Top places to visit in each of Australia’s states

NSW is one of the most popular states for tourists and locals alike—around one third of the population of Australia live in NSW. Sydney is, without a doubt, the biggest draw for visitors, but I’ve also covered a couple of other spots that I think are worth the detour from this famous city.

Sydney

I know it’s an obvious place to start, but sometimes places are obvious for a reason. Sydney is an iconic city and, unlike other Australian cities that can be skipped (sorry, Adelaide…), Sydney should be on every traveller’s bucket list. It’s also one of the best cities for WHV-makers to settle in!

In the same way that you can’t visit New York without walking the Brooklyn Bridge or San Francisco without seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, you haven’t really been to Sydney if you don’t go to the Harbour Bridge. If you can afford it, the BridgeClimb is often on people’s bucket lists, but a cheaper alternative is to climb the Pylon lookout.

Along with the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House is not to be missed. Some easy ways to get the perfect shot of both landmarks: 1) walk to the viewpoint at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair or 2) take the hop-on, hop-off ferry and photograph them from the water.

Everyone will have heard of Bondi Beach, which is worth a trip, especially for the Icebergs pool or the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. However, some of the best beaches in Sydney can be found further afield, like Manly, Watson’s Bay and Rose Bay.

Finally, make sure you visit The Rocks. This neighbourhood is one of the cutest in Sydney, made up of historic laneways, boutique shops, artisanal markets and quaint cafes.

Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie is a coastal town that makes a perfect stopping point if you’re driving between Brisbane and Sydney; it’s a six-hour drive from Brisbane and a four-hour drive from Sydney. It’s a strong choice for a weekend away if you’re based in Sydney, as there are plenty of activities to fill a two- or three-day itinerary.

This was one of my highlights from my east coast road trip, mainly because of their koala hospital. Australia’s koala population is suffering for a variety of reasons, including chlamydia outbreaks and destruction of habitat from annual bushfires. It’s important for us to give back to local charities and rescue centres fighting to keep Australia’s unique wildlife alive. Port Macquarie’s koala hospital was the first of its kind in the country and is leading the way in its rehabilitation and conservation efforts.

As well as the koala hospital, some of the best things to do in the area include the award-winning Hello Koalas sculpture trail, the Port Macquarie coastal walk, whale watching (between May and November), the rainforest boardwalk, and kite-surfing at Lighthouse Beach.

Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains is a World Heritage region located about an hour west of Sydney, best known for the Three Sisters rock formation. The Three Sisters walk is a must-do, as is the view from Echo Point lookout. Be prepared for an early start if you want to avoid the afternoon tour buses descending on the town of Katoomba!

Although I tend to avoid paid tourist attractions, I would recommend Scenic World as an efficient way of sightseeing, especially if you are on a day trip from Sydney. For around AU$50 (prices vary depending on the date), you get unlimited rides on the world’s steepest passenger railway, the Southern Hemisphere’s steepest cable car, and the scenic Skyway (which offers aerial views of the mountains, rainforest and waterfalls).