With its unspoilt beaches, breathtaking scenery and iconic cities, New South Wales is one of Australia’s most vibrant destinations. While city slickers make a beeline for Sydney, the state is also a nature lover’s paradise. For those with a taste for adventure, hiking, canyoning, skiing, surfing, bushwalking, cycling and whale watching opportunities are in abundance.

Needing no introduction, Sydney is the jewel in the state’s crown. As Australia’s most cosmopolitan city, Sydney is home to attractions like the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and sun-kissed Bondi Beach. While Sydney packs a punch, one of the region’s most beguiling experiences is exploring the small, wonderfully friendly country towns that pepper the state.

NSW is well-connected by a network of highways, which makes road-tripping a great way to see the state. Major cities are serviced by public transport, with long-distance buses also a favourite with those hopping from beach to beach.

Beyond Sydney, a kaleidoscope of unique experiences await. From exploring the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains and sampling local drops at the chic wineries of the Hunter Valley to soaking up the sun at laid-back Byron Bay and getting lost in the wilderness of Mungo National Park, New South Wales is eclectic, to say the least.