New South Wales

New South Wales’ fertile and well-populated (by Australian standards) coastal fringe is backed by the mountains of the Great Dividing Range which cover a varied and spectacular wilderness. There are lush sub-tropical rainforests, sheer angular gorges and snow-capped peaks. The first settler explorers to cross the Blue Mountains’ maze of escarpments and gorges laid eyes upon miles of undulating bush land. Today these Central Tablelands are rich pastoral lands beyond which lies the vast space of the outback.

A week long safari out of Sydney provides the traveller with an extraordinary breadth of bush and rural experience. Begin with a short flight into the gorges and escarpments of the Blue Mountains, inaccessible to all but the keenest of bush walkers and locals who know their way on the unmarked dirt tracks. This area is rich in wildlife, including Grey Kangaroos, wombats, platypus, goannas, possums and the occasional emu.

When combined with a stay on the South Coast, where the fauna rich seas attract Humpback Whales, Fur-seals, dolphins and penguins, a safari out of Sydney is a genuine experience of Australia’s wilderness and wildlife.

Just north of Sydney, The Hunter Valley wine region boasts stylish lodges and a variety of wine styles, produced by some of the country’s biggest and some of the country’s most boutique wine makers. The Tablelands are best enjoyed on a private sheep or cattle station. The Central Coast is the place for wild beaches, magnificent coastal walks and temperate rainforest. In the far north Byron Bay’s surf beaches are a fashionable summer retreat while providing excellent diving and access to the beautiful rainforests of the northern ranges.

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