25 must-do experiences in NSW: the ultimate bucket list

A highlight reel of must-dos in beautiful NSW.

NSW is a state of remarkable contrasts, from cool cities to character-filled outback towns, and breathtaking coasts with epic surf to rich cultural experiences. Here we round up some of the best bits not to be missed on your next holiday.

The best regional cities to explore

Newcastle

Few cities balance urban sophistication and coastal cool quite like Newcastle. By day, enjoy heritage-listed ocean baths, superb surf breaks and the scenic Bathers Way cliff-top walk.

After dark, the city comes alive with a refined dining scene and hip small bars. Newcastle also takes its arts and culture seriously, with national performances at the Civic Theatre, vibrant street art and more than 7000 works at the recently reopened Newcastle Art Gallery.

Wollongong

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and dramatic Illawarra Escarpment, ‘The Gong’ is the traditional land of the Dharawal people and has a history shaped by farming, coal mining and steelmaking.

Take a scenic drive over the photogenic Sea Cliff Bridge, discover Indigenous heritage on a Gumaraa Culture Canoeing Tour or on-Country guided walk, then hop between the rock-carved ocean pools, beaches and renowned surf breaks.

Bathurst

Bathurst is synonymous with motor racing, but it’s more than Brocky’s spiritual home. Australia’s oldest inland European settlement was founded on Wiradjuri Country and flourished during the gold rush of the 1850s – its heritage streetscapes are reminders of this boomtime.

While crowds flock to Mt Panorama for ‘The Great Race’ each October, there’s also the National Motor Racing Museum, Victorian-era Machattie Park, Bathurst Rail Museum and the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum to explore.

Tamworth

This ain’t Texas, but it’s close enough. Don your Akubra to visit Tamworth, Australia’s heartland for country music and rural life. It’s home to a 12-metre Big Golden Guitar, the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame and the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival. Beyond boot scooting, explore the wider region to sample local cool-climate wines and go horseriding in the surrounding countryside.

Armidale

Wollomombi Falls plunges over 200 metres in the Great Dividing Range. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Home to big city sophistication with charming small-town energy, Armidale is a renowned university hub with elegant tree-lined streets and heritage architecture.

Set in the wild and beautiful New England High Country within the Great Dividing Range, the region is a nature lover’s playground; it’s blessed with dramatic gorges, thundering waterfalls, granite landscapes and the World Heritage-listed wilderness of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

On-Country tours to inspire awe

Gumaraa Aboriginal Experience, Dharawal and Yuin Nations

Based in Dharawal Country in the Illawarra region, Gumaraa offers wonderfully immersive Aboriginal cultural education and experiences that range from whale watching to a three-hour fishing tour.

The latter is led by a local Indigenous guide, who’ll teach you how to find pipis, harvest bush tucker and explain traditional cooking techniques. You’ll also have the pleasure of feasting on what you catch. Other experiences include paddleboarding in the Illawarra River, a painting workshop and a traditional bush tucker and medicine walk.

Bullanginya Dreaming, Bangerang Nation

A truly immersive experience in the Murray, this extraordinary laser light spectacle tells the story of the Bangerang Dreaming. Follow the 1.8-kilometre track, set on the banks of the Bullanginya Lagoon in Barooga, to absorb the 12 artworks that each tell a cultural story, from the cosmos to life by the river.

The moving experience is designed to strengthen the bonds between the Murray community and the Bangerang people by sharing stories, an appreciation of legacy and important First Nations knowledge.

Explore Byron Bay, Bundjalung Nation

Leave the beat of Byron’s town centre behind and join Arakwal Bundjalung woman Delta Kay of Explore Byron Bay on a tour that reveals the region’s Indigenous heart. With an Ancestral connection to Country that reaches back millennia, Delta takes visitors on a rich and authentic experience of the Northern Rivers.

Choose from the Walgun Cape Byron tour, a bush food tour in the hinterland town of Bangalow, or even whale-watching through the lens of First Nations Custodians.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

The most beautiful walks

Tomaree Coastal Walk, Port Stephens

Following ancient Worimi routes, the 27-kilometre Tomaree Coastal Walk takes you from Shoal Bay to Birubi Point Aboriginal Place in Anna Bay.

The walk starts with a bang, climbing the 161-metre Tomaree Head Summit, and traverses forests of bloodwoods and paperbarks, sandy beaches and rocky coast, with coastal villages Shoal Bay and One Mile your respite in between.

Murramarang South Coast Walk, Pretty Beach

Hike in Murramarang National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)

The spectacular 34-kilometre Murramarang South Coast Walk traces the dramatic coast between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay and adjoins one of the most significant Aboriginal sites in the state.

Walk along the ancient sandstone coastline, wind through spotted gum forest, go barefoot on sandy beaches and swim in secluded bays along the way.

Grand Cliff Top Walk, Blue Mountains

The Grand Cliff Top Walk. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Linking Wentworth Falls and Katoomba, the 19-kilometre Grand Cliff Top Walk can be completed over two days, with an overnight stop in the pretty Blue Mountains village of Leura.

The trail hugs cliff edges above the Jamison Valley before descending into fern-filled forests, passing waterfalls and Aboriginal sites, and ending at the iconic Three Sisters.

Gidjuum Gulganyi Track, Tweed/Byron

This four-day hike in the Tweed Byron hinterland skims around the top of a caldera as hikers wander across both Mount Jerusalem and Nightcap national parks for 45 kilometres.

Traverse this ancient landscape of fern-festooned gullies, liquid crystal creeks and towering Gondwana Rainforest, before arriving at the spectacular Minyon Falls. Connect Adventures offers guided, pack-free walks of the track.

The best ocean pools

Blue Pool, Bermagui

Ocean pools are a uniquely NSW proposition. You don’t really find them anywhere else in the country, at least not in the same abundance. They speak to our love of oceanside life and this Olympic-sized rock pool at Bermagui on the Sapphire Coast is certainly one of the most spectacular.

The aquamarine beauty shouldered by cliffs certainly gets its fair share of Instagram Reels and you can even don a snorkel and dive under to ogle at marine life, which finds itself washed in and out with the undulating tide.

Aslings Beach Rock Pool, Eden

Aerial shot overlooking Aslings Beach Rock Pool in Eden. (Credit: Lola Hubner)

The most southerly ocean pool in NSW, Aslings Beach Rock Pool is set at the southern end of the beach at Twofold Bay in Eden and is often overlooked in favour of its better-known neighbour, the Bermagui Blue Pool, found 1.5 hours up the Sapphire Coast.

But this delightful dip is carved out below a chunk of pinkish white rock for a swim that demands a photo finish. Set by the coast-hugging, fish-hauling hamlet of Eden, it’s an idyllic place to jump in for a frolic after exploring the town’s fascinating Eden Killer Whale Museum.

Fairy Pools, Forster

The plunge-able, glass-blown translucence of the rock pools between Forster’s Burgess and McBrides Beach on the Barrington Coast is what wild swimming dreams are all about.

Found in the Booti Booti National Park at Cape Hawke, take the 1.2-kilometre, rocky walk (good shoes are advised) down past coastal scrub to the sparkling fairy pool for a pristine paddle. We’re awarding this one with true hidden gem status.

The best places for stargazing

Kestrel Nest EcoHut, Mt Adrah

Off-grid and off-line, Kestrel Nest EcoHut is a true retreat in nature where bushwalking, fishing and outdoor bathing fill the day.

Recognised as Australia’s first Dark Sky Approved Lodging, guests can enjoy an otherworldly celestial show while relaxing in dedicated stargazing hammocks.

Warrumbungle Dark Sky Park, Warrumbungle

The Siding Spring Observatory is a great place to learn about all things planetary. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Dubbed the ‘Astronomy Capital of Australia’, Australia’s first Dark Sky Park promises extraordinary stargazing.

By day, tackle the challenging 14.5-kilometre Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk, passing seasonal wildflowers and millennia-old volcanic formations, and head to the nearby Siding Spring Observatory for in-depth knowledge of the stars. At night, marvel at the cosmos firsthand from your campsite in the Warrumbungles.

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Jervis Bay Stargazing, Jervis Bay

Stargaze with the sand beneath your feet in  Jervis Bay. Follow a laser-guided tour with Jervis Bay Stargazing that brings the constellations to life through storytelling, and see the Milky Way in greater detail through a state-of-the-art telescope.

The best pubs for a pint

Eltham Hotel, Eltham

Sitting between Lismore and Byron Bay, this watering hole in Eltham has been pouring beers for more than a century.

While Eltam Hotel was refurbished in 2021, it still has an old-school pub feel and offers sophisticated fare – the menu was designed by ex-Saint Peter chef Alana Sapwell-Stone. Live music amps up the crowds come weekends.

The Sir George, Jugiong

An iconic country pub with plenty of character, The Sir George is in the tiny village of Jugiong, beside the Murrumbidgee River. Founded in 1845, the pub has a long history of serving travellers on the Hume Highway, but it fell into disrepair when the town was bypassed in the 1990s.

Following a major restoration, it reopened in 2016 and once again became the beating heart of Jugiong. Come for a drink in the shady beer garden, settle in for a meal or stay overnight in the heritage stone stables.

Hill End Micro Pub, Hill End

Tucked into the historic gold-mining village of Hill End near Bathurst, the tiny family-owned Hill End Micro Pub packs a punch.

It’s the kind of characterful place that draws you in – and its food and drinks are equally noteworthy, with a strong focus on regional producers. Stay upstairs in the heritage building if you want to linger a little longer to soak up the village’s gold-rush history.

Rural stays with a luxurious twist

Warramba, Capertee Valley

Warramba’s farmhouse was built in the 1890s. (Credit: Abbie Melle)

Sleep in this lovingly restored 1890s homestead surrounded by 40 hectares of regenerated farmland in the Capertee Valley near Mudgee.

Warramba is home to kangaroos, wombats and abundant birdlife – so much so that it’s recognised internationally as an Important Bird Area. Nearby Rylstone is an age-old town of sandstone cottages, delicious food and wine, and friendly faces.

The Silos, Junee

On this working sheep farm, around a 40-minute drive from Wagga Wagga, a grain silo has been transformed into an architecturally beautiful stay: The Silos. Sleeping two, the circular, double-storey retreat features a loft bedroom overlooking paddocks and country views, plus a firepit for gathering beneath star-speckled skies.

The all-inclusive stay in Junee includes a farm-fresh breakfast and dinner provisions; add a hot-air balloon flight over the Riverina for a truly special memory.

Scribbly Farm, Southern Highlands

Set in the heart of the Southern Highlands, adults-only Scribbly Farm is the reset you need. 

Sleep in ‘bush domes’ complete with oversized windows and log fires, surrounded by a wild 40-hectare landscape. It feels like blissful isolation but is just 30 minutes from Bowral.

Windy Station, Liverpool Plains

Experience real-deal station life on this working farm in the heart of the Liverpool Plains. Sleeping up to 30 guests across the property – including the 1901-built shearers’ quarters – Windy Station is ideal for families and groups, with Back Paddock Tours offering deeper insight into life on the land.

The outback is calling, and the adventure is made all the easier with this hot new AAT Kings’ tour.

It’s the desert palette of rust-red earth and vast cobalt sky that calls you at first, for where better to get away from it all than the outback? Of course, once you start driving, taking note of all the weathered pubs, dusty tracks and tiny towns held together with humour, resilience and more corrugated iron than ever deemed possible, something else grabs a hold of you: the idea that far from the celebrated icons and landmarks associated with Australia, you’re finally immersed in an authentic slice of local life that few have ever experienced.

Ancient landscapes, proud pastoral histories, ghost towns, culinary powerhouses and a rich Indigenous heritage; there are plenty of facets to life on the land. The best way to experience all of the above with both ease and like-minded friends? AAT Kings’ new Outback New South Wales Adventurer, a 9-day small group tour. This Sydney-return itinerary is designed to connect travellers not only with iconic outback destinations, but with the characters, culture and experiences that bring each place to life.

Highlights? The Adventurer has more than a few, but here are eight to start.

1. Broken Hill

See the striking art at Living Desert and Sculptures. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Welcome to Broken Hill, where mining history, outback eccentricity and a surprisingly rich arts scene unite in a rusty desert landscape. In Australia’s first heritage-listed city, exploration is quickly rewarded. Begin with a guided walking tour taking in the city’s grand Victorian and Art Deco architecture. Later, enjoy visits to both the Broken Hill City Art Gallery and the Living Desert and Sculptures – the perfect place to enjoy the changing colours of an outback sunset. Of course, no visit to Broken Hill is complete without a stop at the historic Palace Hotel Broken Hill, famous for its role in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Happily, it makes for the perfect spot for dinner.

2. White Cliffs

people in a mine in white cliffs nsw — Strap on your hardhat and head underground. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Strap on your hardhat and start spending your imaginary fortunes; White Cliffs, Australia’s oldest commercial opal field, is begging you to come in search of rare pineapple opals. Admittedly, you’re much more likely to find white opals, but the true gems of White Cliffs – where much is built underground to escape the desert heat – are everywhere.

Here, you’ll descend 13.5 metres underground into a working mine to learn about the region’s heritage, and observe how miners continue the search for these prized gemstones. Perhaps you’ll even find a couple yourself?

3. Mungo National Park

mungo national park nsw outback — Spend time in the striking, lunar-like landscape of Mungo National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)

With its lunar-like landscape made up of ancient, dried lake basins and sculpted sand and clay formations, a drive into UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park is somehow two things all at once: uniquely Australian with vast outback skies, and somehow otherworldly, as though you’ve been dropped off by spaceship. At its heart lies the iconic Walls of China, a 30-kilometre sand-and-clay lunette shaped by thousands of years of erosion.

Understanding more than 40,000 years of Barkindji, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa history begins with a visit to the Visitor Centre, and concludes with a sunset tour led by local Aboriginal guides. A key experience? Learning about the discovery of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. At 40,000+ years old, these are among the oldest human remains found anywhere in the world.

4. Kinchega National Park

kangaroo in Kinchenga National Park nsw — Meet the locals of Kinchega National Park. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Some come to Kinchega National Park for its iconic Darling River landscapes full of birdlife and haunting river red gums; others visit for its rich First Nations and pastoral history. Your visit will encompass all of the above, with a guided tour (part of AAT Kings’ MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience) designed to give a deeper understanding of Barkindji cultural heritage, history and traditions.

Walk with local guide David as he shares ancestral knowledge and creation stories, and explains how native plants – through bush food and bush medicine – have sustained Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Then sit back and enjoy those views alongside native tea and sweet treats.

5. Griffith

chef at zecca restaurant in griffith — Treat your tastebuds to ‘the food bowl of Australia’. (Credit: Destination NSW)

How can you say no to a visit to a destination widely regarded as ‘the food bowl of Australia’? Shaped by fertile farmland and home to approximately 75 per cent of New South Wales’ wine grapes, this is a day to roll up your sleeves and enjoy the best gastronomy the state has to offer. Think vineyards, cellar doors, cafes and restaurants largely shaped by its multicultural heart (Griffith is not only home to over 60 nationalities, but has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry anywhere in Australia).

6. Mudgee

exterior of lower wines in mudgee nsw — Visit some of Mudgee’s best wineries. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Nestled by the Cudgegong River, Mudgee packs a big punch for a heritage country town, having carved a reputation for itself as one of the country’s leading (and award-winning) wine regions, a key epicurean destination, and a regional arts centre growing in both visibility and vibrancy.

Take a moment to enjoy the town’s 19th-century charm before heading to Lowe Family Wine Co. for a guided tasting of organic and biodynamic wine, followed by a relaxed lunch featuring a feast of homegrown and local produce. Will you walk away with bottles of Mudgee’s iconic reds under your arms? It’s a distinct possibility.

7. Silverton

see the living ghost town of silverton on AAT Kings new NSW outback tour — See the living ghost town of Silverton.(Credit: Destination NSW)

A once-booming silver mining hub, the dystopian setting for Mad Max 2, and now a tranquil settlement that’s home to around 50 people; Silverton is considered a living ghost town and remains a sight to behold.

Take time to explore its heritage streets (and perhaps take a look at the quirky Mad Max 2 Museum) and the Silverton Hotel, an iconic outback pub, before a visit to Silverton Gaol & Historical Museum. It’s home to a wealth of colonial artefacts, early mining equipment and stories from the outback’s pioneering past which will serve to anchor you firmly in place.

8. Shear Outback

man working at shear outback in nsw — Get a glimpse behind the wool curtain. (Credit: Destination NSW)

If you ever find yourself singing, “click go the shears boys, click, click, click…”, you’ve come to the right place. Shear Outback, an award-winning tourist and education attraction located in Hay, brings to life the traditions and stories of one of the outback’s most enduring industries: sheep shearing.

Here, in the heart of the Riverina, you’ll enjoy live shearing demonstrations, meet the shearers, shedhands, sheepdogs and yes, sheep, who come together to show guests exactly what it takes to provide Australians with all that glorious wool.

Discover more of Outback NSW with AAT Kings. Visit aatkings.com.