From wildlife, nightlife, hidden restaurants, and must-see icons to stunning coastlines and natural beauty; Sydney features on many bucket-lists! See a show and take a tour at the Sydney Opera House and meet the challenge of the BridgeClimb at the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and encounter 5,000+ animals at Taronga Zoo. Swim in azure water, ride the waves on a surf board, and join a yoga class at Bondi Beach; or why not stretch your legs along the scenic six-kilometre Bondi to Coogee Walk. 

The Hunter Valley offers the perfect mix of unexpected adventures and life at a slower pace. Sample world-famous vintages and sip Semillon in the sun at 150+ wineries and get a bird’s-eye view on a sunrise hot air balloon ride. Walk under Watagans National Park’s towering red cedars, saddle up for a ride at Molly Morgan Range, or drive a Segway through McGuigan vineyard. Take a swing at Rothbury’s Vintage Golf Club and get an arts and culture fix on the Hunter Valley Sculpture Walk.

Fresh air, good food, and spectacular scenery await in the Blue Mountains. Capture the Three Sisters rock formation from The Lookout at Echo Point and Scenic World’s glass-bottom cable car. Go abseiling, canyoning, mountain biking, and bushwalking in the Blue Mountains National Park. Spot wildlife like wallabies and wombats, take a hike along the Grand Canyon Track, and shop and dine at the town of Leura. Ogle the Moon, Saturn, and Orion on a Wentworth Falls’ stargazing tour. 

There’s wonder around every corner on the North Coast; stretching from the Central Coast just north of Sydney all the way to The Tweed. Port Stephens offers sand dune adventures through Worimi Conservation Lands, swimming with dolphins, and hiking Tomaree Summit Walk. Boho meets beachside, hippie meets hip, and spiritual meets sophisticated in Byron Bay; home to Cape Byron Lighthouse, Wategos Beach, and The Pass. Take the ultimate driving adventure with amazing hinterland views along the Rainforest Way.

Life is lived at a slower pace on the South Coast aka The Oyster Coast; whether it’s disconnecting on an endless curve of sand or sampling local seafood at an oyster shack. Jervis Bay is home to 14 white sand beaches and the Cape St George Lighthouse. It is a wildlife haven for dolphins, seals, and penguins with great whale watching opportunities between May and November. As you travel further south; explore stunning ocean pools near Bermagui or taste the best of dairy country near Tilba Tilba. Eden is also home to a fascinating whale museum and the stunning Ben Boyd National Park.

Leave the Pacific Ocean behind and immerse yourself in the peace and quiet of Country and Outback New South Wales – from ancient Aboriginal culture and tasty produce to welcoming rural towns. Rolling hills, national parks, and heritage towns; antique shopping, wine and food; and the Kangaroo Valley await in the Southern Highlands – only 90 minutes from Sydney. Orange lets you fill up on wine and food, drive endless rural roads, and take to the skies in a hot air balloon; and the frontier mining town of Broken Hill offers a true sense of the real outback. 

Taste New South Wales' delectable delights, from elegant wines and organic produce in the lovely countryside and fresh seafood on the beautiful coast to Sydney’s range of cuisines with everything from fine dining institutions to hidden hawker style lanes. Enjoy paddock to plate dining at stylish restaurants and classic country pubs, fresh produce at rural farmers’ markets, and great wines in the Southern Highlands, Orange, and the Hunter Valley. Celebrate the state's fare at May’s Narooma Oyster and Slice of Haven Festivals, September’s Flavours of Mudgee, and December’s National Cherry Festival.

ake a deep breath and indulge in spa and wellness experiences in New South Wales. Go on a global bath hop at the Blue Mountains’ Japanese Bathhouse, Sydney’s Arisoo for women only, and Parramatta’s Moroccan Hammam. Let off steam with the demolition crew at Hunter Valley Smash Room. Join a mindful walk in nature at Sydney’s Lane Cove National Park or heighten your senses at Wollongong Botanic Garden’s Go Slow for a Mo Walk. Take a morning swim at one of the many coastal pools or experience Byron Bay’s famed spa and wellness scene – the luxurious Crystalbrook Byron resort offers morning yoga classes on the beach.

Sydney is your gateway to hovering above it all with eFoiling at Ku-ring-gai National Park and discovering what lies beneath with Gordon’s Bay’s Underwater Scooter Tours. Take an e-bike tour or a mountain bike ride in the Blue Mountains and enjoy guided wildlife experiences and offshore boating tours in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. Go high-octane whitewater rafting at Penrith Whitewater Stadium and stargazing in the outback’s cloak of darkness at Broken Hill. 

Learn about Aboriginal culture by taking a self-guided tour along the ancient songlines on New South Wales' South Coast or seeing ancient Aboriginal rock art in the Blue Mountains. Dip into New South Wales' convict past at Old Dubbo Gaol and military history at Temora Aviation Museum. Delve into the life and legacy of Australia’s most celebrated painter of still life and interiors at Murwillumbah’s Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Alley Art Centre and take the lovely 5.3km walk along the Murray River to view the contemporary Aboriginal sculptures lining Albury’s Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk.