We spent just over 2 months road tripping around New South Wales so we can confidently say we have seen most of the good stuff. Here are the top 5 places we would recommend adding to your list if you're planning on visiting the state.
5. Sydney Opera House & The Sydney Harbour Bridge
No trip to Sydney is complete without seeing the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. (we've grouped them together as they are basically right next to each other)
We didn't go into the opera house and just enjoyed it from outside, however we drove across the bridge and (Emma) climbed it back in the day. This is one of the few attractions you can just enjoy the view of from the outside and don't need to pay to enter, or climb it to enjoy it. However if you are interested in the climb you can find out more here.
If you're keen on getting a good picture, there are so many amazing vantage points of both iconic buildings, we sussed out a few, and recommend heading to these spots.
Berry’s Bay Lookout
Botanic Gardens (near Mrs Macquaries Point)
Overseas Passenger Terminal Jetty
4. Bondi Beach
Another iconic Australian location is Bondi Beach. We didn't camp too close to the beach as there are very few caravan parks around Sydney, however there are plenty of hotels in close proximity if you are traveling there via plane or car (sans trailer or caravan)
Right next to Bondi Beach is the iconic Icebergs - we didn’t swim here, but it was a great place to take pictures to get that classic Bondi shot. While Bondi is the most popular and famous location, we actually enjoyed Bronti Beach more, which is only a few minutes down the road. It had a lot more room and a much nicer vibe then Bondi so we highly recommend checking out both locations on your travels to Sydney.
Just a note to keep in mind, parking is difficult and expensive, so if you're planning on spending the day there, maybe catch the bus.
3. The Sea Cliff Bridge
When we first started planning our big trip, the Sea Cliff Bridge was one of the first locations/ attractions we put on our list. We have seen it all over instagram and youtube and couldn't wait to drive it ourselves (Cadwgan is a civil engineer so this kind of thing is really up his alley)
We got there at sunrise to enjoy it with no one around and drove back and forth across the bridge a few times. We also did the hike from the bottom to get the ultimate shot (picture 2) which you can find by following the path up from the danger sign that is located behind the Sea Cliff Bridge sign as you approach the bridge from the south. It is a bit of a tricky path and requires some strength as it is super steep, but some lovely locals have added lots of rope that you can use to steady yourself and pull yourself up.
There is a much easier way (but a much longer walk) if you go via the car park located before the bridge next to Rube Hargrave Park, the walk is pretty flat and takes you along the fence line before you turn right towards the bridge. Someone has made signs and nailed them to the trees so you don't get lost.
Like most walks, this one comes with risks as it is a big cliff face, so be very very careful as you explore the area. It's not an official walk, so there are no safety barriers or official signs to keep you safe. Be very aware of your surroundings and where you walk.
2. The Blue Mountains
We absolutely loved our time in the Blue Mountains and completed every walk and hike that was available to us at the time (lots of the hikes were unfortunately closed as a major flood had passed through just a few months earlier). We plan to go back another time to finish off the rest of the hikes that we missed out on.
Even though it's located just 1 hour inland from Sydney, the drive is beautiful. With windy roads through rainforests, the whole experience is something special. We recommended spending at least a week here, as there is so much to do and see.
We have written an in depth blog of all the hikes and walks we completed that you can read here. Also detailed where we camped and the best bakery we have been to whilst travelling Australia.
1. Thredbo
Truth be told we are not skiers or snowboarders in the slightest. We set out on this trip wanting to see every type of Australian terrain and you bet snow was on that list.
We didn't camp here and left the trailer in the available parking areas and opted for an AirBNB instead. It was a good decision as it snowed the whole time we were there, and the best part of the weekend was sitting inside in the warmth and watching the snowfall from our very comfortable lounge room.
We stayed at the Lantern Apartments - at the very top of the ski village. It was great value as we got a stay 3 pay 2 night deal and the apartment had everything we could need. There was a shuttle bus (that operates in the winter months) that takes you everywhere you need to go. So you can leave the car parked up.
While we were not there for the sport, we had plans to hike to the top of Mount Kosciusko, however due to the unexpected amount of snowfall the walk was closed early and we missed out by a few days. That said, we still had a great time playing in the snow. We caught the cable cars up to the restaurant at the top of the mountain and watched the snowboarders come down the slopes as we sank a few bevies and enjoyed lunch.
There is also plenty to do in the village like eat at the many restaurants and cafes and window shop through the small boutiques. I would recommend heading to the bakery one morning to grab a pie and one of the famous hot chocolates.
Our time here was super relaxing and chill, and ended up being one of my favourite places of the whole trip even though we did a whole lot of nothing. Whether you're an adventure seeker or looking for a chilled holiday, Thredbo is for everyone.
We loved our time exploring New South Wales and hope to do another road trip again someday, visiting some of our favourite places and some new locations that we didn't get to this time around. Let us know what you think, and what your top 5 places are in the comments below.
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