The Sapphire Coast, also known as the Bega Valley, is the most southerly coastal region in New South Wales, from Wallaga Lake in the north to the Nadgee Nature Reserve to the south on the New South Wales border with Victoria.
The Bega Valley is home to the town of Bega, famous in Australia and overseas for Bega Cheese. There is also the craft village of Cobargo, well known as a ‘day trip’ destination.
The Sapphire Coast is popular for its quiet and friendly towns and coastal villages, cultural tours with local aboriginals, and great fishing.
Capital Country encompasses the rural area surrounding Australia’s capital city of Canberra, which is Australia’s largest inland city and the gateway to the Snowy Mountains.
As the nation’s capital, Canberra is home to many national monuments and institutions such as the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Library, the National Archives, the Australian Academy of Science, the National Film and Sound Archive and the National Museum. Many Commonwealth government buildings in Canberra are open to the public, including Parliament House, the High Court and the Royal Australian Mint.
Canberra has a great central district sprawling around the natural park lands of Lake Burley Griffin. The city and surrounds offer a variety of fun activities, including renowned shopping outlets, classy designed cafes and restaurants, and a bustling night-life.
The South Coast covers the region to the south of Sydney, from Woolongong to Narooma. The region has some spectacular coastline and includes the Southern Highlands and Southern Tablelands towards Canberra, Australia's capital.
The South Coast offers a diverse mix of coastal, forest, mountain and rural country experiences. The region is known for its appreciation of Australian’s European and Indigenous culture, with several craft and artisan villages, and range of festivals.
The Blue Mountains is a mountainous region with its foothills starting in Penrith, about 50 km west of Sydney. The Blue Mountains is bounded by the Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers in the east, the Coxs River and Lake Burragorang to the west and south, and the Wolgan and Colo Rivers to the north.
The Blue Mountains are a series of ridge lines separated by gorges up to 760 meters deep. The highest point in the greater Blue Mountains region is Mount Bindo, with an elevation 1,362 meters. A large part of the Blue Mountains is incorporated into the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Site.
The Blue Mountains are a popular destination for rock climbing, abseiling/repelling, mountain biking, hiking and canyoning.
Sydney is the capital city of New South Wales, and is the most populous city in Australia. Sydney is Australia’s first and oldest city, being founded in 1788 with the landing of the British at Sydney Cove in Port Jackson.
Sydney Harbour is internationally known for the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. The hinterland of the metropolitan area is surrounded by national parks, and the coastal regions feature many bays, rivers, inlets and beaches, including the famous Bondi and Manly beaches.
Sydney caters for all travelers with international shopping centres, markets, city parks and playgrounds, national parks and reserves, beaches, cafes and restaurants serving cuisines from all over the world, and a night-life that caters for all ages.
The Central Coast is located just south of Newcastle, bounded by the Hawkesbury River in the south, the Watagan Mountains in the west and the southern end of Lake Macquarie in the north.
The Central Coast is a great tourist destination with its beaches, extensive waterways, cliff faces, natural reserves, lakes and bays. The region provides for a number of activities including water sports, fishing, sailing, swimming, kayaking and horse riding.
The Hunter Valley is centered on the city of Newcastle, 160km north of Sydney, and extends inland to the Hunter River valley townships. The region is commonly known as Wine Country and is also well known for its mining industry.
The Hunter Valley is an excellent destination for anyone who enjoys wine and cheese tours, museums and historical tours. The region is known for its lakes, bays and national parks for those that enjoy fishing, boating, camping and hiking.
The Great Lakes is a coastal region just to the north of Newcastle, defined by the unique triple lakes system of Wallis Lake, Smiths Lake and Myall Lake. The region is a nature lover’s delight with its coastal beaches, national parks, forest, and sprawling rural hinterland.
The region is full of year-round activities, such as diving, mountain biking, kayaking, trekking, fishing and surfing. The region also caters for a wide range of adventure tourism activities.
The Mid Northern Coast region covers a coastal strip 230km long, from Coffs Harbour to the north to Forster in the south, and bordered by the Great Dividing Range to the west. The region also includes the secluded Lord Howe Island off the coast of Port Macquarie.
The region is best known for its hinterland and national parks, as well as its beaches, bountiful fishing, spectacular country B&B’s, laid back country life-style and food.
The Northern Rivers region covers a coastal strip 130km long, from Tweed Heads to the north (on the New South Wales border with Queensland) to Wooli in the south, and bordered by the Great Dividing Range to the west.
A defining characteristic of the region are the fertile valleys of the Clarence, Richmond and Tweed rivers, after which the region is named.
The Northern Rivers is also well known for its alternative lifestyle towns such as Byron Bay and Nimbin. The Northern Rivers region offers a diverse holiday experience with its beaches, rainforests, river gorges, rolling cattle country, quirky country towns, music festivals and abundance of adventure activities.
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The Gold Coast, located 90km south of Brisbane, is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations for international and domestic travelers. Its popularity is largely due to its subtropical climate, surf beaches, canal and waterway systems, theme parks and nightlife.
To the west, the Gold Coast is bordered by the Great Dividing Range (the Gold Coast hinterland). A section of the mountain range is protected by Lamington National Park which has been listed as a World Heritage area in recognition of its "outstanding geological features displayed around shield volcanic craters and the high number of rare and threatened rainforest species." The area is popular among bushwalkers, campers and day-trippers.
Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland and Australia’s third largest city, with a population of 2.2 million people. Brisbane also includes the beautiful areas of Moreton Bay and Islands or the Scenic Rim and Country Valleys.
The city is surrounded by urban villages with live music, trendy cafes and restaurants serving cuisine from all corners of the world. Brisbane is also home to a number of international sporting events and festivals, or if you prefer, world renowned retailers and boutiques.
The Fraser Coast Region is about 250 kilometers north of Brisbane, the state capital. It is centered on the twin cities of Hervey Bay and Maryborough, and also contains the Great Sandy Straight and world listed Fraser Island, which is the largest sand island in the world.
The region enjoys a subtropical climate all year round, which makes it very appealing to eco-tourists and nature enthusiasts. The Fraser Coast region is rich in national parks, native woodlands and dense rainforest, and is great for whale watching, bird watching, 4WD, fishing, and a offers a number of adventure activities.
The Discovery Coast is centred around the townships of Agnes Water and Town of 1770 (also known as Seventeen Seventy). The Town of 1770 is famously named after the year in which James Cook and his crew came ashore from the ship Endeavour (James Cook is credited as the first to chart the east coast of Australia in 1770, which later resulted in the British colonising Australia in 1788).
The Town of 1770 is most famously known as the town where you can watch the sun rise and set over water.
The Discovery Coast is an exciting tourist area which is great for holidays on the beach, access to national parks and reef trips to the Southern Great Barrier Reef.