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Get to know New South Wales beyond the obvious spots and embrace the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO), far from the demands of the digital world
New South Wales is often synonymous with its long, beautiful beaches – but there’s infinitely more to the state than its sand and surf. This is somewhere bursting with scenic and cultural diversity, from the urban thrum of Sydney and the soaring majesty of the Blue Mountains to the wineries of the Hunter Valley and the wildlife-rich slopes of the Southern Highlands. Factor in wellness escapes, culinary adventures and coastal retreats, and you’re left with a world-class slow travel destination. So, breathe deep, unplug, and explore with experts Travelbag…
(Image credit: Fingal Head, Tweed, Northern Rivers, Destination NSW)
The state capital is a stunner. Draped around a magnificent natural harbour on Australia’s east coast, Sydney is the largest gateway into the country from the UK. Its biggest sights are suitably iconic – but it would be a travesty to think of this multi-layered city as a mere photo opportunity.
Sydney is brimming with lesser known joys, many of which can be experienced from the northern beachside suburb of Manly. Try joining EcoTreasures on a guided snorkel tour of the Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve – a chance to marvel at tropical fish in their natural habitat – or hiking the glorious 10km Manly Scenic Walkway, a harbourside trail that runs from Spit Bridge to Manly itself.
Sydney takes its food and drink seriously, and Manly is also home to some of the city’s best cafes, bars and restaurants, among them the seafood-centric Garfield, the Japanese-influenced Sake and the much-loved 4 Pines Brewpub.
Elsewhere, you can start the day in bracing fashion by joining the regular ocean swims in the suburb of Coogee on Wednesday and Friday mornings, or delve deeper into the city’s most famous building by attending one of the 1,600 live events held each year inside the Sydney Opera House – which has its own highly rated restaurant, Bennelong.
(Image credit: The Rocks Walking Tour, Sydney, Destination NSW)
It takes a mere 90 minutes to drive west of Sydney and arrive in a different world. The Blue Mountains – long UNESCO-listed for their beauty and biodiversity – are also reachable by trains from the city, making this one of the most accessible swathes of wilderness in the entire country.
This is a fortunate thing, because the scale and breadth of the mountains are extraordinary. Taking their name from the bluish eucalyptus haze that hangs over their woolly slopes and providing a respite from the heat of the city, they serve up vast gorges, geological wonders, Aboriginal history and superb bushwalking trails.
And not just in the day. After sunset, you can follow the remarkable Katoomba Falls Reserve Night-Lit Walk, a 1.3km bushwalking track along a lit path that stays illuminated from dusk until 11pm, granting you a nocturnal view of some of the national park’s most recognisable features.
But there’s more to discover here than just sensational scenery. Stay at the luxurious Spicers Sangoma Retreat, set in the foothills of the mountains and offering an ideal base for slowing down and indulging in spa and wellness treatments, or sample the best fresh produce the region has to offer at the fine dining Megalong Restaurant, famed for its paddock-to-plate ethos.
(Image credit: Blue Mountains Biking Adventures, Katoomba, Destination NSW)
New South Wales has a global reputation for its wine, an image which owes much to the vineyards of the Hunter Valley. It sits just two hours north of Sydney – or under an hour from Newcastle Airport – and can also be visited on a Wine Train package, which combines a stay at the excellent Hunter Valley Resort + Farm with a rail journey from Sydney.
Naturally, oenophiles will find ample reason to come calling. This is Australia’s oldest wine region, with more than 150 cellar doors to explore – think renowned labels such as Audrey Wilkinson, Tyrrell’s and Brokenwood – and countless award-winning wines to sample, from vibrant sémillon to bold shiraz.
The valley’s vintages also pair wonderfully with the region’s locally grown food, as evidenced by high-end restaurants such as Bistro Molines, EXP. and Muse, and with pampering and relaxation on offer at the likes of The Spa at Chateau Elan and The Day Spa at Elysia, there’s every opportunity to turn a visit here into a lengthy one.
And if you’re looking for other activities? The Hunter Valley Resort’s Farm Adventure Centre serves up all manner of memorable options for pepping up a stay, from horse-riding tours and cooking lessons to that most enjoyable – and squishy – of wine activities: grape-stomping.
(Image credit: Brokenwood Wines, Pokolbin, Destination NSW)
The north coastline of New South Wales has epic road trip potential. It takes around nine hours to cover the Legendary Pacific Coast Touring Route– travelling from buzzy Sydney up to beach-lined Tweed Heads – but you’ll want to take far, far longer. The diversions along the way are precisely what makes the journey unforgettable.
From Sydney, you’ll soon reach the Central Coast hinterland – where the Firescreek Botanical Winery runs an immersive Aboriginal Experience led by a local Darkinjung Elder – before arriving at the Worimi Conservation Lands, where the sand dunes can be explored by quad bike.
Heading further north, you can step back in time at the incredible Dorrigo National Park. As part of the prehistoric Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, the park’s flora and fauna are the product of millions of years of natural history.
Continuing up to the legendary Byron Bay – served by Ballina Byron Gateway Airport – the adventure options keep coming. Walk the clifftop 3.7km Cape Byron hiking track, overnight at the eco-friendly Crystalbrook Byron rainforest resort, or take a sound-healing class at the Gaia Retreat & Spa.
From here it’s a short distance to the enchanting Tweed River region, where you can glide upstream on a river cruise, go mud-crabbing, browse the superb Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, or sample Husk Farm Distillery’s bright purple Ink Gin.
(Image credit: Headland sunrise on Cabarita Beach, Destination NSW)
New South Wales doesn’t save its treasures for the north. By travelling south along the coast from Sydney, you’ll encounter a 500km stretch that holds some unforgettable Aussie experiences. Within an hour of leaving the city you’ll cross the cantilevered spectacle of the Sea Cliff Bridge, soon after which Bangalay Dining at Shoalhaven Heads provides the perfect pitstop for a long, lazy lunch showcasing native ingredients.
It’s another short drive to reach Jervis Bay, a coastal town known for its whale-watching trips – the seas offshore are frequented by mighty humpback whales from May to November – and year-round dolphin cruises. Back on land, the 2.5km White Sands Walk showcases the bay’s magical beaches and birdlife, while the serene Paperbark Camp glamping retreat offers a natural overnight stop-off.
Further south, the coastal resort of Batemans Bay is a fine place to sample oysters – it’s even possible to join an oyster-tasting kayaking tour along the Clyde River, meeting local farmers – while the seaside town of Bermagui, on the uncrowded Sapphire Coast, is celebrated for its postcard-pretty Blue Pool, an ocean-fed rock pool that serves up a saltwater swim with a difference.
Another hour along the coast brings you to gorgeous Merimbula, which not only has whale-watching potential of its own but also boasts a local airport for regional flights.
(Image credit: Region X Kayak Experience, Batemans Bay, Destination NSW)
Memorable name, memorable place. Spread across the Central West Tablelands, and accessible by rail, the lovely Orange region can be reached easily from both Sydney and the Blue Mountains. It’s characterised by lush, rolling farmland, so it’s little surprise that its high-quality food and drink are a prime part of its appeal.
Take Printhie Wines as a shining example. Specialising in sparkling wine – a benefit of its high-altitude, cool-climate surrounds – the five-star rated winery and cellar door offers various gourmet experiences, including the chance to pair their premium bubbly with oysters from the coast.
If you want to take your epicurean adventure to the next level, meanwhile, try coinciding your visit with the ten-day Orange FOOD Week in April – the longest-running regional food festival in Australia – or the similarly rewarding Orange Wine Festival, which runs over three weekends from mid-October.
And as ever in New South Wales, of course, there’s much more to uncover. A trip to Orange is also a chance to experience the endlessly rich culture of the Wiradjuri people, the traditional owners of the land. Local Elders offer cultural tours that shine a light on 50,000 years of heritage, visiting ceremonial sites, sharing stories and discovering the Indigenous foods that have provided sustenance for millennia.
(Image credit: Printhie Wines Cellar Door, Orange, Destination NSW)
Drive southwest from Sydney for 90 minutes – or indeed, hop on a train – and you’ll reach the deeply rewarding regions of the Southern Highlands and Kangaroo Valley. These are places in which to unwind, slow down and relish the pace of local life.
Historical villages dot the hills, characterful wildlife roams the national parks and dramatic waterfalls plunge through the greenery. The old ways still run strong here, evidenced by the heroic status afforded to cricket legend Sir Don Bradman, whose pomp was in the 1930s and 1940s but who is still considered one of the best batsmen of all time.
Sports fans should head to his Southern Highlands hometown of Bowral – today a place of charming gardens and cool-climate wineries – where the Bradman Museum stands in honour of ‘The Don’.
For something a little wilder, meanwhile, Morton National Park is a gem, with hiking and cycling routes winding through the hills and the Belmore Falls and Fitzroy Falls providing awe-inspiring focal points. A further regional draw, Guula Ngarra National Park, is renowned as a protected koala habitat.
Iconic wildlife – in particular kangaroos and wombats – is also a big pull in Kangaroo Valley itself, where you can even drift along Kangaroo River in a custom-built double canoe rig, enjoying fresh canapés and local wine as the scenery shifts by.
(Image credit: Kangaroo Valley, NSW, Shutterstock)
New South Wales holds some truly exceptional travel highlights – one of which sits around 600km off the coast of the mainland. Lord Howe Island, a spectacular, high-peaked volcanic outpost, is reachable via a 90-minute flight from Sydney. UNESCO-listed for its rampant topography and endemic wildlife, it’s also home to the all-suite Arajilla Retreat.
This luxury, nature-focused escape has a wellness space housed in a yurt under a banyan tree forest, making it the perfect accompaniment to a laid-back island trip that might also include kayaking on a lagoon, snorkelling with sea turtles or taking a leisurely walk through the subtropical forests. Phone reception here, meanwhile, can often be non-existent – which is arguably its biggest appeal.
(Image credit: Lord Howe Island with Mount Gower in the background, NSW, Shutterstock)
Get back to nature with this unique 10 day Sydney and New South Wales itinerary. Experience the bustling vibe of the city, scenic mountain towns and one of the states most beautiful islands, staying in beautiful boutique accommodation along the way.
This exciting itinerary involves hitting the road from Sydney and driving the legendary Pacific Coast north to Brisbane. On the way, you’ll discover world-class wines, relax on soft sand beaches, meet an abundance of local wildlife and witness some spectacular sunrises.
This New South Wales Food and Wine itinerary starts with three nights in vibrant Sydney, before heading to the Blue Mountains and two of New South Wales’ most revered food and wine regions: Orange and the Southern Highlands. You’ll have total freedom as you drive around in a fully equipped motorhome, complete with your own shower and kitchen.
Feeling inspired?
Travelbag can tailor-make any New South Wales trip. Head to their website to plan your immersive journey today.
(Image credit: Royal Botanical Garden, Sydney, Destination NSW)
