Home of Australia’s biggest city, Sydney, New South Wales, has plenty more to offer beyond its gorgeous harbour. We have travelled throughout NSW extensively over the last 2 years to bring you travel guides for the most popular and a few less visited towns and cities in the state.
Our New South Wales Travel Guide will help you plan your visit with practical advice on the best time to visit and the must see sites of Australia’s first state.
The Waterfall Way runs 183km from Armidale on the New England Tablelands down to Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast. The Waterfall Way passes at least eight named waterfalls on the route itself, plus a couple of worthwhile detours near Armidale if you have time. We spent three days driving this route, stopping at…
I rode my first Sydney to Broken Hill train as a child way back in the late 1970s on the Silver City Comet and what a trip it was. These days, the route is served by the Broken Hill Outback Xplorer. Below travel writer Joanne Karcz shares her recent experience of this special NSW train…
Lightning Ridge is a working opal mining town in northern NSW, about 730km north-west of Sydney. It has more personality per square kilometre than almost anywhere else we have been in Australia — partly because of the opals, partly because of the people who come looking for them. We spent several days here exploring the…
Over the last few months, I have been visiting the Blue Mountains by train every couple of weeks, discovering new things to see and places to eat. So today I thought I would share with you my experience of visiting the Blue Mountains by train and what you can expect to see in just one…
There is something really special about a Sydney Harbour cruise. Seeing the city from the water is hard to beat and while the ferries are fabulous, the city looks even more beautiful when you can really spend some time soaking it in, in comfort, on a leisurely harbour cruise. After 20 years of taking guests…
Road trips from Sydney offer real freedom. You’ll discover coastal towns, mountain villages and quieter beaches that most visitors miss. When you get the basics right – your vehicle, route, and timing – you’ll spend less time worrying and more time enjoying NSW. This guide covers the practical steps that matter, plus local insights I’ve…
We recently spent two nights at YHA Sydney Harbour to see for ourselves what it’s like as a base for a weekend getaway in Sydney. How would two fifty-year-olds fit in? Does age matter? Read on and see how it went. A weekend stay at Sydney Harbour YHA The verdict is in. YHA Sydney Harbour…
Looking to explore the best NSW coastal walks? So were we, and in the last year, we set a goal to complete as many as we could. Read on for our top tips and start planning your own coastal walking holiday soon. Given the crazy couple of years life has thrown us recently we are…
This one day Blue Mountains itinerary is designed for travelling to the mountains by train. It will allow you to see the key sites in this world heritage wilderness and sample a couple of short walks. I have been catching the train to visit the Blue Mountains several times a year for longer than I care…
Are you planning a weekend in Sydney soon? Today we want to share our best tips to help you make the most of a short visit to our hometown. Here are ten snippets of advice on how to spend a perfect weekend in Sydney. Whether it’s your first time in Sydney or you are a regular,…
Sydney is a city rich in culture, history and beauty. But it’s also a city that’s can really hurt your travel budget. To dispel the myth that you need to be rich to enjoy a stay in Sydney, we’ve put together a list of free things to do in Sydney to help you get the…
When you visit Port Macquarie, with world-class beaches and stunning coastal views, you will be spoilt for choice for fun things to do! Port Macquarie makes a great stand-alone holiday spot and a perfect stop off on Sydney’s classic road trip to Brisbane. You might wonder if Port Macquarie is worth visiting? Well, we think…
With over 150 Cellar Doors in the NSW Hunter Valley, it’s challenging to decide on how to spend your time in Australia’s oldest wine growing region. Joanne Karcz recently renewed her acquaintance with the area. Here is her suggestion on how to make the most of spending 24 hours in the Hunter Valley. Where is…
The Southern Highlands is the kind of place that makes you forget you’re just 90 minutes from Sydney. With its rolling hills, historic towns, and hidden waterfalls, it’s the perfect weekend escape. Here’s how to make the most of 48 hours in this enchanting region. This two-day itinerary captures the essence of what makes the…
Port Macquarie’s beaches are among the most beautiful in New South Wales, officially there are eight but locals tell us it’s more like seventeen. Today we are going to share a few of the more prominent ones both in the town and on its outskirts. To find the others get chatting to a Port Macquarie…
Sydney vs Melbourne, both amazing cities that offer plenty to see, do, and eat, so which one is best for travellers? I embarked on a week-long solo trip to Melbourne to revisit some of my favourite places and explore the most popular tourist attractions and consider the eternal debate: Sydney or Melbourne, which is the…
If you have 7 days in Sydney, you are in luck. This is the perfect amount of time to get a good feel for the city and all it offers. If you only have three days, don’t worry, the days in this itinerary work independently, so just pick the ones that most appeal and save…
Are you wondering if Yamba is worth visiting on your East Coast trip? It might seem like a quiet coastal town, but there are so many things to do in Yamba you are going to want to make sure you stop for at least a few nights. Northern NSW local Kathy Marris, who has been…
Looking for things to add to your Coffs Harbour itinerary? We recently visited for the third time, and while we only stopped for a few days on this occasion, we had time to revisit quite a lot of the area’s top sites. So today we have shared the ones we think you should include when…
Hosanna farmstay in the Tweed Valley town of Stokers Siding is a fantastic spot for a multi generational getaway or to holiday with friends. If you are craving a dose of nature, you will love the very special experience that the team at Hosanna has created. Today we share our recent stay at Hosanna. We…
A day exploring the Tweed Valley should be on the top of your list if you are planning a getaway to the Northern NSW Coast. It’s an easy drive from Tweed Heads, Kingscliff, Cabarita and even Byron Bay and is bound to impress. If you are not familiar with this part of the world I am…
There are several animal parks in Sydney, so finding a place to meet the local native Australian animals is pretty easy. Getting up close to kangaroos and koalas is on the top of most visitors’ lists when planning their trip to Australia, so where are the best animal experiences in Sydney? Read our reviews and…
Is it possible to have a Sydney Christmas on a budget? Christmas in Sydney without breaking the bank can seem like a challenge, but we have a few ideas for anyone visiting or just not wanting to spend the day at home. Have a picnic in the Royal Botanic Gardens One of the nicest ways…
In a word, Anytime! Just steer clear of the summer school holidays unless you book way in advance and a happy to part with a large sum of money. February to April is ideal for a coastal holiday; head west from April to October. The best time of year to visit NSW When is the…