New South Wales
5
Day Itinerary •
Australia
Five days in New South Wales give you the full extraordinary sweep of Australia's most diverse state, from the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge to the ancient Blue Mountains plateau, the remarkable Hunter Valley wine country, the extraordinary white sand of Jervis Bay on the South Coast and the remarkable dolphin watching at Jervis Bay Marine Park. This route covers the complete New South Wales coastal and hinterland experience. Sydney Harbour, the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, the Three Sisters and Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley Semillon and Shiraz cellar doors, and the extraordinary Jervis Bay with its remarkable Hyams Beach, the whitest sand beach in the world, and the finest dolphin watching on the NSW coast.
Best Time To Visit
Mar to May and Sep to Nov. Dec to Feb hot. Jun to Aug mild.
Getting There
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport. Direct from most cities.
Getting Around
Sydney Opal card. Car essential for Blue Mountains, Hunter and South Coast.
Budget Per Day
Approx A$200 to A$420 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, walking and driving
DAY 1
SYDNEY HARBOUR
MORNING
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE AND CIRCULAR QUAY
The Sydney Opera House is the most extraordinary building in Australia, Jorn Utzon's remarkable 1973 masterpiece giving the finest 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 harbour foreshore walk to the Opera House, the fine Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon lookout and the extraordinary Mrs Macquaries Chair viewpoint are all free. Travel: 15 min bus
MIDDAY
SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE AND THE ROCKS
The Rocks precinct below the Harbour Bridge is the most extraordinary historic neighbourhood in Sydney, its remarkable collection of colonial sandstone buildings from the 1800s, the fine Rocks Market on weekends and the extraordinary Argyle Cut hand-carved through sandstone in the 1840s giving the finest single historic precinct in Australia. The remarkable BridgeClimb to the summit arch gives the most extraordinary city panorama. Pylon Lookout approx A$20. BridgeClimb approx A$180. Travel: 20 min bus
AFTERNOON
BONDI BEACH AND THE ICEBERGS
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 headrock at the southern end giving the finest single beach experience in Australia. The remarkable Bondi Pavilion with its extraordinary art deco architecture and the fine surf culture give the finest afternoon in Sydney. The Icebergs pool with Pacific waves crashing over it is outstanding. Pool entry approx A$10.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Manly Ferry from Circular Quay gives the most extraordinary A$8 harbour cruise in the world, the remarkable 30-minute journey past the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Middle Harbour and the extraordinary Manly Cove giving the finest single transport experience in Sydney. Entirely on the Opal card daily cap. The finest hidden value experience in Sydney.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Bills, Darlinghurst Outstanding Sydney breakfast institution. Finest ricotta hotcakes in Australia. | Lunch: Opera Bar, Circular Quay Outstanding harbourside restaurant. Sydney rock oysters with Opera House view. | Dinner: Quay Restaurant, Circular Quay Outstanding Sydney fine dining. Local NSW seafood and produce.
DAY 2
BONDI TO COOGEE
MORNING
BONDI TO COOGEE COASTAL CLIFF WALK
The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is the most extraordinary free urban walk in Australia, its remarkable 6km route along the sandstone cliffs above the Pacific Ocean past Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Gordons Bay giving the finest coastal scenery accessible on foot from any Australian city. The extraordinary ocean rock pools at Bronte and Clovelly, the remarkable Waverly Cemetery clifftop and the fine Coogee beach at the end are outstanding. Entirely free. Travel: 20 min bus back to Bondi
MIDDAY
BRONTE BEACH AND THE ROCK POOL CIRCUIT
Bronte Beach on the Bondi to Coogee walk is the most extraordinary family beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs, its remarkable ocean pool, the extraordinary Bronte Baths carved from the natural rock and the fine Bronte Park behind the beach giving the finest beach stop on the coastal walk. The remarkable rock shelf at low tide gives extraordinary rockpool exploration. The Bronte Beach cafe precinct is outstanding. Travel: 30 min bus
AFTERNOON
DARLINGHURST AND SURRY HILLS
Darlinghurst and Surry Hills are the most extraordinary inner city neighbourhoods in Sydney, their remarkable collection of independent restaurants, cafes and bars giving the finest urban afternoon in Australia. The extraordinary Crown Street food strip in Surry Hills has the finest concentration of restaurants in Sydney. The remarkable Oxford Street arts precinct and the fine Taylor Square give the most vibrant evening neighbourhood in the city.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Gordons Bay underwater nature trail on the Bondi to Coogee walk is the most extraordinary free snorkelling site in Sydney, a marked underwater trail through an extraordinary marine reserve with remarkable fish life visible from the surface. Entirely free. Almost entirely unknown to visitors doing the coastal walk.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe at Bondi Beach Outstanding Bondi cafe. Coffee before the coastal walk. | Lunch: Cafe at Bronte Beach Outstanding mid-walk cafe. Local NSW food with ocean views. | Dinner: Restaurant in Surry Hills Outstanding Sydney dining. Local seafood, lamb and the finest NSW wine.
DAY 3
BLUE MOUNTAINS
MORNING
ECHO POINT AND THE THREE SISTERS
Echo Point at Katoomba gives the most extraordinary free viewpoint in New South Wales, the remarkable Three Sisters sandstone formation and the extraordinary eucalyptus-filled Jamison Valley stretching to the horizon giving the finest panorama in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The early morning mist rising from the valley is the finest natural spectacle accessible by train from Sydney. The remarkable Giant Stairway descent beside the Three Sisters is outstanding. Travel: 30 min walk
MIDDAY
SCENIC WORLD AND THE JAMISON VALLEY
Scenic World at Katoomba contains the steepest railway in Australia, descending 52 degrees into the extraordinary Jurassic rainforest of the Jamison Valley floor. The remarkable boardwalk through ancient ferns and towering Sydney blue gum gives the finest rainforest walk accessible from Sydney. The extraordinary Scenic Skyway cable car crosses the valley 270 metres above the treetops. Scenic World pass approx A$45. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
LEURA VILLAGE AND WENTWORTH FALLS
Leura is the most extraordinary village in the Blue Mountains, its remarkable main street of heritage buildings, fine gardens and the extraordinary Sublime Point lookout above the valley giving the finest village afternoon in the mountains. Wentworth Falls 10 minutes east of Katoomba is the most extraordinary accessible waterfall in the Blue Mountains, its remarkable 187-metre drop into the Jamison Valley visible from above the escarpment. Walk free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Govetts Leap lookout at Blackheath in the Blue Mountains is the most extraordinary alternative to Echo Point in the mountains, its remarkable Grose Valley panorama with the finest waterfall visible at the cliff edge giving a less-visited but arguably superior view. Entirely free. 20 minutes north of Katoomba.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Katoomba Early coffee. Arrive at Echo Point by 8am for the valley mist. | Lunch: Leura Garage Outstanding Blue Mountains cafe. Local NSW produce in a remarkable heritage setting. | Dinner: Darley's Restaurant, Katoomba Outstanding Blue Mountains fine dining. Local NSW lamb and regional wines.
DAY 4
HUNTER VALLEY
MORNING
HUNTER VALLEY WINE TRAIL BY BICYCLE
The Hunter Valley wine region north of Sydney produces the finest Semillon in the world, its remarkable volcanic soils and extraordinary continental climate giving wines of extraordinary longevity. The fine Tyrrells, the oldest family winery in Australia dating to 1858, the extraordinary Brokenwood producing the finest Shiraz in the Hunter and the remarkable Audrey Wilkinson on the hill above Pokolbin give the finest three cellar door experiences in the valley. Most tastings free. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
POKOLBIN VILLAGE AND THE ESTATE TRAIL
Pokolbin at the heart of the Hunter Valley gives the finest wine village experience in New South Wales, the remarkable Hungerford Hill, McGuigan and the extraordinary Bimbadgen estate with its remarkable amphitheatre and lake view giving the finest variety of cellar door experiences in the valley. The remarkable Hunter Valley Gardens nearby have the most extraordinary formal garden collection in regional Australia. Gardens entry approx A$25. Travel: 2 hour drive to Jervis Bay
AFTERNOON
ARRIVAL AT JERVIS BAY
Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast is the most extraordinary marine park in Australia, its remarkable 100km of beaches including the extraordinary Hyams Beach with the whitest sand in the world, the remarkable Murrays Beach and the fine Blenheim Beach giving the finest coastal beach collection in NSW. The extraordinary Jervis Bay Marine Park has the largest resident pod of bottlenose dolphins in the region.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Lovedale area of the Hunter Valley is the most extraordinary undiscovered wine sub-region in NSW, its remarkable small family estates producing exceptional wine far from the tourist crowds of Pokolbin. The finest hidden cellar doors in the Hunter Valley. Entirely free to visit. 15 minutes from the main Pokolbin wine strip.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Hunter Valley Coffee before the cellar door trail. | Lunch: Winery restaurant, Hunter Valley Outstanding vineyard lunch. Local Hunter Semillon and NSW lamb. | Dinner: Restaurant in Huskisson, Jervis Bay Outstanding South Coast seafood. Local flathead and NSW oysters.
DAY 5
JERVIS BAY
MORNING
HYAMS BEACH AND JERVIS BAY MARINE PARK
Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay Marine Park holds the Guinness World Record for the whitest sand on earth, its extraordinary powder-white quartz sand and the brilliant turquoise water of the remarkable marine park giving the finest single beach in New South Wales. The extraordinary visibility in the water, the remarkable seagrass meadows and the fine coastal banksia woodland behind the beach give the finest complete coastal experience on the NSW South Coast. Beach entirely free. Travel: 15 min drive
MIDDAY
DOLPHIN WATCHING CRUISE FROM HUSKISSON
Huskisson on Jervis Bay is home to the finest dolphin watching in New South Wales, the remarkable resident pod of approximately 90 bottlenose dolphins giving near-guaranteed sightings year-round. The extraordinary cruise through the marine park past the fine Green Patch beach, the remarkable Bowen Island seabird colony and the fine Hole in the Wall sea cave give the finest boat experience on the NSW South Coast. Dolphin cruise approx A$45. Travel: 2.5 hour drive to Sydney
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO SYDNEY VIA THE PRINCES HIGHWAY
The return drive from Jervis Bay to Sydney via the Princes Highway passes through the extraordinary Kangaroo Valley, one of the finest rural landscapes in NSW, and the remarkable Fitzroy Falls in the Morton National Park giving the finest waterfall viewpoint on the South Coast return. The extraordinary Robertson village with its remarkable cheese factory and the fine Illawarra escarpment views are outstanding on the return.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Murrays Beach in Booderee National Park at Jervis Bay is the most extraordinary hidden beach in the marine park, a remarkable sheltered white sand beach accessible by a short walk through extraordinary banksia woodland with none of the crowds at Hyams Beach. Free with national park entry. The finest hidden beach at Jervis Bay.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Huskisson Coffee before the Hyams Beach walk. | Lunch: Hyams Beach Cafe Outstanding South Coast cafe. Local NSW seafood and flathead. | Dinner: Restaurant in Sydney or Kangaroo Valley Outstanding farewell NSW dinner on the return journey.
Where To Stay
Sydney, Nights 1 to 2 Park Hyatt or QT Sydney. Circular Quay area. Approx A$250 to A$600. Hunter Valley or Blue Mtns, Night 3 to 4 Peppers Creek or Lilianfels. Wine country. Approx A$200 to A$450. Jervis Bay, Night 5 Paperbark Camp or Huskisson B&B. Beachside. Approx A$150 to A$400.
Top Tips
1. Get an Opal card on arrival. The daily cap of A$18.60 makes Sydney's ferries and trains excellent value.
2. The Manly Ferry from Circular Quay is the finest A$8 harbour cruise in the world. Take it at sunset.
3. Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay holds a Guinness World Record for the whitest sand. Arrive early in summer.
4. Dolphin watching cruises from Huskisson run daily. Jervis Bay has a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins.
5. The Blue Mountains train from Central takes 2 hours. It's the most convenient way to reach Katoomba.
6. Sydney summer heat is intense. All outdoor walks and activities are best done before 10am or after 4pm.
Total Budget
Approx A$200 to A$420 per person per day