Sydney Region and Starting South
Sydney & Surrounds, Southern Highlands, South Coast, Capital Country, Snowy Mountians
Sydney, Australia’s oldest, largest, and most vibrant city, has one of the world’s most beautiful harbours. The city is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the spectacular Blue Mountains in the west. Sydney is a city of excitement – take your time to explore it. South of Sydney along the coast is the Illawarra & South Coast.
Visit Wollongong, a major fishing port, or see the famous Blowhole at Kiama. Away from the water are National Parks with bushwalking trails, waterfalls, and fantastic picnic spots. The Southern Highlands have a European feel with colonial sandstone buildings, colourful gardens, excellent B&B’s, cafés, restaurants, and guest houses.
The Nature Coast & Sapphire Coast is a string of delightful coastal towns and villages with fabulous beaches and fantastic facilities for holidaymakers that stretch down to the border of Victoria. Visit the nation’s capital, Canberra, or ski the Snowy Mountains, an easy day trip from the Australian Capital Territory.
Coasting North of Sydney
Central Coast, Newcastle & Hunter Valley, Up the Coast & Northern Rivers, Lord Howe Island
An easy drive along the freeway just north of Sydney is the Central Coast and Hawkesbury, popular for its beaches, surfing, fishing and charter boat hire. Newcastle, located at the mouth of the Hunter River, is the gateway to the world-famous Hunter Valley; well known for its fabulous wines and horse breeding. Explore the rainforest wilderness of Barrington Tops or take a boat out on Lake Macquarie.
Further north are beautiful beachside towns like Forster, Taree, Port Macquarie, and Coffs Harbour, each with its own unique attractions. Located only 600km directly off Port Macquarie is magnificent Lord Howe Island, a lush, natural paradise and one of the most beautiful islands in the Pacific. Visit the Big Banana at Coffs Harbour to sample some of the locally grown bananas. The beautiful Northern Rivers Region can be explored with a drive along the Rainforest Way; also, the Northern Rivers Rail Trail (Murwillumbah) is worth checking out if you love to cycle. Grafton, nestled next to the Clarence River, is famous for its annual Jacaranda Festival.
The tropical North Coast is known for its beaches, rivers, and rainforest; it also has many interesting alternative–culture villages with unusual galleries and eateries. Ballina has a great regional airport if you want to fly in directly. Of course, Byron Bay is known worldwide as a tourism mecca for sun, sand, and serenity, but the Hinterland has many hidden gems too. This is where the NSW Border meets Queensland’s Gold Coast and Hinterland.
Inland, Central, Outback & Corner Country
The Riverina, New England, Central West, The Murray, Outback & Corner Country
Best explored on an inland road trip, these regions of NSW are full of surprises, not least, increasingly sophisticated restaurants, regional museums, historic architecture, and a thriving arts scene.
New England, in the north west, has a fantastic historical village at Inverell, hot artesian mineral baths in Moree, and the world-famous Country Music Festival at Tamworth. Armidale is centrally located and boasts over 30 National Trust listed buildings and a fantastic Art Museum.
The Central West has a diverse and successful agricultural industry thanks to its rich volcanic soil and an interesting gold mining history. Visit the famous Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, the Wellington Caves, or Warrumbungle National Park.
The Riverina district in south-central NSW is famous for its produce. The Murrumbidgee River winds through this region, offering peaceful, shady camping and picnic spots. Griffith and Wagga Wagga are the two hubs of this region. Gundagai, a great place to break your journey, has an interesting history of bushrangers, gold miners, squatters, and the pioneer monument The Dog on the Tucker Box.
The Murray, one of Australia’s major rivers, begins high in the Snowy Mountains and winds along the New South Wales and Victorian borders. Hire a houseboat and explore towns like Wentworth, Corowa, Moama, and Albury, all of which have excellent facilities for visitors.
Lightning Ridge, a fascinating and historic mining town, is famous for its black opals and is located in the semi-desert region of New South Wales Take a tour of an opal mine or go fossicking—you might find your very own souvenir.
The vast, red, and sparsely populated Accessible Outback has a uniquely Australian rugged feel. Spectacular scenery, bold colors, Outback pubs, and characters are all part of the experience when visiting towns like Broken Hill, Silverton, White Cliffs, and Wilcannia.
The Corner Country is a remote region in the far northwest of New South Wales where the borders of Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales meet, marked by the intersection point called Cameron Corner. This region is known for its dramatic scenery, fascinating history, and small goldfield towns like Tibooburra and Milparinka, offering friendly Outback hospitality.
Let the road trip begin…
