New South Wales Holidays
From soaring mountains to breathtaking national parks, glamorous city scenes to quiet coastal towns,
New South Wales is one of Australia’s most stunning and varied states. Offering incredible hiking trails, hundreds of pristine beaches, spectacular waterfalls, fascinating history and architecture, there is something for everyone on New South Wales holidays.
Sydney, Australia’s largest city, serves as the perfect gateway to the rest of the state. Famed for its iconic landmarks and relaxed café culture, start your New South Wales holiday with a tour of the Sydney Opera House, soak up the sun on the world-famous Bondi Beach, look out for whales on the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk or for those feeling a little more daring, embark on a Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb and view the city from up high. A short drive from Sydney you’ll find the Blue Mountains, a World Heritage Area, home to the magnificent Three Sisters which loom over the primaeval valley floor. Here, you can spend the day connecting with nature as you hike past epic waterfalls and eerie caves.
Endless scenes of unspoilt nature
The state of New South Wales boasts over 1590 kilometres of coastline, home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. In the far north, en route to the Gold Coast, is Byron Bay, a surfing hotspot that glows with a laid back, hippy charm. Port Stephens is a hotspot for dolphin and whale sightings or head to Jervis Bay to see some of the whitest sand in the world.
We recommend the Sydney, Rock and Reef itinerary for anyone visiting Australia for the first time as it visits all the must-see sights. Feeling a little more adventurous? The Australasia Encompassed tour takes in Asia, New South Wales, New Zealand and the US. From action-packed adventures to relaxing getaways, we’ve done it all. Give our Destination Specialists a call today to create a New South Wales holiday of a lifetime.
Destination Highlights
Great sample itineraries
We’ve created an inspiring selection of itineraries that can be included in your New South Wales holiday package. Almost anything is possible so please give us a call to discuss all your options.
Pacific Coast Explorer (Australia)
Guide Price £2,795 pp
Our Pacific Coast tour of Australia will take you to some of the top sights along Australia’s most populated stretch of land. See thriving cities full of culture, smaller towns steeped in history and spectacular natural landscapes unique to this...
Adventure holidays
Australasia Encompassed
Guide Price £7,699 pp
Our Australasia Encompassed tour is ideal for first-time visitors or those wanting to experience the highlights of Singapore , New Zealand and Australia , stopping on a couple of islands in the South Pacific , before finishing in Los Angles...
Adventure holidays
Australia, New Zealand and Fiji
Guide Price £13,399 pp
Our tour of Australia , New Zealand and Fiji will take you to the top sights in these wonderful destinations. The 24-day itinerary is perfect for couples and adventurous travellers wanting to see the best of these countries before spending...
Luxury holidays
Australian Signature Highlights
Guide Price £6,195 pp
Discover the most iconic places and spectacular experiences in Australia at a relaxed pace on our Australian Signature Highlights tour. Our 20 day suggested itinerary combines city landmarks with outdoor adventures, and fine wining and dining with a taste of...
Diving holidays
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New South Wales Attractions
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Relax on the beach
Australia is home to some of the world’s best beaches and New South Wales is no exception. As Australians spend much of their time enjoying water sports, barbecues and relaxing on the sand, the beach is the place to go for a slice of authentic Australia. From the deserted white sand vistas of Green Patch in Jervis Bay to vibrant Bondi, there’s an astonishing variety on offer.
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Vineyard tours
New World wines are rightly celebrated today. The Hunter Valley, located just outside of Sydney, boasts some of Australia’s best wine producers – from large traditional concerns to small biodynamic start-ups. The region is particularly famous for its Sémillon – a dry, citrusy variety that’s perfectly paired with long lazy summer afternoons. Once you’ve explored the vineyards, there are some superb fine dining restaurants in the area.
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Take a hike
To the west of Sydney, you’ll find the Blue Mountains – a looming range of sandstone cliffs and canyons set in lush eucalyptus forest. The sunsets here are truly extraordinary. Take your pick from hundreds of trails, including the classic 44 km Six Foot Track and the considerably more relaxed 1.8 km Princes Rock Walk – which offers a breath taking view over Mount Solitary.
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Alex
Senior Digital Designer
“Head to the laid-back bohemian town of Byron Bay and walk the Cape Byron track for amazing views and the chance to see migrating whales and head up to the lighthouse. Don't miss breakfast at Three Blue Ducks in Byron which is set on a working farm.”
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Valerie
Destination Specialist
“Visit the Hunter Valley for its wonderful wineries and perhaps take a cooking class or wine tasting course.”
The city of New South Wales offers a huge selection of fun events held throughout the year that can be enjoyed by everyone. Here are a few of our top suggestions.
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Sydney New Years Fireworks
The world-famous new year's fireworks in Sydney Harbour is an unforgettable spectacle that attracts people from all over the globe. Pack up a picnic and pitch up at one of the many viewpoints around the city and see in the new year in style.
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Mardis Gras
The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is a vibrant, colourful event provides two weeks of theatre, music and art, as well as incredible parties and of course the main parade. An event like no other – prepare to have your boundaries pushed and your mind opened wide.
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Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney is an annual festival of light, music and ideas, held in Sydney. It includes outdoor immersive light installations and projections, performances by local and international musicians, and an ideas exchange forum featuring public talks and debates with leading creative thinkers.
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Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival
There’s no better time to take in the delights of New South Wales’s premium wine-growing region than the Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival. From May to June you can enjoy live music, incredible gourmet dinners at award-winning restaurants to vineyard tours, winemaking masterclasses, hands-on cooking classes and cosy evenings beside an open fire with friends.
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Byron Bay Bluesfest
Bluesfest Byron Bay is New South Wales's biggest contemporary blues and roots music festival, showcasing over 200 artists over a long weekend in April. Welcoming over 100,000 people to Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, just north of Byron Bay, Bluesfest is a weekend filled with music, fun and games for all the family.
With fresh and flavoursome home-grown ingredients used in many dishes and its multicultural background inviting a melting pot of influence, the many wineries, farmers markets and abundance of bistros and cafes in this region will help you to savour the flavours of New South Wales.
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BBQ
You can’t go to Australia without throwing a shrimp on the barbie, so pack up a picnic and head down to the beach where you’ll find public BBQ’s available for everyone to use. Why not try some kangaroo or make yourself a sausage sanger? A typical Aussie barbecue mainly consists of meat, fish and a few stubbies (that’s beer to the non-Australians).
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Seafood
From buckets of tiger prawns to creamy oysters, succulent Moreton Bay bugs and freshly grilled barramundi, foodies are spoilt for choice when it comes to seafood in New South Wales. Visit Sydney’s fish market, the largest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere and choose from a huge selection of fresh-off-the-boat seafood.
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Gelato
There is no better way to cool off in the hot sun than to treat yourself to a delicious ice-cream. One of the most popular gelato spots in New South Wales is Messina where they offer a huge range of unique flavours such as ‘Tim Tam’ and ‘Milk chocolate with peanut fudge’. Messina invites you to try before you buy, which means you can explore all the different flavours and pick a favourite (or two).
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High Tea
A selection of freshly brewed teas, coffee and handmade cakes, sandwiches and pastries. There are many incredible High Tea establishments across NSW. The village of Katoomba is a very popular pit stop for a delicious high tea when visiting the Blue Mountains.
