New South
Wales
From seaside holidays to skiing vacations,
New South Wales has it all. Its fantastic Pacific coastline is famous
for many great surf beaches, challenging sailing, and beautiful bays
flanked by a variety of fishing villages. Sydney, the state capital,
is the largest city in Australia. Inland the State is divided by the
Great Dividing Range approximately 100 kilometres from the coast.
The western plateau offers visitors many great holidays and spectacular
scenery. A drive around New South Wales is always a great way to visit
the state.
The
North Coast
Tweed
Heads to Newcastle
The far north coast is family vacation
paradise. With many quaint seaside villages scattered along the coast
and tiny towns in the hinterland there is a variety of tours and accommodation
on offer which make this is a great place to wind down from the stresses
of everyday life. The main tourist centres are Tweed Heads, Byron
Bay, Coffs Harbour, and Port Macquarie. All have accommodation ranging
from camping grounds to full international resorts, offering every
activity imaginable. For the active traveller the sporting opportunities
are endless. Rock climbing, hiking, rafting, surfing sailing and fishing
are just a few. Many coach companies offer fantastic tours of this
region stopping off at all the highlights along the way. This is a
great way to see and enjoy the entire coastline.
The
Central Coast
South of Newcastle is what is known
as the Central Coast - Gosford - Terrigal, and, as this playground
is so close to Sydney, a lot of locals use it for weekend getaways.
Just 2 hours drive north of Sydney, it's a great alternative for those
with limited time. Here is a virtual gold mine of great beaches and
resort hideaways, that any local will be happy to show you. Inland
from the coast is the wine lover's paradise - The Hunter Valley. With
approximately 50 wine growers in this region, some of the finest guest
houses in the country, and award winning vineyards, this is an experience
and indulgence you won't forget.
The
South Coast
Wollongong
to Eden
A coast more
rugged than the north, offering great family vacations and spectacular
road trips. Fishing villages like Bermagui and Ulladulla will take
you back in time and the locals will spoil you with great fresh seafood.
Beach resorts like Batemans Bay offer both beach and river activities,
that make this a perfect holiday for the family. Tours such as dolphin
cruises that will get you out on the ocean are an alternative to just
lazing on the beaches. Inland is the area known as the Southern Highlands
where you can relax in the tranquillity of the countryside. Various
working farms offer an alternative style of accommodation for the
adventurous, where you may join in on the hard work, if you like.
Cattle mustering, a bush barbecue and a sing-along by the camp fire
is all part of a working farm vacation.
Sydney
My home town and the largest city
in Australia, Sydney is a cosmopolitan city hosting many nationalities
and cultures. One of Sydney's major attractions is Darling Harbour,
a new complex, housing the Maritime Museum, with "Australia II",
winner of the Americas Cup. The complex also houses the Sydney Aquarium
where submerged tunnels allow you to view Great Whites Sharks at close
range. The Powerhouse Museum and Harbourside are a shopping complex
and restaurant mecca. All of this is surrounded by five star international
hotels which can be a holiday in its own right.
Not to be missed is The Rocks, the
birthplace of Sydney, lying just across Circular Quay from the Sydney
Opera House. Sydney Harbour and of course the Harbour Bridge, known
to locals as "The Coathanger" is all right in front of you
as you gaze on this busy spectacle. With the Olympics being held in
Sydney in the year 2000, the city is on a major clean up and is gearing
up to look her best. A more beautiful city is hard to find and if
you would like inside information, just e-mail.
@
The
Blue Mountains
Inland from Sydney is the Blue
Mountains, and is a great escape from the city. With fantastic historic
guest houses it is an ideal place for a romantic getaway. Many walks
and national parks, keep the active happy, while those wishing to
sit by a log fire and lose themselves in a good read will find tranquillity
abounds.
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