Cottage Point Kiosk & Boat Hire

Cottage Point Kiosk & Boat Hire sits on the water at Cottage Point, deep in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park on Cowan Creek, and it is one of the few waterfront cafes in Sydney's north where the dog is genuinely part of the plan: dogs can even ride along on the hire boats. It is a scenic drive from the city, and the lower deck over the water is the spot.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome on a lead on the lower waterfront deck. They are not permitted inside the kiosk or up on the balcony, so mention your pet when you book and staff will seat you correctly downstairs. The unusual bonus is boat hire: dogs are allowed on the rental boats, which opens up Cowan Creek as a dog-friendly day out. One rule to respect: dogs must stay aboard, since swimming or going ashore is not permitted anywhere in the national park.

Max: my own boat, my own breeze, my humans eating fish and chips while I keep watch. This is the high point of my career.

Worth knowing

The kitchen runs a relaxed waterfront menu: fish and chips by the water, mussels, fish curry, a haloumi stack, scones and a well-regarded carrot cake. It opens from around 8am to 4pm, typically Thursday through Monday, and closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Weekend lunches are popular with boaters and day trippers alike, so a booking is the safe move.

Getting there and parking

Find it at 1 Notting Lane, Cottage Point, at the end of a winding road through the national park from Terrey Hills or Akuna Bay side. Parking around the point is limited and hardest on peak weekend lunch hours, so arriving early or on a weekday makes it easy. Some visitors arrive by boat, mooring right at the kiosk.

More options are on the NSW cafes list or in the Cottage Point guide.