The most beautiful NSW bucket list: 31 dreamy places to visit in New South Wales
by ling and jace
‘New South Wales’ is on Aboriginal land. We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Owners.
home / back to australia
We’ve always known that you don’t have to go too far to find beautiful views and things to do in NSW. After exploring the state from the coast to the most remote inland corners, we’ve put together a bucket list of the 31 most incredible places to visit in NSW.
If you like these photos or want to chat about your trip, find us on Instagram @ling.and.jace
Planning a NSW itinerary
Getting around NSW
NSW is covers a large area and unfortunately it isn’t always well connected by public transport. Many of the places we’ve included can only be reached by car. When take a road trip, we use Rentalcars to compare prices across different hire car companies.
If you’re mostly staying in Sydney on your trip, we’ve mentioned below whether each destination can be reached comfortably in a day trip from the city. We’ve also thoroughly researched every single tour that might help you get around. While you’re in the city itself, this bus route can help you easily get to the main attractions.
Where to stay in NSW
For places that can’t be reached in a day trip from Sydney, we’ve included recommendations for the best accommodation in the area. In general, we’ve found the biggest range of accommodation options on Booking.com and Agoda, especially in the more remote areas.
31 DREAMY PLACES TO VISIT IN NEW SOUTH WALES
Beaches and coasts
Mountains and forests
Outback and desert
1. CATHEDRAL ROCKS, KIAMA
Wodi Wodi land
There’s something so beautiful about the coast around Kiama. While we were there, we went out to see it again and again—first for sunrise at Cathedral Rocks, and then for the Milky Way over the sea at night.
The landscape here has been shaped out of volcanic rock, through years of erosion from the wind and waves. While the tide is low, you can make it right around the cliffs—just be careful to check the tide times before you go. We arrived at around 6-7am when the water was at its lowest for the day.
Cathedral Rocks is the top place on our NSW bucket list. To get to the best view of Cathedral Rocks on the shore, drive to this carpark, walk down onto the sand, and then follow the beach to the right for around ten minutes until you get to the rocks at the very end.
MAP HERE
To see this coastline in a unique way, we’d recommend taking this eco scenic cruise, which follows the cliffs along Cathedral Rocks, Bushrangers Bay and Kiama from the water.
Sunrise at Cathedral Rock, Kiama
2. BOMBO HEADLAND, KIAMA
Wodi Wodi land
For one of the dreamiest please to visit in NSW at night, we’d recommend going to Bombo Headland in Kiama.
In particular, Bombo Headland Quarry Geological Site is one of the most unique backdrops for sunrise, sunset and stargazing in the area, as there are huge basalt columns by the ocean. To get there, park at Bombo Headland Parking and follow the path around the headland. After you pass the water treatment facility, there will be a right turn to go down the steps and towards the water. If you’re visiting at night, don’t forget to take torches as there are no lights. We’d also recommend downloading offline maps as reception can be limited.
MAP HERE
Stargazing at Bombo Quarry, Kiama
Early morning at Bombo Quarry, Kiama
3. HYAMS BEACH, JERVIS BAY
Koori land
We’re going to ignore the fact that Jervis Bay is technically a separate territory for a moment, because it makes for one of the most beautiful weekend trips for anyone living in or travelling through NSW.
Hyams Beach is one of the dreamiest places that we visited while in Jervis Bay, with clear water, and the whitest sand in the world. It’s high on everybody’s NSW bucket list, so it can get quite crowded during the day. We’d recommend heading out a bit earlier and catching the sunrise.
MAP HERE
If you only have a short trip to NSW, it is possible to reach Jervis Bay as a day trip from Sydney but we wouldn’t recommend driving there yourself as it is quite a long route. If you want to see the highlights, this day trip from Sydney includes all transportation, a scenic cruise to see dolphins, and time at Hyams Beach.
Sunrise at Hyams Beach
4. WENTWORTH FALLS, BLUE MOUNTAINS
Country of the Dharug and Gundungurra people
Whenever we get the chance, we head to the Blue Mountains. It’s easily our favourite place to visit in NSW and quite rightly makes it on to everyone’s NSW bucket list. One morning, we took in all of the sunrise colours on a hike down into the valley. We decided to get out early to avoid the crowds, and made it just in time for this red glow.
The Wentworth Falls track is one of the most well-known walks in the Blue Mountains, and we’d recommend it to anyone visiting for the first time. It’s only 1.4km return and takes about an hour in total. The descent itself is one of the most scenic parts, but the main attraction is a natural pool at the base of the 100m tall Wentworth Falls.
This hike is the perfect day trip from Sydney because it is short but very rewarding. We’d recommend joining this tour to Wentworth Falls that includes transport to and from a central place in the city, a picnic lunch, and some of the best view points in the Blue Mountains on the way.
MAP HERE
If you’re planning more time in the Blue Mountains, we’ve put up a full guide of things to do here.
Wentworth Falls valley track
5. BULLIMAH BEACH, BOUDDI NATIONAL PARK
Darkinjung land
Our ideal afternoon is hitting the road with a car full of snacks and hiking until we find a cove that we don’t want to leave. The 8km Coastal Walk in Bouddi National Park is one of our favourite places to visit in NSW for this, especially as a short day-trip out of Sydney.
We can’t get enough of the textures along the coast, where the wind and water has shaped the shoreline. For a scenic one-day hike, follow the a 3km section (one way) that runs from Putty Beach to Maitland Bay.
Bullimah beach is a short distance into the trail—perhaps only 500m, if that—but it’s usually quiet and secluded because most people are walking the whole track around the coast to Maitland Bay without stopping there.
MAP HERE
Sunset on the Bouddi National Park Coast Track
Bullimah Beach in Bouddi National Park
6. ZENITH BEACH, PORT STEPHENS
Country of the Worimi Nation
Zenith Beach is one of the most beautiful places to visit in NSW, set at the base of Tomaree Head. The sun breaks the horizon over the sea on this part of the coast, and we’ve always caught the most spectacular colours at sunrise.
There is a small carpark nearby with a short path leading to the sand. Parking spaces can fill up quickly during the day, especially on weekends and public holidays, as this is also parking for the start of the popular Tomaree Head coastal walk.
MAP HERE
We saw so much on just a short, three-day trip to Port Stephens, and have put up a post with things to do in the area here.
Sunrise at Zenith Beach, Port Stephens
7. LAKE MUNGO, MUNGO NATIONAL PARK
Paakantji, Ngyiampaa and Mutthi Mutthi land
When we first started travelling together, we quickly realised that our favourite places to visit were surreal natural landscapes. We started seeking them out and our routes became more and more remote.
Mungo National Park is 1000km from Sydney. It took three days to drive there, but we knew we had to experience it for ourselves. The trip was filled with red roads, surreal landscapes and sunset warmth. It was one of the most surreal times of our lives, and it’s very high up on our NSW bucket list.
For our long road trip into outback NSW, we hired a car here on Rentalcars. The platform lets you compare prices across different rental companies, and we were able to find a vehicle with a bit more suspension than our small car for the dirt roads. We’ve put up a full post with everything you need to know about an outback road trip to Mungo National Park here.
Sunset on the lunettes, Mungo National Park
8. CURRACURRONG FALLS, ROYAL NATIONAL PARK
Lands of the Dharawal people
Apparently there are less than 40 major waterfalls in the world that run directly into the ocean. We’ll never forget the first time that we saw one on the Isle of Skye and couldn’t wait to explore this one closer to home.
The Royal National Park has over 100km of trails, and Curracurrong Falls can be reached on one-day hikes from either Garie Beach or Wattamolla Beach. This day tour is the perfect way to see the highlights of the Royal National Park and hike to Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls.
We’ve put up a full post with everything you need to know about hiking 4km from Wattamolla to Curracurrong Falls here.
Curracurrong Falls, Royal National Park
Eagle Rock, Royal National Park
Curracurrong Falls, Royal National Park
9. WATTAMOLLA BEACH, ROYAL NATIONAL PARK
Lands of the Dharawal people
The waterfall that runs onto Wattamolla Beach makes it one the most unique places to visit in NSW. To get there, park at Wattamolla Parking, and then it’s a short walk to get down to the water, across the stream and onto the beach.
MAP HERE
Wattamolla Beach is also the perfect starting point for the Royal National Park’s Coast Track—we’d really recommend walking the 4km track to Curracurrong Falls, which run over the cliffs and into the sea. This day tour is the perfect way to see the highlights of the Royal National Park, which includes the hike to Curacurrong Falls and time to swim at Wattamolla beach.
Wattamolla Falls on Wattamolla Beach, Royal National Park
Coast Track, Royal National Park
10. STOCKTON SAND DUNES, WORIMI CONSERVATION LAND
Country of the Worimi Nation
We’ve made the two-hour trip from Sydney to the Stockton sand dunes so many times—it’s simply a staple on many NSW bucket lists, and for good reason. No matter how many times we visit, there are always new views across the slopes.
This spectacular stretch of the coast is one of the main places that we recommend to anyone visiting NSW. The sand dunes at the Worimi Conservation Land are the largest moving dunes in the Southern Hemisphere—they stretch for 32 kilometres, and it has taken us a number of trips to find access to the most scenic areas.
One of the most flexible and affordable ways of accessing deep areas in the dunes is to book a sand boarding and 4WD sand dune tour, which runs a shuttle bus every 15 minutes so you can stay on the dunes for as long as you want. It is also one of the best places for quad-biking or driving with a 4WD. If you are travelling to Port Stephens from Sydney, this full day tour is the perfect one-day trip which includes transfer from Sydney, whale watching, a 4WD tour to the highest sand dunes, and sand boarding.
Now that we’ve found the best locations, we’ve put up everything that you need to know about visiting the Stockton sand dunes here.
Aerial view of Stockton Sand Dunes
11. GAP CREEK FALLS, WATAGANS NATIONAL PARK
Awabakal and Darkinjung land
While we were on the Central Coast, days of heavy rain meant that nearby waterfalls were overflowing. So when the skies cleared, we drove through muddy roads and hiked down to Gap Creek Falls.
Compared to some of the more popular falls on the Central Coast, the Gap Creek Falls walking track is usually much quieter and lesser-known. The trail is around 1.5km (return), winding through the lush rainforest of Watagans National Park. You may even catch (or join) some more daring adventurers abseiling down the waterfall walls.
MAP HERE
Gap Creek Falls, Watagans National Park
12. CAHILL'S LOOKOUT, BLUE MOUNTAINS
Country of the Dharug and Gundungurra people
Every time we’re in the mountains, we spend the afternoon on rock edges until the sun goes down. One of our favourite sunsets spots in NSW is from Cahill’s Lookout, where a golden glow fills the Megalong Valley. Cahill’s Lookout is a short drive away from Katoomba’s town centre. The lookout itself is a short walkway toward the valley, and there’s a picnic area right next to the carpark.
Right next to Cahill’s Lookout is Boar’s Head Climbing Area, which is the perfect place to watch the sunset away from the crowds.
MAP HERE
Cahill’s lookout is somewhere that we always go back to on a day trip from Sydney. There is no need to hike to the viewpoint so it is very easy to reach and gives one of the most spectacular sunset views. To get there, we’d recommend joining this half day tour from Sydney which takes you to Cahill’s lookout at the perfect time of day.
Sunset at Cahill’s lookout
13. ILUKA BEACH, JERVIS BAY
Koori land
Iluka Beach (near Green Patch camping ground) is one of the most beautiful places to visit in NSW because it has the whitest sand, is surrounded by stunning bushland, and is also the perfect spot to see kangaroos.
The best time of day to find kangaroos on the beach is in the late afternoon, just before sunset, when they start to come out of the national park and onto the sand. Drive to the Green Patch camping ground for access to the most scenic part of the beach.
MAP HERE
Iluka Beach, Jervis Bay
14. THE ENTRANCE, CENTRAL COAST
Land of the Darkinjung people
The Entrance is one of the calmest parts of the NSW coastline, and only around 1.5 hours’ drive from Sydney. One evening, we waited for the storm to clear and walked out across the wharf at Long Jetty. It’s the perfect place to catch the sunset as the light reflects off Tuggerah Lake.
MAP HERE
Long Jetty Wharf, the Entrance
15. MUDGEE, CENTRAL WEST NSW
Country of the Wiradjuri Nation
Our impressions of Mudgee are up in the Milky Way. When we arrived at night, we caught the clearest line of stars, stretching over our accommodation and across the field.
Mudgee is well-known as one of NSW’s best wine regions, so in the morning, we went to check out the local vineyards and had lunch at one of the estates. Mudgee is also a great place to stop on any longer road trip across NSW. We did this during our road trip into the outback, and have put up full details of the route here.
Milky Way from Mudgee with 17mm, 13s exposure, f/2.8, 5000 ISO
16. LOCKLEYS PYLON, BLUE MOUNTAINS
Country of the Dharug and Gundungurra people
For one of our favourite afternoons in the Blue Mountains, we went off onto a dirt road, hoping our tiny car would make it. We then followed a 7km walking track out to Lockleys Pylon. It’s one of the few trails that doesn’t descend into the valleys—instead it follows the top of the mountains to a spectacular peak.
There’s a steep drop at the end of the trail, with high, 360° views across the eucalyptus forests of the Grose Valley and the orange sandstone cliffs of Mount Hay and Mount Banks. We’d recommend going in the late afternoon and taking some time at the peak to enjoy the scenery in golden light. You’ll see why Lockleys Pylon is on our NSW bucket list.
The start of the trail to Lockleys Pylon is only accessible by car. Once you get there, you can park anywhere on the side of the road near the entrance to the trail.
MAP HERE
Lockleys Pylon, Blue Mountains
Rare black cockatoo in the Blue Mountains
17. HAWKESBURY RIVER, CATTAI NATIONAL PARK
Land of the Darug people
Our ideal place for a picnic is at sunset on the river, surrounded by kangaroos. Cattai National Park is one of the best spots—it’s quiet, fairly hidden and not too far from the city.
If you visit in the late afternoon, there are always kangaroos out in the fields near the main entrance. At the end of the road through the national park, there is a picnic area and parking next to a wharf at the riverfront.
MAP HERE
Wharf in Cattai National Park
18. GOVETTS LEAP LOOKOUT, BLUE MOUNTAINS
Country of the Dharug and Gundungurra people
For one of the most accessible, beautiful views in the Blue Mountains, we always go back to Govetts Leap. During the day, there’s a stunning view of Mount Banks and Mount Hay, and at night, the skies can be clear enough to make out the Milky Way. We’ve caught the super moon rise and lunar eclipse from here, too.
MAP HERE
Govetts Leap Lookout is also an access point for several walks in the Blue Mountains. We’ve listed them all in our full Blue Mountains guide here.
Sunset view from Govetts Leap, Blue Mountains
Stars and moon rising from Govetts Leap, Blue Mountains
Moon rise over the mountains at Govetts Leap, Blue Mountains
19. FINGAL BAY, PORT STEPHENS
Country of the Worimi Nation
Fingal Bay is no secret, which makes it all the more surprising that we always find it completely empty.
Like Zenith beach, the sun rises over the sea line here, so the colours in the morning are absolutely beautiful. A 20 minute walk down the beach leads you to the Fingal Bay Spit, a small peninsula which you can walk across to get to Fingal Island and Port Stephens Lighthouse at low tide. We’ll always remember Fingal Bay as one of the dreamiest places to visit in NSW.
MAP HERE
Port Stephens is one of the best places in Australia to go whale watching and to see dolphins. If you’re in the area, we’d recommend looking into a dolphin watching cruise (some also have the option to swim). If you are travelling to Port Stephens from Sydney, this full day tour is the perfect one-day trip which includes transfer from Sydney, whale watching, a 4WD tour to the highest sand dunes, and sand boarding.
Sunrise on Fingal Bay, Port Stephens
20. MUNGO BRUSH, MYALL LAKES NATIONAL PARK
Country of the Worimi Nation
Every weekend we try to get further out into the open. On this one, we pitched tents close to the water and fell asleep to dingos running by.
We camped at Mungo Brush in Myall Lakes National Park, surrounded by NSW’s largest coastal lake systems. The park is just under 3 hours’ drive north of Sydney, and is one of our favourite getaways for camping, bushwalking, kayaking and off-roading across sand dunes to the beach.
We’ve put up a full post with everything you need to know about camping in Mungo Brush here.
Rainforest in Mungo National Park
White Tree Bay near Mungo Brush campground
21. RESOLUTE BEACH, KU-RING-GAI CHASE NATIONAL PARK
Country of the Dharug people
Our favourite walk in NSW leads to a hidden gem called Resolute Beach, a serene and lesser-known cove at the base of the hills in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. It’s by far one of the most beautiful places in NSW, and can be reached through a short 6km circuit called the Resolute Loop Trail.
To get there from Sydney, drive towards West Head. There is a car park near the entrance to the walk—search for “Resolute Picnic Area” on Google Maps to find it. It will be a turn off on the right hand side, before you get to West Head lookout.
MAP HERE
If you have more time in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, we’ve put up a post with more walks here, including a trail that leads to seals at the right time of the year.
The hike down to Resolute Beach
Resolute Beach, NSW
22. SYDNEY HARBOUR, SYDNEY
Gadigal land
After spending so long in Sydney’s CBD, we sometimes take this view for granted. But it’s safe to say that you can’t go wrong with Sydney Harbour on a clear day, especially if you’re planning to visit NSW for the first time. Sydney Harbour is probably the most popular destination on any NSW bucket list. While you’re in the city itself, this bus route can help you easily get to the main attractions around Sydney.
For an iconic harbour backdrop, the Royal Botanic Garden is the best place to head for views of the Opera House or Harbour Bridge. The entire garden along the waterfront is beautiful, and Bennelong Lawn has some of the best park views. If you continue walking around to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, you’ll reach the best vantage point of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House together.
MAP HERE
We’d also recommend going out onto the harbour itself, which is beautiful in the late afternoon and at sunset. There are a few harbour cruise options you could look into, depending on whether you’d like to go during the day, at sunset, or for dinner.
If you want an even more unique experience, we took this scenic helicopter flight over the harbour and it was one of the most unforgettable experiences. It also flies over some of the most iconic beaches.
Aerial view of the Opera House, Sydney
View of Sydney Harbour taken from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair
Sydney Opera House, sails lit up by First Nations artists
Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunset
Picnic in front of the Sydney Opera House, taken from the Royal Botanical Gardens
23. ROCKY POINT ISLAND, BALMORAL BEACH
Land of the Borogegal tribe
When things were starting to warm up, we went out to a tiny island to watch the colours shift over the sea. It always feels like a proper Australian summer sunset from Balmoral Beach—the heat still in the air, planning road trips with friends, hearing cicadas again.
There is paid street parking in the area and it’s a very short walk onto Rocky Point Island from the beach itself.
MAP HERE
Sunset picnic on Rocky Point Island
24. MOUNT ANNAN, AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDEN
Lands of the Dharawal and Gundungurra people
The Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan is a good place to visit in NSW for a picnic by the gardens. The best time to visit is from late September to early October when paper daisies are in bloom. We found these areas just by driving around the garden, away from the crowds at the main centre.
MAP HERE
Lakeside view on Mount Annan
Paper daisies on Mount Annan in September
25. KANGAROO VALLEY
Wodi-Wodi land
The Kangaroo Valley is one of the most relaxing places for a nature escape in NSW. We booked a short trip to an A-frame for our anniversary, and it was so peaceful to wake up between the mountains. At all times of the day and night, everything was quiet except for the waterfalls surrounding the valley.
We spent a few rainy days in the nearby national parks. When the clouds finally lifted there were views of so many impressive waterfalls (like Belmore Falls, Fitzroy Falls and Minnamurra Falls), and all of the creeks and valleys that they flow into. The Kangaroo Valley is the perfect place to slow down and reconnect with nature in NSW.
Belmore Falls, Kangaroo Valley
The Aframe, Kangaroo Valley
The Aframe, Kangaroo Valley
26. GARIE BEACH, ROYAL NATIONAL PARK
Lands of the Dharawal people
Sometimes when we stop to meditate, it can take a bit of time to completely slip into it. But on other days, we’re so deeply present that every single experience feels meditative. At Garie Beach, this came so naturally from hiking under an early moonrise, feeling ocean mist on our skin, boiling ramen at sunset and seeing black cockatoos, then freezing for hours to catch Geminid meteors across the night sky.
Garie Beach is another beautiful part of the coast in NSW that we can’t recommend enough. It’s the perfect place to start day hikes in the Royal National Park. We’d recommend stopping at Governor Game Lookout for a wide ocean view (especially at sunset or during a meteor shower), and parking at Garie Beach carpark to access the beach itself.
MAP HERE
Dusk light at Garie Beach, Royal National Park
Sunset at Governor Game Lookout, Royal National Park
Garie Beach, Royal National Park
27. GORDON'S BAY, SYDNEY
Bidjigal and Gadigal peoples of the Eora nation
Gordon’s Bay is one of the most secluded and quiet beaches in the east of Sydney. The bay is filled with clear blue water, and tucked away on part of the 6km coastal walk that runs from Bondi to Coogee. It’s usually less busy than the surrounding beaches as it can only be reached by walking. We’d recommend the free parking at Clovelley Beach, which is only a 10-15 minute walk away from Gordon’s Bay.
MAP HERE
Gordon’s Bay, NSW
Beach at Gordon’s Bay
Gordon’s Bay, NSW
28. SNOWY MOUNTAINS, KOSCIUSZKO NATIONAL PARK
Ngarigo Country
Kosciuszko National Park is such a contrast from the other places that we’ve visited in NSW. This snowfall was just one week after our summery coastal walks at Bouddi National Park.
There’s a reason that Kosciuszko National Park is a constant on NSW bucket lists. There is so much to do in the area, especially during winter—skiing at Thredbo or Perisher, hiking, camping, exploring the caves in Yarrangobilly or following the Snowy River.
Thredbo Alpine Hotel
River view in Thredbo
29. BROKEN HILL, OUTBACK NSW
Wilyakali land
Outback NSW is so expansive that even after days of driving, nothing seemed to change. Hours and hours of red. But all the best things came up in between—our camera was covered in dust, we pulled over more times than we could count, and we knew that we were travelling toward something spectacular.
Eventually, we made it to Broken Hill, a unique town at the furthest corner of NSW. We spent a few days seeing all of its art galleries, a mix of architecture, and iconic movie sets. While we were there, we also drove a bit further to Silverton—seeing the sunset from the Mundi Mundi Lookout ended up being one of the dreamiest places we’ve visited in NSW.
MAP HERE
Red road on the way to Broken Hill, outback NSW
Silverton, outback NSW
30. CAVES BEACH
Awabakal land
We waited for the tide to go out so that we could get into sea caves, then walked through to a hidden cove on the other side. There is a wide network of caves that run through the cliffs at the end of Caves Beach in Swansea, north of Newcastle. To get there, we’d recommend checking the tide times to make sure that it’s safe to go through, which should be in the early morning or late afternoon.
There is a carpark at Caves Beach Lookout for the closest access to the sea caves, which are located just below the lookout.
Inside sea caves at Caves Beach, NSW
Caves Beach, NSW
Cove at Caves Beach, NSW
31. Sea Cliff Bridge, Illawarra
One of the best day trips from Sydney is a road trip along the South Coast, stopping at the Royal National Park and Stanwell Tops. The best lookouts on the way are at Bald Hill Lookout, Otford and Sea Cliff Bridge. We decided to park on one end of Sea Cliff Bridge and walk across is—at sunset we could see dolphins in the water below.
If you don’t have a car, this day tour is the perfect way to get to Sea Cliff Bridge, and includes time in the Royal National Park and all of the best lookouts.
It’s also possible to climb up to a hill that looks out over the bridge, but we wouldn’t recommend doing it if it has rained recently because it is extremely muddy and slippery. To get there, park at the south end of the bridge (there are small designated carparks). There is a sign for ‘Sea Cliff Bridge’ and near it you can find a very small clearing in the bushes where the path starts. It is an unofficial path uphill and some sections have ropes to help with the climb. At the viewpoint above, the ground is very loose so always keep several metres away from the cliff edge (people have fallen here before).
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