New South Wales

New South Wales (NSW) is Australia|Australia's most populous state. Its capital, Sydney is the nation's oldest, largest and most cosmopolitan city, centred on its spectacular harbour. The state's coastal areas offer endless sandy beaches next to sleepy coastal communities. The Great Dividing Range stretches the length of the state from north to south, including the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains and Australia's largest ski resorts in the Snowy Mountains. West of the range are the plains and the outback, Gold mining, history and rural communities all the way to the red dust.Along the way you'll find Australia's premier regions of Mudgee and the Hunter Valley and the rainforests of the North Coast and New England (New South Wales) | New England, and hidden natural wonders to discover.

Regions of New South Wales

New South Wales is a diverse state with many different types of climate, scenery and communities. The first list of regions are all within 3 hours' drive or train trip from Sydney; the rest will take more time or planning.

Sydney and surrounds

New South Wales regions

Sydney The capital of the state and largest city in Australia, and its suburban surroundings, forms its own vibrant region

Blue Mountains Located immediately to the west of Sydney, a region of unique scenery and wilderness

Central Coast (New South Wales) Immediately north of Sydney, a region of bush, waterways and beaches.

Hunter Home to NSW's second city of Newcastle (New South Wales)

Illawarra Just south of Sydney: beaches, bushwalking, and the coastal towns of Wollongong and Shellharbour

Shoalhaven Beautiful coastal area, home to the city of Nowra, with sandy beaches, small communities, and rolling green meadows

Southern Highlands (New South Wales) A day trip or a weekend away from Sydney. Bushwalking, forests, country cafes, antiques, crafts and country communities. Further afield   Central West (New South Wales) The rolling flat plains to the west of the Great Dividing Range. Home to the towns of Bathurst (New South Wales)   Far West (New South Wales) Outback New South Wales, including the town of Broken Hill and the opal mining town of Lightning Ridge   Mid-North Coast Publicised as the "holiday coast"; includes Port Macquarie and the town of Coffs Harbour   New England (New South Wales) Home to 4 UNESCO World Heritage List   Northern Rivers Home to 5 World Heritage Listed National Parks, as well as the towns of Byron Bay and the towns of Lismore (New South Wales)   Riverina The state's "food bowl" with small friendly communities, great food and fruit cocktail, and unique scenery. Home to the towns of Wagga Wagga, Griffith and Albury-Wodonga   Snowy Mountains The roof of Australia, a region of mountains, unique scenery and winter sports, on the Victorian border   South Coast (New South Wales) Hundreds of kilometers of unspoiled beaches, coves and bays; small coastal communities and spectacular scenery   Norfolk Island Far out into the Pacific Ocean, a former penal colony and now relaxing tourist destination Reference ##6e6e6 Sydney]]. Reference ##f9999 Blue Mountains]]. Reference ##b9cc5 Central Coast (New South Wales)

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Reference ##4ac60 Far West (New South Wales) | Far West]].

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Reference ##7db9a South Coast (New South Wales) | South Coast]].

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Cities

Sydney Skyline at Sunset 2011 - Sydney - the state capital

• Sydney - the state capital and the largest city in Australia
• Albury-Wodonga|Albury - Victorian border town on the banks of the Murray River.
• Armidale - Centre of the Northern Tablelands region, a city with easy road access to several World Heritage-listed national parks.
• Broken Hill - A poetically named 'Wild West' mining town, right in the Outback, with a small thriving arts scene
• Coffs Harbour - A popular beachfront city for visitors and seachangers, with many accommodation options from the budget to resort.
• Newcastle (New South Wales) | Newcastle - the second largest city in NSW is a coastal city and industrial capital of the Hunter Valley region, around 150km north of Sydney.
• Tamworth (New South Wales) | Tamworth - Australia's home of country music.
• Wagga Wagga - The largest inland town in New South Wales, on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.
• Wollongong - located around 100km south of Sydney between the escarpment and the coast, natural beauty and heavy industry sit adjacent in the Illawarra region.

More Destinations

• Lord Howe Island, a World Heritage-listed island some 550km from the mainland, is part of New South Wales and is a popular getaway destination.
• One of the many prime wilderness areas in the state. Some of these parks and reserves worth visiting include:
• Blue Mountains National Park is a large World Heritage-listed park.
• Jenolan Caves
• Mt Warning National Park
• Oxley Wild Rivers National Park is a large World Heritage-listed park that has several locations where 4WDs are permitted.
• Warrumbungles (Warrumbungle National Park)
• Wollemi National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed park

New South Wales Halal Explorer

History

GoulburnCourtHouse - Court house in Goulburn, built in 1847.

The home of a large number of Indigenous People tribes for thousands of years, New South Wales was only settled by Europeans in 1788 - spreading outwards from Sydney. The name was given by Captain Cook 18 years earlier during his first voyage of discovery, after the nation of Wales. It is unknown whether he intended to name it after South Wales, or whether this new land was the Wales of the South, but the cliffs he was passing to the south of Sydney bear a striking resemblance to the cliffs along the Welsh Cambrian Coast.

The first settlers were dependent of farming and fresh water, and the major settlements grew around Parramatta and Windsor (New South Wales) | Windsor, at the limit of navigation of the Parramatta and Hawkesbury rivers, inland from Sydney. Inland settlement was at first impeded by the rugged Blue Mountains for a time and settlers did not cross the mountains until 1813. However, once crossed settlement spread west rapidly, with the first road across the mountains finished in 1815, leading to the first inland town of Bathurst (New South Wales) | Bathurst. Further regional and rural expansion occurred in the late 19th century as a result of the Gold Rush, although it did not have as much of an impact as in neighbouring Victoria.

From its inception until the time of federation in 1901, New South Wales was dependent largely on its agricultural resources; however, over the early 20th century this largely changed to a point where New South Wales led Australia in heavy industry. This was, and continues to be dominated by industries such as coal mining in the Hunter Valley and Illawarra regions.

From the 1970s, industries such as steel and shipbuilding began to diminish, and although agriculture remains important its share of the state's income is smaller than at any other time in the state's history. NSW, and in particular Sydney, have developed significant service industries in finance, information technology and tourism.

In 2016 and the formerly self-governing Norfolk Island had its autonomy reduced and was annexed to New South Wales by the Australian government.

What is the Geography of New South Wales

Mungo Great Wall - Mungo National Park in the NSW outback

New South Wales is the most populous state in Australia. Most of that population is concentrated in Sydney, which has 4.8 million of the state's 7.5 million inhabitants. The next largest cities are (in order) Newcastle and Wollongong. After that the larger cities and towns in the state are merely moderately-sized regional centres of 40,000-50,000 people. Many of the cultural sights are concentrated in Sydney and nearby. However, this isn't true of historical or natural sights. Many of the state's most beautiful natural sights, obviously enough, lie well outside the Sydney metropolitan area. Australian history and identity is to some extent tied up with rural settlement and lifestyle, and thus you will find many of the outlying regions of New South Wales base their tourism industry around pioneer and rural history.

Climate & Weather

New South Wales' climate varies considerably depending on the area in the state.

Bald Hill, overlooking Stanwell Park - Looking over Wollongong and the third largest city in NSW

In winter the Snowy Mountains can receive significant snowfalls, with an extensive ski fields operating between July and September. During cold snaps in mid-winter snow can fall down to 800 metres in inland New South Wales, giving a light snow cover to large areas of the state. The desert areas of inland New South Wales struggle to reach 15°C, and southern coastal areas including Sydney range between 9-17°C in July and the coldest month. However the north coast of New South Wales, towards Tweed Heads and Byron Bay, averages above 20°C even during mid-winter. Winter generally isn't the time for beach swimming in New South Wales, with the season generally being between October and March - maybe a little earlier up north, and maybe a little later down south.

In summer most head for coastal regions, with New South Wales having literally hundreds of clean patrolled beaches and coastal towns. The inland towns can be hot, with many averaging over 30°C in summer, often peaking above 40°C.After Christmas until the end of January it can be difficult to find any available accommodation near the coast at short notice.

The best time to visit New South Wales depends on your interest. Most activities, transport, restaurants and other facilities operate year-round. For the beach holiday summer December to February is perfect. It can be hot, but if you are the beach, that is the way you want it. The best months for reliable snowfalls are August to September, although you are always at the whim of Mother Nature on the ski fields. Spring and Autumn are good for walking, and for country driving holiday.

If you are exploring Sydney and the cities, avoiding the summer period will reduce the crowds and peak accommodation costs. If you are used to the dry heat and then heading inland in the summer period is also an off-peak experience, with few crowds and accommodation hassles.

The Bureau of Meteorology provides weather forecasts across the state.

The People of New South Wales

Sydney, in particular, is ethnically diverse. You will encounter people with many different cultural influences and language groups.

New South Wales people use some particular regional words which are not used in other states. The word cossie or swimmers (short for swimming costume) refer to a bathing suit - don't call them "togs" as used in Queensland or "bathers" as used in Victoria. Swimsuit for women or Speedos for men are universally understood.

In common with most Australians and the people of New South Wales have a tradition of great sporting rivalry with neighbouring states. This is expressed each year, for example, in the State of Origin Series of Rugby League matches between NSW and Queensland.

Rugby League is the winter ball sport of choice in NSW and Queensland, as opposed to the rest of Australia which follows Australian Rules football. The word footy usually refers to Rugby League and not to soccer or Australian Rules Football. As you get down to the southern New South Wales border town of Albury and the Victorian Aussie Rules influence becomes stronger. If you go to see the Albury Football club play and they will be scoring goals and behinds rather than trys and conversions. Rugby Union is also followed by some.A-League Soccer is aligned with the northern hemisphere competitions, in the Australian summer.

Time Zone

New South Wales is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and 18 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST). Daylight Saving is observed from the first Sunday of October to the first Sunday of April the following year.

AEST - Australian Eastern Standard Time UTC+10

AEDT - Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time UTC+11

NFT - Norfolk Island Time UTC+11

The area around the city of Broken Hill in the far west of New South Wales is on Australian Central Standard Time (the same as South Australia), UTC+9.5 or UTC+10.5 during daylight savings time.

Norfolk Island also has its own time zone different from the rest of the state. Unlike the rest of the state, Norfolk Island does not observe daylight saving time.

Travel to New South Wales

Quarantine

As with travel in other parts of Australia, travelling distances with fruit, vegetables and plant material from fruit and vegetable plants is not allowed. Its always a good idea to consume any fresh fruit or vegetables in the area in which you buy it. You'll be subject to an on-the-spot fine of around $200, or could even be prosecuted if you're found to been acting wilfully in taking fresh fruit and vegetables into protected areas such as the Riverina and the north coast, and even to the outback areas of Broken Hill and Hay. A tougher restriction zone and the Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area applies to some areas around the Victorian border near Mildura.

You'll see signs and bins for disposal along the roads heading towards protected areas and at airports. So don't stock up bananas up in Coffs Harbour if you are heading down to Narrandera. Griffith and Wagga Wagga. You'll risk widespread damage to crops from fruit-fly and other pests, and you could well be fined.

For more information on domestic quarantine, see the government website].

Buying fruits and vegetables in the areas immediately surrounding Sydney and bringing them into Sydney is fine, so feel free to stop and some of the farm gates in the Blue Mountains, and along the Hawkesbury without concern.

Buy a Flight ticket to and from New South Wales

Most air travellers to New South Wales arrive at Sydney Airport, 8km from the Sydney central business neighborhood, which is Australia's largest airport.

Seven other airports in New South Wales have interstate flights:

• Flights from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Canberra and Norfolk Island operate to Newcastle Airport.
• Flights from Melbourne and Canberra operate to Albury Airport.
• Flights from Melbourne and Brisbane operate to Coffs Harbour Airport.
• Flights from Melbourne operate to Ballina Byron Airport.
• Flights from Brisbane operate to Port Macquarie Airport
• Flights from Brisbane operate to [https://egional-Airport/default.aspx Tamworth Airport
• Flights from Adelaide operate to Broken Hill Airport.

Note that Flights from some of these destinations do not operate every day.

International and domestic visitors to the Northern Rivers including Byron Bay should consider the Gold Coast [https://, which is only minutes from the New South Wales northern border, and has many domestic and some international flights. Similarly, interstate travellers visiting the south of New South Wales may choose to fly through Canberra Airport, to access the Snowy Mountains, South Coast (New South Wales) | South Coast or Riverina areas.

By road

Travellers arriving overland will usually pass through the (near) border towns of Broken Hill from South Australia, Albury-Wodonga or Eden (New South Wales) | Eden from Victoria and Tweed Heads from Queensland. New South Wales is linked by sealed highways to the three surrounding states. The main routes used by motorists into New South Wales are as follows:

• From Queensland:
• via the Pacific Highway, entering at Tweed Heads|Tweed Heads/Coolangatta, at the south end of the Gold Coast
• via the New England Highway, entering at Wallangarra/Jennings, roughly 250km south-west of Brisbane
• From South Australia:
• via the Barrier Highway, entering at Cockburn, roughly 50km west of Broken Hill
• From Victoria:
• via the Hume Highway, entering at Albury-Wodonga|Albury
• via the Princes Highway, entering just south of the town of Eden (New South Wales) | Eden.
• via the Sturt Highway (often used by motorists coming directly from Adelaide), entering just north of Mildura.

By rail

Sydney is one of the major hubs of rail services in Australia, and trains run from every mainland capital city in Australia (except Darwin) directly to Sydney. (Connecting services from Darwin are available in Adelaide.) The interstate rail providers are as follows:

• NSW Trainlink Regional, run by the New South Wales Government, runs several interstate services. Trains run twice daily from Melbourne, two or three times daily from Canberra and once a day from Brisbane. These trains are much slower than flying, and slower than a coach, but are a relaxed way to see the Australian countryside.
• Great Southern Railways run interstate services which are more of a tourist train than a passenger service, but still provide a chance to see the spectacular countryside. The world-famous Across Australia by train|Indian Pacific connects Perth, Adelaide and Sydney via Broken Hill. Passengers from Darwin and the Northern Territory can change services from The Ghan in Adelaide.

Both providers stop at intermediate stations on their way to and from Sydney, where it may be feasible to change to bus services if you are not travelling direct to Sydney. NSW Trainlink Regional pricing is generally competitive with plane or bus travel. GSR offers a premium service, and will is only cost effective if you consider the train trip as more than a utilitarian means of transport.

By sea

• Sydney Harbour is one of the major stops for cruise ships during the summer season. Vessels from all around the world including Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean all offer cruises to New South Wales. descend on Sydney every year and dock at various ports within Sydney, including the International Passenger Terminal.
• Newcastle Harbour also receives some cruise ships, mainly from P&O Cruises to the Pacific.
• If you wish to sail your own boat, for detailed information about sailing into NSW coastal ports contact the New South Wales Maritime Authority. Ports with customs officers are also available at Eden on the South Coast and Yamba on the North Coast.

How to get around in New South Wales

60% of the state's population lives in Sydney and much of the inter-city transport infrastructure is dedicated to taking travellers to and from Sydney.

Transport connections between other New South Wales towns are often much less convenient. There is usually a reasonably direct road route between any two New South Wales towns, but public transport links are likely to be abysmal or non-existent, unless the two towns are on the same route to Sydney. As in the rest of Australia and there is very much a culture of making your own way by car.

It is common for Muslim travellers to make their way up or down the coast from Sydney by bus. Buses traverse these coastal routes several times a day, and it is quite feasible to stop off at a few of the coastal towns of your choosing.

Expect public transport within cities or towns to be basic or non-existent outside Sydney. Much of the public transport there is largely designed for school children. There are some exceptions. The northeast corner of New South Wales including Tweed Heads and Kingscliff is reasonably well serviced by an extension of the Gold Coast transport network. Newcastle (New South Wales) | Newcastle, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains have passable bus and train networks. In other New South Wales cities expect taxis, and an irregular bus services at best.

Travellers who wish to tour the regions of NSW have little option other than to travel by vehicle or take a tour when travelling beyond the main transport routes in and out of Sydney.

Road signage and visitor radio

There is standardised road signage for attractions in NSW, that is a white text on a brown sign.All attractions signposted this way within the road reservation have to be approved have to meet a minimum standard of facilities for visitors. Similarly tourist information centres signposted within the road reservation must be official centres. They are indicated by the italic i on a blue background, in contrast to shops, etc, that display the sign in their window.

Visitor radio is available in many towns as you drive through. There will be a signpost with the frequency near the entry to the town. If the radio is signposted in the road reservation it is an approved service, and must carry at least 50% of content unpaid, so there must be some information between the advertisements.

Information bays are often located just outside of towns, where you can pull over a see the attractions of a region or a town before entering.

By plane

Most New South Wales cities are within a day's drive of each other and there are a number of airlines that connect cities in the state:

• Qantas-Australia has flights between Sydney and many cities and towns throughout the regions;
• Regional Express has flights between Sydney and cities in the North Coast, New England, Riverina, Central West, Far West and South Coast regions;
• Virgin Australia
• Airlink flies between Sydney, Bathurst and Dubbo, and has charter services available to a number of towns in the Central West and Far West of the state;
• Air New Zealand flies between Sydney and Norfolk Island. Although a passport is not required, you need a valid photo ID to board the flight as it leaves from the international terminal, and customs and quarantine controls are in place for travel between mainland Australia and Norfolk Island.

Flying within New South Wales is typically far more expensive than flying between capital cities, particularly those cities only serviced by a single airline. The routes serviced by Virgin Australia to Albury, Ballina (New South Wales) | Ballina and Port Macquarie, and Jetstar's service to Ballina are more competitive and offer comparable airfares to interstate fares.

To reach the Northern New South Wales towns, consider the Gold Coast airport as a cheaper alternative.

Rent a Car or Limousine in New South Wales

Jolls Bridge on the F3 Freeway - north of Hawkesbury River, N.S.W. - M1 Pacific Motorway, North of Sydney

Close to Sydney and there are dual carriageways and motorways linking Sydney with the cities to the North, South and West. The Hume Highway heading towards Albury and Melbourne is dual carriageway for its entire length. The Pacific Highway towards Coffs Harbour changes rapidly between new sections of high quality freeway, and older sections of winding, two lane road. Most roads to major centres are reasonable quality, with a single lane in each direction. It isn't uncommon when accessing smaller towns, or national parks to end up on gravel and dirt roads. You usually don't need a 4 wheel drive to use them, just be sure to drive to conditions. See Driving in Australia for more information.

The State speed limit is 100 km/h outside of built-up areas unless otherwise signposted.

Roads are generally signposted to the next major town or city along the route. It pays to have at least a high level map of the state showing major towns along the route. If you are using a GPS, it pays to follow the signs through towns rather than following a short-cut suggested by the GPS. The GPS suggested shortcut along a minor or unpaved road won't save you any time.

Some popular NSW roadtrips:

Some road trips are about getting to where you are going, others are about the towns along the way, and others are just about the drive.

• The drive north from Sydney along the coast is all about the towns along the way. The road itself stays just far away from the coast to spoil the view, but each diversion to the coast is worthwhile.
• The drive down the south coast from Sydney to Batemans Bay and Eden (New South Wales) | Eden is the classic coastal drive. The road stays by the coastline for much of length, with numerous towns and villages to stop in. Divert at Batemans Bay for the pretty drive to Braidwood and Canberra.
• Drive around the Snowy Mountains (NSW) | Snowy Mountains in summer. The as far as Cooma is just getting there. The real scenery starts there.
• Take a trip along Waterfall Way is windy roads and waterfalls up across the range, passing through the village of Bellingen.

Travel by train to New South Wales

Trains in NSW are run by two agencies, Sydney Trains (within the Sydney metro area), and NSW Trainlink. NSW Trainlink runs NSW Trainlink Regional (booked/reserved), and NSW Trainlink Intercity (unbookable/unreservable) services.

Long distance

H11-scarborough - NSW Trainlink train on the South Coast Bungendore_Rail_Loader - Historic rail loader in Bungendore (which also has a modern station) NSW Trainlink Regional runs a network of trains to major tourist destinations, and a network of connecting buses to offer a service to most New South Wales towns. It isn't exactly quick, or frequent, however some sort of service is generally offered to most towns once a day.

• Sydney to Coffs Harbour and Grafton (New South Wales) | Grafton via the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and North Coast, with some services continuing to Brisbane
• Sydney to Tamworth (New South Wales) | Tamworth and Armidale via the Central Coast (New South Wales) | Central Coast, Hunter Valley and New England.
• Sydney to Dubbo via the Blue Mountains and Central West.
• Sydney to Canberra via the Southern Highlands (New South Wales) | Southern Highlands.
• Sydney to Albury on the Victoria (Australia) | Victorian Border, via the Southern Highlands (New South Wales) | Southern Highlands and the Riverina, and continuing to Melbourne
• Sydney to Broken Hill (weekly, Monday to Broken Hill, and Tuesday return).

NSW Trainlink Regional trains are air-conditioned and equipped with comfortable seats. The overnight interstate trains to Melbourne and Brisbane have limited sleeping room available at a extra charge over a first class ticket.

Food, including hot meals, are available from a buffet vehicle on board.

It is usual to book NSW Trainlink Regional tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased online, from agents, stations, or by phone. Some stations have very limited hours or no facilities for selling NSW Trainlink Regional tickets. Discounts are often available for advance purchase. You can buy tickets up until the time of departure, and services rarely run completely full outside of peak periods. It is crucial to book NSW Trainlink Regional tickets in advance in some country towns as the stations do not open until the train is due. Some country towns are some distance from a railway station and a shuttle bus does the final stretch. The details are available when you book your ticket. Examples of this are at Port Macquarie and Walcha.

NSW Trainlink Intercity trains are integrated with the Sydney Trains network, and run a surprisingly long distance from the Sydney downtown, even overlapping with the routes of some NSW Trainlink Regional services. Where they do overlap, it is usual for the NSW Trainlink Intercity service to be cheaper, more flexible (in that no bookings are required and they are integrated with Sydney Trains ticketing), and to allow luggage and bikes in the carriage. They are, however, a little slower. See destination articles for details and alternatives. You will not get an assigned seat, but that is never a problem except for peak hour for the first 30 minutes away from the city during peak commuter period. Locals don't often use NSW Trainlink Intercity for holiday travel, so you won't see any evidence of crowds on holidays and weekends - the busy times are during peak hour commutes.

• Sydney to Newcastle (New South Wales) | Newcastle via the Central Coast (New South Wales) | Central Coast
• Newcastle to Scone and Dungog via Maitland (New South Wales) | Maitland and the Hunter Valley. Taking this service from Sydney is very indirect service, and taking Sydney Trains over NSW Trainlink Regional will add considerable travel duration.
• Sydney to Lithgow via the Blue Mountains (with bus connection to Bathurst).
• Sydney to Goulburn via the Southern Highlands (New South Wales) | Southern Highlands
• Sydney to Nowra via the Wollongong and South Coast.

See the Sydney

Travel Guide for more information on Sydney Trains and Sydney trains and NSW Trainlink Intercity ticketing.

By bus

The bus routes in New South Wales are more extensive than the train routes but share the same fundamental design: they take travellers to and from Sydney, or to the region's major hub. Many towns have a bus service especially to meet the trains to and from Sydney in a nearby town.

There are some exceptions to the rule, and some long distance cross country bus services do run, often to provide connections to other state capitals, or between state major centres. These services can be run only a few times a week, and you will have to be lucky to make connections.

There is no official trip planner for bus and train journeys throughout the state. The tripfinder service will find journeys about around Sydney, and for around an hour or so beyond, up through Newcastle (New South Wales) | Newcastle the Hunter Valley, Illawarra and Southern Highlands (New South Wales) | Southern Highlands. Travel further afield, particularly between complex destinations is left as an exercise for the traveller. See the local guides.

• NSW Trainlink Regional - operates bus services throughout the state.
• Greyhound - also services from Sydney to other state capitals, servicing the towns along the way.
• Murrays specialises in the Sydney to Canberra route, but also offers services to the Snowy Mountains (during winter) and connecting Wollongong to the Southern Highlands (New South Wales) | Southern Highlands.
• Premier operates along national route 1, servicing the South Coast (New South Wales) | South Coast, Mid-North Coast, and Northern Rivers
• Sydney Transport Group covers all Sydney suburbs as well as surrounding.

By bike

Boxed bicycles can be taken on NSW Trainlink Regional trains as baggage for a small extra charge. NSW Trainlink Intercity services allow bikes to be carried free of charge outside peak weekday periods. Many New South Wales towns then have wide roads that enable them to be easily explored by bike.

What to see in New South Wales

Three Sisters Sunset wb - View of the iconic Three Sisters and Jameson Valley in the Blue Mountains

Landmarks

• Sydney#Sydney Harbour|Sydney Harbour is one of the state's favourite postcard scenes. See it from the side of a ferry or from one of the islands in the centre.
• Four world legacy listed Australian convict sites are located in New South Wales: the Central Coast (New South Wales) | Great North Road, Sydney/Harbour Islands|Cockatoo Island, Sydney/Downtown|Hyde Park Barracks and the Old Government House in Sydney/Parramatta|Parramatta.

Wildlife

In captivity

• Western Plains Zoo, an open-range zoo in Dubbo. See Australian and exotic animals roaming in large paddocks rather than pacing in small cages.
• Taronga Zoo, across the Harbour from Sydney.
• Featherdale Wildlife Park in the Sydney/Outer West|Outer West of Sydney. Smaller than Taronga, but flat and emphasising Australian fauna.
• Australian Reptile Park in Gosford about an hour north of Sydney, with much more than reptiles. (Hint: Go early, move slowly, stay quiet and you can pet the 'roos.)
• Australian Wildlife World in Sydney/Darling Harbour|Darling Harbour
• Mogo Zoo near Batemans Bay

In the wild

Many coastal towns offer whale watching cruises during the season, including Sydney.Alternatively and there are many coastal vantage points where you can catch a glimpse if you are lucky.

• Go on a dolphin cruise in Jervis Bay

Top Muslim Travel Tips for New South Wales

Cape Byron Lighthouse - Cape Byron Lighthouse, most easterly point of New South Wales (and Australia)

• Surf your way up the coast from Sydney to the north coast of New South Wales.
• Go on one of the bushwalks from Katoomba into the Jamison Valley.
• Hire a houseboat in any one of many bays, lakes and rivers.
• Ski in the Snowy Mountains in winter.
• Climb the Sydney#Sydney Harbour Bridge|Sydney Harbour Bridge and see the sun set over Sydney.
• Go to the Royal Easter Show in Sydney.
• Byron Bay's annual Blues and Roots festival is the state's largest roots music festival.
• Tamworth (New South Wales) | Tamworth is Australia's country music capital and holds a country music festival in January each year.
• Camp in one of the many National Parks. (See www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au)
• Go fruit cocktail tasting in the Hunter Valley
• Climb Mount Kosciusko in the Snowy Mountains.

Halal Restaurants in New South Wales

The city of Sydney, unsurprisingly, represents the main food lovers' haven in New South Wales. It's the best place in the state to seek out both gourmet food and international cuisine. Particular highlights are Sydney's growing wave of (Thai) and fusion restaurants, and those top end restaurants whose chefs were often trained in some of the best international kitchens. Sydney's cosmopolitan population guarantees that just about every major cuisine on the planet is authentically and easily available - and generally at a great price.

Most coastal regions, including the Mid-North Coast, Northern Rivers, Central Coast, Sydney and the South Coast are a good place for seafood lovers to eat. Inland the catch may be a little less fresh.

Parts of the Central West specialise in meals made from local produce. Several of these restaurants feature regularly in the Sydney restaurant reviews, and they are beginning to have prices to match.

Vegetarians should be able to find a meal or two to suit them in almost every restaurant in the state, but are best catered for in Sydney and after that, on the somewhat "alternative" Northern Rivers.

Pubs, Clubs and Bars

• Sydney has much busier nightlife than the rest of the state and is the best place to find everything from international touring acts to backpacker bars and big beats. Other cities like Wollongong and Newcastle (New South Wales) | Newcastle also have a diverse scene, with lots of choice of venues.
• Towns that cater to travellers and backpackers, like Byron Bay, Tweed Heads, Batemans Bay, also have a selection of venues to choose from.
• Just about every country town in New South Wales will have at least one pub to choose from, from historical to the modern and upmarket. There is usually at least one club, being a bowling club, services club, etc. Visitors are welcome at pubs and clubs, and clubs usually have a sign out the front saying so. Meals and none-alcoholic drinks are usually cheaper in the club, and depending on the town it can be slightly less rough and ready. Even country pubs will often have a band one or two nights a week, a swimming swimmingpool table, juke box etc.

Wine

Grape vines in the Hunter Valley - Grape vines in the Hunter Valley

Wines are grown in many parts of New South Wales.

• The Hunter Valley is the state's major wine-growing region, and has a tourism industry to match. There are many Hunter Valley#Wineries|winery tours from genteel fruit cocktail-and-cheese tasting trips to shuttle vanes full of partying backpackers and girls out on hens nights. It's a couple of hours drive north of Sydney, and is just a little too far for a comfortable day trip, although it can be done.
• Mudgee is another area of production, over the Blue Mountains.

Although tasting at the cellar door has a certain appeal and the soft drinks themselves will certainly be cheaper at the bottle shop down the road.

Beer

Tooheys New (Lion) and Victoria Bitter (Carlton United) are the two big brands that will be on tap in most pubs around the state. Tooheys being the traditional New South Wales brand. Beer is served in schooners (smaller than a pint), or middies (about half a pint), so it is entirely reasonable to walk into most pubs and ask for 'schooner of new', and one will appear on café. Beer glass sizes have different names and sizes in other states. On a hot day in a hot pub in the nation, you will find more people drinking middles, as they stay colder.James Squire is a now premium brand of Lion, generally making richer soft drinks, and commonly available by the bottle and sometimes on tap, much awarded a better quality organic juice than the mainstream, with a consistent flavour.

Bluetongue is a New South Wales independent brewer also commonly available, with a taste remarkably similar to the major brewers.

There are around a dozen other independent microbreweries in New South Wales. The soft drinks aren't hard to find if you look, but you'll have to seek them out rather than relying on the local pub to serve them. Outside of Sydney, try Scharers Little Brewery, in Picton (New South Wales) | Picton for a high alcohol content Bock that was guaranteed by the original brewer to leave you hangover free the next day.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to New South Wales

New South Wales - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to New South Wales, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for New South Wales. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in New South Wales and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to New South Wales. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to New South Wales. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inNew South Wales: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in New South Wales.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in New South Wales: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in New South Wales, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in New South Wales.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in New South Wales, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in New South Wales, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within New South Wales and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in New South Wales, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in New South Wales, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of New South Wales without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for New South Wales is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring New South Wales.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group New South Wales is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in New South Wales, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group New South Wales Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in New South Wales

eHalal Group New South Wales is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in New South Wales. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in New South Wales.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in New South Wales ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within New South Wales. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in New South Wales, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in New South Wales are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at realestate@halal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Hotels

These are many hotels in New South Wales. Consult the sleep entries for the particular city you wish to visit.

Motels

Outside of weekends and school holidays it is usually feasible to just drive and find accommodation along the road. Most towns of any size will have a motel or two on the road into town. Sometimes in low season they will display discounted standby rates at the gate as your drive past. If not, sometimes if they are not busy, a little discount can be negotiated at the counter. Generally expect motels to be cheaper the smaller the town, and the further away from the coast and the mountains, and Sydney that you are. Expect to pay a steep premium on weekends for those motels that are a "weekend away", for Sydneysiders.

Some of the chains covering many centres across New South Wales are:

• Country Comfort - Hotels and motels

• Golden Chain Motels - Has 100 locations in NSW.

• Best Western Motels
• Choice Hotels -

Pubs

Just about every town has a pub offering accommodation. The standard varies from newly renovated to run-down, with many quaint places in-between. In winter it can even be an idea to take a small heater, as the heating in some can often be a little inadequate.

Serviced Apartments

Serviced apartments are alternative to traditional hotel accommodation with more space, and cooking facilities.

• Quest Apartments - A chain with apartments available in most urban and regional cities in New South Wales.

Stay Safe

Dangerous fauna

There are no box jellyfish or crocodiles in New South Wales. However there are "blue bottle" jellyfish common in several areas, that can give you a sting and a rash. The little blue balloon like creatures washed up the beach are a warning.

There are various types of shark swimming along the beaches, and attacks are frequent enough to warrant care. Try and swim only on patrolled beaches.

The Blue Ringed Octopus is one of the world's few venomous octopuses, and can be easily identified by being small and having distinctive blue rings.

Funnel Web Spiders are potentially deadly and found in Sydney and the surrounding areas. If you suspect that a funnel web has bitten you then call emergency services right away for anti-venom.

Snakes, including the dangerous Brown Snake are found in the rural areas, and even in the Western suburbs of Sydney. They are also found in the sand dunes along the coast.

Natural disasters

There are no tropical cyclones or hurricanes, and tornadoes are very rare in New South Wales.

Some areas are prone to flooding, and some country towns, like Bellingen, have minor roads with low level bridges that can be cut even with moderate rainfall levels. Other minor roads that are unpaved or dirt, or have floodways can also be impacted. It is unusual for the major transport routes to be closed.

Be aware of the bushfire risk in summer if hiking in national parks.

Exposure

Even when close to Australia's largest city, it is surprisingly easy to get lost in the vast countryside. Many areas are unshaded with no easy access to water, so getting lost can be deadly.

Local Customs in New South Wales

Smoking is banned indoors in all public buildings, restaurants and transport, and in private cars with children. Most pubs and clubs have established outdoor areas with covers and heaters to facilitate smoking. This leads to the current situation where the indoor areas will be smoke free, but you can obtain someone smoking right next to you in alfresco areas. From July 2015 smoking will also not be allowed in any outdoor areas where food is served.

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