Blue Mountains Stargazing, Blue MountainsCredit: Destination NSW
During 90-minute tours of the sky, visitors will embark on a journey of the southern sky. Gaze up with the naked eye to identify stars, planets and constellations, and hear the stories behind them. Then peer out through a telescope, which offers a front-row seat to the moon and its craters and seas, Saturn's rings, the Orion Nebula, deep-space objects and shooting stars.
How to explore NSW after dark
Blue Mountains Stargazing, Blue Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
From incredible astronomy experiences and nighttime adventures revealing Australia’s nocturnal wildlife to luxurious stays custom-made for stargazing, there’s plenty to see and do from dusk to dawn all across New South Wales.
Embrace the night in the Blue Mountains
The untouched expanses of wilderness in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park make for ideal conditions for stargazing. Feel the sense of anticipation grow as you and your fellow travellers gather in the early evening at a lookout high above the Jamison Valley near the Blue Mountains town of Wentworth Falls, a 90-minute drive or less than two hours by train from Sydney.
Take in the stark contrast between the inky blackness of the heavily forested valley below with the splash of stars above as your Blue Mountains Stargazing astronomer guide points out planets and constellations with a laser, then peer into a state-of-the-art telescope or lie back and use binoculars to focus on distant celestial bodies. Blue Mountains Stargazing, which was co-founded by astrophysicist Dr Dimitri Douchin, also offers memorable Wine Tasting Stargazing evenings in the neighbouring Megalong Valley as well as a beachside Jervis Bay Stargazing experience on the NSW South Coast.
Be enchanted by a bushwalk with a difference in the nearby Blue Mountains hub of Katoomba, where the Katoomba Falls Night-lit Walk lights up sections of the magnificent Prince Henry Cliff Walk from dusk to 11pm. Marvel at sheer rock faces illuminated by floodlights as you follow the lit path through bushland to a series of spectacular lookouts.
Venture a further two hours beyond the Blue Mountains to Mudgee wine country and seek out Mudgee Observatory, which takes advantage of its remote location to offer in-depth tours of clear night skies. Then settle into your luxe geodesic dome at neighbouring Hideaway Domes and fall asleep under a canopy of twinkling stars.
Revel in the dark skies of country NSW
Combine world-class hiking and stargazing on a camping trip to remember in Warrumbungle National Park – Australia’s only Dark Sky Park – a 30-minute drive from the Western Plains town of Coonabarabran or a five-hour drive from Newcastle.
Pitch a tent or set up your caravan at the national park’s popular Camp Blackman campground, refresh with a hot shower after a day spent ascending the Warrumbungle’s soaring rock formations, and gaze up in awe as galaxies appear in a jet-black sky far removed from light pollution.
If you prefer to base yourself in comfortable accommodation around Coonabarabran instead of camping, be sure to take the kids on a family-friendly tour of the southern night sky with research astronomer Donna Burton at Milroy Observatory, less than 15 minutes’ drive from the town centre.
Extend your astronomical odyssey with a stay at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit, an hour and 40 minutes from Coonabarabran or 30 minutes from Gunnedah. Check into your Star Tent, recline on your king bed and watch the sky darken and the stars emerge within the frame of the tent’s sky dome. Peer at the Milky Way from a telescope located in the resort’s Gilay Lounge guest space before immersing in a Big Sky Dreaming experience featuring a video narrated by Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters.
Dark Sky Park, Warrumbungle National Park Credit: Destination NSW
The night sky filled with bright stars over the dark sky park in the Warrumbungles.
Dark Sky Park, Warrumbungle National Park Credit: Destination NSW
The night sky filled with bright stars over the dark sky park in the Warrumbungles.
Vision Walks Eco Tours, Byron Bay Credit: Destination NSW
People using night vision goggles to spot wildlife. Vision Walks Eco Tours runs a wide range of tours to explore and discover the wildlife, ancient rainforests and mystical waterfalls of the Byron Bay hinterland.
Vision Walks Eco Tours, Byron Bay Credit: Destination NSW
People using night vision goggles to spot wildlife. Vision Walks Eco Tours runs a wide range of tours to explore and discover the wildlife, ancient rainforests and mystical waterfalls of the Byron Bay hinterland.
Let the moon light the way in the outback
Endless plains and vast dark skies go hand in hand across Outback NSW. While you’ll encounter ideal nighttime conditions wherever you roam, take a 10-minute drive away from the outback city of Broken Hill for an unforgettable evening of stargazing at Outback Astronomy.
Join a Hang out with the Stars session – or a Milky Way Hangout experience in the cooler months – and follow along as your Outback Astronomy guide explains the intricacies of the tableaux above you. (Upgrade to the Plus option to lay back on a recliner and nibble on a grazing plate as you survey the constellations.) Time your visit and you can enjoy a regular Dinner with the Stars, where you’ll savour an open-air dinner as the sun sets and the stars take their places overhead.
Further south in the Murray region of southwest NSW, watch the dramatic ancient landscapes of Mungo National Park transform in the shifting light on a Mungo Sunset Tour with Outback Geo Adventures, which also offers full moon tours at the peak of each lunar cycle throughout the year.
Then make your way to Australia’s first Dark Sky Approved Lodging, the off-grid Kestrel Nest Eco Hut near the town of Tumut in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains. Ease into the outdoor bathtub on the deck of this little cottage on an isolated working sheep farm, let your eyes adjust to the utter darkness and fill your vision with millions of stars.
Discover nighttime wonders in the north
Head north from Sydney for all kinds of nighttime thrills. Paddle out onto Lake Macquarie with Showtime Kayaking for an epic evening of exploring the largest saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere in a transparent kayak that lights up the water below, revealing a kaleidoscopic array of underwater creatures.
Top off a day of sampling wines and craft beers and indulging in farm-to-fork dining at B.Farm in Port Stephens, a 2.5-hour drive from Sydney, by rolling the sleeping platform of the estate’s Sally the Skywatcher tiny house outdoors and nodding off to your very own open-air light show.
And further north in Byron Bay, join Vision Walks Eco Tours’ Night Vision Walk and you’ll strap on military-grade goggles to spot nocturnal rainforest creatures such as possums, pademelons, bandicoots, tawny frogmouths, bush rats, microbats and frogs with the help of your environmental scientist guide.
Mungo National Park, Mungo Credit: Destination NSW
A scenic sand formation (lunette) in the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Mungo National Park.
Mungo National Park, Mungo Credit: Destination NSW
A scenic sand formation (lunette) in the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Mungo National Park.
Outback Astronomy, Broken Hill Credit: Destination NSW
From the outback of Broken Hill, clear views of milky way galaxy and its hazy band. Big open sky views with stars from horizon to horizon. Reclined chairs and binoculars while snuggled in sleeping bag. Food and beverage service, chair-side while gazing. Personalised, live commentary of the view by an experienced, knowledgeable sky-guide, with audio.
Outback Astronomy, Broken Hill Credit: Destination NSW
From the outback of Broken Hill, clear views of milky way galaxy and its hazy band. Big open sky views with stars from horizon to horizon. Reclined chairs and binoculars while snuggled in sleeping bag. Food and beverage service, chair-side while gazing. Personalised, live commentary of the view by an experienced, knowledgeable sky-guide, with audio.
More Inspirational Stories
Olympian Rock Lookout, Blue MountainsCredit: Destination NSW
Hikers enjoy the view at the Olympian Rock Lookout, Blue Mountains.
From practising mindfulness in Sydney and stretching out on a yoga retreat in Byron Bay to rejuvenating retreats in wine country and immersing in incredible natural beauty all across the state, here’s how to rest, reset and recharge via a wellness-focused holiday in New South Wales.
Seek out wellness experiences in Sydney
There are plenty of ways to reconnect with yourself and support your wellbeing in Sydney. You may want to treat yourself to a full-body massage at Capella Sydney’s serene Auriga Spa – you’ll walk away from the centrally located luxury hotel with a welcome inner glow.
Restore your sense of balance as you stretch out on a buoyant board anchored off the beach at Rose Bay during a memorable session of Aqua Sculpt Floating Pilates. Or feel at one with the ocean as you forage for edible seaweeds and coastal wild food with educator Diego Bonetto – during a three-hour workshop you’ll roam the coastline from Gordons Bay to Clovelly in the city’s east.
Weave your way into a state of mindfulness via a macramé-making session at Little Lane Workshops in the Northern Beaches suburb of Warriewood. Or lose yourself in the music as you take a dance class at Sydney Dance Company’s harbourside Wharf Studios in the Walsh Bay arts precinct.
As night falls, feed body and soul when you attend a Pay It Forward Dinner on a Wednesday or Thursday evening at Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney in Surry Hills – for every dinner served, the food charity provides a tasty lunch to at least four people in need.
Bliss out in Byron Bay
You’ll be spoilt for choice of life-affirming activities in Byron Bay, the wellness capital of northern NSW.
Still your mind during a five-night or seven-night residential retreat at Byron Yoga Centre, a few minutes’ drive from the town centre. Or opt for the centre’s bed-and-breakfast package and add on yoga, massage and sauna sessions to suit your mood and your body’s needs.
Dive under the breaking waves and revel in the sense of freedom your surfboard brings during a private two-hour lesson with Byron Bay’s Soul Surf School. Or watch from the shore as local surfers effortlessly catch waves while you follow Bundjalung woman Delta Kay of Explore Byron Bay on an inspiring Walgun Cape Byron Aboriginal Tour.
Synch with nature as you sample bush tucker on a complimentary ranger-guided walk through Elements of Byron’s native forest and wetlands when you stay the luxury resort just north of the town centre.
Or base yourself at Sugar Beach Ranch in nearby Ballina, which offers bungalow and camping stays as well as extraordinary encounters with its horses. Experience the unique dynamic between horse and human during an equine therapy session – a powerful tool for healing and enhancing your emotional intelligence.
Elements of Byron Bay, Byron Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Elements of Byron guests enjoying morning beachfront yoga sessions, Byron Bay.
Elements of Byron Bay, Byron Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Elements of Byron guests enjoying morning beachfront yoga sessions, Byron Bay.
Relax in a river town
Lean into the laid-back vibe of Coffs Harbour, a 2.5-hour drive south of Byron Bay on the NSW North Coast, as you relax and rejuvenate in an idyllic setting. Drop in for a yoga or Pilates session, or simply enjoy a tension-melting massage, at the welcoming Shala Wellness centre.
For something more adventurous try OzFoiling, a low-impact, water-based wellness experience where you glide above the river on an electric hydrofoil board. It’s a graceful, fun-filled way to connect with nature and develop a fun new skill.
Look forward to lazy days by the beach when you stay in town, or base yourself in the charming hinterland hub of Bellingen, around a 30-minute drive away from Coffs Harbour.
Book a tiny house or a glamping tent at Levenvale Farm, a certified organic cattle farm outside of Bellingen, and feel yourself unwind as you drink in the rainforest and farmland views. Or enjoy a classic country escape at The Lodge Bellingen and ease tired muscles in the heated magnesium spa.
Wind down in wine country
Discover unique wellness stays among the vineyards in the Hunter Valley, a two-hour drive north of Sydney. Check into one of The Wellness Farm’s lovely villas, cottage or homestead, enjoy a private massage or even an intravenous vitamin infusion in the comfort of your own room, then relax as Pokolbin’s Stay n' Sip brings a wine-tasting experience to your door.
Sleep deeply in your spacious suite at Elysia Wellness Retreat in Pokolbin on a casual stay or as part of an all-inclusive retreat. Opt for the retreat and spend days soaking up knowledge in wellness seminars, doing breath work and tai chi or simply enjoying spa treatments in between nourishing meals.
Linger in the valley on your last day and head over to Margan winery in Broke for a Garden Tour & Dine tour of the vineyard and its one-hectare kitchen garden. Here you’ll learn about the estate’s regenerative farming and sustainability credentials before savouring a farm-to-table tasting menu at its renowned Margan Restaurant.
Roadtrip in a campervan, Bellingen Credit: Destination NSW
Yellow campervan driving down country roads in Bellingen
Roadtrip in a campervan, Bellingen Credit: Destination NSW
Yellow campervan driving down country roads in Bellingen
Elysia Wellness Retreat, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Woman doing some yoga in the sun at Elysia Wellness Retreat in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
Elysia Wellness Retreat, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Woman doing some yoga in the sun at Elysia Wellness Retreat in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley.
Challenge yourself in the mountains
Surround yourself with the sublime in Blue Mountains west of Sydney and you’ll return home feeling on top of the world. See a different side of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park as you abseil down dramatic gorges on a private canyoning adventure with Blue Mountains Climbing School, or hike through spectacular scenery on a Grand Canyon Walk with Tread Lightly Eco Tours.
Reward yourself for your efforts and stretch out aching calf muscles with a luxe treatment at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains MGallery’s Ubika Day Spa outside of Leura.
And make sure to schedule in a low-intensity day of grazing on nourishing food at villages across the mountains before taking inspiration from a one-on-one art class with an experienced art educator at Creative Abyss, in the lower Blue Mountains suburb of Winmalee.
Nourish yourself in Mudgee
Find relaxed vibes among the vines in the wine region of Mudgee, a scenic 3.5-hour drive from Sydney, or two hours from the Blue Mountains.
Relish the sense of seclusion you’ll experience when you check into a luxe eco-tent and slip into your outdoor bathtub at Sierra Escape, around a 20 minute drive outside of the Mudgee town centre.
Freshen up and head out for a delicious meal of organic and biodynamic fare at The Zin House restaurant at the nearby Lowe wine estate. Or book ahead to enjoy Indigiearth’s Warakirri Dining Experience, where Ngemba Weilwan woman and chef Sharon Winsor guides you through a five-course degustation celebrating Aboriginal cuisine and native bush foods.
Sweat out toxins in an infrared sauna or chill out in an ice bath at Mudgee wellness centre Sense of Solis, or follow an infrared sauna with a private float session in magnesium-rich water at The Clairfield Hotel’s Jila Wellness.
Then embrace the natural beauty of the region on foot as you tackle The Drip walking track in Goulburn River National Park, or glide through the Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp in Wollemi National Park with Southern Cross Kayaking.
Slow down on the South Coast
You’ll find welcoming sanctuaries all along the magical NSW South Coast, including in the stunning Jervis Bay area. Tune into the soundtrack of birdcall and you soak in a freestanding tub at your elevated tent at Paperbark Camp. Then prepare for a thrilling expedition with Woebegone Freedive, who’ll take you snorkelling and swimming among resident fur seals and dolphins – and migrating whales in season – in the sheltered waters of Jervis Bay.
Or head over to Life Centre Holistic Health and Wellness, around a 20-minute drive back towards the Princes Highway from Paperbark Camp, to expel toxins in the centre’s infrared sauna or dry barrel sauna, find serenity via a breathwork session, or meditate within a magnesium-water float tank in a peaceful bushland setting.
Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel Credit: Destination NSW
Entrance to the Ubika Day Spa inside the Fairmont Resort & Spa, Leura in the Blue Mountains.
Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel Credit: Destination NSW
Entrance to the Ubika Day Spa inside the Fairmont Resort & Spa, Leura in the Blue Mountains.
The Zin House, Eurunderee Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying food and drink at The Zin House restaurant in Eurunderee near Mudgee.
The Zin House, Eurunderee Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying food and drink at The Zin House restaurant in Eurunderee near Mudgee.
Recharge in Western Sydney
Western Sydney offers a refreshing mix of nature, culture and wellness. Just 45 minutes from the Sydney CBD, Billabong Retreat is a tranquil sanctuary nestled in bushland, where you can unwind with yoga, meditation and locally-sourced organic wholefoods.
For something a little more high-energy, head to URBNSURF Sydney at Sydney Olympic Park. It is Sydney’s first urban surf park, offering consistent, quality waves for surfers of all levels. Whether you’re catching waves in the lagoon, relaxing in a cabana or enjoying a meal at RAFI or Sandy’s, it’s a dynamic wellness experience.
Or, step into serenity at Moroccan Hammam in Parramatta. Moroccan Hammam is a women-only bathhouse offering traditional treatments including Moroccan beldi (black) soap, clay masks and massages in a space that transports you to the medina of Marrakesh.
URBNSURF, Homebush Credit: Destination NSW
Couple arrives at Australia's best urban surfpark, URBNSURF, Homebush
URBNSURF, Homebush Credit: Destination NSW
Couple arrives at Australia's best urban surfpark, URBNSURF, Homebush