WEEKENDING

New South Wales weekend getaways and things to do

From the best snorkelling beaches to scenic mountain trails, stargazing to whale watching, we’re here to help you find your next adventure with New South Wales weekend getaways.

Day trip itineraries | Things to do in New South Wales

Sometimes you’ve only got one day free, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it. Luckily, there’s plenty of spots within an hour’s drive of most major cities. There’s the wineries of the Hunter Valley, charming towns of the Southern Highlights, coastal walks in Royal and Bouddi National Parks and, depending on the time of year, whales to see all up and down the coast.

2-day New South Wales weekend getaways

Weekends are made for adventures and we spend plenty of them exploring this beautiful backyard of ours. With 48 hours (or more if you leave on a Friday afternoon), there’s plenty you can do and some great places to stay.

3-day New South Wales weekend getaways

We love a long weekend. They’re practically an invitation to go on a mini-break. With an extra day, we can get a bit further out there or even hop on a plane to reach all corners of the state. From Byron Bay to Merimbula or inland to the Warrumbungles and, one day, Broken Hill, our guides are here to help you make the most of your extra day off.

Iconic places in Sydney to visit

Residents of Sydney’s Inner West for more than a decade, we love the area. But we’re also keen explorers and spend plenty of time discovering other parts of the Sydney. Here’s some of our top picks with some guides to match.

Inner West

  • Newtown: A funky 2 kilometre stretch of mouth-watering restaurants, iconic pubs and plenty of unique shops.
  • Marrickville: Newtown’s quieter cousin that’s well worth a visit on its own is home to some of the city’s best breweries and Vietnamese restaurants.

Eastern Suburbs

  • Bondi: Sydney’s, if not Australia’s, most famous beach suburb is home to more than just a stunning stretch of sand. Some great restaurants and coastal walks can be found in the area.
  • Coogee: Less touristed than Bondi, Coogee is well worth the visit for those who make it to the end of the Bondi-Coogee coastal walk… Or those who opt to just take the bus. The surf is more gentle than Bondi and the prices in restaurants are probably more affordable.
  • La Perouse: The southern-most point of this stretch of coast before hitting Botany Bay, La Perouse has a completely different vibe to most other Eastern Suburbs beaches and has that away-from-it-all feeling you may be after for a beach day.

Northern Beaches

  • Manly: It may have been the first part of the Northern Beaches we ever explored, but it still remains as our favourite. Multiple stunning beaches, an iconic ferry ride and a headland for bushwalks all within reach of great restaurants, cafes and shops. There’s not much more you can ask for here.
  • Palm Beach: At the furthest-north tip of the peninsula, Palm Beach is simply stunning; stunning enough that it’s long been the set of Australian soap opera Home & Away.

Our favourite New South Wales regions to visit

As much as we love the city, we also love getting out of it. With New South Wales being our home state, we do plenty of short trips here. Whether it’s a long weekend or we’re after just a quick, 48-hour getaway, here are our five favourite regions to escape to.

South Coast

  • Kiama: The cute town just a few hours south of Sydney is perfect for a coastal day trip.
  • Narooma: Swim with local seals in this quiet seaside town.
  • Merimbula: Just about as far down the coast you can get, explore pristine beaches and bushwalking tracks.
  • Woolongong: All the perks of a city with the feel of a beach holiday.

Mid-North Coast

  • Coffs Harbour: So much more than the Big Banana, explore beautiful beaches, kangaroo-filled peninsulas and even swim with turtles if you’re lucky.
  • Port Stephens: Just north of Newcastle, this region is home to a few towns with perfect holiday vibes with palm-lined beaches and plenty of dolphins swimming in the bay.

Blue Mountains

  • Western Blue Mountains: Beyond the popular tourist spots of Katoomba and Leura, there’s quiet towns with epic scenery and plenty of hiking trails to explore.

Central West and North West Slopes

  • Coonabarabran and Warrumbungle National Park: Home to some of the country’s best stargazing, this national park is packed with scenic bushwalking tracks through the rugged bushland.
  • Mudgee: Our favourite wine region in New South Wales (sorry, Hunter Valley), here there’s laid back vineyards, rolling green hills and delicious regional cuisine.
  • Orange: Beyond the Blue Mountains lies this a wine region that’s home to more than 80 vineyards growing grapes in the volcanic soil of the long-dormant Mount Canobolas.