New South Wales

Geographically, New South Wales can be divided into four main areas: the green and fertile coastal strips which extend from Queensland to Victoria to the Great Dividing Range which runs parallel to the coast and includes the New England Plateau, the Blue Mountains and the Snowy Mountains to the grassy slopes west of the Range and the vast sparsely populated far western plains of the Outback which cover two-thirds of the State.

New South Wales offers an amazing variety of scenery. From the serenity of the tropical rainforests in the north and the sparkling surfing beaches of the coast, to the alpine region of the splendid Snowy Mountains and the harsh rugged beauty of the Outback, it is Australia in microcosm.

You can surf and sail on the coast, ski in the Snowy Mountains and ride camels in the outback. It's possible to ski and surf on the same day when staying in the South Coast townships. Touring New South Wales by car is easy all major highways and lesser roads penetrate even the remotest corners. From Sydney, the Pacific Hwy travels north following the coast to Queensland and is parallelled by the New England Hwy inland. The Great Western Hwy crosses the Blue Mountains giving, acess to the vast Western areas, and the Hume 7 Princes Hwys travel south to Victoria.

Those with a little more time may find train travel a viable alternative to motoring. Countrylink operate rail services to the north, north-west, south with coaches linking those centres not served by train. Many regional centres of the State are also accessible by air, with flights from Sydney and other cities.

Except in the more remote parts of New South Wales, the range of accommodation is complete in all areas. Nearly every town has a caravan park and always a country pub and motel. But you can also choose from international-class hotels and resorts, serviced apartments,hotels and backpacker hostels at most major centres. For weekend getaways and short-break holidays, a number of local and international people are discovering the delights of a bed-and-breakfast or an intimate open fire guesthouse.

Holidays in New South Wales can be as wild or as relaxed as you choose. For a real Outback adventure you can take a four wheel drive to the far western deserts and follow in the footsteps of the explorers or find yourself in a remote national park such as Sturt, Mutawintji, Kinchega and Mungo. The Snowy Mtns are a wonderful year-round destination where horse trekking and walking across the roof of Australia are a summer pastime and in the Winter months Nordic Sking is a Challenging alternative to downhill.

Cruising the Murray River offers a reflective adventure while for a more thrilling river experience there is whitewater rafting on the Nymboida, Gwydir and Upper Shoalhaven rivers.Rock climbers haed for the Blue Mountains and the fabulous Warrumbungles and Scuba divers head for the the dozens of locations along the coast, but swimming with the seals off Montague Island, diving the wrecks of Sydney heads and feeding the fish around Julian Rocks at Byron Bay rank among some of the highlights.

Despite so much coastline to choose from the sun,sand,surf lovers often have a favourite spot on the coast where they return time and again. In the north, temperate subtropical climate guarantees mild tempretures year-round, while the less developed South Coast has some wonderful unspoiled surf beaches, stunning scenery and is a fisherman's paradise.