Berowra Creek is a tributary

Tributary

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...

 of the Hawkesbury River

Hawkesbury River

The Hawkesbury River, also known as Deerubbun, is one of the major rivers of the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its tributaries virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.-Geography:-Course:...

, situated to the north of the city of Sydney

Sydney

Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

 in the Australian state of New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

.

The creek is about 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) long, and is a ria

Ria

A ria is a coastal inlet formed by the partial submergence of an unglaciated river valley. It is a drowned river valley that remains open to the sea. Typically, rias have a dendritic, treelike outline although they can be straight and without significant branches. This pattern is inherited from the...

 or drowned river valley estuary, consisting of steeply incised gorges with surrounding plateau areas. It rises near Pennant Hills

Pennant Hills, New South Wales

Pennant Hills is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Pennant Hills is located 25 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...

 and flows generally north-north-east into the Hawkesbury River about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of Brooklyn

Brooklyn, New South Wales

Brooklyn is a small suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brooklyn is located 51 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...

, and about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) from the ocean. It is fed by a number of tributaries that drain the steep catchments adjacent to the waterway. The tidal limit

Tide

Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....

 is at the Rocky Fall Rapids, some 23 kilometres (14.3 mi) from the creeks mouth.

The area around the creek is most developed near its source in the south, influenced by the development of Hornsby

Hornsby, New South Wales

* Highest Maximum Temperature: 42 °C* Lowest Maximum Temperature: 4.9 °C* Warmest Month: January* Coolest Month: July* Highest Precipitation: February* Lowest Precipitation: July-Notable residents:...

 and its surrounding suburbs. As the creek flows to the north, it flows through a catchment area that catchment is mostly bushland

Bushland

Bushland is any area in Australia that is predominantly indigenous flora and fauna.Bushland is the term commonly used by conservation protection groups and other environmental groups as a blanket term for natural vegetation, which may cover any kind of habitat from open shrubby country with few...

 and includes parts of the Berowra Valley Regional Park

Berowra Valley Regional Park

The Berowra Valley Regional Park is in the Hornsby Shire in Sydney, Australia. Notable features include the Thornleigh Zig Zag Railway, an historic quarry and a bridge spanning Tunks Creek at Galston Gorge...

, Marramarra National Park

Marramarra National Park

Marramarra is a national park in New South Wales , 41 km north of Sydney.-Fact sheet:*Area: 118 km²*Coordinates: *Date of establishment: December 28, 1979...

 and Muogamarra Nature Reserve

Muogamarra Nature Reserve

Muogamarra is a nature reserve New South Wales , on the northern edge of Sydney. It lies between the outer Sydney suburb of Cowan to the south, and the Hawkesbury River to the north. It is closed to the public for most of the year, but opens for 6 weekends each year in spring, when there are...

. The steep sides of the creek have limited development directly adjacent to the Berowra Creek estuary, most of which is only accessible by boat. However the small settlements of Berowra Waters

Berowra Waters, New South Wales

Berowra Waters is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Berowra is located 40 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...

 and Berowra Creek

Berowra Creek, New South Wales

Berowra Creek is a remote northern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located near and around the 30 km long Berowra Creek watercourse, is spread across several different waterfront locations, and borders Hornsby Shire. Access to Berowra Creek is via boat only.The...

 are both located on its banks. The creek is a popular destination for boating, fishing and other outdoor recreational activities.

There are only two crossings of Berowra Creek. Galston Road crosses the upper reaches via a bridge in the Galston Gorge

Galston Gorge

Galston Gorge is part of the picturesque Berowra Valley Regional Park in Sydney, Australia and separates Galston from Hornsby Heights. It contains a narrow stretch of road with a one-way wooden bridge across Tunks Creek, a tributary of Berowra Creek. Here traffic must wait for cars already on the...

, between Galston

Galston, New South Wales

Galston is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Galston is located 36 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region....

 and Hornsby Heights

Hornsby Heights, New South Wales

Hornsby Heights is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Hornsby Heights is located 27 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region.Hornsby Heights lies to the...

. Further downstream, the Berowra Waters Ferry

Berowra Waters Ferry

The Berowra Waters Ferry is a cable ferry across the Berowra Creek, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River, in New South Wales, Australia. The ferry operates from the community of Berowra Waters on the west bank of the creek, to a landing on the east bank, thus connecting with the road to Berowra...

, a toll-free car ferry, crosses between Berowra Waters

Berowra Waters, New South Wales

Berowra Waters is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Berowra is located 40 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...

 and Berowra Heights

Berowra Heights, New South Wales

Berowra Heights is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Berowra Heights is located 39 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Hornsby Shire and is part of the North Shore region...

.