New South Wales Attractions

Blue Mountains

In the thick of the Great Dividing Range, the Blue Mountains are a prime example of Australian bush, with gum trees and excellent bushwalking through deep gorges and up majestic peaks. The surreal blue haze that hangs over the region is a fine mist of volatile oil given off by eucalyptus trees.

Katoomba is a major tourist centre, and with its Art Nouveau and Art Deco guesthouses is a cheerful relic of another era. From Echo Point you can gawp at the Three Sisters, a rock formation named for three lasses who were petrified by a sorcerer to protect them from the advances of three sleazy men.

Hunter Valley

With over 60 vineyards in the Lower Hunter to taste, you'll have to quaff and gulp your way through the valley. Sydneysiders regulay make weekend jaunts to its beaches, including the tranquil Myall Lakes National Park or popular Port Stephens, famous for its great surf and resident pod of dolphins.