Sydney Harbour AerialsCredit: Destination NSW
The sheltered Sydney Harbour is dotted with stunning sandy beaches.
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Explore the coves and bays of Sydney Harbour to discover Sydney’s surprising and serene harbour beaches. Grab a patch of sand with a view and enjoy the city from a different perspective.
Bathe in the beauty of Balmoral Beach
Balmoral Beach, in the upscale North Shore suburb of Mosman, is one of Sydney’s prettiest places to roll out your towel. Just a 20-minute drive northeast of the city centre, here you can rest your lazy gaze on the rock pools, moored yachts, surrounding bush, and out to the Heads, the entrance to Sydney Harbour. This wide bay in Middle Harbour offers sailing, kayaking and shark net-protected swimming areas. You’ll share the Moreton Bay fig-lined promenade with cute dogs and children on rollerblades as you pass fine-dining options Bathers’ Pavilion Restaurant, The Boathouse and Public Dining Room, as well as the popular fish-and-chips takeaway Bottom of the Harbour. Add on a visit to nearby Taronga Zoo and leave time to browse Mosman’s boutiques.
Throw in a line at Chinamans Beach
Named for the Chinese market gardens that once occupied the area, Chinamans is Balmoral’s quieter little sister, just a 10-minute drive further north. The 230m stretch of sand is bordered by Middle Harbour, Clontarf Reserve and low rock formations, which are great fishing spots. Canoeing and kayaking are also popular, and the grassed, three-hectare Rosherville Reserve, behind Chinamans, offers a playground for the kids and plentiful shady picnic and barbecue areas.
Have a dip in the pool at Fairlight Beach
Take the half-hour ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly and relax on the harbour beach there, or push on past the expensive real estate and panoramic water to Fairlight Beach, a 15-minute stroll further around the harbour. Smooth your feet on the 80m sliver of white sand before you take a dip in the tidal harbour pool or splash with the kids in the paddling pool. Fairlight forms part of the 10km, coast-hugging Manly to Spit Bridge Walk, which takes about four hours and is the perfect appetite- and thirst-builder for lunch or a drink at the superb Manly Pavilion.
Balmoral Beach, Mosman Credit: Andrew Gregory; Destination NSW
Balmoral Beach, Mosman
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Balmoral Beach, Mosman Credit: Andrew Gregory; Destination NSW
Balmoral Beach, Mosman
Doyles on the Beach, Watsons Bay Credit: Andrew Gregory; Destination NSW
Doyles on the Beach restaurant at Watsons Bay
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Doyles on the Beach, Watsons Bay Credit: Andrew Gregory; Destination NSW
Doyles on the Beach restaurant at Watsons Bay
Eat fish and chips at Watsons Bay
One of Sydney’s must-do ferry trips (a 25-minute journey from Circular Quay) takes you to Watsons Bay, on the South Head peninsula in the city’s well-to-do Eastern Suburbs. The sandy beach in this protected cove is perfect for stand-up paddleboarding or to launch a kayak, or to just let the little ones splash about before lunch or dinner. Beside the wharf is Doyles on the Beach, a famous spot for fish and chips, as well as top-end seafood dining. High tea at Dunbar House and lunch at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel are other local favourites.
Eat ice-cream at Camp Cove
Also accessible from Watsons Bay ferry wharf is the family- and wheelchair-friendly Camp Cove. These calm, clear, protected waters are ideal for paddleboarding, snorkelling and scuba diving. Enjoy the million-dollar views with a far less expensive ice-cream from the much-loved local kiosk, and stride out on the easy, 1km South Head Heritage Trail, which takes in old gun emplacements, Hornby Lighthouse and exceptional harbour and ocean outlooks.
Enjoy a picnic at Nielsen Park
Boasting spectacular harbour aspects from Shark Beach, and sprawling fig trees on generous grass, Nielsen Park, a 25-minute drive from the city centre in the Eastern Suburbs oasis of Vaucluse, is your Sydney picnic nirvana. Grab a coffee, snack or lunch at The Nielsen and walk along the Hermitage Foreshore to take in stunning sights of the Harbour City. History buffs will love the guided tour of stately, 1850s-built Greycliffe House.
Swim at Northbridge Baths
Popular with lap swimmers from sunrise to sunset, Northbridge Baths, a 15-minute drive north of the city in the Lower North Shore suburb of Northbridge, are also a big hit with young families. Your little ones can wallow and splash in the shallows, bigger ones can jump into the water off the boardwalks, and much bigger ones can chill on the shaded grass and fire up the barbecue.
The Nielsen, Vaucluse, Sydney Credit: Kimberley Low
The Nielsen restaurant and café at Nielsen Park in Sydney’s Vaucluse.
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The Nielsen, Vaucluse, Sydney Credit: Kimberley Low
The Nielsen restaurant and café at Nielsen Park in Sydney’s Vaucluse.
Camp Cove, Watsons Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Camp Cove, Watsons Bay.
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Camp Cove, Watsons Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over Camp Cove, Watsons Bay.
Newcastle Memorial Walk, NewcastleCredit: Destination NSW
The scenic coastline of the city of Newcastle with views of Merewether beach.
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Golden beaches, postcard-perfect ocean pools, a busy harbour and intriguing history make New South Wales’ second-largest city, Newcastle, a favourite travel destination just 170km north of Sydney. It’s also the gateway to some of the state’s best wines, 50km northwest in the Hunter region, and yet more beaches and whale-watching waters in Port Stephens, 60km to the northeast. Regardless of whether you’re a gourmand, adventure enthusiast or lover of luxury, here is a guide to discovering Newcastle— and beyond.
Newcastle
Take a dip in Bogey Hole: There are more than 100 ocean baths across New South Wales, but none are quite as enticing— or important— as Newcastle’s Bogey Hole. Thought to be the oldest of its kind in Australia, this sea-fed pool was cut into the rocks off Shepherds Hill by convicts in 1819. Splash about in the turquoise water, or soak up views of the coastline from any number of cliffside perches; just arrive early in summer, as it’s a popular place to cool off.
Get cultural in Cooks Hill: The inner-city neighbourhood of Cooks Hill is distinguished by its lovely leafy streets, lined with grand Victorian mansions and timber cottages home to some of the city’s most happening restaurants, bars and cafes. In between you’ll discover the Newcastle Art Gallery (with a collection of more than 6,000 works), bookshops and independent galleries. Small wonder it draws an eclectic crowd.
Explore the Honeysuckle precinct: Once a busy industrial area, the Honeysuckle precinct has been reinvented as Newcastle’s hippest waterfront hangout. Many visit to walk, cycle or rollerblade along foreshore promenades— many more arrive to gaze over the busy harbour from buzzing restaurants and bars. You’ll also find the Newcastle Museum here, hosting an exciting calendar of permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Stay a stone’s throw from the ocean as well as the city’s attractions at Novotel Newcastle Beach, featuring contemporary and well-appointed guestrooms and modern Australian dining at Bistro Dalby.
Newcastle Highlights Credit: Destination NSW
Newcastle is the perfect place for a weekend getaway.
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Newcastle Highlights Credit: Destination NSW
Newcastle is the perfect place for a weekend getaway.
Camel Riding, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Sunset camel riding experience with in Anna Bay, Port Stephens.
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Camel Riding, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Sunset camel riding experience with in Anna Bay, Port Stephens.
Port Stephens
Cruise out to see whales: Every year between May and November, more than 25,000 humpback and southern right whales steam up and down Australia’s east coast on their annual migration. While you’ll likely spot them breaching and blowing from the shore (the headland in Tomaree National Park is an ideal lookout), there’s nothing quite as exhilarating as getting within a flipper of these majestic creatures on a cruise— there are a number of Port Stephens operators to choose from.
Stay and dine at Bannisters: The retro Salamander Shores motel was a Port Stephens icon for decades— it’s been reborn as Bannisters Port Stephens, its 80 barefoot-luxe rooms and suites done up in a coastal palette of blue and white. Slide into the infinity pool overlooking the glittering bay, dine on fresh seafood by celebrated chef Rick Stein or explore the national parkland and crystal-clear waterways that characterise the Port Stephens region.
Discover the sand dunes: The longest moving sand dunes in the southern hemisphere, the Stockton Sand Dunes reach heights of more than 40 metres, their steep sides often hitting an incline of 60 degrees. Speed freaks will want to sign up for dune surfing or a quad-bike tour, while more leisurely ways to explore the area include camel rides and cultural tours, visiting ancient Aboriginal sites while learning about bush foods.
Hunter Valley
More than 6,000 trees, 60,000 shrubs, and a million other plants and bulbs create a floral wonderland at the Hunter Valley Gardens. Across the 14 hectares there are 8km of walking trails, leading to cool waterfalls and themed areas, including an Italian grotto and the Storybook Garden, taking you on a journey through childhood fantasies. After wandering the grounds, pop in to Harrigan’s Irish-themed bistro for a glass of Hunter Valley wine and the signature beef-and-Guinness pot pie.
Stay and dine at Spicers Guesthouse: Set in the heart of the Hunter Valley— arguably the state’s premier wine region— Spicers Guesthouse is the ultimate country retreat, from the elegant manor house to the stylish rooms. After a day hopping between cellar doors, return for a dip in the infinity pool overlooking native bushland, and a meal at modern-Italian éRemo Restaurant, its menu showcasing the region’s finest producers.
Take a tour: Leave your car behind at your hotel and explore the Hunter Valley’s top wineries on a bespoke tour. The range of offerings is diverse, from chauffeured vintage vehicles cruising between cellar doors— perhaps with an indulgent lunch included— to soaring above the vines at sunrise in a hot-air balloon, with a champagne breakfast when you touch down.
Note: The Newcastle Art Gallery is currently closed for major refurbishments and will reopen in 2024.
Zenith Beach, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a walk along Zenith Beach, Port Stephens.
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Zenith Beach, Port Stephens Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a walk along Zenith Beach, Port Stephens.
Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking the manicured hedges of the Border Garden located in the Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin.
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Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial overlooking the manicured hedges of the Border Garden located in the Hunter Valley Gardens in Pokolbin.