Australie, NSW, Sydney, uitzicht op Harbour Bridge
There is much more to experience in New South Wales than just Sydney. You could go on a fantastic walk through the Blue Mountains, sample a good glass of wine in the Hunter Valley wine region and have the ultimate surfing experience in Byron Bay. The secluded paradise of Lord Howe Island is a fair distance from the coast and the kilometres of beach at Jervis Bay offer endless opportunities for beach enjoyment and diving.
A helicopter ride will enable you to get a really good impression of Sydney's gigantic diversity, with its immense ports, golden beaches and the Blue Mountains that surround the city. Your flight back into the city will provide you with great view of Harbour Bridge in the harbour, which celebrated its 75th birthday in 2007, and the Opera House, which is the world famous art piece by architect Jorn Utzon that has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 2007. You can also gain an impression of the city from the water by taking a water taxi or ferry. Sydney has numerous rivers, bays and coves and the many parks illustrate why Sydney is referred to as a green city. Striking examples of this are Hyde Park, the Chinese Garden of Friendship and the Domain near the Royal Botanical Gardens.
It seems as though everybody in Sydney lives outside. Follow one of the fantastic walks through the Rocks, where the first pioneers settled, or visit one of the many restaurants and bars that help to create such a great atmosphere. During the art market, buskers from all persuasions perform here, including flutists, bagpipe players and classical violinists. There are many hip stores inside the old buildings in George Street. The Queen Victoria Building is particularly famous and houses a variety of different shops. Pitt Street and Oxford Street are great places to go if you're in search of unique souvenirs.
At the southern tip of the green croissant-shaped Lord Howe Island (56 km2), the granite mountains Gower and Lidgbird protrude above the crystal clear lagoon, which is bordered by the most southerly coral reef in the world. Lord Howe Island's status as a unique island born of volcanic activity deep under the sea, its spectacular topography and its population of many endemic animals - especially birds - and plants, have earned it a place on UNESCO's World Heritage list.
You can reach Lord Howe Island in just under two hours by plane from either Sydney or Brisbane. In order to maintain the current unspoilt paradise, no more that 400 visitors are allowed at any one time to the island. The best way to get round the island is by bike, and you'll soon be caught by the temptation to dismount and admire your surroundings. A walk to the top of Mount Gower is very demanding, but is regarded as one of the most stunning one-day walks in the world. There are roughly fifty diving locations around the island, where you'll be amazed at the many species of fish, green turtles and brightly coloured coral. You can snorkel from the beach over the untouched coral reefs of Lord Howe Island Marine Park and feed the fish at Ned's Beach at low tide, which will eat out of your hand.
At just under two hour's drive or train journey from Sydney, you will find more than 1 million hectares of sandstone plateaus, escarpments and gorges that are coloured blue-green by the eucalypt vegetation (related to the eucalyptus family amongst others). UNESCO has placed a total of eight national parks in the Blue Mountains on the World Heritage list, as a result of the natural biodiversity found here on such a small surface area. Rare types of endangered plants and trees also grow here, such as the unique Wollemi Pine trees, which were only discovered in 1994 and are the oldest type of tree in the world.
The Blue Mountains are an exceptional place for walking and in the 26 mountain towns and villages you will find beautiful gardens, fascinating galleries, unique shops, good restaurants and great tearooms. Wentworth Falls (named after a stunning waterfall) and Katoomba deserve a particular mention, and from here you can travel along the Katoomba Scenic Railway, which is the steepest railway in the world, into Jamison Valley. Katoomba offers beautiful views of the Three Sisters, the most famous rock formation in the Blue Mountains.
Hunter Valley, which is one and a half hour's drive north of Sydney, is the oldest and most frequently visited wine region in Australia. Here you will encounter rolling hills covered with vines, olives and other such delights. There are also around 120 vineyards, at which you can taste Semillon, Shiraz and Chardonnay wines. Lovedale is a quaint town with boutique wineries, bistros and galleries. While the wine production in Hunter Valley is still carried out using traditional methods, modern cuisine trends have been flourishing in recent times. Regional chefs allow themselves to be inspired by all what the valley and adjoining ocean have to offer.
At 180 kilometres south of Sydney, Jervis Bay is located in a large bay (15 x 10 kilometres) with glistening turquoise waters. The sandy white beaches are heavenly - particularly those tucked between Greenfields Beach and Murrays Beach, which is sheltered by Bowen Island. Footpaths have been marked out along the coast and you can take fishing trips from Huskisson, or simply explore the bay in a kayak. The dolphins that live in the bay often come near to the coast, or greet the rowers in their kayaks. Whales also swim close between June and November and - thanks to the amount of underwater chambers, caves and rock formations - the bay is the best diving location in New South Wales. The unspoilt coast of Booderee National Park borders Jervis Bay in the south, and here you will be able to walk along a breathtakingly beautiful footpath.
The town of Byron bay is located at the most eastern tip of Australia, around 800 kilometres north of Sydney, against a majestic backdrop of green volcanic mountains. The town is a slightly chic and fairly New Age, with lots of emphasis on culture and wellness: cultural events are held throughout the year. Byron Bay is the surfing mecca of Australia and is renowned among professionals and enthusiastic amateurs worldwide. Thanks to the warm golf stream, it is also the ideal location for diving or snorkelling. A particularly favoured diving spot is Julian Rocks, which is part of the reasonably new Cape Byron Marine Park. Whale-spotting boat trips are organised between June and November and a footpath has been marked out around Cape Byron, which will allow you to experience the stunningly beautiful views along the east coast of Australia.
