Located just an hour’s drive north of Sydney or a quick seaplane ride away, Cottage Point Inn is one of Greater Sydney’s most stunning lunch spots. Nestled alongside the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, it feels worlds away from human life, and with outdoor seating right on the water’s edge, you’ll likely see river birds frolicking just metres from your table.

Beginning life as a boathouse, general store and post office for the river community back in the 1950s, the space has been reinvented many times over. Now, it is a fine diner with a quarterly-changing menu of European-meets-Australian-style dishes along the lines of kangaroo tartare with pistachio emulsion and lemon myrtle or octopus with salted pear and peppercorn oil. A degustation is available for those wanting a treat.

Two onsite apartments are available for overnight or holiday stays. Both feature balconies with water views, lounges with flatscreen TVs and small fridges – neither have Wi-Fi or cooking facilities, so this is a place to disconnect. Children are not catered for, as the accommodation is designed as a romantic couples retreat.