Cutest sign EVER
After our wonderful night at Bells at Killcare, we decided to explore a bit more of Killcare and stop off to have lunch at The Fat Goose which is a cafe that bakes all of the cakes, breads and pastries on site every day. We sit outside in the lovely Winter sun and I start with a bowl of coffee and Mr NQN has an apple and ginger juice. There is also an all day breakfast (how civilised!).
Bowl of cafe au lait $6.50
Apple and ginger juice $6
Harvey’s Oyster Shed Oysters $15
We start with the local oysters au naturel which are served with a chive vinaigrette and some lemon. They’re superb and I instantly wish that I ordered more.
Schooner of prawns with dipping sauce $13.50
I decide to go with the schooner of prawns with dipping sauce. First of all because I’ve never had prawns served to me in a schooner and also because I am a total seafood monster (just ask Mr NQN). It comes with two thick slices of their home made bread and thousand island dressing. They’re not local prawns today and they’re smallish with soft shells so I decide to make myself a little prawn cocktail sandwich. The bread is fabulous and just the way I like it, soft and spongey on the inside with a light crust on the outside that’s not too thick which is nice (sometimes the crusts are just way too thick!).
Life raft burger $13.50
Mr NQN has the Life Raft burger with a juicy and thick patty, sweet caramelised onions, tasty cheese, tomato, lettuce and a slice of beetroot and barbecue sauce. It’s just how I like to make my burgers at home and I really enjoy my half of this-well actually he wouldn’t let me have half of this the selfish bugger 
It’s housed on a lemon myrtle house baked bun and comes with oven roasted potato wedges.
Gorgeous necklace!
With happy tummies, we meander next door to the cute little store called Mooch Inside where I spot lots of unique little finds. I lust after this cute little necklace and I buy some of these tins toys. An elephant on a bicycle is just waiting to be taken home with us-when I take him out the box, his umbrella instantly starts whirring. I love the little tin boy with the ice cream cart too and buy him.
You are mine Ice Cream Boy!
I want it all! For my god daughter of course…
Adorable hair pins
“Oh dear, look at the time!” I tell Mr NQN and we get in the car for we need to make our way to the next stop in Brooklyn-not Brooklyn, New York but Brooklyn NSW! We take the 1 hour drive (the iphone4 GPS works fine until we reach an area and it tells us that we are actually in Baulkham Hills-errm not quite!). Luckily Mr NQN knows the way and we drive to Hawkesbury Bay marina and we pick up our massive seafood hamper from King Tides seafoods.
In it are a delicious array of raw and cooked prawns, bbq baby octopus, a lobster tail (squeal!), two whole fish, a piece of marinated salmon, avocado, lemons, sauced and a side salad. I can’t wait to get Mr NQN to cook this up just like he made breakfast! Haha just kidding, I think I might take care of tonight’s dinner, don’t want to frighten the poor man 
It’s enough to feed four people easily.
The ferry ride
Dangar Island
We take the ferry ($5.40 per person each way) to Dangar Island which is about a scenic 15 minute trip. We arrive at the wharf and the Bather’s Boathouse where we are staying is just next to the wharf. It is actually a converted boatshed which I knew that Mr NQN would just love it being a keen sailor.
The Boatshed
The path to the boatshed
Smack bang on the waterfront, it’s absolutely stunning. Perfectly outfitted but not too overdone, it is like a family boathouse, well if your family had nice taste in furniture.
We set our seafood hamper out on the outdoor galley kitchen which has all of the facilities including a BBQ and a Japanese BBQ. There is a main master bedroom which faces the water and a living area with two huge, comfortable day beds which is where I set up shop to write-when we visited I was in my final stages of sending the first draft through to my publisher so I really welcomed the quiet writing time. There is also a bedroom with two single beds and the whole thing is beautifully open plan. We can imagine how blissful this would be in the Summer months.
Mr NQN takes his book and reads it out on the end of the wharf in the sun before he gets bored with the book (one of those terribly dull books on technology) and he takes a fishing rod to catch our dinner-not that we need it given our seafood bounty. I told him not to catch anything as we had enough food for an army!
Our feast!
More food!
At dinner time we fire up the BBQ and cook our seafood. We turn on the outdoor gas heater and cook all of the seafood simply with salt, pepper and a sprinkle of fresh lemon juice. It’s wonderfully fresh and bountiful and we eat like kings. We spend the whole evening watching episodes of The Inbetweeners and listening to the waves lapping against the boatshed before we drift off to sleep. Which is exactly how we wanted it.
And because I find birds just about the funniest creatures ever…
A kookaburra! Don’t you think he looks like J. Peterman from Seinfeld? OK I know, I have to stop this obsession with seeing human faces in animals… But look!
J. Peterman. well John O’Hurley really.
We wake up in the morning-fighting all instincts to keep sleeping. It’s cold in the bedroom and we quickly make a cup of tea in the outside galley while wrapped in pashmimas and remark how good it would be to visit here in Summer. The kookaburras stop by to say hello. We get dressed and walk across the way to the Dangar Island Cafe and Shop. This is the heart of the island where people stop by, chat and have their breakfast or lunch or buy any food they may need. The island has 250 residents and 220 houses and this is the general store. Residents usually go to the main island to buy groceries. The shop is a co-operative and run by volunteers and all but the counter staff work there for free. There’s Wally who is making the crepes and the gardening, floral arrangements etc are services donated to keep the cafe and shop thriving.
Most of the industry here is through tourism and come Summer tourists flock to have piece of paradise and charm while only being one hour out of Sydney. Winter…well Winter is cold I have to say! There is a bowling club which serves meals, a film society with holds regular workshops for the kids that live here and many residents work on the mainland. On the weekends, the population rises. Fiona who runs the Dangar Island Cafe and Shop tells us that it is known as a “soft sea change”. And of that popular Sydney past-time-buying property, waterfront houses can go up to about $700,000 but a house at the top of the island (and therefore harder to get to) can go for $350,000.
The beach on the other side of the island.
Chai $4.50 and flat white $3.80
We order drinks and breakfast. On Sundays there are fresh crepes and I order a chai tea which is excellent. Mr NQN likes his coffee.
Lemon and sugar crepes $10
There are four flavours of crepe to choose from ranging from creamy chicken, celery and parsley; maple syrup and cream; strawberries and cream or lemon & sugar. I have simple lemon and sugar crepes which are just what the doctor ordered. The crepes are eggy and thin and go well with the squeeze of fresh lemon and sprinkling of sugar.
Bacon & Egg Roll $8
Mr NQN has a bacon and egg rolls which he polishes off happily. OK it’s not the cheapest of bacon and egg rolls but given that it’s a co-op and they’re not really turning a profit, who would begrudge this view and the food?
Our meals finished, we stare out onto the water. ”Sorry but you can’t take the view with you” says a friendly local chuckling.
Oh hai!
NQN and Mr NQN travelled to the Central Coast and stayed at Dangar Island as guests of Tourism NSW. They ate at The Fat Goose as guests of The Fat Goose.
The Fat Goose
3 Killcare Rd, Killcare NSW 2257
Tel: +61 (02) 4360 1888
Bather’s Boatshed on Dangar Island
Take the ferry from Brooklyn Wharf to Dangar Island
http://www.hawkesburyriver.com/details.php?id=4
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52 Comments | Add your own
So idyllic! Particularly the boathouse and all that amazing seafood. It looks like the perfect place to recharge batteries..
Life Raft Burger! I LOVE it! Since I’m a terrible swimmer, I think I’ll just pack a dozen of those with me the next time I’m around any body of water.
my oh my – that place looks amazing! Well apart from the curious bird that I would have run away from hehe
How relaxing… the photo’s are amazing! and I can’t believe you got such a great shot of the Kookuburra! The beautiful BBQ seafood bounty looks so fresh and yummy
That Kookaburra is the funniest thing!
Love the central coast…. haven’t spent enough time there though… maybe we can fit in a couple of days in Jan on the way back from Newie.
What a gorgeous place. Can you teleport me there now? Been in hospital for 5 weeks seriously unwell and not interested in food (lost 11 kg) but that seafood makes me want to eat!!
I lust after all that marvellous seafood, especially the prawns and oysters. I like kookaburras, and yes, thius one does bear a striking resemblance to J Peterman. Like you, I also covet that gorgeous bicycle necklace. I own the flapper bobbypins in red, believe it or not, but they don’t stay very well in my fine hair, so I have never worn them.
The Fat Goose makes me giggle. And want a burger.
Lorraine, you make me jealous…! It seems as if all you do is travelling around and eating something nice
. The Kookaburra looks so adorable – it doesn’t look like that guy by the way 
, the bird’s much cuter!!
What a lovely weekend you must have had – I am so glad I can live vicariously through you Lorraine!!! Yes I agree with you and the kookaburra!!!
I’m not a huge seafood fan, but the crepes would go down a treat.
What a gem! I especially like the look of those potato wedges with the burger. Real, good ol’ fashioned potato, cooked in an oven, just how nature expected.
We went to a children’s b’day party at the little bowling club there – it was a lovely day. Dave and I wistfully contemplated a sea-change to that little piece of heaven on earth
What a perfect getaway. Your seafood extravaganza is enviable!
This looks like such a beautiful place on the central coast.
The kookaburra that looks like J.Peterman was too funny!
Dangar Island looks amazing! Love the seafood feast, I am seafood-mad as well.
I’m craving oysters now that I’ve seen them and how could you not stop in to a place called The Fat Goose!
Ah… I feel like I just had a little holiday whilst sitting at my desk. Is there anywhere in Sydney where that view is cheaper? I’d be there every weekend in a second!
What a great spot! I love the look of the food, but moslty I love the kookaburra.
*laughs* Lorraine! When I saw that first photo my first thought was I was going to write “Cutest sign EVER”… exactly how you did!
And aaaaah! I have those exact hairpins, the black ones!
Looks like a wonderful trip, with heavenly oysters to boot
I totally see the J Petersen thing – I thought I was the only one who saw people in animals!
We have the same issue with bloody Baulkham Hills always appearing on our GPS, even when we’re nowhere near it! This post is lovely…what an idyllic way to spend a weekend. I LOVE the boathouse…might mention it to The Boy as an idea for my birthday early next year. All the food looks AMAZING!
Haha Mr Peterman!! I love Seinfeld. The seafood feast looks amazing! As do the crepes mmmm. What a lovely little place.
Heidi xo
Sounds like a fantastic weekend! The fresh seafood looks amazing. Starting the day with oysters and ending with that incredible seafood feast sounds perfect.
Looks like the perfect spot to get well rested and well fed!
My parents live just a stroll around the bay from The Fat Goose and every Christmas when I return to Oz, I find myself ‘brunching and lunching’ at their wonderful cafe. Lorraine, I’m so glad you found and enjoyed this wonderful haven as it’s off the beaten track (which the locals love),so many tourists undoubtedly miss out!
bahaha… whenever I see a kookaburra now all I’m going to see is Jay Peterman
Looks heavenily there!
Wow….. Lorraine, this place looks magical. The seafood platter is gorgeous, and I’m totally digging the Schooner of Prawns, very nifty. This little retreat is on the list!
How amazing does this place look? Fabulous! Perfect for a romantic and quiet getaway. And I definitely think the kookaburra looks like J Peterman! Hilarious.
*sigh* I want this job.
AHAHAHAH… I can’t stop laughing at the last bit with the “Oh Hai!” from the kookaburra! … I loved that necklace! So pretty!
That bird totally looks like JP! I can never stop writing how envious I am off all your trips. These places are just so amazing, so exotic seen from the other end of the world.
Aahahaha that is one relaxed bird. I cant believe how close you got. Oh I love the central coast and you have given me an idea of where to stay when I go there next.
You always go to such lovely places! As always I am totally jealous. Love the birds too!
Oooh, the kookaburra is so cute, did it follow you to brekkie ? Everything looks so gorgeous, might have to look into Dangar Island for our next quick break!
What a fantastic hamper! I hope you shared with the kookaburras. The boathouse looks like an idyllic place to stay. Lucky duck!
The Life Raft burger looks AMAZING! I miss having beetroot in my burgers
and the house boats. WOW. and the kookaburra! super cute!!!!
What a great time you had there, I love the neck lace, so unique. And the duck? My partners mother would kill for that
This sounds like the perfect getaway! I’d love to escape to that gorgeous beach house and have a seafood feast like that!
The name reminds me of the fat duck. The sign is so cute!
What a wonderful little adventure. I want to go to now
*kisses* HH
So incredibly jealous – looks like a truly magnificent getaway…..
What a lovely getaway, Lorraine! (Love the little ice cream boy — can he be mine too?!
) Too funny about the kookaburra, he really does look like J. Peterman!
What an idyllic location! I bet you wished you could stay for a few months & get your book completed
And ooh that seafood! Yum!
Lovely getaway and I love kookaburras, they are so adorable!
Oh that boatshed and Dangar Island look gorgeous. Would be a perfect weeken escape from Sydney. I can’t believe I have never been to Dangar. And that kookaburra is way too cute!
What a perfect way to relax, sounds like you had a seriously good time. Everything is just so very…quaint! I almost chilled out reading about your trip.
HOW GOOD IS THAT SEAFOOD Lorraine!!! YUMMMMMM!!!!
Location looks magnifique too…hmmm, fat goose could be on
Thank you for the awesome pictures!
Mahei
That burger looks divine.
As a society we’re slowly getting away from the greasy slab of fatty mince type burger and into a far healthier (and more attractive) option where the meat is but one of the ingredients, along with copious amounts of fresh, crisp salad.
Not only better for the waistline but far more enjoyable, too.
I haven’t had a schooner of prawns before but I have had a pint of prawns
Eating fresh seafood by the water is my idea of heaven.
How cute is that Kookaburra. I don’t have a tendancy to see other people’s faces in animals, more like I think cute animals look like our black labrador.
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[...] in the form of a remarkable weekend away and Mr NQN and I were driving away from Brooklyn after our relaxing night at Dangar Island on our way to Berowra Waters Inn. We drive past what I unaffectionately term the “Hill [...]
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