Riviera is proud that their unwavering commitment to training, and mentorship has been recognised with the esteemed Australian Apprenticeships Leadership Medal 2025.
From above – the Riviera fleet heading up the breathtaking Hawkesbury River.
“It was a feeling of belonging,” said Helen Scarlis. “Like being part of a family.” Helen was describing a weekend adventure along the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, organised by the team at Riviera’s R Marine Sydney.
The weekend began on a bright Friday morning and brought together families and friends aboard 32 Riviera motor yachts, from Sydney Harbour and Pittwater to the north. They travelled in spectacular single file, first to the delightfully named Gentlemans Halt near the town of Spencer, a few winding nautical miles from the mouth of the Hawkesbury River to anchor for the night; to relax, listen to music, dance and enjoy the company of fellow Riviera owners.
(Click the play button to enjoy Part 1 of the Riviera Hawkesbury Long Weekend adventure)
Gentlemans Halt was apparently named when, in 1789, Governor Arthur Phillip and a group of fellow explorers found a place to camp overnight while searching for suitable farming land along the river.
For Helen and George Scarlis, the weekend was a new adventure.
“We had never undertaken a trip like this,” said George. “We took delivery of our new Riviera 5400 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition only two months earlier. It was a great opportunity both to learn more about our yacht named Eleni, and to discover new waterways to explore.
“We rafted up with a couple of other Rivieras and moved from boat to boat. The R Marine team had organised a roving guitarist to come on board the smaller groups of rafted yachts to play for us while we sang along and danced.”
The day winds down with a warm glow, best viewed from the back deck of a Riviera.
Golden hour on the Hawkesbury – where Riviera owners rafted up, danced between decks, and sang along to a roving guitarist as the sun dipped low. (Click the arrows to explore the full gallery of unforgettable moments.)
"We rafted up with two other Rivieras and loved the opportunity to meet new people. The camaraderie among Riviera owners is fantastic."
JOHN & DENISE COUGHLIN
John and Denise Coughlin took delivery of their 4600 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition, Miss Daisy, in June and joined the flotilla on Sydney Harbour.
“It was perfect weather and we really enjoyed the voyage north to the Hawkesbury,” said John.
“We have been to Pittwater and lower Hawkesbury before but had never ventured as far as Gentlemans Halt. It is a beautiful waterway.
“We rafted up with two other Rivieras and loved the opportunity to meet new people. The camaraderie among Riviera owners is fantastic.”
John Dyer and Jenny Bourchier also enjoyed the Friday night raft-up.
“One button on our lighting controller creates party lights so the aft deck of our 5400 Sport Yacht became a group dance floor.”
Alan and Kylie Moses were surprised and delighted by the expanse of the Hawkesbury River.
“We had no idea this waterway was so large,” said Alan. “It certainly offered us a chance to explore more of the area.”
The couple own a 64 Sports Motor Yacht named Sundog, after the atmospheric phenomenon when sunlight shines through ice particles.
“We are thoroughly enjoying our yacht,” said Alan. “She is extremely comfortable and there is so much storage. We enjoy extended cruising and storage is vitally important.”
(Click the play button to enjoy Part 2 of the Riviera Hawkesbury Long Weekend adventure)
Only accessible by water, Peats Bite is one of life’s hidden luxuries – made effortlessly reachable by your Riviera.
After a devastating fire in 2021, Peats Bite has been exquisitely rebuilt and is once again welcoming guests for iconic waterfront celebrations. (Click the arrows on the left or right of the image to view the full picture gallery)
Saturday morning saw the flotilla travel a short distance back down the river to an expanse of water named Sunny Corner and the renowned Peats Bite restaurant which is exclusively accessible only by boat or sea plane. The restaurant was tragically destroyed by fire in 2021 and re-opened later in 2024 following an extensive rebuild which has transformed the venue into a luxe dining, bar and entertaining hub right on the water’s edge, offering the most superb views over the lower reaches of the Hawkesbury River.
Peats Bite has its own small marina, and the R Marine team arranged for 14 yachts to tie up whilst the remaining yachts picked up a mooring or anchored off and were tendered ashore by the R Marine team.
John Coughlin said he had visited Peats Bite many years ago.
“Ben Piggott from R Marine helped us tie up in a corner of the marina at the restaurant. We could never have manoeuvred there on our own. We were so grateful and impressed.
“The restaurant has been totally transformed since the fire,” he said. “The rebuild is brilliant and the food was out of this world!
“Two guitarists, Peter Northcote and Bernie Segedin, played for hours throughout the day and early evening. They were incredible. They played music we all knew well from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. They soon had us all up and dancing.”
The Peats Bite restaurant provided a nourishing breakfast before everyone returned to their yachts and headed back down the river and home, filled with the joy of having made new friends, expanding their boating family and their boating destinations.
R Marine Sydney – Hawkesbury River Weekend Social Gallery
To enjoy the social gallery, click on the first image on the top left-hand corner to enlarge the preview
and then click the arrow on the centre of the right side to advance through the full gallery.
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“It was a feeling of belonging,” said Helen Scarlis. “Like being part of a family”.
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