Best Day Trips from Sydney

Sydney is a huge city with many hidden gems and tourist activities to do. In the surrounding area, you'll find stunning natural spaces with wildlife native to the Australian lands that you won't want to miss during your stay.

When you make your trip, not only will you have to partake of the best things to do in Sydney, you'll also have a great range of tours that will allow you to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and connect with nature. For example, visit the Blue Mountains, Royal National Park, Symbio Wildlife Park, Morton National Park, Nowra Park, among other natural lungs.

If the timing of your itinerary allows, during your stay in the city you should join one of the day trips to the Blue Mountains from Sydney. You'll get out into the wilderness for an unforgettable experience.

This activity can be done in the company of a driver-guide, who will take you from the centre of Sydney to the western region of New South Wales. There, you will discover some of the most beautiful places in the world:

• Featherdale Wildlife Park, home to kangaroos, koalas, wombats, emus and many other species.
• Echo Point Katoomba, with an important rock formation known as the Three Sisters who, according to indigenous legend, are the protectors of the forest.

Also, if you take a day trip to the Blue Mountains from Sydney, you'll enjoy some unique attractions:

• You'll board a cable car and get a breathtaking view of the Jamison Valley.
• You'll walk 270 metres above the valley via a bridge.
• You will descend by train at an incline of approximately 52 degrees, like a roller coaster.

After this experience, you'll usually return to the city by cruising down the Parramatta River, finishing on a sort of Sydney Harbour cruise. You'll get a different perspective of the city's skyline at night, which during the Christmas season in Sydney is particularly beautiful because of the lights.

Interesting details

• Price: This type of tour can cost from €110 per person.
• Duration: This adventure usually lasts around 10 hours.
• Means of transport: Minibus, cable car, train and boat.
• Advantages of this option: you don't have to worry about the cost of the cable car, train and cruise as these are included with the tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: usually with these excursions you don't enjoy transport to the hotel door.

Make the most of your time in Sydney to discover the natural scenery of Australia' s national parks. Take a trip from the city centre to these magical destinations dotted with waterfalls, wildlife, cliffs and a fascinating wine culture.

You'll drive to some of the region's nature reserves. Such is the case of:

• The Royal National Park, which shelters a rainforest with native fauna and flora, the Curracurrong Creek, beaches and dreamy coastal scenery, among others.
• Macquarie Walk National Park, with its towering 80+ metre waterfall, Fitzroy.
• Symbio Wildlife Park, where you can interact with and learn about friendly koalas. You'll also see Tasmanian devils, emus, kangaroos and more.

As well as exploring the Australian wilderness, these tours often include a stop for lunch and a guided tasting of regional wines. It's definitely a wildlife and waterfall experience that you can't miss on your itinerary of the best tours in Sydney.

Details of interest

• Price: this tour starts at approximately €187 per person.
• Duration: The average duration of this adventure is 11 hours.
• Means of transport: minibus.
• Advantages of this option: You will explore some of Australia's most important national parks.
• Disadvantages of this option: The cost of lunch is not usually included in the price of the tour, so you will have to pay for it yourself.

If you want to get up close and personal with a couple of animal species native to Australian lands such as wombats and wild kangaroos, then you should visit some of the wilderness areas and national parks around Sydney. You'll be able to connect with nature and enjoy some amazing scenery.

On a wombat and kangaroo spotting tour you'll visit a number of destinations where you'll be able to get up close and personal with these curious animals. You'll be able to take some photographs and even interact with some of the wombats.

Some of the places that usually incorporate this type of experience include the following:

• Sublime Point Lookout, with a privileged view of the Jamison Valley.
• Macquarie Walk National Park; a protected area with rainforest and eucalyptus forests.
• Fitzroy Falls, located in Morton National Park. You'll enjoy a drop of more than 80 metres and a rugged landscape.
• Budderoo National Park, with stunning virgin rainforest and beautiful waterfalls. You'll also find viewing platforms and suspension bridges.
• A wombat and kangaroo camp, where you can observe the behaviour of these animals in detail.

Interesting details

• Price: the average price of the tour is €117 per person.
• Duration: about 11 hours.
• Means of transport: van.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know closely two species of animals native to the Australian lands, the wombats and wild kangaroos.
• Disadvantages of this option: usually these tours do not include any food.

About 40 minutes' drive from Sydney's city centre you'll find the Royal National Park. This is a huge natural lung that is home to a huge array of biodiversity. You will enjoy rainforest, coastal landscapes, native Australian animals, waterfalls, beaches and much more.

In the park you will have the opportunity to explore the different areas of the nature reserve and follow various trails, which will reveal amazing destinations such as the following:

• The Wedding Cake Rock; a very popular viewpoint due to the panoramic cliffs it offers.
• Eagle Rock, through which you'll find Curracurrong Creek, with a 40-metre drop to the ocean. You'll also spot birds such as the New Holland Eared Owl and plants such as eucalyptus, reeds, lilies and more.
• Stanwell Park Beach, located towards the southern region of the park. It is noted for its sand dunes and blue waters.
• Symbio Wildlife Park, with native animals such as kangaroos, wombats, koalas, Tasmanian devils, emus, among others.

After this tour, you're sure to return to Sydney in the evening to continue discovering its history and natural-urban contrast. Perhaps join one of Sydney's guided city tours, or take a dinner cruise on the harbour, among other activities.

Details of interest

• Price: the cost of this tour is around €203 per person.
• Duration: This experience lasts approximately 10 hours.
• Means of transport: minibus.
• Advantages of this option: the itinerary of this type of excursion is usually flexible, so it is likely that you will be able to choose the places to visit within the park.
• Disadvantages of this option: this type of excursion does not usually include drinks and snacks.

Another place to explore from Sydney is the Hunter Valley region. This is a historic wine-growing area of Australia, where you can visit some wineries, learn about the wine production process and take guided tastings. Also, enjoy the vineyard landscape of this land with some wild kangaroos.

Day trips to the Hunter Valley from Sydney usually start with a pick up in the city centre, such as St Andrew's Cathedral, among other destinations at your convenience. You'll then travel for just over three hours along Sydney's north shore.

You'll be able to tour some of the more than 150 wineries in the Hunter Valley for a wine and food experience. Highlights include:

• Tyrrell's Wines, a 160 year old family business, picturesque vineyards and award-winning wines.
• Krinklewood Vineyard, with award-winning wines, a huge vineyard overlooking the Brokenback Range and gardens.
• Brokenwood Wine Cellar, a traditionalwinery that has been in the valley since 1970.

Details of interest

• Price: the price for this experience starts from €119 per person.
• Duration: the tour usually lasts approximately 11 hours.
• Means of transport: Minibus.
• Pros of this option: You'll get to experience Australia's wine culture up close.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you wish to do extra tastings in addition to the ones offered in the experience, you will have to pay for them yourself.

If you want to disconnect for a few hours from the hustle and bustle of Sydney and get in touch with nature, then you should take a trip to the Illawarra Fly Treeto. You'll walk along a footbridge at least 30 metres above the park, taking in the stunning natural scene.

For this adventure you'll drive from Sydney to the Illawarra Fly Treet, about a two hour drive. This is a destination that will amaze you with its scenic beauty, especially during Sydney's summer when the colours of the canopy are at their most vibrant.

Upon arrival at the park, you will walk along a pair of metal walkways approximately 1.5 kilometres long, towering over this natural region. You will have a privileged view of the Australian rainforest, its flora and fauna. You'll also see the Royal National Park and Lake Illawarra in the distance, among other destinations.

Details of interest

• Price: the average cost of entry to the park is €22 per person.
• Duration: there is no time limit as this is a self-drive experience.
• Means of transport: private car.
• Advantages of this option: an audio guide is provided with the entrance ticket, allowing you to learn a little about the flora and fauna of the area.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will have to drive there and back, which could be uncomfortable for you.

Nowra Adventure Park is a great place to spend a fun time in nature. You can zip through the treetops on a series of zip lines, suspension bridges, and other aerial obstacles.

You will have to drive yourself from Sydney city centre to Shoalhaven Zoo, where Nowra Park is located, approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes away. This is a place where vertigo and adrenaline combine to provide an unforgettable experience.

Fun options at Nowra Park include the following:

• Some 15 zip lines, which will allow you to move around the park from one tree to another.
• Rope courses for adults, where you can reach a height of 5 to 25 metres as you explore the cliffs and trees.
• Ropecourses at around 2 metres, ideal if you're a beginner or visiting the park from Sydney with young children.
• Aerial obstacles, consisting of slack ropes, tunnels, suspension bridges, towers, climbing nets and more.

Interesting details

• Price: The cost of this treetop experience starts from around £59 per person.
• Duration: this activity can last around 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: private car.
• Advantages of this option: you will receive training beforehand from the park staff, so that you can enjoy the experience to the full.
• Disadvantages of this option: although the park is located in Shoalhaven Zoo, you will not be able to access the animal area with the same ticket.

During your trip you can join one of the day trips to Canberra from Sydney. There, you will discover many interesting places: museums, parks, monuments and historic buildings with fascinating architecture.

For this experience you will travel on a route of just over three hours by car from the centre of Sydney to the capital of Australia, Canberra. Some not-to-be-missed places to visit include the following:

• The National Museum of Australia, with temporary and permanent exhibits revealing the nation's history and culture.
• Canberra's Commonwealth Park, which hosts a huge flower festival in September and October.
• The Australian War Memorial where you can take a few minutes to honour the nation's war dead and reflect.
• Mount Ainslie, with a 360º view of the entire city.

Details of interest

• Price: the cost of the tour is around €112 per person.
• Duration: approximately 12 hours.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned car.
• Advantages of this option: You will see the sights of Australia's capital in one day.
• Disadvantages of this option: The tour does not usually include food and drink.

Sydney is a city with a privileged geographical location, as it is only a few hours away from beautiful natural scenery. Therefore, a trip from the city is highly recommended during your stay. You will leave the hustle and bustle of the streets behind and connect with nature.

You can visit amazing places such as the Blue Mountains, where you will discover the true wilderness of New South Wales; the Royal National Park, with native Australian flora and fauna. You'll also have the opportunity to experience wine culture in the Hunter Valley region, have fun at the Nowra Adventure Park and much more.

There are a number of basic tips to help you avoid the pitfalls of a day trip from Sydney. Some of them are:

• Wearclosed-toe shoes that keep your feet comfortable and protected. Remember that you'll be walking on uneven surfaces and it's best to have a good level of traction on your feet.
• Bring some snacks to recharge your batteries during the hike. Keep in mind that not all of these experiences offer food and drink.
• Keep an eye on the weather forecast. This way, you'll be able to dress appropriately, i.e. light clothing, sunglasses or a hat for hot days and warmer clothing if your experience falls during Sydney's winter season.