New South Wales offers beautiful beaches, pristine national parks, world-class wineries and of course the jewel in the crown: Sydney. So whether you are looking for beach retreats, city breaks, or luxury stays, you can find it all here. The spectacular panoramas of the Blue Mountains, the famous vineyards of the Hunter Valley and the glorious beaches of Port Stephens and the Central Coast are within easy reach of Sydney. This makes an extended stay in the city enticing, but equally, there is still so much to explore a little further afield.

Most elect to start their trip in NSW in the state’s capital, Syndey. From here you can venture in all directions. Go south to the stunning Jarvis Bay. Inland to the beautiful Blue Mountains and outback towns of rural NSW. Or north to the Hunter Valley and NSW’s extensive coastline.

Those with more time on their hands or travelling Northwards out of the state should be sure to stop in Byron Bay. Home to Australia’s most easterly point, the glorious coastline come surfer town has made quite the name for itself. Whether you want to catch a morning wave, take time for the soul at a yoga class, or brunch to your heart’s content. Byron isn’t to be missed.

Top Recommendations

  • The iconic, world-famous sites of Syndey Harbour
  • Jarvis Bay, with its stunning white sand beaches, blue waters and bioluminescent plankton
  • The hippie, laid-back surf town of Byron Bay. Also home to the most easterly point of Australia’s mainland.
  • Hike km upon km of beautiful bush trails in the Blue Mountains
  • Sample exquisite wines at the numerous Hunter Valley vineyards, or fly above them in your own hot air balloon

When to Visit

As with all of the southern hemisphere, it’s essential to remember the seasons are in reverse compared to those in the northern hemisphere.  Therefore, the best time to visit Sydney and New South Wales is during spring and summer. Between November and May is ideal, however, Sydney can get rather humid and busy in December, plus everything is likely to be more expensive around Christmas. It’s worth noting though a trip at any time could offer good weather, but colder spells and rain is to be expected throughout the winter months.

Average monthly high and low temperatures, plus average monthly rainfall and days with rain can be seen below for Sydney.

Graph showing average high and low temperature by month for Sydney, Australia
Graph showing average rainfall and days with rain by month for Sydney, Australia