Visit Sydney - NSW's capital

Get amazing views of Sydney Opera House from The Rocks.
Photo: Tourism Australia 
 

Sydney is NSW’s capital and is one of the most beautiful cities on earth. It’s impossible not to be mesmerised by the gorgeous harbour bustling with ferries, cruise ships and sailing boats. Sydney has it all with great beaches, parks, bars, restaurants, events and nightlife. It’s also Australia’s oldest city and was built by English convicts that were shipped to Australia more than 200 years ago. As you wander around Sydney (particularly the Rocks area), you’ll see the blood, sweat and tears that went into building this city.

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Visit the Blue Mountains

Explore the world heritage Jenolan Caves.
Photo: Tourism Australia 
 

Getting there: The Blue Mountains is a 2-hour drive west of Sydney. 

The Blue Mountains a popular weekend getaway for Sydney-siders, and is the perfect place to reconnect with nature. In addition to the wonderland of mountains and bushwalking, there's also quaint villages; friendly locals; art galleries, parks and gardens. You can do a day trip to the Blue Mountains but there’s so much to explore, you’ll probably want to stay overnight.

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Hunter Valley & Port Stephens

Go sailing at Port Stephens, near the Hunter Valley.
Photo: Tourism Australia
 

Getting there: The Hunter Valley, Newcastle & Port Stephens is 2-hour drive north of Sydney. 

The Hunter Valley is the perfect place to tantalise your tastebuds with gourmet food and wine. Nearby are the incredible beaches at Newcastle and Port Stephens (2.5 hours from Sydney). Port Stephens is also a popular spot for a dolphin and whale watching cruise.

The best way to explore the Hunter Valley is with your own car, but there's you can also book one of the many tours to the Hunter.

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Wollongong & the Illawarra

Run wild on the gorgeous beaches on the NSW South Coast.
Photo: Myka Photography
 

Getting there: Wollongong and the Illawarra are a 1-2 hour drive south from Sydney.

Choose from 17 beaches in Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama. When you're not at the beaches, there's national parks filled with hiking tracks and mountain bike trails, or hang-gliding off the beautiful cliffs at Stanwell Tops in Wollongong. Not far is the quaint Southern Highlands.  When you're in Kiama, visit the world-famous Kiama Blowhole, farmers markets, and the Jamberoo Action Park (which is the Illawarra’s theme park). 

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Outback NSW

Don't miss the annual Parkes Elvis Festival in Parkes. Photo: Tourism Australia
 

Head West and explore Outback NSW.

There’s a lot to love about outback NSW, which is blessed with gorgeous towns, farms and things to do. Get back to the simple life and meet ‘salt-of-the-earth’ locals who are ready to roll out the 'welcome mat' for you. Keep an eye out for the incredible line-up of outback festivals and events, which are quirky and probably the best fun you’ll ever have.

Many outback towns are suffering one of the worst droughts in Australian history so adding them to your itinerary is an incredible way to show your support for the locals. In return, you’ll meet great people, have amazing experiences and enjoy hospitality like never before. Heads up, the outback is dry, dusty and hot, so ideally plan your visit between March and October.

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Southern NSW

Go horseback riding on the beach. Photo: Destination NSW
 

Southern NSW stretches from Wollongong to Eden and the snowy mountains. Southern NSW happens to be one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations and has beaches, mountains and loads of country hospitality.

The Shoalhaven takes over where the Illawarra left off. There's beaches, national parks and mountains, fabulous food and friendly locals. Combine all of this and it makes for a pretty perfect holiday. If you fancy hanging out in country towns, don’t go past Kangaroo Valley, Berry and Milton.

When it comes to beaches, there’s over 100 beaches in the Shoalhaven region to choose from. My advice is to experience as many as you can. 

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Mid North Coast NSW

Visit the iconic Big Banana at Coffs Harbour. Photo: Virgin Australia
 

Head north of Sydney and experience the NSW mid-north coast. There are endless beaches, creeks, rainforests, and mountain ranges which makes this the perfect holiday getaway.

Port Macquarie is 4 hours drive north of Sydney, and Coffs Harbour is 6 hours from Sydney. 

Port Macquarie is 17 beaches for you to swim, surf and play at. Further north is Coffs Harbour where there's another 16 beautiful beaches to explore.

For something a little different, join a camel safari along Lighthouse beach at Port Macquarie, or take the 9 km coastal walk that leads to Tacking Point Lighthouse. Be sure to visit the Koala hospital where you can meet and help care for these beautiful but endangered animals. 

 

Far North Coast NSW

Relax & unwind at Byron Bay. Photo: Tourism Australia
 

Byron Bay and the Tweed Coast are 8-9 hour drive from Sydney.

Byron Bay is home to many international celebrities including Chris Hemsworth (aka Thor), Matt Damon, international songstress Olivia Newton-John, super-couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban.

A little further north is the Tweed Coast (which is unofficially part of the Gold Coast). There’s a whole load of coastal towns between Byron and Tweed that are a combination of charming, alternative, funky and downright delicious. (Yes, this area is renowned for its great soil and sustainable farming, which means you get to enjoy the best food and drink.) 

When you come to this area, it’s all about enjoying life. There’s beaches, mountains, rainforests and farms to explore, so let’s get cracking on what you need to add to your itinerary.