New South Wales Information

New South Wales Information

New South Wales is a diverse and beautiful state of many facets – a terrific mixture of fabulous getaways, long beautiful beaches, mountain hideaways, friendly country towns and world renowned icons all radiating from the it's thriving capital, Sydney.

Captain Cook first stepped ashore in 1788 in what is now Australia's largest city. It became the site of the first European settlement in Australia. Aboriginal history precedes this by over 50,000 years and evidence the rich cultural legacy of Australia's indigenous population remains strong with many important sites accessible throughout New South Wales and aboriginal art and culture on display in various locations.

As well as being the oldest settlement in Australia, Sydney also has a plenty of more recent history to explore: check out The Rocks area near the harbour for evidence of the convict labours of the early European times or explore the elegant Queen Victoria Building for a look at some 19th century architecture. The suburbs of Sydney tell the story of the city’s geographical growth with plenty of historically significant buildings from throughout the more last two centuries. The Sydney Olympics, held in 2000 were the city's finest hour and it is now recognised on the world stage as a cosmopolitan and modern city that stands with the best from around the globe.

Occupying close to a million square kilometres of land with a gorgeous coastline that stretches from Victoria in the south to Queensland in the north. New South Wales is rich in natural beauty with everything from the countries largest city to remote outback towns where the population can be counted on one hand. There are plentiful coastal towns and sandy beaches, some of Australia's best national parks, huge rivers, the snowy mountains of the south and searing deserts in the west.

The Blue Mountains just west of Sydney are truly spectacular with thousands of square miles of untouched wilderness and historic mountain villages. Nearby to the towns, visitors can visit lookouts with scenic panoramas over dramatic cliffs and deep gorges. The more adventurous can explore fantastic trails on foot or even mountain bike.

To few hours by car to the south west of Sydney is the nations capital Canberra which is located in a valley on the southern tablelands. It is where many of the best museums and national exhibits can be found and is the seat of Australia's Parliament. As well as the National Gallery, Australia's War Memorial and National Museum, Canberra itself is an attractive, planned lakeside city of numerous parks surrounded by scenic bushland.

Sydney, or the harbour city as it is sometimes called, surrounds one of the worlds great waterways, the Sydney Harbour. It also boasts a excellent array of beaches and impressive city parks which when combined with it's enviable climage make it a great city to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle. The southern coast of New South Wales has plenty of opportunities to enjoy adventure on both land and water. North of Sydney, you’ll find more great beaches including world class surfing as well as hinterland escapes. Enjoy the romantic atomosphere of the wine districts around the Hunter Valley or head further north and you’ll find bohemian sub-tropical Byron Bay and the Tweed Shire coast with it's miles of unspoilt coastline – perfect escapes.

Put simply, Sydney is a happening place. The icons, experiences, events and people attract people from around the world. Discover Australia's colonial past or enjoy cutting edge contempory art, the choices are endless in this city that never sleeps. Of course no visit is complete without a visit the Sydney Opera House, truly one of the worlds most beautiful buildings. Take a cruise on the harbour or get above it all with climb on the Sydney Harbour Bridge or a visit to Sydney Tower.

No matter where in New South Wales you travel fine wines and fresh, delicious locally prepared food is never far away. Sydney, has a well deserved reputation for innovative as well as traditional restaurants, serving a dazzling array of cuisine. Of particular note is the abundance of east-west fusion dishes that are rapidly taking hold as a signature style.

The heart of Sydney has world-class shopping with everything from large department stores to underground music shops, the finest fashion labels to second hand book stores. Check out the Queen Victoria Building or the Strand for designer outlets and specialty shops. There are also excellent markets around the city and also in the coastal areas, where you can find anything from home-made jams to pre loved clothes. For the best markets check out Oxford Street in Paddington and Paddy’s markets in Sydney or the charming Byron Bay craft markets.

New South Wales has more than 2000 kilometres of beautiful coastline, over 700 different beaches and some of the best and most accessible surf breaks in Australia, so it’s a fantastic place to take to the water. Around Sydney you will find a heap of excellent locations on the Northern Beaches - check out Manly, Queenscliff or Harbord, or on the south of Sydney, Cronulla or Bondi are both loved by locals and visitors. Further afield on the south coast of NSW, Port Kembla just outside Wollongong has great surf or for more serious surfers Jervis Bay is the home of the infamous South Coast Pipe. Don’t miss the great options in the north of the state either including Byron Bay, the Tweed Coast, Crescent Head and Coffs Harbour.