Captain James Cook first landed in Australia in what is now
New South Wales (NSW), and this is where the first permanent
European settlement was established. Today it is Australia's
most populous state ( 6.4 million ) and has the country's
largest city ( 4.2 million ), Sydney. Those expecting NSW
to be little more than Sydney's outskirts are in for a real
surprise.
The Blue Mountains, the beautiful south coast towards
Jervis Bay and the north coast towards Forster envelope
a natural beauty that is hard to surpass anywhere in the
world.
Sydney, though, is a good place to start your exploration
of NSW with its opera house and its harbour and bridge.
It was at Sydney Cove, where today the ferries run from
Circular Quay, that the first European settlement was established
in 1788. Not surprisingly, Sydney has an air of history
that is missing from many other Australian towns and cities.
This doesn't stop Sydney from being far more brash and lively
than many of its younger counterparts though.
If Sydney's adventurous spirit doesn't suit you, the serene
natural beauty of the Blue Mountains is only 2 hours by
car or train to the west.
Scuba Divers have several options in these temperate waters,
Jervis Bay to the south and Forster to the north offer some
spectacular diving (shark-spotting divers will love it)
and peaceful beach and country holidaymaking. Diving is
offered there by several local dive shops.
Book your hotels directly:
Sydney
|
Blue
Mountains
|
Central
Coast
|
Taree
|
Hunter
Valley
Independent
