New South Wales Attractions

Ballina
This popular holiday resort, famous for its temperate climate was settled in 1846 by cedar cutters and farmers. This town is situated at the mouth of the Richmond River and is located at a distance of 790 kilometers to the north of Sydney. In 1860, gold was found in the riverbed at the entrance. The town is renowned for its fishing activities. The town today has the strength of 100 fishing fleet. The renowned exhibition of Las Balsas Expedition conducted in Ballina museum, tells the story of the 1973 expedition from Ecuador to Australia in three balsa wood rafts each carrying four men. The journey took around 178 days to complete. The Ballina Lighthouse provides a spectacular view of the sea. This lighthouse was built in 1879. 19 kilometers to the south of Ballina, is the Broadwater Sugar Mill which conducts tours during the cane crushing season.

Bathurst
The oldest island city of Australia, Bathurst, is situated at a distance of 200 kilometers to the west of Sydney. This city is, at times, referred to as the city of plains. It has played an essential part in the settling of Australia. It forms the abode of the very famous race, Tooheys 1000. Famous for its grand colonial architecture, the place houses a courthouse which is in Victorian Renaissance style and home to the Bathurst Historical Museum. Nearby, is the Sir Joseph Banks Nature Reserve which is a pleasant stop. The major tourist attractions in this area are the koalas, the kangaroos and wallabies. This beautiful city hosts its annual road race on the Mt. Panorama at the edge of the town.

Broken Hill
Broken Hill, more famous as the Great Silver City, is situated in the far west of New South Wales. This place is often called the gateway. The climate of this place is usually pleasant with low humidity and average summertime maximums in the low 30'sC. The city has the world's richest silver-lead-zinc deposits ever discovered. The mining city which is the abode of beautiful and extensive greenery. The place even houses very ancient and interesting historical buildings including the mosque, which was built in 1891. This mosque was for the Afghan camel drivers. This city is very famous for fine Australian artists and has around 20 art galleries. There are many tours conducted of which, the underground tours lead to Delprat's mine. The Station Museum situated nearby, has a large display of old railway machinery. Many movies including Mad Max 2 and Razorback have been shot in the exquisite town of Silverton.

Byron Bay
Byron Bay has been, for many years, a popular destination for surfers and scuba divers. There are well known div sites in this area such as the Cod Hole. At this place, divers can as well catch hold of large fish and adventure divers can dive with the sharks. This city displays a relaxed atmosphere. Byron Bay houses the lighthouse which is situated on the easterly point of the Australian mainland. The place gives a beautiful view of the ocean and the surrounding areas. The dolphins are a delight to see. For the surfers, the added attraction is the Watego's Beach, one of Australia's best beaches. This is the only beach situated in New South Wales just below the lighthouse. This place is a great holiday destination. The locals work hard to maintain the special style and environment for the visitors to have a pleasant journey and a wonderful holiday. Byron is a creative centre, a place for new ideas to be tested. This beautiful place plays abode to many rare animal and plant species. It is an ideal venue for outdoor physical lifestyle.

Cocos Island
The Cocos or the Keeling group of islands comprises of 27 coral islands. The group consists of two atolls. The northern atoll is North Keeling, which is a single uninhabited island. 24km down south is the main atoll, which is a horseshoe chain of islands encircling a lagoon. This island is an ideal place for golfers as the course runs either side of the runway. Negotiations with aircrafts need to take place. The beach gives a crystal clear view of the gushing blue waters and the deep sky above it. Diving or snorkeling is also possible in the surrounding coral reefs. Fishing is one sport which cannot be missed at such a place and hence this place is a major attraction for those who want to reel in few fish. The activity has a major boost since the tropical waters play abode to several species of fish like sailfish, tuna, Wahoo, and giant trivially.

Port Stephens
Port Stephens is a fantastic holiday setting with crystal clear waters and long clean beaches of white sand. The place is referred to as one of the most beautiful harbors in the world. There are two peaks, locally famous as "the Heads”, which act as guards to this beautiful harbor. This place is an ideal resting place for visitors in search of relaxation. The land is full of discoveries and excitement. Accommodation is absolutely no problem here, as there is a variety of hotels for the tourist to choose from. One has a greater and wider choice right from self-contained cabins to first-class hotels like The Anchorage. The Anchorage boasts it's own marina and enjoys superb waterfront views. The Nelson Bay which lies nearby, hosts the largest fishing tournament in the Southern Hemisphere. The place becomes the centre and the weigh-ins is always a spectacular attraction.

Those who are rather disinterested in the activity can enjoy watching the delightful the Dolphins of Port Stephens. Thousands of visitors gather at this place each year to watch the extravagant dolphins doing their act. The Tilligery Peninsula lies on the Southern flank of this bay. The place plays abode to a large number of Koalas, probably the largest number in New South Wales. These koalas enjoy their heavenly abode due to the cool sea breeze. The Hunter Vineyards are close to Port Stephens and house a vast selection of world class wines.

Blue Water Paradise is situated approximately 200 kilometers to the north of Sydney. A two hour journey by road on the F3 Freeway or 35 minutes from Sydney by air to Newcastle airport at Williamtown, takes us to this enchanting place. The Bushlands surrounding Port Stephens house over 220 bird species, 48 different types of mammals, and 38 species of reptiles. The place also plays abode to the flora housing over 200 varieties of wildflowers, each year. The Myall Lake is present towards the north of the area, whereas to the west lies the historic Morpeth. To the east of this place, the magnificent Seven Mile Beach is situated, lapped by the Pacific Ocean.

Suffolk Park
This place is the largest residential community. From this place, the landform begins to rise towards the foothills which lead to Broken Head Nature Reserve and the rolling hills inland. The place houses a caravan park and a community centre building embracing the foreshore. The place is the main access trail to the beach. The extra wide beaches stretch towards the north to Cape Byron and towards the south to Broken Headland rock formations. There is a bike trail into the Bay from the end of Alcorn Street.

The Dune system
The land begins to incline to the foothills and heads straight into the Broken Head Nature Reserve. The beachside caravan park of the council possesses beautifully shaded sections with adequate facilities. The wide beach opens on the other side of the giant foreshore dune system.