Loading

Summer holiday experiences

Noreuil Park, AlburyCredit: Destination NSW

Find your perfect NSW summer haven.

#newsouthwales #lovensw

Summer holiday experiences

Noreuil Park, Albury Credit: Destination NSW

Find your perfect NSW summer haven.

#newsouthwales #lovensw

Hashtags #newsouthwales #lovensw

New South Wales has everything you need to pack those precious summer break days with fun, adventure, luxury and memorable local experiences. From the latest ways to indulge in Sydney to unmissable activities from the country to coast, here are some excellent ways to soak up the summer months.  

See Sydney with new eyes 

The harbour city has welcomed a slate of newcomers to add even more excitement to your next Sydney visit: stay in the city’s tallest building and work your way around the 14 restaurants and bars in Crown Sydney at Barangaroo. Or choose between three Sydney Opera House tours (the Beyond the Stage Tour, the Architectural Tour, and the Guided Digital Tour. And enjoy a drink with a side of Mediterranean mezze at sophisticated wine bar Vini Divini Wine Lab in the revitalised Wynyard Park precinct.  

Get creative in Newcastle 

Discover the artistic side to Newcastle and meet the creatives behind this flourishing cultural hub, a two-hour drive north of Sydney. Time your visit with art and design-focused Olive Tree Market. Book a walking tour with Newcastle Afoot to learn about the city’s heritage architecture, hidden secrets and amazing street art. View the exhibitions at jail-turned-gallery The Lock-Up, and the incredible collections at the Newcastle Art Gallery. And don’t miss Newcastle’s contemporary art New Annual festival, held in February.  

Dive deeper into the far South Coast 

Scratch beneath the surface of Eurobodalla and the Sapphire Coast, six hours’ drive south of Sydney, with an outdoor experience that will teach you about the region’s cultural history. Immerse yourself in the sacred Dreaming stories of Yuin Country on a retreat with Aboriginal-owned tour company Ngaran Ngaran Cultural Awareness, or follow the ancient steps of the Bundian Way Story Trail from Cocora Beach to Quarantine Bay. 

You can also connect with the southern reaches of the far South Coast more deeply on a paddle along the tranquil Towamba River with Kiah Wilderness Escapes, outside of Eden, or get back to nature in luxury in a glamping tent upriver at Currajong Retreat in Burragate. 

Find what’s new in the Southern Highlands 

Just a 90-minute drive south from Sydney, the cooler climes of the Southern Highlands make it a glorious region to explore in summer. See cricket legend Shane Warne’s baggy green cap in the Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame in Bowral, the cap’s permanent home since late 2020, and try award-winning royal Thai food in Mittagong at Paste.  

Sydney Opera House, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW

Family enjoying a visit to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney.

#ilovesydney

Sydney Opera House, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW

Family enjoying a visit to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney.

#ilovesydney

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.

#lovensw #newsouthwales

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.

#lovensw #newsouthwales

Off the beaten path in the North Coast hinterland 

A summer holiday isn’t just about lazy beach days. Head inland on the North Coast to discover rivers, lakes, natural pools and waterfalls in which to cool off, and plenty more. Just two hours north from Sydney, the Barrington Coast region offers outdoor adventures in Gloucestor, fishing villages like Harrington and rainforest walks at Old Bar.  

Further north, Bellingen is a scenic locale for river paddling with Bellingen Canoe Adventures, or try the grade five rapids or rent a houseboat in the Clarence Valley.  

Pitch the tent next to a creek at the Iron Pot Campground in Toonumbar National Park near Kyogle, known as the ‘Gateway to the Rainforest’, or explore the many walking trails in the lush nearby Border Ranges National Park, which also has a waterfall lookout near the Sheepstation Creek Campground

Pick your playtime on the Murray River 

A six-hour drive or one-hour flight southwest from Sydney, The Murray region has something for every visitor. Gourmands will relish a journey along the Echuca Moama Food and Wine Trail; nature lovers will go wild for Albury’s river, lake and wetland activities; and golfers will find plenty of picturesque courses to tee off in. 

Taste the best of the Riverina 

See why this fertile region, a five-hour drive southwest from Sydney, is known as Australia’s food bowl. Pick your own strawberries at Bidgee Strawberries and Cream in Wagga Wagga. Try the wine, beer and cider made on the estate at Borambola Wines in Gundagai. Or take a family retreat to rural sanctuary Belisi Farmstay near Wagga Wagga to discover local produce, unwind in nature and go horse riding. And taste Australian-made whisky at the cellar door at Whitton Malt House in Whitton.  

Cool off in the country 

Discover a galaxy far, far away under the night-time country sky in the Warrumbungle region, a five-hour drive northwest from Sydney. Camp in Warrumbungle National Park and gaze at the stars in Australia’s first Dark Sky Park. Learn more about astronomy at the nearby Siding Spring Observatory, which has the largest optical telescope in the country. Catch a shooting star with your own eyes through the telescopes at Warrumbungle Observatory or be guided through the dark sky with Donna the astronomer at Milroy Observatory

Afterwards, pick up supplies and explore the charming town of Coonabarabran before heading to Coolah Tops National Park, a two-hour drive to the southeast, for excellent bushwalking, mountain biking trails and hidden waterfall spots. Take a short detour to Dunedoo en route to see the towering grain silo murals and pick up antiques and crafts as summer holiday souvenirs. 

Bellingen Canoe Adventures, Fernmount Credit: Destination NSW

Woman enjoying a tour with Bellingen Canoe Adventures along the Bellingen River, Fernmount.

#lovensw #newsouthwales

Bellingen Canoe Adventures, Fernmount Credit: Destination NSW

Woman enjoying a tour with Bellingen Canoe Adventures along the Bellingen River, Fernmount.

#lovensw #newsouthwales

Borambola Wines, Borambola Credit: Destination NSW

Enjoy the wine tasting at Borambola Wines, Borambola.

#lovensw #newsouthwales

Borambola Wines, Borambola Credit: Destination NSW

Enjoy the wine tasting at Borambola Wines, Borambola.

#lovensw #newsouthwales

MORE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES

More Inspirational Stories

ALL ASSETS FROM THE DESTINATION NSW MEDIA CENTRE ARE FOR EDITORIAL USAGE ONLY AND MUST BE USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS.


For all non-editorial usage, please
visit the Destination NSW Content Library.

REGISTER
NOW

Access assets curated for media and content creators.

For all non-editorial usage, please
visit the Destination NSW Content Library.

Already have an account?

Permission Request


Destination NSW wants to access your Destination NSW Media Centre account.


This application will:

  • View your basic account information
  • View your email address
  • View your phone number, if provided
  • View your street address, if provided
  • View basic information about your organization, if provided
  • View your site usage
  • View your asset download activity

This access will help Destination NSW manage copyright owner rights, provide you with digital assets, keep you updated with new information and improve your user experience.


Do you agree to allow this access? If yes, click the REGISTER button.


You can unsubscribe at any time.

7 + 3 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.

Permission Request

Destination NSW wants to review your registration for your Destination NSW Media Centre account.

This review will:

  • View your basic account information
  • View your email address
  • View your basic information about your organisation, if provided
  • View your site usage
  • View your asset download activity

This will assist Destination NSW manage copyright owner rights, provide you with digital assets, keep you updated with new information and improve your user experience.


By clicking REGISTER, you agree that you have read and agree to the TERMS & CONDITIONS and Destination NSW's PRIVACY POLICY


You can unsubscribe at any time.