New South Wales: Culture, Coast and Nature

Sydney: Culture at Your Own Pace

The Sydney Culture Walk is a self-guided route through Sydney. The total walking distance is 9.15 kilometres, with a walking time of 2 hours and 15 minutes. Visits to the cultural institutions along the route are in addition to this. This distinction matters when planning your day: the stated walking time does not include time spent at the institutions. If you’d like to explore them in more detail, allow extra time for that.

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney also offers several cultural points of interest. The 30-hectare site includes Cadi Jam Ora: First Encounters, a garden exhibition about the Cadigal, the original inhabitants of Sydney’s city centre, and their relationship with this land. The garden also offers a range of tours, including the Aboriginal Heritage Tour, a free guided walk and customised heritage tours. These tours must be booked online.

Government House Sydney is also located in the Royal Botanic Garden. The building was completed in 1845 and designed by Edward Blore. The Sydney Opera House offers a different architectural perspective: it opened in 1973 and is both an architectural masterpiece and a lively performance venue. Badu Gili is a free First Nations lighting display on the sails of the Opera House, held daily from sunset. Check the latest presentation details before visiting. The Art Gallery of New South Wales adds to the cultural offering as an art museum in Sydney.

Plan Your Travel and Excursions

NSW TrainLink offers train and coach services to more than 365 destinations in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. On train journeys, passengers can get on and off at several stops to break up their journey or visit more places in regional New South Wales and Australia. If you’re planning a journey with multiple stops, check the latest services and operating information before departure.

Beyond Sydney, there are more ways to enjoy a stay with plenty of time outdoors. In Kosciuszko National Park, you can ski and snowboard at Thredbo and Perisher. The Snowies Alpine Walk is 56 kilometres long and connects Guthega, Charlotte Pass, Perisher Valley and Bullocks Hut. You can also explore the Yarrangobilly Caves underground in the national park. These examples offer different ways to experience the region: a longer walking route, winter sports or an exploration beneath the surface.

Dorrigo National Park offers walks to waterfalls and opportunities for birdwatching. On the north coast, Yuraygir National Park is defined by the state’s longest undeveloped stretch of coastline. The Yuraygir Coastal Walk is 65 kilometres long; swimming, fishing and surfing are also possible in the park. If you’d like to compare coastal walks, the 14-kilometre Bingi Dreaming Track offers another specific point of reference: it runs from Congo in the north to Tuross Head in the south. Check conditions for each route before setting out.

History and Landscape Inland

The Willandra Lakes Region in south-western New South Wales brings together landscape history and archaeological significance. Its relict lake system preserves an outstanding record of an ice-free Pleistocene landscape in its sediments, geomorphology and soils. At the same time, the region preserves evidence that people had reached Australia by 42,000 years ago. In Brewarrina, the Fish Traps, traditionally known as Baiame's Ngunnhu, tell another story of the connection between landscape and human use: this complex network comprises ponds and channels built with river stones, where fish were caught.

Sydney offers urban architecture and cultural institutions; other parts of New South Wales are known for coastal trails, winter sports, caves or historic landscapes. Consider which of these experiences you’d like to make the focus of your trip, then choose your holiday rental to suit the place you want to explore.

More Destinations in New South Wales

Discover more destinations: Sydney, Pokolbin, Wollongong, Newcastle, Terrigal, Ryde, Tuncurry, Yarra, Smiggin Holes, Moree, Newrybar, Umina Beach, South Durras, Yatte Yattah, Vincentia, Moss Vale, Yass, Narrabri, Tumut, Narrandera, Murrumbateman, Sawtell, Wallerawang, Sutton Forest, Scone, Mt Victoria, Parkes, Perisher Valley, Picton, Old Bar, Vacy, Muswellbrook, Young, Wollongbar, Tenterfield, Oberon, Worrowing Heights, Singleton, Temora, West Wyalong, Peak Hill, Woollamia, Rydal, Orange City, Tooleybuc, Nabiac, Walcha, Possum Brush, Uralla, Ocean Shores, Ulmarra, Rankins Springs, Yarrahapinni, Wauchope, Tyndale, Monkerai, Mulwala, Palmdale, Whian Whian, Ramsgate, Wangi Wangi, Summer Island, Mourquong, Mount Tomah, Mumbil, Mount Colah, Pagewood, Yallaroi, Narellan, North Albury, Peakhurst, Varroville, Moore Park, Morisset, Moorebank, Northbridge, North Turramurra, West Ryde, Sefton, Tumbi Umbi, Strathfield, Thurgoona, Tura Beach, Springvale, Seaforth, Wallacia, Wentworth, Wisemans Ferry, Woolooware, Wybong, Neurea, Springrange, Nashdale, Warren, Myall Park, Prestons, Shoalhaven Heads, Wee Waa, Tumbarumba, Neutral Bay, Wamboin, Yass River, Woodstock, Sandy Hollow, Running Stream, Wootton, Yenda, Molong, Mount Panorama, Raleigh, Nericon, Mogriguy, Nyrang Creek, Mogo, Somersby, St Marys, Palm Grove, Turondale, Pymble, The Channon, Wildes Meadow, Woomargama, Wollomombi, Sutherland, Rawdon Vale, Tyalgum, Toukley, Red Rock, Tuross Head, Mount Hutton, Wattle Grove, Pottsville, Toronto, Quaama, Wiangaree, Scotts Head, Telegraph Point, Moonee Beach, Rookhurst, Sanctuary Point, Smiths Lake, O'connell, Sunshine Bay, Tyringham, Morpeth, Wellington, Waratah, Myocum, Redhead, Whoota, North Star, Mystery Bay, Neath, Tinonee, Urunga, The Pocket, Mylestom, Paxton, Tabulam, Murrumburrah, Tuggerah, Mulgoa, Valla, Toongabbie, Segenhoe, Woodburn, Nelligen, Stockton, Table Top, Moorland, Silverton, Palmers Island, Upper Colo, Tintenbar, Surf Beach, Rand, Nundle, Uralla Shire Council, Snowy River Shire Council, Shoalhaven City Council, Wyong Shire Council, North Sydney Council, Wentworth Shire Council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, Tweed Shire Council, Tumut Council, Wingecarribee Shire Council, Rockdale City Council, Pittwater Council, Wollongong City Council, Penrith City Council, Shellharbour City Council, Port Stephens Council, Tarana, Villawood, Warrumbungle Shire Council, Randwick City Council, Murray Shire Council, Nambucca Shire Council, Unincorporated Far West, Tamworth Regional Council, Wagga Wagga City Council, Queanbeyan City Council, Wakool, The Council of the Shire of Hornsby, Moree Plains Shire Council, The Council of the City of Botany Bay, Singleton Shire Council, Tenterfield Shire Council, Palerang Council, Oberon Council, Orange City Council, Walgett Shire Council, Sutherland Shire Council, Parramatta City Council, The Hills Shire Council, Warringah Council, Tumbarumba Shire Council, Narromine Shire Council, Stockinbingal, Aberdeen, Clunes, 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Fordwich, Hanwood, Cudal, Fernbank Creek, Grenfell, Eurunderee, Cobbitty, Manilla, Menah, Collector, Canowindra, Cumnock, High Range, Lake George, Gungal, Lake Innes, Ilford, Clarence Town, Jaspers Brush, Berridale, Millers Point, Fowlers Gap, Dignams Creek, Ebenezer, Eulomogo, Luddenham, Kootingal, Glenwood, Gemalla, Leconfield, Fairfield, Cobark, Corlette, Glenfield, Gumly Gumly, Lochinvar, Fitzroy Falls, Darlington, Jingellic, Glendon Brook, Jerrawangala, Marulan, Copeland, Lidster, Cedar Creek, Eschol, Goolgowi, Cobar, Guildford, Killara, Gundaroo, Hyams Beach, Kyogle, Isabella, Lord Howe Island, Maclean, Gunning, Heatherbrae, Hat Head, Lewisham, Erowal Bay, Condobolin, Belbora, Goonellabah, Catherine Hill Bay, Caves Beach, Grong Grong, Lankeys Creek, Joadja, Holts Flat, Horningsea Park, Dural, Midginbil, Evans Head, Colyton, Merewether, Kincumber, Clareville, Kulnura, Centennial Park, Fingal Bay, Jeremadra, Coledale, Malua Bay, Culcairn, Chinderah, Glenwilliam, Eccleston, Coolac, Kioloa, Georges Plains, Gogeldrie, Milparinka, Boggabri, Herons Creek, Lake Munmorah, Coffee Camp, Mannering Park, Khancoban, Lawson, Kyogle Council, Bega Valley Shire Council, Coffs Harbour City Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Lismore City Council, Guyra Shire Council, Gloucester Shire Council, Liverpool Plains Shire Council, Boorowa Council, Bellingen Shire Council, Campbelltown City Council, Gundagai Shire Council, Dungog Shire Council, Cabonne Shire Council, Great Lakes Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Mid-Western Regional Council, Gosford City Council, Cooma-Monaro Council, Clarence Valley Council, East Lynne, Euston, Bargo, Booligal, Jagumba, Cessnock City Council, Albury City Council, Ballina Shire Council, Armidale Dumaresq Council, Balranald Shire, Byron Shire Counci, Berrigan Shire Council, Bathurst Regional Council, Blue Mountains City Council, Bourke Shire Council, Corowa Shire Council, Kempsey Shire Council, Dubbo City Council, Glen Innes Severn Shire Council, Gilgandra Shire Council, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Greater Taree City Council, Hay Shire Council, Inverell Shire Council, Lithgow City Council, Bankstown City Council, Griffith City Council, Auburn City Council, Cowra Shire Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Blayney Shire Council, Greater Hume Shire Council, Fairfield City Council, Gwydir Shire Council, Harden Shire Council, Lockhart Shire Council, Camden Council, City of Canada Bay Council, Booroorban, Edward River Council, Gundagai Council.

For the broader travel overview: Australia.