Activities |
Sydney surrounds |
Byron Bay © Andy Hay
Resorts
See our separate guides to the following Sydney surrounds holiday resorts: Byron Bay
Excursions
Blue Mountains
The entrance to the richly forested hills of the Blue Mountains is at Glenbrook/Lapstone, only about 50 minutes drive from Sydney. Many coach companies offer day trips, usually from Circular Quay in Sydney. Alternatively City Rail offers an efficient service to the Blue Mountains, or you can travel there direct from Sydney Airport. Once there, visitors can delight in one of the most spectacular wilderness parks in Australia. Cliff top vistas stretch across gum tree-lined valleys and craggy outcrops. It is superb walking country and adventure activities, from horse riding, caving and abseiling to tubing down mountain rivers, abound. The region is dotted with historic towns, most built from timber and stone, connected by scenic drives. Katoomba is the most visited town in the Blue Mountains, and the amazing rock formation of the Three Sisters at Echo Point is a must-see in the area. A great drawcard is the Blue Mountains 'Yulefest'. Visitors flock to the mountaintops in July and August to experience a mid-year Christmas and to revel in the occasional snowfall. Many of the region's guesthouses, hotels, motels, resorts and restaurants put on all the trappings of a traditional Christmas, complete with turkey, Christmas pudding and a great deal of fun.Website: www.bluemts.com.au; Transport: Train from Central Railway Station
Broken Hill
The historic town of Broken Hill lies in western New South Wales, in the area known as the 'Living Outback'. Here red dust roads lead off to national parks, opal fields, remote settlements and the Darling River. In Broken Hill art and mining live side by side as uncomfortable companions. Artists have come here to find their inspiration, at a spot where incredible wealth has been produced by exploitation of one of the world's greatest mineral deposits. Broken Hill is known as 'Silver City' being the site of the world's richest deposit of silver, lead and zinc. Visitors can visit a simulated mine or the real thing, donning lighted helmets to enter the subterranean world of the miners. This town is also a Mecca for artists and film-makers and has more than 20 art galleries. The famous Outback Royal Flying Doctor Service and School of the Air are also worth a visit. Visitors can tour the aircraft hangar or the radio room, which handles calls to and from remote towns and stations, covering 80 percent of Australia and treating about 160,000 patients a year.Website: www.visitbrokenhill.com.au
Hunter Region
The Hunter Valley region is a 60-mile (100km) drive north of Sydney. It is a region already known to the world for its high quality wine, but is also fast becoming famous as an eco-tourism destination. Besides its vineyards and eateries, there are a myriad places of interest like Lake Macquarie, a glistening lake with magnificent beaches about 12 miles (19km) south of Newcastle; the beautiful Myall Lakes; and the attractive stretch of surfing beaches near Newcastle. Nearby is the Barrington Tops World Heritage Wilderness Site, which, at 5,203 feet (1,586m) above sea level, contains some of the highest untamed natural bushland in Australia. One of the most popular coastal destinations in the region is Port Stephens, renowned for its crystal clear water and golden beaches. The harbour of Port Stephens is home to about 80 dolphins and many cruise boats offer close up views of these animals. Port Stephens coastline is also a wonderful vantage point for whale watching in season.Website: www.huntertourism.com
New England
Also known as 'Big Sky Country', the New England region of New South Wales is a place of spacious beauty where it is possible to enjoy the great outdoors in the cool summers and cosy hospitality of the crisp winters. The centre of New England is Australia's country-music capital, Tamworth, which has played host to the Australian Country Music Festival every January since 1973. The city's population doubles to more than 60,000 when aficionados from across the land gather for the 10-day event, which culminates in the Golden Guitar Awards. Besides the music, Tamworth's other claim to fame is that it was the first town in the southern hemisphere to be lit by electricity. This historical fact has been enshrined in the Powerhouse Museum in town. Beyond Tamworth, the Big Sky Country includes tens of thousands of hectares of national parks and provides activities for visitors like horse riding, abseiling, fishing, fossicking, canoeing and bushwalking. Each park offers distinct flora and fauna and a multitude of natural attractions.Address: 250 miles (400km) north-west of Sydney.
Snowy Mountains
Australia's winter playground is in the peaks of the Snowy Mountains, about 315 miles (500km) south of Sydney, where there are more than 145 miles (230km) of ski-trails, graded from beginner to championship level. Ski season lasts from June to October. The ski resorts are known for their warm hospitality, spectacular scenery, and their apres-ski entertainment. The largest resort is Perisher Blue, which is actually four resorts united to form a mecca for snow-seekers. Another, at the foot of Mount Crackenback, is the resort of Thredbo, which is a recreation of a European Alpine village and features Australia's longest ski run, known as the Funnelweb.Website: www.snowymountains.com.au