Thinking about getting out and exploring beautiful New South Wales these holidays? Here are some great family road trip ideas for NSW.
1. 4 Day Northern NSW Road Trip Adventure
With stunning natural attractions, delicious food and wine experiences and vibrant festivals and markets, the Northern Rivers Area is rich with wonderful attractions. Enjoy a scenic drive to this region on an idyllic romantic getaway, or a fun-filled family holiday, surrounded by verdant hinterland pastures, meandering rivers and spectacular coastline
Explore the Beautiful Northern Rivers and Coastal Region
Relax on white sands and savour delicious food at restaurants and markets around Byron Bay. Explore World Heritage rainforest and art galleries around Lismore. Skipper a houseboat or dip a paddle on the stunning Tweed River.
With a lush hinterland and spectacular coast, the Byron Bay region is famous for spectacular beaches and natural beauty. Surf, dive and snorkel near playful dolphins. Hire a bike and ride the scenic coastal track in Ballina. The family will be captivated by the magnificent Minyon Falls and beautiful rainforests.
A road trip is the drive that opens up the journey. Just like opening the door to the next adventure, a new world of experience, tastes, opportunities and learning. Isn’t that what life is all about?
Taste delicious local produce in quality restaurants and cafes, such as Elements and The Farm, a wonderful paddock to plate experience. The Kids will also love exploring Tropical Fruit World, in the Tweed Valley, where they can taste chocolate pudding fruit and a chewing gum tree.
On the banks of the beautiful Wilsons River, Lismore enjoys a thriving arts community with wonderful galleries and markets. Visit the Lismore Regional Gallery for a fine collection of artworks.
Enjoy a cool drink and a country meal by the colourful jacarandas of historic Eltham Hotel, afterwards.
While in the Lismore Area, stop in at beautiful Casino and treat your tastebuds to mouth-watering Casino beef at the town’s restaurants and bistros. Kyogle, a rainforest gateway, is on the banks of the beautiful Richmond River and is a great base for exploring. Discover breathtaking rainforest wilderness in the World Heritage-listed Border Ranges National Park.
Visit the beautiful green valley that is home to Nimbin, where you can see the works of local artists, from paintings and fashion to ceramics and jewellery, at the Nimbin Artists Gallery. Visit the Candle Factory or taste fresh seasonal produce at the weekly Nimbin Farmers Market.
Cruise or kayak among the beautiful estuaries, gorgeous beaches and World Heritage wilderness of the Tweed Valley. Stop at coastal Kingscliff or relax on Cabarita Beach, renowned for its surf events and beachside hotel. Visit Mount Warning in idyllic Wollumbin National Park, where the remnants of an ancient volcano rise dramatically from the forest.
2. Country NSW
I grew up in Central West NSW, near a little town called Gooloogong. The area at the time was all wheat country, now it is a food bowl of fresh living and product. Turns out the region was once the largest inland ocean in the Southern Hemisphere, so not only can you go and sample the freshest of foods, tastiest of wines and breathe air so fresh you will be in withdrawal for oxygen when you get back, you can also go fossicking for fish fossils.
With this road trip you can discover the beauty, heritage and tastes of Country NSW, from World Heritage wilderness to acclaimed wine regions, from nation-making heritage to outdoor adventures. You’ll find marvellous things to do and see in historic towns that shaped Australia and in the spectacular national parks.
From riding a paddle-steamer on the iconic Murray River, meeting exotic animals at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, visiting the famous CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope (made famous for Australia’s role in the first moon landing which captured the saying, “one small step for man, one giant step for mankind, and exploring 430 million-year-old caves are just a few of the many great attractions. You can even try your luck fossicking for gold and gems.
Highlights
Enjoy World Heritage-listed national parks, explore nation-making heritage in historic towns, cruise the iconic Murray River, and visit acclaimed wine regions in Country NSW. There are wonderful regional art galleries, world-famous festivals, and plenty of rural charm and country hospitality.
Discover the beauty, heritage and tastes of Country NSW, from World Heritage wilderness to acclaimed wine regions, from nation-making heritage to outdoor adventures. You’ll find marvellous things to do and see in historic towns that shaped Australia and in the spectacular national parks.
Riding a paddle-steamer on the iconic Murray River, meeting exotic animals at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, visiting the famous CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, and exploring 430 million-year-old caves are just a few of the many great attractions. You can even try your luck fossicking for gold and gems.
The natural beauty is magnificently diverse. Stunning sections of the World Heritage Gondwana Rainforests are near the Armidale and Glen Innes regions in northern NSW. In south-western NSW is World Heritage Mungo National Park. Australia’s first dark sky park is northwest in Coonabarabran.
Delicious experiences in bountiful agricultural regions include wine tasting at cellar doors and dining at acclaimed restaurants such as Biota, Lolli Redini, Tonic and the Zin House. Browse local fresh produce at farmers markets and farm gates. You can also tuck into hearty meals in heritage pubs.
Drives and Road Trips
There are many beautiful tourist drives. Some of the most popular include the Greater Blue Mountains Drive, the Legendary Pacific Coast along the North Coast of NSW, the Grand Pacific Drive from Sydney to Wollongong and the spectacular Kosciusko Alpine Way in the Snowy Mountains.
You can also see stunning cascades and gorges on Waterfall Way, follow a food and wine trail with gourmet offerings along Poacher’s Way, explore the historic Long Paddock drive that follows the old stock routes of Country NSW or take a great journey into Outback NSW on The Darling River Run.
