Sydney is blessed with enough really fantastic weekend away opportunities that it could keep you busy for years! Whether you’re looking for adventure, a romantic getaway, cosy rural retreat, blissful beach break or a gourmet feast, we have the perfect Sydney weekend getaway for you in this article.
As Sydneysiders for over seven years, we’ve covered so many beautiful places to visit near Sydney and are still always on the look out for another hidden gem. We’ve put together the ultimate bucket list of Weekend Getaways in NSW to make sure you see the best of this incredible state.
The 19 Best Sydney Weekend Getaways
1. Seal Rocks - one of NSW’s best beach breaks
Best for: Beaches, whale watching, tranquility
Distance from Sydney: 280km - 3 hours 15 by car
Beaches
Seal Rocks is the kind of place people come back to year after year, drawn in by the spectacular beaches and laid back vibe. The area has easily some of the best beaches in the whole of NSW, and there's something for everyone, from quiet and calm for swimming to wild and windswept for surfing.
There are even a couple of beaches you can drive on if you have a 4WD.
Treachery Beach at Seal Rocks
The most popular beach in the area is Number One Beach which is a real beauty, and if you're happy to drive for 25 minutes you really shouldn't miss Shelly Beach, which is one of our all time favourites. Half the beach is nudist if you're so inclined.
Whales and dolphins
If you come in season (May to October) there are many good vantage points to catch a glimpse of the migrating Humpback Whales. We saw them from the incredible Treachery Beach but the lighthouse is another great option. Dolphins can be spotted year round.
Catch a sunset from the lighthouse
To top off a great day of beach hopping we'd recommend catching a sunset from the Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse, and if you can book far enough in advance you can even stay at the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottages. We've tried many times but not yet managed to snag them for a long weekend!
We’ve got a detailed post on other things to do at Seal Rocks, including our favourite picnic spot and a nearby rainforest which is great for when you’re ready for a beach break.
2. Barrington Tops - for ancient rainforests
Best for: Hiking, ancient rainforest, scenic drives
Distance from Sydney: Varies as the park is very spread out, expect between a three and four hour drive
Hiking
Barrington Tops contains some of the last remaining Gondwana Rainforests of Australia. These rainforests are millions of years old and World Heritage listed. If you want to experience one of the most beautiful rainforests we've ever walked in, you need to head for Gloucester Tops and the Antarctic Beech Forest walk.
The landscape feels ancient and you'll walk for over an hour through moss covered trees and logs with towering tree ferns and even a three tiered waterfall. In short it's magic.
If you are up for a longer walk, you can experience the Antarctic Beech Forest plus two other popular trails in one fabulous loop, here's all the detail on the Gloucester Tops Circuit, one of the best walks we've done in NSW.
In a different part of the park (two hours from Gloucester Tops) are several other fantastic trails. We loved the 16km Rocky Crossing Walk which might sound a bit much but it's almost all flat so it's very easy.
You come out at the end to a huge series of cascades which felt like something out of an Indiana Jones movie! For something more sedate but still very beautiful you can try the 3.5km Blue Gum Loop, just watch out for some of those vines, one tripped me up and I went face first into the leaf litter!
Wildlife
For wildlife lovers Barrington Tops is also the local of Aussie Ark which is a conservation project aiming to save the Tassie Devil.
You can take a tour of the huge enclosures and even cuddle a joey if you are there at the right time. It's something that's on our bucket list but as it is at the furthest reaches of Barrington Tops (six hours from Sydney) we haven't yet made it.
Wild swimming
If you're visiting in summer there are also plenty of wild swimming holes including Ladies Well and the Gloucester River - where you might even find yourself swimming alongside a platypus!
3. Bowral and Berrima - pretty towns with a sense of history
Best for: Pottering the pretty streets, wine tasting, history
Distance from Sydney: 115km - 1 hour 20
Just 10 minutes apart both Bowral and Berrima make an excellent base for exploring the Southern Highlands, as well as having lots of attractions in their own right. Berrima is the picture-perfect village where almost every building was built in the 1800's and they've been beautifully preserved.
As well as wandering the gorgeous streets, there's a historical river walk, which is very pretty and tells the story of the German internment camp from WWI.
You'll be in for a treat in the evening when you have an excellent chance of spotting a platypus in the nearby river. We detail all this and more in our Berrima guide.
Bowral is most famous for being the birthplace of Don Bradman, and you can find out all about his life in the cricket museum dedicated to the boy from Bowral.
Beyond that, there are tulip gardens to picnic in, the Highlands most unique restaurant and an easy walk which takes you through spectacular forest, along the old railway tracks used for transporting coal. We have more suggestions in our Bowral guide.
4. Kanangra-Boyd National Park - for off the beaten track hiking
Best for: Hiking, views, wilderness
Distance from Sydney: 222km - 4 hours (don't believe the time on Google Maps, they don't take the final road condition into account)
Although you could see the best of Kanangra-Boyd National Park in a day, the long journey makes this a much better overnight destination. The views in this park are some of the best we've seen in the whole of NSW and unbelievably there are also very few visitors.
We've been several times, always at a weekend, and not seen more than two other people! A day out in Kanangra really feels like you're out in the wilderness, more so than the neighbouring Blue Mountains, probably because of the difference in crowds.
Hiking and views
An absolute must do is the Walls Lookout which is only around a 10 minute flat walk from the car park. It's wild and un-railed which makes it feel incredibly dramatic, but watch any kids as the drop is huge! After the Walls you can head to the Waterfall Walk which is 1.6km each way and does involve quite a few steps, it's worth it though!
The longest hike is the Plateau Walk which has the most spectacular views in the park. The trail is unmarked and we weren't exactly sure how long it went on for so we walked until it got a bit too much like bush bashing for us and then turned back - that was 10km in total. The walk is fairly easy and it only takes 20 minutes or so to reach the very best views, our favourite is the one in the photo below.
Kanangra-Boyd National Park Plateau Walk
There are layer upon layer of mountains to look at and catching a sunrise or sunset here feels very special.
Oberon
If you’ve seen everything you want to in the park within one day you can always spend the second day around Oberon. In Oberon you can check out the pretty Mayfield Garden and grab a coffee or lunch in town. Otherwise you could also combine Kanangra with Jenolan Caves or the Blue Mountains.
5. The Blue Mountains - for an escape from the city
Best for: Hiking, adventure, inland retreat
Distance from Sydney: 100km - 1 hour 30 from Sydney by car to the foot of the mountains
It would be criminal to visit Sydney and not see the Blue Mountains, especially as it is just a stone's throw away. It's one of our favourite places in the world and is a spectacular introduction to the Aussie Bush that caters for the adventurous and those looking for a relaxing time equally well.
We strongly recommend doing it independently as tours often rush through some of the main sites, stopping at a zoo and/or the Olympic Park en route. This normally leaves you with a couple of hours in the mountains before you have to turn around and go back. You can do it as a day trip from Sydney, but it is best experienced as a weekend getaway.
The mountains have lots of wonderful hikes for all abilities, from flat strolls which still have epic views to adventurous trails with ladders and ropes. We’ve listed a few of our favourites in this post, along with many more suggestions for great things to do for non hikers too.
The Blue Mountains are also home to dozens of incredible viewpoints, we’ve listed some famous spots and hidden gems in this post dedicated to the best lookouts in the area.
6. Jervis Bay - for the whitest sand in the world
Best for: Beach lovers (the whitest sand in the world), chilled coastal vibe
Distance from Sydney: 180km - 3 hour drive
Jervis Bay is an absolute must if you are planning a weekend away from Sydney. It's hard to believe this absolute paradise lies just two and half hours drive from the city.
It made our favourite beaches in New South Wales, it's a no brainer when this beach is in the Guiness Book of Records for having the whitest sand in the world.
Hyams Beach, the whitest sand in the world
Hyams Beach
This is clearly a must, with the whitest sand in the world. The water is turquoise, and perfect for swimming, even in winter it still felt quite warm. It can get busy so if you want a more peaceful experience visit midweek or early mornings on a weekend.
There is a great cafe just behind the beach which we definitely recommend for coffee and cake!
Plantation Point
Plantation Point is more of a locals beach and it was an incredible place to watch the sunrise. We wouldn't say to visit instead of Hyams but if you have time you won't regret it.
Huskisson
Huskisson is another popular white sand beach, it seems to stretch for miles so there's lots of room to spread out on this one. There's a nice walk/cycle way running behind it, the bay walkway, and it's a great place to look out for dolphins from the shore.
You can also hire kayaks and stand up paddle boards if you want to get out on the water. We’ve seen dolphins right from the shoreline which was pretty incredible.
Greenfield Beach
This one is much smaller than the other beaches on this list. It definitely felt a lot more secluded. We came to it on the White Sand Walk and the only other people around were passing through on this track too.
Murray Beach
Murrays was almost as good as Hyams in our opinion. Breathtaking white sand and turquoise water. It's located in the Booderee National Park so you do have to pay the ACT national parks pass ($12) to enter. The bay is sheltered by Bowen Island so the water was very calm. It was pretty busy in the middle of the day but it had a great, relaxed family vibe.
7. The Hunter Valley - a foodie’s paradise
Best for: Foodies, wine-lovers, cosy romantic retreat
Distance from Sydney: 160km - 2 hours by car
The Hunter Valley is of course best known for its incredible wineries and whilst most people tend to visit the famous vineyards around Pokolbin, this often leaves the wonderful boutique wineries of Broke and Wollombi just for you.
Almost all of the wineries offer tastings, which usually incur a fee (apart from in Wollombi), and some will refund it on the purchase of a bottle. The wine tends to be great at all the vineyards, so the ones we recommend in this post are about overall experience, including unique features and great service.
The Hunter is more than just great wine though. There’s an incredible Aboriginal rock art site, many gorgeous sunset spots, historic villages which feel like stepping back in time and even the chance to explore some of Sydney’s convict history.
If you’ve yet to see a wild roo or you just love them like us, the Hunter is a great place to spot them. We see them many times every time we visit.
Foodies are equally well catered for with some of NSW’s best restaurants, many of which are on the vineyards, with terrific views. For something a little more budget friendly, but equally memorable you can picnic in the vines with some of the Hunter’s delicious gourmet produce.
We detail of all this and more in our post on the unmissable things to do in the Hunter Valley
8. Port Stephens - for a relaxed beach break
Best for: Beaches, views, wildlife watching
Distance from Sydney: 215km - 2 hours by car
Port Stephens is probably best known for the Worimi Conservation Lands, the incredible sand dunes at Anna Bay. They are like a little patch of the Sahara Desert right here in NSW. If it’s your first visit then a trip to the dunes really is a must. You can walk through them, sand board down them, ride a camel along them or even take your own 4WD here!
There’s so much to do we’ve put together a whole guide on the dunes to help you make the most of your trip.
Worimi Conservation Lands, Anna Bay.
As well as the sand dunes there are an incredible array of glorious white sand beaches, our favourites being Zenith, Wreck and Bennetts. Each beach has a different vibe, so here’s a guide to help you pick which one you’ll fall in love with.
But there’s a lot to do beyond the beaches including the heart warming Koala Sanctuary, which rescues injured koalas and rehabilitates them, various fabulous viewpoints including many which you can see whales and dolphins from, snorkel spots, wineries and so much more. We detail all the must do’s in our guide to the best things to do in Port Stephens.
When it comes to hiking there are a number of great trails, the most famous of which is Tomaree Head which offers glorious views, you'll probably have seen it many times already on Instagram!
For more great views and a less busy trail try the Yacaaba Headland walk in the Hawks Nest area of Port Stephens. Hawks Nest is also a much quieter part of Port Stephens to stay in if you prefer the sleepy beach town kind of vibe.
Bennetts Beach in Hawks Nest, Port Stephens
9. Bilpin - Jaw dropping views and cider tasting
Best for: Nature walks, glow worms and cider tasting
Distance from Sydney: 90km - 1 hour 20 from Sydney by car
Bilpin is in the lesser visited area of the Blue Mountains and it feels completely different to any other part of the mountains. It's best known for apple picking and apple pie, but there's a whole lot more to it than that. There's some of the most jaw dropping views in the mountains - which are accessed by very short easy walks - a gorgeous botanic garden, magical glow worm dell and of course cider tasting!
There's plenty of walking trails if you're looking for an active weekend, but it's also a great place to kick back and relax. With just a couple of days you can easily visit the botanic garden, catch a sunset at one of the viewpoints, have a picnic at Bilpin Cider and head to check out the incredible glow worm colony after dark.
It's also got some of the most unique places to stay in all of Australia - if you're looking to treat yourself you should definitely check out the Treehouse and Enchanted Cave.
It took us quite a few years to make it to Bilpin, but it won't take as long for us to go back! Here’s our full guide on all the best things to do in the area.
10. Bundanoon - for a cosy, rural getaway
Best for: Cosy rural retreat, wildlife & hiking
Distance from Sydney: 150km - 2 -2.5 hours
We love the little town of Bundanoon and a weekend here feels like you are truly escaping it all. There's a lot to do for outdoor lovers as well as some of the state’s best wildlife watching.
Hiking
We'd recommend hiking or cycling around Morton National Park (we rented bikes from Ye Old Bicycle Shop, yes really!), the views are reminiscent of the Blue Mountains but you'll find a lot less people out on the trails here.
We also hiked around Fairy Bower Falls which is gorgeous, but watch out for leeches if it's been wet!
Wildlife
You'll likely see hundreds of kangaroos and a lot of wombats here, we've never seen as many wombats in NSW as there are around dusk in Bundanoon.
So many wombats in Bundanoon!
Our absolute top recommend though would be to visit Glow Worm Glen. Go as late as you can if you want this magical spot to yourself.
We went around 11.30pm and it was absolutely mesmerising, it's the most glow worms we've ever seen outside of the glow worm caves in New Zealand. It's also only a short walk and free to visit!
11. Kangaroo Valley - a quirky town & outdoor adventures
Best for: Kayaking, cosy rural retreat
Distance from Sydney: 150km - 2 hours
Kangaroo Valley is a favourite for us and we've been many times over the years. The town itself is one of the most interesting in NSW with an old world charm to it that makes it feel special. The Kangaroo Valley Pie Shop is an institution, although there are a couple of pie shops in town to choose from.
Kayaking
On a sunny day, there's nothing better than leisurely kayaking down the Kangaroo River. It's pretty easy going and a really pleasant way to see the local area.
It starts at the Hampden Bridge and most companies can arrange to pick you up along the river and drop you back to the start.
There are a few rapids but when you see them you’ll know they are nothing to worry about!
The spectacular Fitzroy Falls
There's also another kayaking route at Bendeela that we haven't tried yet that doesn't have any rapids and focuses more on a quiet trip in the national park where there's a good chance of spotting wildlife. We rented our canoes from Kangaroo Valley Safaris and went independently, although you can take a guided trip if you prefer.
Fitzroy Falls
We'd also recommend visiting nearby Fitzroy Falls, a big waterfall set in a stunning cliffside and you can enjoy multiple views of it and the surrounding valley on one of the short walking trails. It's best to go after there's been a bit of rain to see it in full flow.
Hiking
If you love hiking there are many trails in the area, we enjoyed the 9.5km return Three Views Walk which is easy and of course has great views.
For more ideas, we have a whole guide on Kangaroo Valley.
One of the views on the Three Views Walk
12. Orange - food & wine without the crowds
Best for: Foodies, wine lovers, romantic rural retreat
Distance from Sydney: 255km - 3.5 hours
If you've already been to the Hunter but you're craving a weekend of great food and even better wine, then head to Orange. We love the Hunter but actually think the countryside around Orange is even more beautiful. Driving between the vineyards was a real pleasure and if you can book accommodation with a view you'll be in for a treat.
Wineries
With regards to the wineries, if you like the bigger, more slick operations we'd recommend heading to Philip Shaw, for an amazing view you can't go past the Swinging Bridge and for a small family run winery, try Dindima.
Philip Shaw Winery
Hiking
If you need to walk off some of that food and drink there are quite a few trails to choose from. Our favourite was the easy, and predominantly flat, walk to Verandah Cave. If you go early or late in the day keep an eye out for kangaroos!
Views of Orange after a very dry spell
History
Orange is also very close to Ophir, Australia's first gold mining 'town'. You can take a self guided trail to the Bluff Tunnels and look for the gold flecks in the walls, just remember to bring a torch and look out for open mine shafts. It was our favourite thing to do in Orange after wining and dining!
For more things to do in Orange read our detailed guide.
13. Robertson - for epic waterfalls & pristine rainforest
Best for: Waterfalls, rainforest, rural retreat
Distance from Sydney: 145km - 1 hr 50
Robertson is not as well known as many of the Sydney weekend getaways on this list but it makes for a fantastic two day retreat from the city. This little village in the Southern Highlands is surrounded by some absolutely stunning countryside views, particularly if there's been recent rain and everything is lush and green, the rolling hills remind us of Hobbiton!
Adventure
The main attraction just outside of town is the Illawarra Fly where you walk through the rainforest and then on a series of suspended bridges above the canopy. The views are fantastic of both the forest and out to the ocean. The whole walk is 1.5km, it was one of the first things we did when we arrived in Sydney and we loved it! We’ve written a detailed guide on what to expect here.
Rainforest
If you can't get enough of the rainforest head to Minnamurra next. There are two walking trails through this gorgeous patch of rainforest, there's a 1.6km loop if you just want a taster, or you can extend the loop to 4.2km and also take in the waterfall. We'd highly recommend the longer walk if you don't mind that part of it is very steep.
Waterfalls
If you want to do some more waterfall chasing then Robertson is also the best base for visiting Belmore and Carrington Falls. Both are spectacular, especially if there has been some good rain.
Lastly, most people rave about the famous pie shop but dare I say it wasn’t as good as some other parts of the highlands! Here’s even more ideas for your Robertson getaway.
Belmore Falls
14. Mudgee - for food & wineries with views
Best for: Foodies, wine-lovers, cost romantic retreat
Distance from Sydney: 265km - 3.5 hours
Mudgee is another of NSW's most fantastic wine regions but it also has a lot to do (more so than either the Hunter or Orange in our opinion). As with many wine regions where there is wine there are also great restaurants and Mudgee definitely has its fair share.
Pipeclay Pumphouse in Mudgee
Gourmet food
If you want to treat yourself to an incredible meal on your visit we'd recommend Pipeclay Pumphouse on the Robert Stein vineyard. It's a fine dining restaurant and a chance to sample some of their amazing paddock to plate food and accompaining wines. I absolutely loved the vineyard views and there were even kangaroos hopping amongst the vines on our visit.
Top of my list for next time is the Saturday long lunch at Zin House, the six course menu with matching wines is renowned and it's advised to allow at least three hours for your meal. Tables are communal unless you are a group of six or more, and if you go in advance you can wander the gardens and meet the gardener!
It reminds me of the dining experience at Pumphouse Point, one of our favourite hotels in Tassie. If you don't want to splash out on an expensive meal and are after something more casual try Alby & Esther’s.
Wineries
Winery wise you have so many to choose from, we'd recommend heading for Logan Wines, Gilbert Family Wines and Lowe Wines first up. If you’re keen to learn more about each winery experience, we have a full guide on 8 of the best Mudgee vineyards here.
Hiking
The great thing for those wanting more than just wining and dining on your weekend away, is that there are also some fantastic hiking trails. I love Dunns Swamp (although not the access road to get there!).
Dunn’s Swamp in Mudgee
The 5.5km walking trail has incredible views and varied terrain which are well worth driving the potholed road for! For other great outdoor adventures you can check out the 8.5km Castle Rocks track, the 2.8km Drip Gorge walking trail or Putta Bucca Wetlands for some peaceful birdwatching.
15. Jenolan Caves - for historic caves and unique wildlife
Best for: Caves, hiking, wildlife, historic hotel
Distance from Sydney: 200km - 2 hours 50
Where to stay: Jenolan Caves House
The caves
Jenolan Caves is the largest cave system in Australia with 11 incredible caves open to the public. It might just surprise you but there's enough to do here for a whole weekend away and it's not only about the caves themselves! We'll start with them though because obviously they are the star attraction.
There are different caves for different abilities from easy to some pretty adventurous caving involving some tight squeezes. There's even several different night time options, including a ghost tour which are perfect for an evening activity on your weekend away.
We've personally done three of the caves that are described as the most spectacular - Orient, Lucas and River Cave. They were all beautiful but if you twisted our arm we'd say that River Cave was the best - the river itself is beautiful and it had a couple of fun ladders too.
We even saw a wallaby in the mouth of the cave which was not something we ever expected to see! When we stayed overnight we tried to get on a night tour but they were fully booked, so we'd recommend booking in advance if you're keen. We'll no doubt be back one day to try it out.
The only cave you can visit without a tour is Nettle Cave. It's worth a look because it's included with the purchase of any of the show caves but it's nowhere near as impressive. It's always fun to explore independently though!
River Cave
Wildlife
The wildlife spotting opportunities are surprisingly good around the caves. Our absolute favourite experience, and one I can still hardly believe you can have so close to Sydney, is the chance to spot platypus in the Blue Lake right beside the caves themselves!
This is another great reason to make Jenolan Caves a weekend away rather than a day trip because platypus are only likely to be spotted at dawn and dusk. We headed to the lake at dusk and sat quietly by the water and within half an hour, there they were, not one but two incredible platypi!
It was absolutely amazing and one of the easiest platypus spotting experiences we've had in Australia, it was also our first time seeing them so it was extra special.
As well as the platypus we've also seen Swamp Wallabies and plenty of Lyrebirds in the area.
The platypus in Blue Lake
Hiking
We never go past the chance for a hike and there are several lovely trails directly from the caves. Incidentally Jenolan Caves is also one end of the famous Six Foot Track which leads for 45km all the way to Katoomba.
For day walks there's the lovely and fairly easy 2.6km (return) Jenolan River Walking Track which leads past the Blue Lake into lush forest which was incredibly peaceful but for a big wallaby which leapt out onto the path just in front of us!
We also loved the Carlotta Arch track which is fairly steep but it's only for a kilometre and you get some fantastic views of the arch and back to the coachhouse. We carried on beyond this track along the Six Foot Track (so you can walk for as long as you want) and we saw many Lyrebirds as well as more fantastic views.
16. Berry - for a cute rural village and lots of cake
Best for: Rural village, cosy romantic getaway, hiking with views
Distance from Sydney: 140km - 2 hours drive
The town of Berry is a great choice for a weekend away and it’s the entry point to the Southern Highlands.
To most Sydney-siders, the town is known as a stop en-route to places such as Jervis Bay and Ulladulla (it's also known for it's famous doughnut van), but it's a great destination in it's own right. Especially now the by-pass has been completed, taking away the traffic that congested the town.
Drawing Room Rocks at sunset
It's full of great coffee shops, the wonderful Berry tea room (try the pear and chocolate cake) and restaurants as well as several shops in a rural Australian setting. It's a good place to base yourself to hike up Drawing Room Rocks, head to the beach at Shoalhaven Heads or venture down to Kangaroo Valley.
If you’re looking for all the unmissable things to do in Berry, we have you covered in this post.
17. Bawley Point - a hidden gem with roos on the beach
Best for: Beach lovers, hiking, wildlife
Distance from Sydney: 250km - 3.5 hours
Bawley Point isn't on most people's radar, but if you're looking for wild beaches and untouched national park, then look no further. It’s a bit further away so it makes for a good long weekend option.
Hiking
It has one of our favourite walks in New South Wales, the 16.5km Murramarang Coast Walk (check out the details in this blog), which takes you to many incredible beaches and was almost deserted when we hiked it. There really is no better way to spend a day. For something shorter walk from Pretty Beach to Snapper Point which although short at just 1km, offers some fantastic views.
Wildlife & beaches
Just outside Bawley Point you can even spend time with the local kangaroos on Pebbly beach. Until we visited this area we thought you could only see roos on the beach in Queensland or WA. As with all wildlife watching it’s best to go at dawn or dusk when the animals are most active.
There are plenty more beautiful beaches for lazy days - don’t miss Depot - and lots of gorgeous spots for camping.
Kangaroos on the beach at Murramarrang
18. Mollymook - for beaches and luxury
Best for: beach lovers, foodies (Bannisters!) & hiking
Distance from Sydney: 225km - 3 hours drive
If you're looking for coastal towns with a bit more bustle, then the towns of Ulladulla and Mollymook should be your choice. These seaside towns are great for surfers and have a bit more going on than many of the other nearby towns.
The beaches
Visiting the beach at Mollymook is one of those quintessential Aussie experiences with a huge sweep of sand and lots of people out enjoying the surf or sipping a coffee at the surf club. It’s also home to one of our favourite restaurants on the South Coast,
Bannisters run by renowned seafood chef Rick Stein. We visited for a birthday lunch a few years back and both the seafood and setting - with sea view - were fantastic. You can also stay the night if you’re looking for some pampering.
Hiking
The area is also home to some amazing hiking trails. If you only have time for one go for the Pigeon House Mountain hike, which provides incredible panoramic views of the area and is a great adventure with ladders up sheer rock face. It does have a dirt access road but we managed fine in our tiny Kia!
Ulladulla at sunset
19. Canberra - for a fun city break
Best for: City break, museums, hiking
Distance from Sydney: 285km - 3 hours
Canberra doesn't get a great rep and we don't really know why. It's actually a fun weekend getaway destination and we've enjoyed visiting many times. If you're not a lover of city breaks don't skip over this one because Canberra is a fantastic place for outdoor lovers too.
The Museums
Sticking with the city centre first, you really can't miss the War Memorial. I'm going to come right out and say that I am not a lover of things like war memorials in general but Canberra's is the nicest one I have ever been to.
It's tranquil and beautifully done with thousands of red poppies lining the walls. The National Gallery is also well worth a look and if you're travelling with kids you might want to check out the Science Museum Questacon.
Mount Ainslie
Every time we visit Canberra we always head up to Mount Ainslie Lookout for sunset, the views are fantastic and you'll likely spot some kangaroos along the way too. You can drive up to the top (guilty as we always pick sunset) or hike up which is a distance of 4km return.
Mount Ainslie Lookout
Hiking
If you're an outdoor lover and you've never visited nearby Namadgi National Park you're in for a treat. The hiking is fantastic and it amazes me more people from Sydney don't seem to know about it.
We'd recommend trying the 6km return Yankee Hat Trail which is an easy stroll through grassland teeming with kangaroos and ends up at some pretty well preserved Aboriginal rock art.
If you're game for another sunset or just want a fantastic view then also head for the 2.5km Boomerang Rocks Trail, it's uphill but not too difficult and the expansive view from the top which you can enjoy perched on the craggy rocks is well worth the effort.
We also love the Square Rock and Stockyard Spur trails if you like longer hikes.
Kangaroos, Namadgi National Park
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