Best Places to Visit Around Sydney

The entirety of the Australian continent is ripe for exploration and adventure. Each section is jam-packed with incredible sights to see and experience, with some of them being so astoundingly good that they warrant a second visit. With so many incredible places to see and visit, it can be a bit overwhelming to pick which one to go to first. Lucky for you, they are close to major cities like Sydney and are not going anywhere. There is plenty of time to explore, so let's start!

1. The Royal National Park

Australia can brag about its Royal National Park because it is the most famous national park in Australia and worldwide. When it comes world-famous, it's just behind the Yellowstone National Park in the USA, just so we put things into context. When you come to Sydney, you can take a short public transport tour, which lasts a bit under an hour to get to the park. Or you can rent a car and take the scenic route so you can enjoy and photograph to your heart's desire. 

When you get there, you will find loads of exciting activities to undertake. From Aboriginal rock carving to exploring, which are all marked and designated, to tracking thru unique eucalyptus bushlands, there is no shortage of activities to do on foot. In the sea, you can swim under the waterfalls in Wattamolla, paddle a kayak down Hacking River or watch whales migrating north for the winter from May to November. There is something to do at the Royal National Park throughout the whole year.

2. The Blue Mountains National Park

The Blue Mountains are home to adventure. The name comes from the native eucalyptus trees which disperse their oil all around the park and create the illusion of blue mountains. When they mix with water vapour and scatter long rays of light, you will soon realise how the Blue Mountains got their name. Also connected with Sydney, you can take public transport or drive there by yourself. In both cases, it will be a two-hour ride, from Central Station to the village of Katoomba. 

The Blue Mountains are vast and filled with breathtaking vistas for you to explore, warranting multiple visits. You can also go on single or multi-day hikes with camping and exploring the mountainside. What we would like to point out for music festival enjoyers is that the Blue Mountains are home to the similar name Blue Mountains Music Festival which happens to happen in March. There is also the Winter Magic Festival in June, the fun Christmas in July event, and the Leura Garden Festival in October, so you can visit at any point thought the year and have fun!

3. Hunter Valley

We admit that Hunter Valley may be a bit distanced from Sydney since it's a four-hour drive, but if you are a wine aficionado, or love the countryside, it's a small price to pay. Hunter Valley is the vineyard centre of Australia, with ackers and ackers of beautiful vines spread around its sunny hills.  You can hike around all day, taste world-class wines and when you work up an appetite from all those beautiful sights and wine-tasting, you can gorge on homemade meals that go hand in hand with such quality wines. 

At the end of an adventure-filled day, you can book a relaxing and quality Unwind Hunter Valley accommodation for the night and prolong your stay. Besides hiking and wine tasting, which you will do a lot, you can also bike thru the vine country, or go on a walk thru the World Heritage sites and trails like Wollemi National Parks or the Hunter Valley Gardens. At your sides, you will notice eucalyptus fields with kangaroo jumping thru them. Who knows what else awaits in Hunter Valley for you to discover?

4. Avalon Beach

We saved the best for last for all those who love sunshine, sandy beaches, cocktails and hammocks. One hour away from Sydney lies the suburbia of Avalon Beach. It's a lesser-known location since most people rush thru and go for Palm Beach, the famous tourist attraction. If you want to avoid all the hustle, then you are on the right track. If you are going here with your family and are looking for an even more family-friendly location, then we suggest trying Clareville Beach which is also here. 

While the ocean hums in your ears, you can visit countless shops, best restaurants and cafes here that will enhance your visit. For the people who love to shop, club and dine at different places, Avalon Beach is a good change of pace that will recharge your batteries. While it's a bit tamer than the other suggestions, it's an ideal jumping point for a more outback adventure.

Embarking on a journey to explore all the sights around Sydney is always a good idea. Every place has something for each type of traveler and outback explorer. From the more rugged to tame places, there is no shortage of adventures out there. The entire list of places can fill a book, and we suggest dosing your excursions with the carefully selected and curated list, suited for your taste. We wish you all the best in exploring and making some great memories.