Post-Covid lockdown, however pre-international travel, we’ve all been required to look to our own shores for travel inspiration. The lucky thing keeping that is that Australia has an incredibly diverse, gorgeous as well as fascinating set of travel choices for quite much everyone. So right here are our hot tips on where to go around new South Wales.
As countries like Italy begin to relax their rules on travel after lockdown, travel insiders in Australia are looking at whether our government will comply with suit.
Italy is enabling people to travel once again (from may 4th 2020), however only domestically as well as only within the region. So people in Lombardy – one of Italy’s worst impacted regions – won’t be able to travel to Venice for example, which is in Veneto region.
But don’t feel as well sorry for Lombardians; after all, they have Milan, Bergamo, Lake Como as well as Lake Iseo within the limits of their travel scope.
But like Italy, the people in the understand right here believe we’ll be able to travel intra-state rather soon – so if you online in new South Wales, right here are some concepts for where you’ll be able to go when the boom entrance lifts on Australia’s very first State.
Where to travel in new South Wales after Covid lockdown
Of course, travel after the epidemic most likely won’t be the exact same once again for a long time. as well as even when travel limitations lift, we’ll have to preserve precautions against the virus as well as act sensibly. So please stay risk-free whether you’re on the road or staying close to home.
Go north
The hunter Valley
Who guessed I’d begin this guide with wine? No, I’m not surprised either! as well as the hunter Valley definitely deserves as much credit history as it always gets.
The oldest wine region in Australia, the hunter has some incredible locations to go to with astounding countryside as well as cellar doors to match.
If you don’t believe me, inspect out these tips on wineries suggested by long-time regional as well as winemaster, Ian ‘Scarbie’ Scarborough of Scarborough Wines fame. These guys make the very best Chardonnay you’ll ever taste by the way, as well as their cellar door experience is incredible.
We have a hold of other reasons (not just wine… however mostly!) to go to the hunter Valley. inspect out our other reasons to go to this gorgeous part of the state.
Port Stephens
Right next the hunter Valley on the coast, Port Stephens is still (amazingly) a gem hiding in ordinary sight as well as not far from Sydney.
We’ve been coming to this quite peninsula for many years now as well as understand the area well. Not only are there lots of locations to eat as well as drink, the beaches in Port Stephens are astounding. What much better method to unwind after a long lockdown?
Here’s our important guide to Port Stephens to provide you a taste of what you’ll discover here.
Maitland
Caught between the hunter Valley to the south as well as Newcastle to the east, Maitland has long had the reputation as a ’30-minute town’ – in that it’s half an hour’s drive from both its bookend destinations.
But back in the mid-1800s, Maitland as well as its even smaller neighbour Morpeth were an epicentre of the colony.
There are still vestiges of those thriving times still to see now, however the genuine joy of this town isn’t its history; it’s the food.
There are so many remarkable locations to eat here, we left after a weekend barely able to in shape into our car, let alone our clothes!
Here’s where to eat in Maitland, plus our other stories on this interesting part of NSW, whose history we’ve all however forgotten.
Byron Bay
Perhaps the biggest punctuation on the northern NSW shoreline is Byron Bay. as well as justly so. Not just the town, however the whole area is brimming with beauty… as well as exceptional food.
You’ll discover eating right here extremely satisfying with so many venues offering regional create grown as well as crafted with love.
There’s a whole hold of locations to try here, as you’ll see from our compilation of where to eat in Byron, however there’s likewise so much to do here.
And of course, the whole area is so quite – inspect out our Postcards story if you don’t believe me.
Head south
Southern Highlands
Southwest of Wollongong, the southern Highlands makes for a perfect getaway from the city as well as a wonderful location to get away from the long lockdown.
Each bit town in the highlands offers something different, in addition to a burgeoning wine-making culture, though all are linked by one wonderful filament of gold: pies.
And every year, the southern Highlands has Pie Time – a event of whatever pastry.
Pie Time – a wonderful week in June of pie glory in the southern ‘Pielands’ – is has this region at its best.
2020’s Pie Time is going virtual, with 1-7 June going for ‘Pie-solation’ celebrations, motivating Aussies far as well as wide topie up at house as well as share their pastry yarns on the internet with #pietime as well as #piesolations.
Berry
On the other side of the mountains to the highlands, this wealthy country town has been a prominent stop for motorists for many years – though now the bypass misses Berry, it’s mercifully a great deal quieter.
You’ll discover pies to die for right here as well as well as Mt Hay Retreat up in the hills is a exceptional location to rest your head.
South coastline as well as Mollymook
The NSW South coastline has long been a prominent haunt for Sydney holidaymakers, as well as rightly so. It’s absolutely stunning here. pristine beaches, delightful food options, friendly locals… it’s difficult not to like the South Coast.
One of the highlights of our time in the South coastline was when we stayed at Bannisters by the Sea at Mollymook. It’s a quite bit retreat in a quaint bit seaside town with the other obvious possession of Rick Stein’s famed restaurant.
This iconic eatery aside, there are so many excellent food choices in this part of the Shoalhaven to try.
Other parts of southern NSW
Our last roadtrip before Covid-19 struck was down with the southern parts of NSW as well as into Victoria. We had decided to do our own empty Esky in aid of the terrible bushfires that ravaged so much of the state.
That all seems so long back now – even though it’s only a few months back as I compose this.
It was, however, a blessing, as we were able to experience some outstanding parts of the specify that ideally will still be the exact same the next time we visit.
Places like Batemans Bay as well as Moruya, Tumut as well as its wonderful brewery, the bakery at Howlong as well as Corowa’s distillery – you can discover them all detailed right here in our empty Esky story… as well as you’ll discover them all in person as you enjoy the beauty of new South Wales.
Enjoy the central West
Travelling west of Sydney is such a different experience to going north or south along the coast. The landscape is so different, as well as the locals even more so.
Orange
One of the very first locations west of the blue Mountains we ever visited, Orange is packed with truly exceptional food as well as wine. It’s a mountainous area, with a awesome climate as well as high elevation, which makes the create right here even better.
Here’s our important guide to Orange, NSW to get you started.
Mudgee
Another wonderful western town that’s even friendlier than Orange as well as with perhaps even much better wine as well as create is Mudgee. There’s something about this location that truly kept our hearts. We can’t wait to go back.
Here’s a hit listing of where we’ll be eating when we go back plus our top tip for where to stay while you’re there. honestly the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in… as well as I’m truly picky!
The Blue Mountains
Arguably the most famous inland landmark of new South Wales are the blue Mountains. This bit section of the fantastic Dividing Range, which runs north to south some 3,500km, has so much history as well as beauty to it.
Here are seven methods to experience the grandeur of this landscape, which we extremely suggest if you haven’t been right here for a few years (it’s all been updated). as well as here’s where stay in the blue Mountains too.
For more of our stories of the blue Mountains, click here.
The City
Of course, there’s no requirement to go as well far if you don’t want to – or if you don’t have sufficient time. Sydney has so much to offer visitors as well as locals alike. We like a staycation right here in the city, as well as we’ve written so much about our times here.
You’ll discover whatever from Sydney hotels as well as restaurants in the city to things to do as well as locations to see.
But if you’re only in town for a short while, here’s what you can perform in 24 hours.
And for more concepts for simple Sydney weekend getaways, inspect out this champion story!
If you’ve got more time on your hands as well as want to deep-dive into the research, right here is our total library for stories on locations we’ve explored in new South Wales.
Of course, we haven’t been everywhere in new South Wales… though we’re working on it. We’d like to go west as well as see what it’s like further inland. The farthest west we’ve been in NSW is Mendooran – a small town near Dubbo, where a especially great whisky is made.
But every town between Sydney as well as damaged hill has its story. as well as there’s time to hear them all.
Do you have a location of concern you want to go to as soon as travel limitations lift? tell us in the comments.