A road trip in New South Wales offers something special for everyone. Whether it’s spectacular landscapes and incredible flora and fauna that set your heart racing, or food and drink experiences to impress even the most serious of gastronomes, this unforgettable road trip – an 11-day loop that starts and ends in the sparkling capital – combines some of the state’s most entrancing destinations for wine, dining and wildlife, including the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, Port Stephens and the Central Coast.  

Highlights 

• Stay the night at Taronga Zoo 

• Spot wildlife in the Blue Mountains 

• Go on a hot-air balloon ride over the Hunter Valley’s rolling vineyards 

• Cruise with dolphins and whales in Port Stephens 

Day 1: Sydney – Explore Sydney Harbour 

When it comes to postcard-worthy beauty in NSW, the sparkling Sydney Harbour is a great place to start. In Circular Quay, wander around the Sydney Opera House concourse or discover more about this magnificent building on one of its many tours. See the city from a different perspective with BridgeClimb Sydney, an unforgettable experience that allows you to walk to the top of the bridge and enjoy 360-degree views from the summit of this national treasure.  

After your climb, spend sunset on board one of the many cruises that zip around Sydney Harbour. Opt for a nostalgic sail around the water with Sydney Harbour Tall Ships to thrilling whale watching experiences with Ocean Extreme or five-star dinner cruises with Captain Cook Cruises. Stay the night in a luxurious room or suite with breathtaking harbour or city views at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, located in the harbourside suburb of The Rocks.
 

Day 2: Sydney – Spend the night at the zoo 

With a significant history and beautiful cobblestone streets, The Rocks is a vibrant neighbourhood you’ll want to spend a bit of time in. Explore its Aboriginal culture on a guided tour with Dreamtime SouthernX, which uncovers the authentic history of the Aboriginal People’s spiritual connection to the waterways and foreshores. 

The Rocks is also an eclectic haven for shopping – find high-end brands as well as cutting-edge design and souvenir stores, plus markets held every Saturday and Sunday.  

Just on the other side of the harbour, Taronga Zoo is another Sydney drawcard with its spectacular waterfront views. More than 5,000 animals call this harbourside attraction home, including plenty of Australian native animals such as koalas and kangaroos. For something truly unique, spend a night at the zoo’s elegant Wildlife Retreat, a designer hotel nestled in the zoo’s natural landscape. Alternatively, try the Roar and Snore glamping experience, which includes intimate animal encounters and fascinating zookeeper talks. The cherry on top? Waking up to gorgeous harbour and city skyline views. 

Day 3: Sydney – Visit beautiful beaches 

Sydney is famous for its beach lifestyle and there are many glorious spots to soak up the atmosphere. Bondi, Watsons Bay and Manly are among the most popular, although there are more than 100 impressive beaches peppered along the coastline. Keen to get active? Sydney has many beautiful coastal walks, too. The 6km Bondi to Coogee Walk is a picturesque introduction. 

For a more intimate experience, character-filled inner-city suburbs such as Newtown and Surry Hills provide boutique shopping, a thriving dining scene, and myriad cultural delights. Nearby Eveleigh is home to the lively Carriageworks Farmer’s Market on Saturdays, where more than 70 farmers and artisan food producers sell their delicious produce. There’s also the bustling Sydney Fish Market – the biggest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring an incredible display of the freshest seafood in town. For dinner, visit the lantern-lit Spice Alley in Chippendale, which offers hawker-style Asian cuisine. 
 

Day 4: Blue Mountains – Soak up the views 

It’s time to leave the city and head for the mountains, specifically the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, with its magical vistas, million-year-old valleys, lush rainforests and dramatic mountainous landscapes – all just a 90-minute drive from the city. The Three Sisters rock formation is the Blue Mountains’ most famed sight. Admire its stately beauty from the lookout at Echo Point.  

The views are also hard to beat from one of Scenic World’s thrilling experiences. Choose from a glass-bottom cable car ride over the valley, a descent into the forest on the world’s steepest railway or an expedition on the rainforest board walk. While you’re in the Mountains, it’s well worth your while booking a stargazing tour with Blue Mountains Stargazing – the night sky is spectacular, and the tour will teach you how to identify planets and constellations from the comfort of an inflatable bubble. Stay the night at Chalets of Blackheath, designed to offer a luxurious oasis in nature offering calm and tranquility. 
 

Day 5: Blue Mountains – Walk among the wildlife 

The Blue Mountains offers a range of adventures in nature, from abseiling to hiking and even mountain biking. Wildlife lovers will want to join a two-hour Wilderness Walk, an eco-certified guided tour with Tread Lightly Eco Tours, which gives an insight into the region’s diverse flora and fauna and local history. You’ll likely come across some of Blue Mountain’s friendly residents, such as wombats, wallabies and more. 

Don’t leave the Blue Mountains without a visit to the quaint township of Leura. Adorned with character-filled heritage homes and beautiful gardens, Leura is pretty as a picture, and its National Trust-classified town centre offers charming boutique shopping and delightful eateries. For a traditional morning or afternoon tea, order the delicious scones at Everglades Historic House and Gardens.

Day 6: Hunter Valley – Wander wine country 

A few hours up the highway takes you to spectacular wine country. The Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region, and with 150 cellar doors, there are countless ways to experience the fruits of the vintners’ labour.  

Whether you’re after a behind-the-scenes tour and tasting, a self-guided wine exploration, decadent lunch canapes with a matching wine flight or a personalised soil-to-cellar experience, Brokenwood Wines’ five-star estate is a must visit. Audrey Wilkinson, Tyrrell’s Wines, Tulloch Wines and Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard are exceptional choices, too. Keep an eye out for resident kangaroos who love to casually hop through the Hunter vineyards.  

With great drink comes great food and the Hunter Valley certainly delivers. Find Circa 1876 at the end of the gorgeous tree-lined driveway of Roscrea Estate. Marvel in their farm-to-fork ethos, and enjoy a night of award-winning food and wine. 

For tonight, settle in at Spicers Guesthouse, where modern luxuries meet country farmhouse style right in the heart of the Hunter. 
 

Day 7: Hunter Valley – Experience the Hunter’s best 

For a bird’s eye-view of the Hunter’s rolling hills lined with rows of stunning vines, wake up early and jump aboard a hot air balloon ride with Beyond Ballooning. Set off at sunrise and enjoy the magnificent views as you soar high above the valley. Once you’re back on land, the experience includes a champagne breakfast.  

Make a stop at Hunter Valley Wildlife Park and meet the residents, big and small. You’ll see monkeys, alligators, meerkats and more, plus have the chance to get up close to kangaroos, wallabies, farmyard animals and lorikeets.  

Fuel up from your big day with a premium steak at Blaxland Inn or book a table at Muse Restaurant, which offers European fine-dining fare in a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere. 
 

Day 8: Port Stephens – Spot wildlife in the water and the trees 

Head south towards the coast to Port Stephens. This idyllic seaside region has 26 golden beaches and bays to explore, and water-based activities are a must here with sailing, kayaking, swimming or stand-up paddleboarding among the most popular.  

Port Stephens is also known as the dolphin capital of NSW, and you’ll see why on a dolphin-watching cruise on a Moonshadow TQC cruise. The cruises depart daily in search of the resident bottlenose dolphins, with a 99% success rate in sightings. If you’re visiting during whale migration season (May to November), spot humpback whales on a whale-watching cruise.  

If you’d prefer to get up close to one of Australia’s favourite native animals on dry land, make a stop at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary. The sanctuary combines a hospital for rescued koalas as well as story walks through the eucalypt trees, an elevated sky walk and even accommodation options. Choose from a range of rooms and suites, or their four-star deluxe glamping tents. 

Day 9: Port Stephens – Sand dunes and seafood 

One of Port Stephens’ bucket-list attractions are the Stockton Sand Dunes in the Worimi Conservation Lands. Recognised as the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, the shifting sands are forever covering and uncovering ancient Aboriginal cultural sites, including middens, which contain shell deposits and tool-making artefacts, campsites and burial sites. As well as their Indigenous significance, the sand dunes are an adventure playground, with an exciting range of activities on offer – book an Aboriginal-guided quad bike cultural tour with Sand Dune Adventures, go four-wheel driving over the dunes with Port Stephens 4WD Tours, saddle up on a horse with Sahara Trails or a camel with Oakfield Ranch, and try sandboarding down the dunes with Sand Dune Safaris. 

Being so close to such pristine water, seafood is a must when it comes to dining in Port Stephens, where it is as fresh as it comes. Try the farm-to-table Cookabarra Restaurant (which has its own barramundi farm) or Little Beach Boathouse for modern Australian cuisine in relaxed beachside setting.
 

Day 10: Central Coast – Alpacas and adrenaline adventures 

Just a short drive south will take you to the Central Coast, where seaside delights meet verdant hinterland and a haven for outdoor adventurers. Start with breakfast in the most unique way possible, alongside the charming, fluffy alpacas at Iris Lodge Alpacas. The unforgettable experience starts with a scrumptious brunch before you get the opportunity to feed the friendly herd of alpacas, while also meeting the rest of the farm’s animals. 

Close by is Firescreek Winery, one of Australia’s most unique wineries making liquor from native botanicals. Learn about a diverse range of cultural practices on the Aboriginal Storytelling and Wine Tasting Experience, a hands-on tour led by an Aboriginal Elder where you will taste native plants grown on the property. 

The animal adventures continue at Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures, offering horse-riding lessons, trail rides, cattle drive rides, and pony rides for kids. Stay the night on the sprawling hinterland property in one of the glamping tents, or book a night into their comfortable bushland eco villas.  
 

Day 11:  Central Coast > Sydney – Journey along the river 

On your way back to Sydney, you’ll pass through the breathtakingly beautiful Hawkesbury River region. Stop for a glimpse of the world's most valuable Akoya pearls at Broken Bay Pearl Farm in Mooney Mooney. A selection of tours is available and include highlights such as river cruises, immersive pearl grading and oyster tasting. Take home one of their beautiful pieces of jewellery for the perfect keepsake. From here, it’s less than an hour’s drive to Sydney Airport, where you can be whisked away – Aussie pearl necklace in hand – towards your next adventure.