bay is the anchorage you bring a long lunch to. It doesn’t have Refuge’s waterfall beach or America Bay’s fall — what it has is the deepest quiet on the system, and crews who get it come back for exactly that.
Can you visit on a hire boat, and what’s the city alternative?
From the northern waterways, yes: Hawkesbury-based hire — including houseboats out of Brooklyn — reaches Jerusalem Bay easily, and Pittwater hire boats can make it a big day out, conditions and operator permissions allowing; always confirm the permitted area before booking. From Sydney Harbour, no — the coastal passage between the harbour and Broken Bay is off-limits to hire boats in both directions, ours included. If you’re starting in the city, the comparable experience is upper Middle Harbour: Bantry Bay and Sugarloaf Bay sit in the same sandstone, with bush to the waterline and the same engine-off silence, twenty minutes from our base at The Spit in Mosman. The Coral does it with no licence, up to 6 guests, from $400 for three hours with fuel included; the Axopar 28 takes licensed skippers and up to 8 from $795. For crews who want the northern original with zero logistics, a skippered day is the answer — options and pricing across 180+ boats are in the cost guide, with small BYO boats from roughly $200–$400 an hour.
When is it at its best?
Weekdays, always — the bay’s magic is proportional to its emptiness. Autumn mornings are the peak: warm water, still air, empty moorings. In summer, use it as the calm card — when the nor’easter chops up Cowan’s open reaches after lunch, Jerusalem’s inner half barely notices, so smart crews do open water early and slide in here for the afternoon. Winter turns it into a private fjord — mist, mirror water, nobody — for the price of a jumper. After heavy rain, the run-off stains the water tea-brown and swimming loses appeal for a couple of days, standard estuary rules. Sunset comes early behind the western ridge, so plan the exit with daylight in hand; this is not water to navigate on guesswork in the dark.
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Jerusalem Bay?
Deep enough that anchoring mid-bay is impractical for most small boats — head for the inner reaches where the bottom eases, or use a courtesy mooring if one’s free.
Is there a beach?
Only small pockets at the head — this is a swim-off-the-boat anchorage rather than a beach stop. For sand, Cowan’s other bays do it better; for silence, nothing does.
Can bushwalkers and boats meet here?
Yes — the Great North Walk touches the head of the bay, and picking up walkers by tender is a time-honoured Hawkesbury move. Arrange the timing carefully; reception is patchy.
Can I get there from Sydney Harbour on a hire boat?
No — hire boats can’t make the ocean passage. Hire from the Hawkesbury or Pittwater side, or take the Middle Harbour equivalent from The Spit.
Is it suitable for overnighting?
Boaties do overnight here for the stillness, though Refuge Bay is the more popular sleepover. On hire boats, overnight terms depend on the operator — the overnight hire link below covers how ours works.