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Whether you are looking for a shopping trip, an adventurous holiday or a romantic breakaway, New South Wales has it all.
From the cosmopolitan hub of Sydney’s CBD to the vast ranges of the Blue Mountains and the beautifully manicured vineyards of the Hunter Valley, there is something for everyone. Sonia Morrison recently visited and is hooked. For a little first hand inspiration read on to discover why….
Bursting with character, Sydney is great whether you seek exhilaration, exploration or total relaxation. Spending time wandering around Sydney’s CBD and Paddington is a must; it never fails to satisfy any shop-oholic tendencies.
Recreation is a Sydney specialty. Soak up the coast on the ‘Bondi to Bronte’ coastal walk, or take on the ‘Rose Bay to Watson’s Bay’ and ‘Spit to Manly’ walks which hug the harbor offering spectacular views. If you are up for an adrenaline rush, challenge yourself by climbing Sydney’s Harbor Bridge or enjoy a thrilling jet-boat jaunt on the harbor.
Culture-seekers can enjoy music, theatre, opera and dance at the famous Sydney Opera House.
A great way to enjoy the harbor is to take a ferry from Sydney to Manly. Once there you can enjoy a relaxed afternoon on the beach and an early evening meal of fresh fish and chips complimented by one of the fabulous Hunter Valley wines.
Speaking of which, just 90 minutes drive north of Sydney you will find the Hunter Valley, a mecca for food and wine enthusiasts. Explore the wineries by coach, horse-drawn carriage, hot air balloon or even bicycle. Also close to Sydney is the Blue Mountains region, its stunning natural landscapes need to be seen to be believed.
If you’ve never been to this region, you must, it’s so good that the rest of us go back again and again.
Voted the world’s number one city, Sydney is a place you can visit again and again.
You’ll still find fascinating glimpses of its humble beginnings but what impresses you most is the sophistication and sheer energy of the city that has grown up around the beautiful harbor.
Shop 'til you drop
Our favourite places include Pitt St Mall, Gowings Store, David Jones, Queen Victoria Building and Strand Arcade in the CBD; boutique shops at Paddington and the eccentric speciality stores at Newtown. Bargain hunters should head for Market City and Birkenhead Point plus the numerous weekend markets.
Great Eat Streets
Try the Spanish Quarter on Liverpool St, the Italian inspired Norton St, plus Darling Harbour and The Rocks. Buy delicious deli food at David Jones Food Hall. Harry’s Café de Wheels is the ultimate late night diner.
Beach Culture
Beaches with a cold beer and prawns are never far away! Discover a newly developed Manly, the beautiful Palm Beach and of course infamous Bondi.
Discover where the locals go
Take the ferry to Balmain, a cute old working class suburb that has become a trendy haven. Glebe is a colourful residential area with excellent bookshops and organic cafes. Watch the locals promenade by in Leichardt, Sydney’s Little Italy. Take the exhilarating coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte.
Just 104km west of Sydney, the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains is named after the blue haze that covers unbroken miles of eucalyptus forest.
With it's fabulous natural scenery, it makes a great day trip or 2 night stay.
Things to See & Do
Spend the afternoon at ScenicWorld overlooking the famous rock formation ‘The Three Sisters’. Ride the Scenic Railway, the world’s steepest incline railway or catch the Sceniscender cable car.
Hop on and off the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus that operates from the Katoomba Railway Station. Enjoy the impressive art and gardens at Norman Lindsay Gallery and Gardens, Everglades Gardens and Yengo Sculpture Gardens. Look for bargains at the regular weekend art and craft markets. In winter, relax in front of a roaring log fire at local restaurants. Feel the sensation of floating over mist-filled valleys and plunging down sheer rock faces as you watch the ‘Edge Movie’ on a six storey high screen.
Explore the wilderness. Meet kangaroos and see forested canyons and waterfalls as you go bush walking, abseiling, canoeing or horse riding. Don’t miss the Jenolan Caves – a labyrinth of caverns, underground passages and limestone formations.
Less than 2 hours from Sydney, explore world-class vineyards, world heritage-listed rainforests, historic towns and spectacular beaches all in The Hunter.
Pokolbin is the main township of the wine region. From here you can drift away in a romantic hot-air balloon flight before enjoying a champagne breakfast. Over 80 wineries dot the rolling hills and you can discover them by horse drawn carriage.
Newcastle is a modern beachside city. See the sights from Newcastle’s Famous Tram, visit Fort Scrachley and surf on the great beach.
The seaside resort of Port Stephens has an aquatic playground ideal for fishing and dolphin watch cruises. See native Koalas at Blackbutt Reserve. Experience an adventure by 4 wheel bike, 4WD or try horse-riding or sandboarding on the amazing Stockton Sand Dunes.
Canberra is the nation's capital and is situated in a 2400km territory, just 304km southwest of Sydney. Visit Canberra on a day tour from Sydney or take a few days with a rental car.
Most of Canberra’s attractions are within easy walking distance of one another, and a few more only 10 minutes drive from the city.
A good place to start is at the National Capital Exhibition, which tells the story of Canberra. See the Captain Cook Memorial Jet, take a free guided tour of Parliament House and see one of the world’s most impressive war museums at the Australian War Memorial. The Australian National Gallery and National Museum of Australia are worth exploring. Science buffs shouldn’t miss visiting Questacon and the Deep Space Communication Complex. A must-see for sports fans is the Australian Institute of Sports where you can take a guided tour with an elite athlete.
Be tempted by Canberra’s 300 restaurants and tour around the nearby wine region which offers around 24 wineries to visit. Gardeners will want to visit during Floriade – Australia’s largest spring floral festival held annually. There’s plenty of outdoor activities to choose from too. Try hot air ballooning or go bobsledding, abseiling, bushwalking, horseriding or 4 wheel driving. |
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Anderson Vacations
Northern Alberta Office
PO Box 82117
Yellowbird RPO
Edmonton, AB
T6J 7E6 |
Anderson Vacations
Southern Alberta Office
311, 1117, 1 Street SW
Calgary, AB, Canada T2R 0T9
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