If the Northern Territory is Australia’s Outback, New South Wales is the nation up front. Bondi Beach and Byron Bay, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, the Blue Mountains and Kosciuszko – this is one state that loves the limelight.

Cliché it may sound, but New South Wales really does have whatever action and attractions you might be after. Party hard in Sydney’s heaving nightclubs or take time out in blissful Mollymook (a place as adorable as it sounds). Sip the wines of the Hunter Valley or snorkel the reefs around Lord Howe Island. Whiz down the slopes of Perisher or see desert landscapes and millennia-old rock art in Mutawintji National Park. Yep, NSW even has a patch of the outback as well.

New South Wales travel highlights

Everyone hearts Byron Bay

The beaches are glorious, the hinterlands beautiful, the vibe welcoming and the outlook always sunny – we’re yet to find something not to love about Byron.

Breathing easy in the Blue Mountains

Craving a break after the Sydney head rush? Take the road west and feel the world slide into slow-mo. Leisurely day hikes, gallery visits and afternoon high tea are the rage here.

Sydney’s many splendours

Situated around an all-natural harbor, with year-round great weather and some truly iconic architecture, Sydney would easily have to qualify as one of the world’s most spectacular cities.