New South Wales

Toyota Country Music Festival 2017 – Tamworth

Tamworth Music Festival 2017The headlines on the TCMF website say that the Tamworth Country Music Festival is “Australia’s Largest Music Festival – 10 Days – 700 Artists – More Than 2800 Events”.

We headed to Tamworth to find out what people have been raving about!

Tamworth is about a five-hour drive from Sydney – it’s an easy drive passing through pretty countryside and charming towns – particularly Murrurundi and Willow Tree. In fact if you leave Sydney in the morning, the Willow Tree Inn is a great place to stop for lunch. Their award-winning Graze Restaurant and Bistro serves one of the best steaks you will ever have. Across the road is The Plains Pantry – another great place for good coffee, home baked meals, cakes and gourmet groceries.

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By |2024-01-23T16:35:48+11:00January 29th, 2017|Categories: New South Wales, Tamworth, Australia|0 Comments

Tenterfield to Sydney via New England Hwy & Thunderbolts Way

Tenterfield – Glen Innes – Guyra – Armidale – Uralla – Walcha – Gloucester – Stroud – Sydney

Bluff Rock, Tenterfield

Bluff Rock, Tenterfield

This is a scenic drive along the New England Highway and Thunderbolts Way, between Tenterfield in the north of NSW down to Sydney. It takes about 8 hours and passes through historic country towns, through some of the New England region’s most beautiful high country, and gives travellers an insight into the lives of Australia’s early settlers. If time permits, it is ideal to break the trip and stay in a few places along the way to appreciate the sights. (more…)

Sydney to Port Macquarie – June Long Weekend 2012

Seal Rocks NSW

Seal Rocks

For those who enjoy driving holidays, this is a good route to explore the NSW coastline between Bulahdelah and Coffs Harbour and get a glimpse of the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

You will see some of the best waterways, the best beaches and national parks in NSW.

During winter, the area is far less crowded than in summer, the days are sunny but not too hot and the air is crisp and clean.

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Blue Mountains – A Day Trip from Sydney

The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains

If you are visiting Sydney, we can recommend a day trip to the Blue Mountains.

Anytime of year is good however it is a bonus if you can see the mountains in autumn or spring.

If you have the time, we suggest doing a circular route – driving out of Sydney along the M4 onto the Great Western Highway through Leura, Katoomba and Blackheath. When you reach Mount Victoria we recommend returning to Sydney via the Bells Line of Road.

It is a big day out but you will certainly see a lot.

Driving time to Katoomba is about two hours from Sydney. (more…)

By |2024-01-23T16:45:23+11:00July 13th, 2011|Categories: Blue Mountains, Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia|0 Comments

Jindabyne

View over Lake Jindabyne

View over Lake Jindabyne

Jindabyne is the gateway to the snowfields of the southern Kosciuszko National Park – Perisher, Charlotte’s Pass, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Thredbo.

We arrived in Jindabyne the week before the official opening of the 2011 ski season. In previous years we had passed through Jindabyne on the way to the snowfields without giving it much thought. However, after staying a few days we discovered that it is a very pleasant town.

At this time of year there is an influx of young people looking for jobs for the ski season. Everyone we come across is incredibly friendly, enthusiastic and helpful. (more…)

By |2024-01-23T16:50:04+11:00July 6th, 2011|Categories: Jindabyne, New South Wales, Australia|0 Comments

Sydney to Broken Hill via the Murray River

Sydney – Goulburn – Crookwell  Cootamundra – Echuca – Swan Hill  Mildura – Wentworth  Broken Hill  Silverton – Dubbo – Sydney

Line of Lode Miners Memorial & Restaurant, Broken Hill

Line of Lode Miners Memorial & Restaurant, Broken Hill

An area of NSW that we didn’t know well was the Murray River and Broken Hill region so we did a driving trip along the Murray River, out to Broken Hill, returning to Sydney via Dubbo.

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Day Trip from Sydney to Wollongong via Royal National Park and the Seacliff Bridge

One of our favourite day trips from Sydney is the drive south via the Royal National Park, through the towns of Stanwell Park, Austinmer and Thirroul to North Wollongong. A highlight of the trip is the Sea Cliff Bridge and the spectacular coastal views.

Leaving Sydney we drive out past the airport, following the signs to Rockdale/Wollongong. Just beyond the airport, there are good views over Botany Bay from along the Grand Parade, Brighton-Le-Sands. The foreshore of Botany Bay has been landscaped in recent years to provide a walking/cycling track and grassed areas for picnicking.

Royal National Park

Once through the southern suburbs of Sydney take the turnoff to the Royal National Park. Established in 1879, it is Australia’s oldest national park and covers an area of 132 sq kms. The Royal National Park was the second national park to be established in the world, after Yellowstone in USA.

The Royal National Park is the beginning of what is known as the Grand Pacific Drive – from Sydney to Wollongong and beyond.

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By |2024-01-23T17:07:45+11:00July 1st, 2011|Categories: New South Wales, Wollongong, Australia|0 Comments

Jervis Bay – Weekend Trip from Sydney

Visiting Kiama, Gerringong, Gerroa, Berry, Huskisson, Kangaroo Valley, Burrawang and Bowral.

We left Sydney on a Saturday morning, hoping to stay a night in Huskisson. The plan was to explore the coast between Sydney and Jervis Bay over the next two days. It was what we call in our family ‘a flash tour’ – touching on many places in a short time, with a view to going back to where we liked the best.

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By |2024-01-23T17:11:49+11:00June 2nd, 2011|Categories: Huskisson, Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia|1 Comment
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