Port Hacking

Port Hacking Deeban
Looking inland over Port Hacking estuary towards the west from the Tasman Sea.
Port Hacking Location of Port Hacking in New South Wales
Port Hacking, the southern–most inlet shown on a 2005 NASA image of the urban sprawl of Greater Sydney
Location	Southern Sydney, New South Wales
Coordinates	34°03′55″S 151°08′05″E / 34.06528°S 151.13472°E / -34.06528; 151.13472Coordinates: 34°03′55″S 151°08′05″E / 34.06528°S 151.13472°E / -34.06528; 151.13472
Type	An open youthful tide dominated, drowned valley estuary
Etymology	in honour of Henry Hacking, a pilot at Port Jackson
Primary inflows	Hacking River
Primary outflows	Tasman Sea
Catchment area	165.3 km2 (63.8 sq mi)
Basin countries	Australia
Managing agency	Sutherland Shire Council,
Surface area	11.7 km2 (4.5 sq mi)
Average depth	9.1 m (30 ft)
Water volume	105,261.5 km3 (8.53369×1010 acre·ft)
Frozen	never
Settlements	Bundeena, Cronulla, Woolooware, Burraneer, Caringbah, Dolans Bay, Port Hacking, Lilli Pilli, Yowie Bay, Miranda, Gymea Bay, Grays Point
Website	NSW Environment and Heritage webpage

Port Hacking (Aboriginal Tharawal language: Deeban), an open youthful tide dominated, drowned valley estuary, is located in southern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Sydney central business district. Port Hacking has its source in the upper reaches of the Hacking River south of Helensburgh, and several smaller creeks, including South West Arm, Bundeena Creek and The Basin and flows generally to the east before reaching its mouth, the Tasman Sea, south of Cronulla and north–east of Bundeena. Its tidal effect is terminated at the weir at Audley, in the Royal National Park. The lower estuary features a substantial marine delta, which over time has prograded upstream. There is also a substaial fluvial (riverine delta) of the Hacking River at Grays Point. The two deltas are separated by a deep basin.

The total catchment area of Port Hacking is approximately 165 square kilometres (64 sq mi) and the area surrounding the estuary is generally managed by Sutherland Shire Council. While the area to the north of Port Hacking is urbanised, the area to the south is relatively pristine and forms the northern boundary of the Royal National Park.

The land adjacent to Port Hacking was occupied for many thousands of years by the Tharawal and Eora Aboriginal peoples and their associated clans. They used the bay as an important source of food and a place for trade.