Top Places: Sydney - includes, Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House & Sydney's beaches. Blue Mountains, Byron Bay, Port Stephens, New England region, Hunter Valley, Kosciuszko, Pebbly Beach, Jervis Bay, Broken Hill.
New South Wales (abbreviated as NSW) is Australia's most populous state. Located in the south-east of the country, it was founded in 1788 and originally comprised much of the Australian mainland, as well as New Zealand, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. During the 19th century large areas were successively separated to form the British colonies of Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, and New Zealand.
An inhabitant of New South Wales is referred to as a New South Welshman. It is unknown whether New South Wales refers to the area being named after South Wales, or a New Wales in the Southern Hemisphere.
NSW offers the traveller a great variety of breathtaking coastlines, world heritage national parks, Outback, snow and skiing, lush farming country, and of course the dazzling city lights of Sydney.
Sydney the state capital has a spectacular harbour, a rich colonial history, and a glowing international reputation. Sydney is the most recognised city in Australia. The next largest cities are (in order) Newcastle and Wollongong. After
that the larger towns are merely moderately-sized country towns of
40,000-50,000 people. Hence, many of the cultural sights are concentrated in Sydney and nearby. That isn't true of historical or natural sights though. 
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.
NSW is a vast state that contains coastline made up of beautiful beaches separated by cliffs for almost its entire length. There are many good surf breaks, including Byron Bay in the north of the state. Byron Bay is also Australia's most easterly point.
Further inland and toward the the Great Dividing Range, is the scenic New England Region. This region at one stage applied to 
become a State but this didn't eventuate because Newcastle (the only city in this area) voted to stay with New South Wales. The New England region is however a distinct region as it is located in a high plateau. New England is aptly named as it resembles England with its cooler climate, 4 distinct seasons and English looking flora.
The Great Dividing Range, Australia's biggest mountain chain contains protected areas of mountain, gorges, and rainforest. There are many areas here that are ideal for trekking and adrenalin activities such as white water rafting and canoeing.
Balmy summers and mild winters make New South Wales a good place to visit year-round, though summers might be too hot to handle if you don't like the odd 40°C (104°F)
day. The winter months of June to August are the best time to visit the Outback
(it's unpleasantly hot in summer) and in contrast to the Outback you could
try skiing on the states southern ski slopes in the Australian Alps.
West of Sydney lie the spectacular Blue Mountains, an area of sheer cliff walls and temperate rainforest. If you continue to head
west you will pass through some lush farming areas which eventually give way
to the vast Australian Outback. Venturing south of Sydney will take you to
the Royal National Park and beyond that you will find other settlements such
as the city of Wollongong. North of Sydney is the Kurangai Chase National
Park. Continuing on from there, you will arrive in Newcastle. North of New South Wales lies the state of Queensland, the town of Tweed Heads is located on the New South Wales side of the border with Coolangatta on the Queensland side.
| Related pages
Blue Mountains photos Southern rural NSW Sydney map More Australian states |
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