Special fares to Sydney now start from S$199 — more details at the end!
Updated (Apr 2022) — Vaccinated travellers are now able to travel to all Australian states and territories – read on to discover some of the unique experiences they have in store, and refer to this website for the latest requirements for international travellers.
For an adventure seeker, New South Wales (NSW) is no stranger. After exploring the South Coast of Sydney and ticking these 10 epic experiences off our last NSW road trip, we returned this time to explore the northern regions of NSW.
From the beautiful gorges in the Blue Mountains to the endless sand dunes in Port Stephens, we were spoilt for choice when it came to seeking adventures in this region.
Planning your next adventure? Here are nine places to start!
Read Also: 9-Day NSW Road Trip Itinerary and 7-Day Sydney South Coast Road Trip for full road trip itineraries around NSW.
1) Ride the World’s Steepest Railway At Scenic World
Lush rainforest, deep scenic valleys and dramatic rock formations are just some of the key highlights at the Blue Mountains National Park and one of the best ways to explore is by getting the Scenic World Scenic Pass. The pass gives you access to the Scenic cableway, skyway and railway.
Angled at 52°, the Scenic Railway is the steepest in the world as you descend to the bottom of Jamison Valley.
Pulpit Rock Lookout
In the Blue Mountains area, there are many scenic lookouts from the top down, and ground up. We personally loved the Grand Canyon Walk (2–3 hours) and Pulpit Rock Lookout (15 minutes) for some of the most epic views.
Cost: AU$49.90
Opening Hours: 9AM – 5PM on weekend (last tickets 4:45PM), 10AM – 4PM on Mon, Thu, Fri (last tickets 2:45PM)
Address: Violet St & Cliff Drive, Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia
2) Explore the Mystical World at Jenolan Caves
Photo credit: Destination NSW
About an hour’s drive from Katoomba (in the Blue Mountains), you’ll uncover some of the oldest and most epic limestone structures hidden within the dark compounds of Jenolan Caves. These 430 million-year-old structures span across 6 different cave tours with varying levels of adventure and difficulty. Stroll along the well-paved grounds or sign up for an adventure-caving tour while you squeeze through gaps and manoeuvre your way around dark spaces. Be sure to check out the various cave tours available and book your tours in advance!
Tour cost: From AU$42 – 149 (pre-booking required)
Opening Hours: 9AM – 8PM (Last tour leaves at 5PM)
Address: 4655 Jenolan Caves Rd, Jenolan NSW 2790, Australia
3) Skydive Along the Coast of Newcastle
Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of free-falling from 15,000ft through clouds before catching a breathtaking bird’s eye view of NSW’s gorgeous coastal scenery. There are 4 different drop zones around New South Wales; each view a little more epic than the other.
Byron Bay and Wollongong are popular drop zones but our jump at Skydive Newcastle has stunning coastal views — you get to see the beach, sea, lakes and even neat residential clusters.
Cost: AU$389/pax
Opening Hours: 9AM – 6PM
Address: Lake Macquarie Airport, 864 Pacific Highway, Marks Point, NSW
4) Catch the Sunrise from a Hot Air Balloon in the Hunter Valley Region
Lined with vineyards and cellar door wine tasting opportunities, the Hunter Valley may be a wine lover’s paradise but it doesn’t take a wine aficionado to appreciate the bird’s eye view from above. We signed up for the sunrise flight with Balloon Aloft and couldn’t resist the “oohs” and “ahhs” as we rose into the skies, gawking at the vast land below us.
Post-flight and back on ground, we got to enjoy a glass of champagne and a hearty plate of breakfast.
Cost: AU$269/pax (includes breakfast)
Meeting Point: Peterson House — Broke Rd & Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin NSW 2320, Australia
5) Explore Hunter Valley’s Vineyards on a Segway
For a more grounded adventure, hop on a Segway tour to explore the expansive lands of the Hunter Valley. Before you pass off judgements for this being a tame family-friendly activity, riding off-road can really be a challenge on everything you once believed about balance. But fret not, the Segway rarely topples over and is super fun once you get the hang of it!
Ride through vineyards, spot wild kangaroos or even sign up for the wetland tour which goes through a 45-hectare native bird Sanctuary. You can book directly at the Hunter Valley resort or drop them an email ([email protected]) to book.
Cost: AU$50 (30mins) / AU$75 (1hr)
6) Catch Whale Migration From Port Stephens
Photo credit: Destination NSW
Every year between May and November, tens of thousands of whales migrate along the NSW coast which makes Port Stephens the perfect vantage point for spotting humpback whales and dolphins.
Most whale watching cruises take about three to three and a half hours but if you prefer a bit of speed, hop on the Whale Watch Express. This alternative brings you out on a speed boat so the tour time is cut by half.
Cost: AU$75
Tour timings: 11AM, 1:30PM & 3:30PM
Meeting Point: Teramby Rd, Nelson Bay NSW 2315, Australia
*Pro-tip: Check out the Boat Harbour (Noamunga Street), or the summit of Mount Tomaree (a 30-minute hike up) to spot whales for free.
7) Quad biking on Stockton Sand Dunes
Spanning 4,200 hectares, the infamous Stockton Sand Dunes is where you’ll find the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. And when there are sand dunes, there’s bound to be opportunities for a good dose of adrenaline. Our favourite was exploring the dunes on quad bikes. The hour-long tour starts from smaller slopes and gradually preps you for the highest one in the area. It’s almost like a leap of faith as you won’t see how steep the slope is until you’ve gone over the edge.
Cost: AU$110/one-hour tour
Bike slots: 9:30AM, 11AM, 1PM, 2:30PM
Address: 2163 Nelson Bay Road, Williamtown NSW Australia 2318
8) Marvel at 200 Majestic Horses Running through Glenworth Valley
Photo credit: Australiantraveller
Every evening from 4:30PM – 5:30PM, the horses at Glenworth Valley are released to roam freely for the night. When this happens, you’ll want to be by the fences as they’ll run excitedly for the forest.
While this happens daily, Saturdays are when all 200 of the horses are gathered and released together — there are about 50 on other days but still worth checking out if you’re in the area!
Cost: Free
Address: Cooks Rd, Glenworth Valley NSW 2250
9) Level up on Your Horse Riding Skills
Guided horse riding tours are abundant around Australia but while you’re at Glenworth Valley, take up the opportunity to pick up the 101s of handling a horse! Those who are comfortable and show proficiency in handling horses are even allowed to go for free-range horse rides.
Cost: AU$115/pax for 2 hours
Opening Hours: 8:30AM – 5:30PM
Address: 69 Cooks Road, Glenworth Valley, NSW 2250
Book your next adventure to Sydney with promo fares starting from S$199
Since Australia has reopened its international borders, it’s the perfect time to dust off your passport and renew your experiences in New South Wales!
Book your ticket to Sydney before 26 April 2022 (2359H) to score Scoot special sale fares from S$199*.
*Prices are one-way, taxes included. T&Cs apply.
Visiting NSW? Hop over to our 9-day NSW road trip itinerary to plan for your next trip out in this land of majestic adventures.
This post was brought to you by Destination New South Wales.
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