Things to do in New South Wales
The best things to do in New South Wales include ballooning in the Hunter Valley, seeing kangaroos in the Blue Mountains, surfing in Byron Bay and climbing Australia’s highest mountain.
Sydney, rightly, is one of the major reasons people visit Australia. It is one of the greatest cities on earth, with an enviable mix of urban energy and natural wonders. Australia Travel Questions is busy compiling a big list of things to do in Sydney – and that should be your first stop if you’re making Australia’s biggest city the centrepiece of your Australian trip.
However, there is much more to the state of New South Wales. NSW is big and has the longest border of any Australian state. Venture from Sydney into regional New South Wales, and there are hundreds of genuinely memorable experiences to enjoy.
These things to do in New South Wales have been broken down by region, and this is intended as an index page. Come back as the site grows to see more. Alternatively, check out the index of NSW town and city guides.
Things to do in the Blue Mountains
Go for a scenic drive in the Blue Mountains.
Look out over the Sydney basin from the Bellbird Lookout in Kurrajong.
Take a tour of the Jenolan Caves.
Walk into the Jamison Valley from Katoomba, starting from next to the Three Sisters, and coming back up on the Scenic Railway.
Take a tour of the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel in Medlow Bath.
Enjoy the autumn colours at Breenhold Gardens.
See kangaroos at the Euroka campground, then swim in Jellybean Pool.
Take a scenic drive along the Capertee Valley from Lithgow.
Things to do on the Central Coast
Take a surfing lesson at Terrigal on the Central Coast, or brave the breaks further north at Wamberal or Forresters Beach.
Survey Broken Bay from Green Point at Pearl Beach.
Learn how pearls are cultivated at the Broken Bay Pearl Farm in Mooney Mooney.
Have fish and chips at the Patonga Pub on Patonga Beach.
Go horse-riding or quad biking at Glenworth Valley.
Take your pick from five national parks on the Central Coast.
See Aboriginal rock art in the Brisbane Water National Park.
Walk the Bouddi Coastal Walk from Putty Beach to Macmasters Beach.
Things to do in Newcastle, Port Stephens and the Hunter Valley
Trawl the best museums in Newcastle.
Swim in Newcastle’s Ocean Baths – especially the Merewether Ocean Baths.
Stroll the steel silhouette-lined Newcastle Memorial Walk near Bar Beach, Newcastle.
Go ice skating at Warners Bay in Lake Macquarie.
Go walking through rainforest in Watagans National Park near Cooranbong.
View Cabbage Tree Island on the Tomaree Head Summit Walk.
Go clothing-optional at Samurai Beach in Port Stephens.
Get close to sharks and rays in Anna Bay.
Go swimming with dolphins in Port Stephens.
Hand-feed kangaroos at the Oakvale Wildlife Park.
Go swimming at Jimmys Beach in Hawks Nest.
Crawl the craft breweries of the Hunter Valley.
Go on a Hunter Valley horse-riding tour through the vineyards
Go hot air ballooning in the Hunter Valley.
Try a self-drive wine tour of the Hunter Valley.
Things to do on the NSW North Coast
Tackle the Treetops Coffs Harbour adventure park in Korora.
Visit the Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse at Seal Rocks.
Watch whales from the tower at Cape Hawke in the Booti Booti National Park near Forster–Tuncurry.
Get lost in the Bago Maze.
Ride a camel on Lighthouse Beach or visit Billabong Zoo in Port Macquarie.
Take a scenic drive on the Way Way Creek Road near Macksville.
Go canoeing on the Bellingen River from Bellingen.
Chill out at Emerald Beach or Sapphire Beach near Coffs Harbour.
Things to do in the Northern Rivers
Take surfing lessons in Byron Bay.
Swim in the pool at Killen Falls near Ballina.
Chill out on the beach at Yamba.
Taste weird and wonderful fruits at Tropical Fruit World near Kingscliff.
Go kayaking with dolphins in Byron Bay.
Take a night vision tour in the Nightcap National Park.
Walk to the Cape Byron Lighthouse in Byron Bay.
Strip off at clothes-optional Belongil Beach.
Spot whales from Norries Head at Cabarita Beach.
Things to do south of Sydney
Choose between Garie Beach and Wattamolla Beach in the Royal National Park.
Do a beach skydive in Wollongong.
Go surfing at Windang Beach or swimming at Austinmer Beach in Wollongong.
View the Sea Cliff Bridge from above on an Illawarra scenic flight from Albion Park.
Walk the Clover Hill Trail in Macquarie Pass National Park.
See coastal pyrotechnics in Kiama at the Bombo Headland, Blowhole Point Ocean Pool and Kiama Blowhole.
Go surfing at Werri Beach in Gerringong.
Do a self-guided Southern Highlands wine tour, stopping at Tertini Wines in Mittagong, Centennial Vineyards in Bowral and Bendooley Estate in Berrima.
Learn about cricket at the Bradman Museum in Bowral.
Visit Morton National Park in the Southern Highlands, and walk to Belmore Falls.
Waterfall hop through the Budderoo National Park, taking in Carrington Falls and Gerringong Falls.
See the Big Merino in Goulburn.
Things to do on the NSW South Coast
Enjoy the fine white sands of Callala Beach, Jervis Bay.
Go on a Jervis Bay dolphin-watching cruise from Huskisson.
Go snorkelling at Greenfield Beach or Blenheim Beach in Vincentia.
Explore Murrays Beach, Iluka Beach and Cave Beach in the pint-sized Jervis Bay Territory.
Climb Pigeon House Mountain in Morton National Park.
Surf the famous barrels at Bawley Point.
Camp with kangaroos at the Pebbly Beach Campground.
Swim at Barlings Beach in Tomakin near Broulee.
Kayak up the Tomaga River from Mossy Point.
Hit the shops in Berry.
Swim with seals at Montague Island on a tour from Narooma.
Go walking in the Mimosa Rocks National Park near Bega.
Visit the Killer Whale Museum in Eden.
Swim at Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden.
Go on a whale-watching cruise in Eden.
Things to do in New South Wales: Riverina
Go for a walk in the Woomargama National Park.
Taste whisky in Corowa.
Go birdwatching in the Murray Valley National Park.
See aboriginal art on the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk in Albury.
Take a ghost tour at the ultra-haunted Monte Cristo Homestead in Junee.
Go to the inland beach in Wagga Wagga.
Admire the giant scale water tower art in Narrandera.
Take a safari at the Altina Wildlife Park in Darlington Point.
Learn about the wool industry at the Yanga Homestead and Yanga Woolshed.
Go kayaking on the Murray River from Albury.
Things to do in New South Wales: Mountains
Tackle the best walks in Thredbo.
Climb Australia’s highest mountain.
Go trout fishing in the Snowy Mountains. Or skiing, when the Australian snow arrives.
Things to do in outback New South Wales and New England
See Aboriginal rock art in the Mutawintji National Park near Broken Hill.
Go for a cruise on the Menindee Lakes.
Look for rare pineapple opals on an opal mine tour in White Cliffs.
See underground art at Chambers of the Black Hand in Lightning Ridge.
See African animals at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. You can stay overnight in a safari lodge, too.
Take a helicopter tour of the Oxley-Wild Rivers National Park.
See Ebor Falls in the Guy Fawkes River National Park.
Go fishing at Chaffey Dam in Nundle, near Tamworth.
Visit the Rail Journeys Museum in Werris Creek, near Tamworth.