By leah jones
Australia may be a small continent in landmass but it’s a large, diverse country with bustling cities to visit like Sydney.
If you take a trip to the land down under and decide you want to spend some time outside of the populous city, here are some ideas for day trips from Sydney, Australia in New South Wales.
The Blue Mountains and its majestic cliffs, valleys and waterfalls are about an hour from Sydney. Popular spots include the Three Sisters rock formation, Wentworth Falls and Scenic World for cable car rides.
Hunter Valley (2.5 hours from Sydney by car) is a famous wine region with many vineyards, wine-tasting tours, gourmet food and beautiful scenery. Also visit the Hunter Valley Gardens for hot air balloon rides.
Royal National Park consists of coastal walking trails (like the Figure Eight Pools and the Coast Track), secluded beaches and rainforests. The park is ideal for any outdoor activity and just an hour from Sydney.
This park, 45 minutes from Sydney, features stunning bushland, Indigenous Aboriginal rock art sites, the West Head Lookout with views of Pittwater and Broken Bay and scenic boat trips along the Hawkesbury River.
This beautiful beach is the famous setting for the TV show Home and Away. About 50 minutes from Sydney, you see coastal views from the Barrenjoey Lighthouse and explore the calm waters of Pittwater.
One hour from Sydney is this scenic coastal drive featuring the Sea Cliff Bridge. Wollongong offers great beaches like North Beach and Austinmer. You can also visit the Buddhist Nan Tien Temple.
Port Stephens, about 2.5 hours from Sydney, is known for its beautiful beaches, sand dunes at Stockton Beach, dolphin and whale watching cruises and outdoor activities like snorkeling, diving and camel rides.
This region features quaint towns, gardens, boutique shops and wineries 1.5 hours from Sydney. Bowral is famous for its tulip festival and the Bradman Museum. You can also visit waterfalls like Fitzroy Falls.
This town, 1.5 to 2 hours from Sydney, is known for the spectacular Kiama Blowhole and beautiful coastal views. Nearby, the Jamberoo Action Park is a popular spot for families.
Jervis Bay is about 2.5 hours from Sydney and known for its crystal-clear waters, the reputed whitest-sand beaches like Hyams Beach and opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking and spotting dolphins and whales.