New South Wales is blessed with beautiful beaches all along its spectacular coastline. It’s also blessed with some incredible luxury beachside stays, from chic boutique hotels on Sydney’s most famous beaches to opulent retreats tucked away beside secluded stretches of sand on NSW’s south and north coasts. Here’s how to have the perfect beach holiday, filled with memorable experiences and indulgent dining as well, of course, as lazy afternoons soaking up the warmth of the sun. 

Settle into a luxe beachside stay in Sydney  

Marvel at how easily you slip into carefree holiday mode when arrive at QT Bondi, a boutique hotel that’s as bright and breezy as the famed Bondi Beach across the road. Drop your luggage in your light-filled room and change into swimwear for a revitalising plunge into the curling surf. Alternatively, chill out as you swim a few laps at the iconic ocean pool at Bondi Icebergs, before returning for an exquisite dinner of modern Italian at Icebergs Dining Room & Bar. Lean into Bondi’s wellness vibe with a power yoga session with Yoga by the Sea, melt into a rejuvenating spa treatment at Slow House, or simply take in deep breaths of the sea breeze as you tackle the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. 

Across the other side of Sydney Harbour, lose track of time as you stare out to the Pacific Ocean from your suite at Manly Pacific Hotel, a buzzy boutique hotel in the Northern Beaches hub of Manly, a ferry ride away from central Sydney. Slip under the waves to find a hidden watery world of brilliant blue gropers, weedy seadragons and giant cuttlefish on an Ecotreasures Manly Snorkel Tour of Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, or simply laze under the shade of a Norfolk pine tree on Manly Beach. As the sun sets, dine on refined modern Australian fare as you look out over Sydney Harbour at Manly Pavilion, or watch the ocean darken with dusk from your table at the acclaimed Italian restaurant Pilu at Freshwater, to the north of Manly Beach. 

Tap into the natural beauty of the Central Coast  

Soak up sweeping views of the deep blue ocean from countless vantage points as you make your way from Pretty Beach House, a 90-minute drive north of Sydney on the NSW Central Coast, to postcard-perfect Tallow Beach in Bouddi National Park. Refresh with a swim at this marvellously secluded beach before heading back to one of Australia’s most exclusive luxury lodges for lunch. You may want to keep your midday meal light in anticipation of the freshly harvested oysters you’ll savour on a private tour of Broken Bay Pearl Farm, and the indulgent degustation dinner with paired wines that awaits in the evening. 

Discover another of the national park’s great swimming spots, Putty Beach, with Elixir Journeys’ Bouddi Coastal Walk In Style, featuring a gourmet picnic under a cabana on the beach. Or delve deeper into Bouddi National Park with Walk Into Luxury’s 3 Day Bouddi Coastal Walk at Pretty Beach, which includes two nights at Pretty Beach House and a guided hike along the Bouddi Coastal Walk.  

Stay in the flow a little longer on your last day with lunch at Bells at Killcare’s Wild Flower Bar & Dining restaurant, or make a detour to Saddles Mount White, a homestead restaurant overlooking a lake and farmland at Mount White, off the Pacific Motorway on your way back to Sydney.  

Commune with sea life in Port Stephens 

Experience a sense of calm as you stroll along one of the sheltered sandy beaches lining the inlets and bays of Port Stephens, around a 2.5-hour drive north of Sydney, or one hour from Newcastle. Check in to a luxurious room at the Hamptons-esque Anchorage Port Stephens at Nelson Bay’s Corlette Beach or the barefoot-luxe Bannisters Port Stephens, which overlooks a long stretch of sand on nearby Salamander Bay.  

Then head out to sea to explore the Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park, home to a large population of resident dolphins as well as turtles, seabirds and abundant fish species. Kick back and relax on a leisurely cruise on Blue Water Sailing’s luxury yacht Champagne on Ice, which sets sail from Anchorage Marina. If you visit between November and April, hop onto a catamaran with Imagine Cruises for a thrilling swim with wild dolphins (this ECO-certified experience is the only permitted wild dolphin swim in the state). In the cooler months, Imagine Cruises offers whale watching cruises where you can thrill to the spectacle of migrating humpback whales, with sightings guaranteed from June 1 to November 1.  

Back on dry land, relive your aquatic adventures over a delicious dinner at the Anchorage’s The Galley Kitchen, the Rick Stein at Bannisters seafood restaurant, or the modern Australian diner Little Beach Boathouse at Nelson Bay’s Little Beach Marina. 

Bliss out in Byron and beyond 

Enjoy the best of both worlds when you immerse in the heady bohemian atmosphere of Byron Bay’s town centre before retreating to rest and recharge at your peaceful suite at Byron’s most exclusive hotel, Raes on Wategos. Note how the sparkling white exteriors of the hotel echoes the stark white of Cape Byron Lighthouse on the headland above as you walk across the lawn to swim at sheltered Wategos Beach.  

Try to resist the temptation to spend every single day of your stay grazing on Mediterranean-influenced modern Australian fare at Raes Dining Room in between swims at Wategos. Be tempted by one of Kiff and Culture’s food-focused experiences, such as its tour combining a long lunch at Byron icon The Farm and a tour of the popular Husk Distillery, or a Byron Shire Food Safari with Localing. Savour the best of the far North Coast’s fresh produce and seafood at restaurants along the shoreline and in the Byron Bay hinterland, from Murwillumbah’s Tweed River House to Pottsville’s Pipit restaurant and Potager, a much-awarded farm-to-table restaurant inland from Tweed Heads.  

Soothe your soul on the South Coast 

Feel your everyday concerns wash away as you journey along the spectacular NSW South Coast. Make a weekend truly memorable by staying at Bangalay Luxury Villas, at Shoalhaven Heads, a two-hour drive from Sydney. Settle in to your chic, secluded villa and shuck off your shoes for a leisurely walk on Seven Mile Beach, which stretches for kilometres just steps away from your room. Return to freshen up in readiness for a divine dinner at the resort’s renowned restaurant, Bangalay Dining.  

Begin a blissful new day by taking a private surf lesson with Gerroa Surf School at Gerroa, at the northern end of Seven Mile Beach, before exploring the charming boutiques and cafés of Berry and tasting wine at Coolangatta Estate, all within a 15-minute drive of the resort. 

Venture a further hour’s drive down the South Coast to embrace the clifftop idyll of Bannisters by the Sea, overlooking Mollymook’s surf beach. Attune to the rhythm of the ocean as you soak up panoramic views from the ultra-comfort of your luxe suite and savour extraordinary seafood dishes at the iconic in-house Rick Stein restaurant. Enjoy easy access to the beach by staying at nearby sister property Bannisters Pavilion, or simply pop down from the clifftop resort for a sunset dinner at the Pavilion's light-filled Rooftop Bar & Grill.  

Head a few minutes inland from Mollymook to visit Cupitt’s Estate, an award-winning winery and craft brewery overlooking farmland outside the pretty town of Milton. Here you can enjoy a leisurely lunch of farm-to-table fare at the winery’s acclaimed restaurant, sample sublime wines at the historic cellar door, or peek behind the scenes of the estate on a Tour and Taste experience.