New South Wales
3
Day Itinerary •
Australia
Three days in New South Wales take you from the most extraordinary harbour city in the world to the ancient Blue Mountains plateau and the remarkable Hunter Valley wine region. Sydney's Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk give the finest urban experience in Australia, while the Three Sisters and the extraordinary eucalyptus valleys of the Blue Mountains give the finest day trip from any Australian city. This route covers the essential New South Wales. The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the extraordinary Circular Quay, the Bondi Beach and Icebergs pool, the remarkable Bondi to Coogee coastal cliff walk, the extraordinary Echo Point Three Sisters lookout in the Blue Mountains, and the remarkable Hunter Valley with its extraordinary Semillon and Shiraz vineyards.
Best Time To Visit
Year-round. Mar to May and Sep to Nov best. Dec to Feb hot and busy.
Getting There
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport. 20 min to city.
Getting Around
Sydney trains and ferries. Car for Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley.
Budget Per Day
Approx A$200 to A$400 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, walking and driving
DAY 1
SYDNEY HARBOUR
MORNING
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE AND CIRCULAR QUAY
The Sydney Opera House on Bennelong Point is the most extraordinary building in Australia, Jorn Utzon's remarkable 1973 masterpiece of interlocking concrete shells giving the finest single piece of architecture in the Southern Hemisphere. The extraordinary view from the Circular Quay ferry terminal with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the same frame is the most photographed scene in Australia. The remarkable Sydney Harbour foreshore walk from the quay to the Opera House is entirely free. Travel: 10 min walk
MIDDAY
SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE CLIMB OR WALK
The Sydney Harbour Bridge gives the finest view over the harbour from the pylon lookout, accessible by climbing 200 steps from Cumberland Street for a small fee. The remarkable BridgeClimb experience to the summit arch gives the most extraordinary panorama over the Opera House, the harbour and the city skyline. The free alternative is the pedestrian walkway across the bridge giving the finest free harbour view. Pylon lookout approx A$20. BridgeClimb approx A$180. Travel: 15 min train
AFTERNOON
BONDI BEACH AND THE ICEBERGS POOL
Bondi Beach is the most extraordinary urban beach in the world, its remarkable kilometre of white sand and the extraordinary Bondi Icebergs ocean pool carved into the sandstone headrock at the southern end giving the finest single beach experience in Australia. The remarkable Bondi Pavilion and the extraordinary beach culture are outstanding. The Icebergs pool with the waves crashing over it is the finest ocean pool in Sydney. Pool entry approx A$10.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Mrs Macquaries Chair in the Domain is the most extraordinary free viewpoint in Sydney, the remarkable sandstone bench carved for Governor Macquarie's wife in 1816 giving the finest simultaneous view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Entirely free. Most extraordinary at dawn before other visitors arrive.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Bills, Darlinghurst Outstanding Sydney breakfast institution. The finest ricotta hotcakes in Australia. | Lunch: Circular Quay or Opera Bar Outstanding harbour dining. Sydney rock oysters with the Opera House view. | Dinner: Quay Restaurant Outstanding Sydney fine dining overlooking the harbour. Local NSW seafood.
DAY 2
BLUE MOUNTAINS
MORNING
ECHO POINT AND THE THREE SISTERS
Echo Point at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains gives the most extraordinary free viewpoint in New South Wales, the remarkable Three Sisters sandstone formation rising above the Jamison Valley and the extraordinary eucalyptus-filled valley stretching to the horizon giving the finest single viewpoint in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The valley floor is visible 300 metres below. The extraordinary valley mist in early morning is outstanding. Entirely free. Travel: 30 min walk
MIDDAY
THE GIANT STAIRWAY AND JAMISON VALLEY WALK
The Giant Stairway from Echo Point descends 900 steps into the extraordinary Jamison Valley floor, passing directly beside the Three Sisters and into the remarkable temperate rainforest below. The extraordinary Scenic World cable car, Australia's steepest railway at 52 degrees, and the remarkable boardwalk through ancient Jurassic rainforest give the finest valley floor experience in the Blue Mountains. Scenic World pass approx A$45. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
WENTWORTH FALLS AND LEURA VILLAGE
Wentworth Falls is the most extraordinary single waterfall in the Blue Mountains, its remarkable 187-metre drop into the Jamison Valley and the extraordinary Conservation Hut above the falls giving the finest waterfall viewpoint in the mountains. The remarkable Leura village below the escarpment with its extraordinary antique shops and cafes gives the finest Blue Mountains village experience. Wentworth Falls walk free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Ruined Castle walk in the Jamison Valley below Katoomba is the most extraordinary hidden walk in the Blue Mountains, a remarkable 3-hour return walk to an extraordinary basalt rock formation giving views over the entire valley system from a rarely visited perspective. Entirely free. The finest undiscovered walk in the Blue Mountains.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Katoomba Coffee before Echo Point. Arrive at the lookout by 8am for the mist. | Lunch: Conservation Hut, Wentworth Falls Outstanding cafe above the falls. Local NSW food with valley views. | Dinner: Restaurant in Katoomba or Sydney Outstanding Blue Mountains or city restaurant on the return.
DAY 3
HUNTER VALLEY
MORNING
HUNTER VALLEY WINE REGION
The Hunter Valley north of Sydney is the most extraordinary wine region in New South Wales, its remarkable volcanic soils producing the finest Semillon and Shiraz in Australia. The extraordinary Tyrrells, Brokenwood, Audrey Wilkinson and McWilliams Mount Pleasant estates are all within easy driving distance of each other. The remarkable Audrey Wilkinson vineyard on a hill above Pokolbin gives the finest single view in the Hunter Valley. Most tastings free. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
POKOLBIN VILLAGE AND THE WINE TRAIL
Pokolbin is the most extraordinary wine village in the Hunter Valley, its remarkable collection of cellar doors, restaurants and guesthouses giving the finest wine country experience in New South Wales. The extraordinary McGuigan Wines and the remarkable Hungerford Hill winery with its extraordinary architecture are outstanding. The fine Tempus Two cellar door in its remarkable barrel hall is the finest wine experience in the valley. Most tastings free. Travel: 2 hour drive back to Sydney
AFTERNOON
CESSNOCK AND THE RETURN TO SYDNEY
The return drive from the Hunter Valley to Sydney via the New England Highway or the Pacific Highway gives the finest rural New South Wales scenery, the remarkable Hawkesbury River crossing and the extraordinary approach to Sydney from the north outstanding. The extraordinary Lane Cove National Park bush setting visible from the highway gives the finest introduction to how Sydney sits within the extraordinary natural landscape of the Sydney Basin.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Lovedale area of the Hunter Valley is the most extraordinary undiscovered wine sub-region in NSW, its remarkable small family estates including Lovedale Winery and Tintilla Wines producing exceptional wines with none of the tourist crowds of Pokolbin. Entirely free to visit. The finest hidden wine discovery in the Hunter Valley.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Hunter Valley Coffee before the cellar door trail. | Lunch: Cellar door restaurant, Hunter Valley Outstanding vineyard lunch. Local Hunter Semillon and NSW lamb. | Dinner: Restaurant in Sydney Outstanding farewell NSW dinner. Sydney rock oysters and local fish.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Sydney City Centre Park Hyatt Sydney or QT Sydney. Circular Quay area. Approx A$250 to A$600. Budget Option Base Sydney or Wake Up! Hostel. Central location. Approx A$40 to A$120 per night.
Top Tips
1. Get an Opal card at any 7-Eleven or train station. The daily cap makes Sydney's transport excellent value.
2. The Sydney Harbour ferry to Manly is the finest A$8 harbour cruise in the world. Take it morning or evening.
3. The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk takes about 2 hours and is entirely free. Do it early before heat.
4. Echo Point Three Sisters lookout in the Blue Mountains is free. Arrive by 8am for mist in the valley.
5. Hunter Valley cellar doors are mostly free to visit. Tyrrells, Brokenwood and Audrey Wilkinson are highlights.
6. Sydney summers are extremely hot. If visiting December to February, plan outdoor activities for early morning.
Total Budget
Approx A$200 to A$400 per person per day