North Durras, Murramarang National Park Credit: Josh Burkinshaw
Woman swimming in the water at North Durras, Murramarang National Park
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Shake off the sameness of your regular routine and embrace adventure on an action-packed trip to Monero, Ngarigo, Wiradjuri and Yuin Country. From the rugged beauty of the Snowy Mountains to gorgeous coastline hugging turquoise bay, the Southern regions of NSW offer pristine national parks with an incredible variety of landscapes to explore.
Soak away stress in a spring-fed thermal pool
As you drive from the big smoke into the Kosciuszko National Park, wind down the window to inhale that fresh mountain air – you can practically feel the oxygen revitalising your cells. Head straight for the Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool. Hidden deep in a valley and sheltered by towering eucalypts, the pool is accessible by a well-formed but steep 700m track. Fed by an underground spring, its waters stay balmy all year round, and if you’re there early in the morning, expect a cloud of mist to dance upon its surface. Slipping into the embrace of the 27-degree water feels like hitting the reset button, rinsing off all of your tension and stress. Nearby is the pristine Yarrangobilly River, so if you’re feeling brave after your soak, hop out and take a cooling dip to get the blood flowing!
Get your heart pumping on a mountain bike ride through an ancient pine forest
Ride past enormous 400-year-old mountain plum pines (a favourite of the endangered mountain pygmy possum) and reground yourself along the historic 36km Thredbo Valley Track on Monero Ngarigo Country in the Kosciuszko National Park. Hire a mountain bike locally if you don’t have your own and choose a section which appeals. Families will love the 11.8km return trip from Thredbo to Old Ranger Station, which traverses along startling alpine scenery across multiple picturesque suspension bridges – keep your eye out for flowering purple hovea in spring. For more experienced riders, Bullocks Flat to Gaden Trout Hatchery is packed with challenges, including tight switchbacks and steep gradients. Pause for a moment’s rest at scenic Boulder lookout, just over halfway along the track.
Yarrangobilly River Walk, Kosciuszko National Park Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a dip in the natural thermal springs in the Yarrongobilly area, Kosciuszko National Park.
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Yarrangobilly River Walk, Kosciuszko National Park Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a dip in the natural thermal springs in the Yarrongobilly area, Kosciuszko National Park.
The Diggings, Kosciuszko National Park Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a scenic bushwalk by Thredbo River near The Diggings Campground in Kosciuszko National Park.
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The Diggings, Kosciuszko National Park Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a scenic bushwalk by Thredbo River near The Diggings Campground in Kosciuszko National Park.
Be immersed in the world’s oldest living culture on a sacred mountain in Yuin Country
The hills, rocks and waterways of the Bega, Bermagui and Narooma regions have been sacred to the Yuin people for millennia – yet some of their stories have not been widely shared. Walk with the Traditional Custodians of this fertile Country on the Yuin Retreat, a wildly impactful two-day cultural immersion experience that takes in Gulaga National Park and runs between October and May every year.
Highlights include a traditional sunrise ceremony, a guided walk on the sacred Gulaga Mountain, and excellent catering with an Aboriginal twist. This is a unique opportunity to be welcomed into the world’s oldest living continuing culture and learn from lead guide Dwayne ‘Naja’ Bannon-Harrison from Ngaran Ngaran Cultural Awareness, who has nine generations of knowledge and wisdom to pass down. You might even learn something new about yourself along the way.
Enjoy homemade scones in a rare coastal spotted gum forests on a guided ecology walk
Murramarang National Park spans 44km of gorgeous coastline a few hours south of Sydney: think pastel coves hugging turquoise bays, striking cliffs and spotted gums growing right down to the ocean. Bushwalking here is always a life-affirming experience – but if you book a guided tour with Paul Dickson, conservationist and founder of Nature Engagement Tours, you’ll get to walk this area in a much more intimate way.
The more you learn about the natural world, the more you want to learn – and the more you care about it. This is part of the logic behind Paul’s approach to his tours: increasing the value people place on nature by giving them experiences of connection to it. On his Scones of the Forest tour, Paul takes groups of up to 10 people on a six-hour walk into the bush, visiting lesser-known places, pointing out rare plants and animals, and feeding everyone homemade scones whipped up by his mum, complete with jam and cream. Keep an eye out for ‘Old Blotchy’, a 58m-tall spotted gum tree that’s more than 400 years old – and watch out for kangaroos hopping around on Pebbly Beach.
Stay in a beachside cabin with kangaroos as your neighbours
Nothing renews the spirit like waking up in the wilderness. In this case, it’s a rustic beach shack wedged between towering blue gums and the waves of Depot Beach within the Murramarang National Park near Batemans Bay. The self-contained Depot Beach Cabins is set in a secluded and beautiful location with direct access to the water, so you can roll right out of bed to the morning chirps of rainbow lorikeets and into the aquamarine sea. Spend a couple of lazy days relaxing in the sun, bathing in the ocean, reading books, exploring the neighbouring endangered rainforest and throwing in the occasional line to see if you can lure a fresh fish for dinner – there’s an outdoor woodfire oven to roast your catch. Though this picturesque corner of the world is quiet and restful, it’s also teeming with life, especially eastern grey kangaroos – some of which you might even catch grazing on the grass right in front of your cabin.
Stay safe in NSW national parks. Plan by checking the NPWS website for alerts and closures before visiting a park. For more safety tips and park alerts visit nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/safety
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness guide Dwayne Bannon-Harrison sharing his cultural knowledge on a guided tour of the Eurobodalla region.
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Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness guide Dwayne Bannon-Harrison sharing his cultural knowledge on a guided tour of the Eurobodalla region.
NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort, South Durras Credit: Destination NSW
A group of friends preparing for a surf surrounded by Kangaroos at Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort in South Durras.
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NRMA Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort, South Durras Credit: Destination NSW
A group of friends preparing for a surf surrounded by Kangaroos at Murramarang Beachfront Holiday Resort in South Durras.
More Inspirational Stories
Mulwala Water Ski Club, MulwalaCredit: Destination NSW
Mulwala Water Ski Club located in the Riverina Murray region in Mulwala, offers an outdoor bar and casual relaxed dining overlooking Lake Mulwala. Learn to water ski on a world-class, private, twin lake the Max Kirwan Ski Park.
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Cool off with an adventure: NSW is a watersports playground
Mulwala Water Ski Club, Mulwala Credit: Destination NSW
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Hot sands, wild rivers, bays with towers of coral and waves that curl like a rockabilly quiff – NSW is a paradise for adventure on and under the water. For adrenaline-chasers, there are world-class waves and whitewater runs, foils and jet boats built for speed, and reefs home to sharks and turtles. For the quiet adventurers, try paddleboard expeditions, fishing for rainbow trout and bass in pristine rivers, and colourful snorkelling spots.
Your next adrenaline hit
Surfing may be the famous action-hero of the NSW watersports scene, but the state’s rivers, lakes, bays and beaches also host a huge diversity of aquatic adventures to get the heart racing. Take in Sydney Harbour’s icons, while spinning, splashing and thundering past in a jet boat with Oz Jet Boating or Thunder Jet Boat. In Western Sydney, Penrith is a hub for adventure. Penrith Whitewater Stadium, purpose-built for the 2000 Olympics, is uniquely set up for both beginner paddling and intense raft adventures, as well as kayak courses where you can test yourself against Olympic times; Cables Wake Park teaches you to wakeboard via zipline (jumps and obstacles included); and Jet Pack Adventures lets you feel like a water-powered Iron Man.
In Brooklyn, on the Hawkesbury River, Jet Ski Safaris will take you around the bends of the river at 30 knots, while Fliteschool Manly and OzFoiling (with multiple locations on the Mid North Coast) will teach you how to cruise the coastline via eFoil, a motorised surfboard that glides above the water like an elegant seabird. Outside of Sydney, on the Murray River, encounter one of the greatest and oldest waterski clubs in the world at Mulwala Water Ski Club.
Find a wave
With reliable breaks on some of the world’s most picturesque beaches, NSW is a premium spot on the international surf circuit. Surfers with their own board and years of experience behind them can find world-class waves all up the coast while newbies can join in on a surfing lesson, all you have to do is choose which one and which beach. You can also practice on a perfectly shaped, perfectly reliable wave (with multiple options suitable for beginners or experts) at URBNSURF, Olympic Park’s surf park, and finish off with a meal at RAFI, the onsite Applejack-run restaurant and bar that overlooks the waves.
URBNSURF Sydney Credit: Applejack_Sandy’s_URBNSURF Sydney
URBNSURF Sydney
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URBNSURF Sydney Credit: Applejack_Sandy’s_URBNSURF Sydney
URBNSURF Sydney
Oz Jet Boating, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Experience the incredible speed of the red shark boats as they blast across Sydney harbour at high speed with Oz Jet Boating.
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Oz Jet Boating, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Experience the incredible speed of the red shark boats as they blast across Sydney harbour at high speed with Oz Jet Boating.
Explore NSW’s coral reefs
The pristine, ecologically rich seas of NSW have seen the development of 10 protected marine parks covering more than 100,000 square kilometres, offering a haven to wildly diverse range of sea life. Beyond those areas, in the harbour and the bays of the coastal cities, there are also vibrant ecosystems ripe for snorkel or scuba dive trips. Self-guided snorkelling can be done in most places along the coast and, provided you have the equipment and training, so can diving. Or learn the ropes with a tour. Woebegone Expeditions and Courses will teach you how to explore the reefs of the South Coast with safe, freediving techniques; Region X Snorkel Tours has you jumping off a kayak with a snorkel around Batemans Bay; and Ecotreasures fits in a headland walk between time in the aquatic reserve around Manly. For new divers, you can explore the lower North Coast with Jetty Dive Centre or the tropical far North Coast with Cooly Eco Adventures. While Sydney Underwater Scooters will set you up with a handheld swim-assister and show you the clear waters and underwater fauna of Sydney’s Gordon’s Bay.
Paddling sunrise to sunset
Every river, bay and lake has a different scene and a different story, and cruising on a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) lets you discover at your own pace. NSW is also full of explorers and local experts ready to guide you along the way. In Sydney, Sydney Harbour Kayaks and Sydney by Kayak will introduce you to the harbour at its multicolour best with dawn and dusk paddles. Manly Kayak Centre has both hire and guided options for kayaks and SUP, as well as giving you the opportunity to try your hand at SUPBALL, which is like polo but replaces the horse with a SUP. Cronulla SUP and Balmoral Paddlesurf let you explore less famous, but no less beautiful, beaches of Sydney’s south and north respectively.
On the Sapphire Coast combine your next river adventure with a story, like on Navigate Expeditions’ Aboriginal Culture Tour, where you journey into the land’s Indigenous heritage, or a Kayak and Shuck Tour where you visit the oyster farms. On the North Coast, social enterprise and SUP tour guides Wajaana Yaam Adventure Tours offers cultural eco-tourism on a paddleboard around the pristine waters of Solitary Island Marine Park. Not far away in The Tweed, Watersports Guru offers SUP lessons and hire, allowing you to cruise the waters Cudgen Creek while taking in the local birdlife – if you’re lucky you may even see a pod of dolphins.
Reel in a new experience
With pristine rivers and wild oceans, NSW is a dream for fishing for both newbies and those looking for the next big catch. Out on the oceans of the South Coast Kiama Charter Service will help you pull in your first deep-sea fish (go for blue-eye trevalla, gemfish or hapuka). While Port Macquarie Fishing Charters, Reel Ocean Adventures (in Tuncurry) and Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters, provide the boats, deep-sea equipment and vibes on the North Coast. Inland, learn traditional yabbying in the bush at Narrabri Fish Farm, or set up your own line on NSW’s most epic jetties at Coffs Harbour, Lake Macquarie and Lake St Clair in the Hunter Valley. If you know the ways of a fly fisher, the Snowy Mountains and Blue Mountains are the hot spots.
Kayaking, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a day of kayaking on Sydney Harbour.
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Kayaking, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a day of kayaking on Sydney Harbour.
Navigate Expeditions, Kalaru Credit: Destination NSW
Guests on a walking tour with Navigate Expeditions in Kalaru
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Navigate Expeditions, Kalaru Credit: Destination NSW
Guests on a walking tour with Navigate Expeditions in Kalaru