Keep the dream alive beyond Vivid Sydney by exploring everything NSW offers – hike the mountains, taste drops from Australia’s oldest wine region and take a zipline through the treetops. It is within a 2.5-hour drive of Sydney – perfect for a short-but-sweet getaway to add to your Vivid Sydney holiday.
Central Coast | 1 HOURS’ DRIVE
Close enough to the city for a breezy journey but far enough away that you’ll feel a million miles from Sydney’s bustle, the eco-certified Central Coast is an easy choice for a post-Vivid Sydney jaunt. The laid-back lifestyle goes hand in hand with the 41 stunning beaches that form the region’s 80km coastline. But that’s not the only natural beauty to explore here. Rivers and streams snake through this special place, offering opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and boating while connecting national parks with the coastline. The vibrant ecosystems encompassed by the area’s waterways and bushland exist as a haven for birds, marine life, and wildlife, so you’ll find so much to discover on the Central Coast.
Things to do
- Make a date for brunch with alpacas at Iris Lodge Alpacas
- Hike the 8km Bouddi Coastal Walk, exploring beaches, birdlife and boardwalks
- Zipline through the Ourimbah State Forest at Treetops Adventure
- Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture with a Girri Girra walking tour
- Sample just-shucked oysters on a Sydney Oyster Farm tour
- Pick a bunch of sunflowers at The Bloom Barn Farm
- Indulge in the wares of 13 skilled artisans and award-winning providores along the delicious Central Coast Makers Trail
- Catch a flick at the colourful Avoca Beach Theatre
- Fall asleep to the sound of the ocean at The Boathouse Hotel Patonga
The Hunter Valley | 2.5-HOUR’ DRIVE
As Australia’s oldest wine region, the Hunter Valley is rich with history – its soils are renowned for producing excellent semillon, tempranillo, and shiraz varieties. But, alongside its acclaimed wineries, you’ll find a leisure-seeker’s paradise, including exceptional restaurants, luxury resorts, world-class spas, and championship golf courses. Wend your way through wineries, sampling the bounty of each vineyard, explore the majestic Hunter Valley Gardens, feast with abandon at venues celebrating fresh local produce and innovative culinary techniques, and don’t miss spying the tapestry of the Hunter countryside from above in a hot-air balloon.
Things to do
- Try out top drops from the historic Tyrrell’s Wines, and taste the award-winning, vegan-friendly options at Tamburlaine Organic Wines and the biodynamic offering at Krinklewood Estate
- Learn about sustainable wine production with a tasting at Mercer Wines, or get hands-on with the ‘winemaker for a day’ experience at McCaffrey’s Estate
- Imagine you’re lunching in the south of France at Bistro Molines or lean into relaxed Italian vibes at Harkham
- Take an accessible hot-air balloon ride at sunrise with Balloon Aloft
- Ride through bushland and vineyards with Hunter Valley Horses
- Delight in a show-stopping degustation at two-hatted Muse on Hungerford Hill Estate or at acclaimed EXP. Restaurant
- Stay in luxury at the Rydges Resort Hunter Valley or sleep within walking distance of a cellar door at Winmark Wines
Kiama, Jamberoo and more | 2-HOUR DRIVE
Not only bestowed with famous rock formations, epic waves, and subtropical rainforest, Kiama lets you choose your adventure with multi-terrain hikes, prime lookouts, lush seafood feasts, and adventure. Whether you’re looking for action-packed, laid-back, or just a sight of the area’s famous blowhole, you’ll find many options geared to your pace in Kiama, just 30 minutes south of Wollongong.
Things to do
- Get into the swing of things with a zipline at Illawarra Fly Treetops Adventures
- Swoosh down a waterslide at Jamberoo Action Park
- Tuck into a bacon and egg roll with a beach view at Penny Whistlers
- Paddle out for a surf lesson with Surf Camp Australia
- Learn the art of cheesemaking, sourdough starting, or fermenting with an on-farm class at Buena Vista Farm
- Explore waterfalls, suspension bridges and panoramic views with a hike through Minnamurra Rainforest
- Take in the views of Kiama Harbour from your room at the impeccably styled Sebel Kiama
Newcastle | 2-HOUR’ DRIVE
Newcastle is a mix of golden beaches, diverse cuisines, and buzzing, urban vibes, making it a dynamic coastal city with the perks of a small-town feel. On-trend cafes, boutiques, and wine bars are just off the alluring shore of Merewether Beach. Street art dots the city, and a surf-friendly culture and innovative restaurants show that sweet spot between relaxed coastal and finger-on-the-pulse energy. You can add a Hunter Valley visit to your itinerary, as it’s less than an hour west.
Things to do
- Hop between cafes, restaurants, hotels and the Newcastle Museum at the waterfront Honeysuckle Foreshore
- Pop on a life jacket and jump aboard a Coast XP vessel as you jet past Caves Beach and Catherine Hill Bay – keep an eye out for dolphins!
- Check in at boutique beauty QT Newcastle and have a sunset tipple from the rooftop bar or a plate of handmade pasta at the hotel’s luxe-casual restaurant Jana’s
- Get a bird’s-eye view (plus a spike of adrenaline) with Skydive Newcastle
- Enjoy the postcard-perfect views along the 6km Bathers Way Walk
- Uncover the secrets of this city while seeing the sights with a mini-bus-meets-walking loop tour with Newy Tour Co.
- Embark on a tasting trail of 14 independent venues including, breweries, pubs and a distillery on the Brewcastle Trail
- Don your mixologist’s hat and blend your own gin, vodka or rum at Earp Distilling Co.
- Watch the waves crash as you dine from the deck of Merewether Surfhouse
Southern Highlands | 1.5-HOUR DRIVE
Located between Sydney and Canberra, the Southern Highlands is a slice of country life a few steps back from the pace of the city. Pack your gumboots and live out your cottage-core dreams in this historic enclave with contemporary flair. Here, you’ll find innovative winemakers honoring traditional methods, stunning seasonally driven menus at rustic-meets-recent restaurants, a treasure trove of antique sellers and opportunities to join a truffle hunt. Rug up!
Things to do
- Get back to nature with a forest bathing session complete with sauna, jacuzzi, fire pit and ice bath at Osborn House and stay the night too
- See cutting-edge art in a restored dairy turned art gallery at Ngununggula
- Find your page-turning holiday read after a meal between the bookshelves at Berkelouw Book Barn
- Antique the afternoon away at Dirty Janes Bowral
- Sample sustainably made wines and meet the resident sheep at Tractorless Vineyard Cellar Door
- Don a bee suit and meet the stars of Bowral Honey Farm
- Stroll the picturesque village of Robertson (the setting of Australia’s hit film Babe)
- Enjoy the run of the grounds with a stay at ultra-whimsical country estate Isca House
Wollongong | 1.5-HOUR’ DRIVE
Turn onto the Grand Pacific Drive and marvel at the spectacular sights of the Royal National Park on your way to Wollongong. As NSW’s third-largest city, this coastal centre is rich with culture, a wide variety of dining options and cool coffee spots, all complemented with the chill vibes of its sparkling location. With beautiful beaches and the rainforest-covered escarpment above, Wollongong also delivers on nature-focused adventures that are easily accessible from the city of Sydney. Be sure to drive in via the coastline-hugging Sea Cliff Bridge – a feat of engineering and an Instagram-famous locale with views over the sea.
Things to do
- Spot fairy wrens, herons and more at Puckeys Estate Nature Reserve
- Experience sunrise over the ocean with Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour
- Spark your creativity browsing Wollongong Art Gallery‘s collection of Japanese ceramics and Aboriginal art
- Pause for reflection at one of the biggest Buddhist temples in the Southern Hemisphere, Nan Tien
- Catch live tunes and good vibes at La La La’s
- Take your pick from classic-meets-contemporary Italian dishes at award-winning Restaurant Santino
- Check into industrial-style digs in the heart of the buzz at Hotel TOTTO
Blue Mountains | 1.5-HOUR’ DRIVE
Named for the beautiful haze that hangs over the sleepy villages, ancient rock formations, and bushland, the magnificent, eco-certified Blue Mountains are one of Sydney’s favourite weekenders for good reason. There’s nothing quite like a hike in UNESCO World Heritage-listed nature, finishing by taking in the expansive valleys atop a lookout or cable car. Whether you adventure and abseil all day, focus on fine dining, fossick op shops and bookstores, soak off the stress at a Japanese bath house, or settle into luxury accommodation, you’ll find something that stirs your soul here.
Things to do
- Take a sunset selfie at Three Sisters
- Connect with Aboriginal culture on a Buunyal Tour or ride the Skyway into the clouds at Scenic World
- Soak in true serenity at the Japanese Bath House
- Get back to nature with a stay at Turon Gates Mountain Retreat
- Strap on your hiking boots for the 19km Grand Cliff Top Walk
- Taste the Blue Mountains terroir with a wine tasting at Dryridge Estate
- Settle into a multi-course culinary journey at Megalong Restaurant at Lot 101, taste the freshness of hyper-local produce at Blaq by Kyah, indulge in big Mediterranean flavours cooked in a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven at Ates, Blackheath or dine with a view at The Lookout Echo Point‘s Bar NSW
- Marvel at the galaxy with Blue Mountains Stargazing
