Spark your sense of adventure and hit the road to explore New South Wales this winter. Make the most of crisp wintry days to hike through spectacular landscapes and explore charming towns, before cosying up in front of a roaring fire as night falls. From the Blue Mountains to the Snowy Mountains and from the Riverina to the Outback, here are four winter road trips you won’t want to miss. 

Lean into the romance of the Greater Blue Mountains Drive

Feel the crisp mountain air fill your lungs as you weave up winding roads west of Sydney on the EV-friendly Greater Blue Mountains Drive, taking your time to admire the heritage streetscapes of Blue Mountains towns such as Springwood, Faulconbridge, Wentworth Falls and Leura en route to Katoomba.

There’s no better time to visit Katoomba than during winter, when the mountain town’s restaurants, hotels and guesthouses feel cosier than ever. Time your stay for mid-winter and you might be lucky enough to wake one morning at the likes of the luxe Lilianfels Resort and Spa or Echoes Boutique Hotel and Restaurant to see the magical sight of the region’s eucalypt forests dusted with a layer of snow. 

Blessed with a string of crisp, blue-sky days? Check into Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains MGallery in Leura and you’ll have direct access to the spectacular Grand Cliff Top Walk, which runs through the grounds of the resort before hugging sheer cliffs as it winds its way between Katoomba and Wentworth Falls. Rug up against the night-time chill and join astrophysicist Dr Dimitri Douchin of Blue Mountains Stargazing for an evening of storytelling and star-spotting from a bushland vantage point far removed from man-made lights.

Take your time on your last day by soaking up the dramatic Central Tablelands location of Lithgow before taking an alternative route back to Sydney through historic Windsor. Pause to stretch your legs in the lush surrounds of the cool-climate Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah, where you can also enjoy a hearty lunch. The scent of ripening winter fruit perfumes the air as you near the apple orchards of Bilpin on the final leg of your drive – pick your own oranges, lemons and pink lady apples at TNT Produce, and warm up with local cider and steaming apple pies at Bilpin Cider Co’s Farm Kiosk.

Channel your inner drover on The Long Paddock

Take a fascinating step back into NSW’s pioneer past on The Long Paddock drive. Relive an iconic chapter of Australia’s history as you trace the historic Cobb Highway, an integral stock route from the Murray River through the Riverina region of southwest NSW, to the edge of the Outback.

Set the mood for a memory-making road trip with a Murray River Paddlesteamers day cruise from the port town of Echuca Moama – or bookend your journey with a multi-night sojourn aboard the river cruising pioneer’s grand steamers the PS Australian Star or PS Emmylou. 

Prefer to stay on dry land? Strap in for the hour-long trip from Moama to the town of Deniliquin and imagine what it must have been like to pass through the now-peaceful riverside town in the mid-19th century, when Deniliquin was a busy livestock trading centre. Seize the opportunity to enjoy a round of golf at the Deniliquin Golf Club or watch the sun sparkle on the Edward River as you take an invigorating stroll along the Beach to Beach Riverside Walk. 

As the sky begins to darken, push on another 50 minutes from Deniliquin to Booroorban to spend the night in a restored ‘red rattler’ train carriage at Burraburoon Farmstay. Wake up to the sounds of a working sheep station, then check out the museums of Hay and the village of Booligal before making your way to the heritage town of Wilcannia. 

Get a glimpse of Wilcannia’s past as a prosperous river port via its sandstone colonial buildings, including the 1880 courthouse, seek out the colourful murals painted on the walls of historic buildings across town, and immerse in the art and oral histories of the local Barkintji people at Baaka Cultural and Art Centre. 

Press on further into the NSW Outback to the opal-mining town of White Cliffs, around an hour’s drive from Wilcannia, to stay at the unique White Cliffs Underground Motel. Leave the chilly night air behind as you descend to your underground room and marvel at how naturally warm your room is beneath the surface of the desert. 

Nourish your soul on the Riverina to Snowy Valleys Way

Save room in your suitcase for take-home treats when you embark on the Riverina to Snowy Valleys Way, an exhilarating winter drive that begins in the food-bowl town of Griffith, six hours southwest from Sydney. 

Stock your car with local goodies in Griffith before dropping in to Lillypilly Estate Winery or Toorak Winery outside of Leeton to pick up a bottle or two of locally made wine – perhaps a bone-warming shiraz or petit verdot – to enjoy at the end of the day. Settle into one of Rooms of Renown’s glorious Art Deco style apartments in Leeton to take your time exploring the region, or continue on to the relaxing country town of Narrandera to spot koalas in the Murrumbidgee Valley Nature Reserve.

Elevate a picnic lunch in Kindra State Forest, on the journey from Narrandera to Junee, with tasty morsels from Coolamon Cheese Co. in Coolamon. Relive your childhood fantasies as you make your own sweet treats during a workshop at Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory in Junee, then cruise along for another half an hour south to Wagga Wagga for a revitalising cocktail at Birdy Bar or Olivette, or a craft beer washed down with a dinner of comfort food at Thirsty Crow Brewery. 

Make a connection with the Traditional Custodians of the land around Wagga Wagga by joining a Bundyi Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge tour with Wiradjuri man Mark Saddler – experiences range from an Aboriginal special places tour to a walkabout around town. 

Allow the Sturt Highway to carry you towards the dreamy Snowy Mountains via charming towns such as Adelong and Tumut. Seek out installations by Australian and international artists on the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, in and around the towns of Tumut, Adelong and Tumbarumba, as well as Batlow and Tooma.

Follow the meandering road from Tumut to Tumbarumba, where Australia’s highest peaks form a magnificent backdrop to an emerging wine region, stretching your legs on the peaceful Wellness Walk in the Bago State Forest before exploring the ancient Yarrangobilly Caves in Kosciuszko National Park. Hire an e-bike or a standard mountain bike from Tumbarumba’s Ride Tumba and glide through pretty countryside on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail.

Dive deeper into this enchanting area on the EV-friendly Classic Country Road Trip or the equally EV-friendly Kosciuszko Alpine Way, ending your trip in a snowy winter wonderland. (Prepare for this final leg by checking for weather conditions and road closure information on the NSW National Parks and Wildlife website before you set off.) Immerse yourself in this serene landscape for longer at Common Kosci, an architect-designed cabin on a farm outside the Snowy Mountains hub of Jindabyne.

Feel moved by the wide open spaces on the Central to Outback NSW drive

Buckle up for a thrilling drive into the heart of Outback NSW during the cooler months to experience a new perspective of this spectacular region. Start by taking a walk on the wild side in Dubbo, a five-hour drive west of Sydney, and see lions up close on a Pride Lands Patrol at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Wind down the window for a blast of fresh country air as you head west on the Mitchell Highway to the town of Nyngan to check out the Nyngan Museum, which recounts the Indigenous history of the area as well as the story of European settlement from the 19th century. Feast on “pub grub” and rest and recharge in a chic room at The Nyngan Hotel in the heart of this former gold-rush town. 

From Nyngan it’s around a 90-minute drive to Cobar, at the crossroads of the Barrier Highway and Kidman Way. Lose track of time as you discover the stories of bushrangers and outback pioneers at The Great Cobar Museum, and cross the road to view the artefacts forming the Cobar Miners Memorial commemorating the workers who lost their lives in the local mines. Then take a restorative walk in the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve, a series of semi-permanent wetlands that are home to an astonishing 77 species of waterbirds. 

Finally, set your sights on Broken Hill, Australia’s first heritage-listed city. You’ll be amazed by the vibrancy of this remote cultural hub, where you’ll find period buildings, great dining and thought-provoking art galleries such as Broken Hill City Art Gallery, The Shed and Pro Hart Gallery. 

Follow in the footsteps of the iconic drag queens of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert by staying at The Palace Hotel Broken Hill, which celebrates the film with its lush Priscilla Suite. Towing a caravan rather than the train of a full-length gown? Pull into the Broken Hill Outback Resort, which has powered sites as well as self-contained cabins. 

After you’ve found your bearings in town, jump back in your car for the 20-minute drive to Silverton, an iconic Outback town that’s been the backdrop for a number of movies, including the film celebrated by the Mad Max 2 Museum. Clomp through the desert with Silverton Outback Camels before washing away the dust with a cold drink at the classic pub The Original Silverton Hotel.

Back in Broken Hill, see another side of life in the Outback at the Royal Flying Doctor Outback Heritage Experience, which recounts the tales of the world’s first aeroplane-based medical service through immersive storytelling and fascinating exhibits. 

And at night, be mesmerised by the clarity of the Milky Way in the dark skies outside Broken Hill during a Spectacular Sky Encounter with Outback Astronomy – an unexpected road trip view you won’t soon forget.