For a few months a year, New South Wales gets just chilly enough for us to grab our woollen jumpers and Ugg boots and want to curl up under blankets and get all comfy-cosy. And sometimes, we want to do that somewhere other than our own home.
Over the years, we’ve taken our fair share of local getaways, and these are some of our favourite spots on our New South Wales winter getaways list. Plus, a few more that we’d really like to get to soon.
From frosty mountain mornings to ski breaks where the après is all about the mulled wine, we’re all about those spots that give a truly winter feel that’s rare to find in Australia.
Best destinations to visit during winter in New South Wales
Blue Mountains: The Cosy Mountain Escape
Where is it? West of Sydney, about a 1.5-hour drive from the CBD, a 2-hour drive from Wollongong or a 3-hour drive from Newcastle
What’s there to do in the Blue Mountains? Hiking, scenic lookouts, waterfalls, onsen-style Japanese baths, cosy pubs
Averaging about eight degrees colder than Sydney during the cooler months, the Blue Mountains certainly has a different air in winter. Brisk hikes followed by afternoons spent at cosy pubs, soothing afternoons at Japanese-style onsens overlooking valleys or wandering the streets of Katoomba during the annual Winter Fest are just some of the ways you can spend a weekend in the Blue Mountains.
The region is vast, and there’s quite a few towns to choose from to book a stay here. From chic Leura to quiet Blackheath, we’re sure there’s something for everyone. Plus, many are accessible by train so you can leave the car at home!
✅ We’ve been!
Want to make your visit to the Blue Mountains a multi-day escape? Consider booking these accommodation options:
- Sinofeld (Leura): Book directly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com (We’ve stayed here!)
- Blue Mountains Heritage Motel (Katooma): Book directly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia (We’ve stayed here!)
- Kyah Hotel (Blackheath): Book directly with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
While there are plenty of hotels to say in all across the Blue Mountains, it’s also a great place to book a cabin stay on sites like VRBO/Stayz, Booking.com or Airbnb. Picture wooden cabins overlooking vast valleys, ourdoor firepits and maybe a hottub if you’re lucky.
Read more about the Blue Mountains:
- A western Blue Mountains weekend
- Best Blue Mountains towns to visit
- Our favourite hikes in the Blue Mountains
Southern Highlands: The Quaint Small Town Vibe
Where is it? Between Canberra and Sydney, about a 1-hour drive from Wollongong, or a 1.5 hour drive from either Sydney or Canberra
What’s there to do in the Southern Highlands? Wander around cute towns, sip local wines at vineyards and check out nearby waterfalls.
If the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley could somehow have a baby, we imagine it would look something like the Southern Highlands. The region has plenty of cool-climate wineries with welcoming cellar doors where you can sample the local drop. Conveniently, many of them are just a stone’s throw from town centres too.
The area is also well known for its beautiful foliage, so late-autumn and early-winter are the prime time to visit. Grab a warm coffee, chai or hot chocolate from a local cafe and head to a local park. Spots like Bowral, Berrima and Mittagong are great for seeing the trees glow in brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow.
✅ We’ve been!
Want to make your visit to the Southern Highlands a multi-day escape? Consider booking these accommodation options:
- Dormie House (Moss Vale): Book direct with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia (We’ve stayed here!)
- Berida Hotel (Bowral): Book direct with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
Read more about the Southern Highlands:
Mudgee: Winter Wineries Galore
Where is it? Northwest and inland from Sydney, about 3.5 hours’ drive from Sydney or Newcastle, 4.5 hours’ drive from Canberra.
What’s there to do in Mudgee? Meet local vintners at regional wineries, taste local cuisine and stargaze.
If curling up with a glass of red wine and a charcuterie board sounds like your perfect night in, then Mudgee’s for you. While you probably won’t get to them all in just one weekend, there are more than 35 cellar doors in the region with shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay being the three varieties that started it all here.
We visited a handful of them over the June long weekend a few years ago, including Logan, Lazy Oak, 10s, Yeates, Heslop and Short Sheep, finding a few too many bottles to later enjoy back at the accommodation and back home in Sydney. Sure, it was a bit chilly, with temperatures peaking in the mid-teens during the winter months, but we loved the crisp air and clear skies that winter brings to the central tablelands of New South Wales. For the weekend, that is.
If you’re into stargazing, it’s a great place too. Since it gets dark nice and early in winter, we were able to step outside out accommodation at a pretty reasonable hour and watch the incredible show the night sky puts on. (It was some of the best stargazing we’ve had in the state other than in the Warrumbungles’ Dark Sky Park!)
✅ We’ve been!
Want to make your visit to the Mudgee a multi-day escape? Consider booking these accommodation options:
- Vineyard Motor Inn: Book direct with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com (We’ve stayed here!)
Read more about the Mudgee:
Thredbo: Snowy Escapes
Where is it? Southwest of the ACT, about 2.5 hours’ drive from Canberra, 5 hours’ drive from Wollongong or 5.5 hours’ drive from Sydney.
What’s there to do in Thredbo? Ski or snowboard, hike through Kosciuszko National Park and spend time in the alpine village.
Home to Australia’s highest lifted point for skiers and boarders, Thredbo is exactly what we picture when we think of winter breaks. Snowy mountains, a cute village and maybe a wombat or two scurrying around are what you’ll get here. The mountain itself is home to about 50 runs, including Australia’s longest, which can keep you entertained all weekend long.
But aside from the skiing, the actual village here has a great atmosphere that almost has you forgetting that you’re in Australia. It’s home to cafes, restaurants, bars, shops and plenty of accommodation options. There’s a free shuttle bus that you can take too, if you’re nervous about driving in snowy weather.
We’ll admit though, like most snow resorts in Australia, lift passes here don’t come cheap. For 2026, expect to may more than $200 per day just for lift access.
✅ We’ve been!
Want to make your visit to the Thredbo a multi-day escape? Consider booking these accommodation options:
- Thredbo Alpine Hotel: Book direct with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
- Thredbo YHA: Book direct with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
Narooma: Cool Coastal Adventures
Where is it? South Coast of NSW, about 3 hours’ drive from Canberra, 3.5 hours’ drive from Wollongong, 5 hours’ drive from Sydney.
What’s there to do in Narooma? Indulge in local oysters and sea food, go whale watching and take scenic coastal walks.
Wondering why there’s a beach destination on a cosy winter getaway list? Hear us out!
You don’t need to be in the water to enjoy being by the coast. And here, there’s actually plenty of perks to coming in the off season. Late autumn and early spring is prime time for whale watching in Australia, and Narooma’s a great place to do it. From September to November there’s plenty of tours available, and the earlier on in the season, the fewer tourists there are likely to be.
At the other end of the season, in early May, the Narooma Oyster Festival hits town. It’s the time to try the local mollusks and other local foods.
Nearby, there are loads of beautiful walking tracks in national parks and along the coast, too. On a sunny winter’s day, the temperatures are pretty darn perfect for these walks. And if you’re lucky, you may spot a whale or two!
✅ We’ve been!
Want to make your visit to the Narooma a multi-day escape? Consider booking these accommodation options:
- Horizon Apartments Narooma: Book direct with the hotel | Agoda | Booking.com | Expedia
Read more about the Mudgee:
When to go on your winter break
Winter, of course. But, let’s get more specific. Depending on what type of winter break you’re after, there are better and worse times to visit. Here are some ideas to help you plan your winter break in New South Wales.
Truffle hunting
A truly indulgent break, a truffle hunting getaway is definitely something a little bit out of the ordinary. Join a tour with trained truffle hunters their expert sniffer dogs and see what you can find. Maybe even take your truffles back to your accommodation for a gourmet meal.
When to go: June through August, but peaks in July
Where to go: Southern Highlands, Oberon, Blue Mountains, and the Central West (Orange/Mudgee)
Looking to join a tour? Consider these:
Skiing
Save on the flight to New Zealand and drive down to the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales for a little taste of the mountains. Here, you’ll find snow-capped during the winter months with villages or nearby towns that look more like they belong in the Alps than Australia.
When to go: July and August (late-June and early-September may work too, but it’s dependent on weather conditions)
Where to go: Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte’s Pass
Vivid Sydney
If you’re looking for a festive atmosphere, Vivid Sydney is it. With plenty of colourful installations, food trucks and stalls selling warm drinks like hot chocolate or mulled wine, and the Fire Kitchen to warm up in if you’re cold, it actually can make for a pretty cosy evening!
When to go: 22 May to 13 June in 2026 (dates vary slightly each year)
Where to go: Sydney CBD
👉 Read more about Vivid Sydney
Christmas in July
How exactly this tradition started, we don’t know, but we’re here for it. Aussies love re-celebrating Christmas when it’s more “Christmas-like” weather and they can don their ugly Christmas sweaters and eat heavy meals without breaking a sweat. So, if you’re looking to celebrate the same way, whether at home or at an event, this is the time to do it.
Keep an eye out at local pubs where you are or where you’re planning on visiting. Many of them host special lunches beyond the typical Sunday roast!
When to go: 10-14 July in Sydney, events throughout July in the Blue Mountains (Yulefest),
Where to go: Blue Mountains, Sydney (The Rocks),
Long weekends
If you want to supersize your getaway and have an extended stay without taking any annual leave, plan it around a long weekend. In New South Wales, the King’s Birthday falls on the first Monday in June. While it may be too early to ski, you should be able to enjoy the rest of these destinations with your bonus day.
When to go: First weekend in June
Where to go: Anywhere, except ski fields
