Cowan Creek is located in New South Wales, Australia. It is a tidal subcatchment of the Hawkesbury River. Almost all of the catchment lies within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Tributaries include Coal and Candle Creek, which branches off from Cowan Creek at Cottage Point and Smiths Creek.

On December 31, 2017, a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver crashed into Jerusalem Bay just off Cowan Creek, killing 6 people.

Hungry Beach and the lower reaches of Cowan Creek, Australia

33°37.1886′S 151°11.74314′E / 33.6198100°S 151.19571900°E / -33.6198100; 151.19571900