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Sydney’s iconic landmarks make it one of – if not the most – popular city to visit in Australia. The Harbour City is home to a host of bucket list worthy things to do, see, drink and eat. There’s plenty to discover within the city itself, from Sydney Opera House to the Harbour Bridge. Once you’ve had your fun in the CBD, drive just a few kilometres and you’ll reach the golden sand of famous beaches like Bondi and Manly.
Sydney is often the first stop on Australia trip itineraries as it’s a superb starting point for all sorts of day trips. In under an hour’s drive, you can explore thick bush and hidden swimming spots at the Royal National Park or sip on wine at one of the oldest wine regions in the country. The Blue Mountains are just under a two hour drive west of Sydney and offer forest walks and a chance to see the famous Three Sisters rock formations at Echo Point Lookout. Or, spend a whole day driving the Grand Pacific Drive and stop off at the seaside towns of Wollongong and Kiama.
You’ll be amazed at all the scenic routes you can explore with Sydney as a starting point.
Renting a car in Sydney is an ideal way to see Australia’s beaches, wine regions and of course, Sydney city itself. Take note of these helpful driving tips:
Cruise along the spectacular coastline from Sydney to Kiama. The Grand Pacific Drive is one of Australia’s most scenic road trip routes, taking you through rainforests, seaside towns and winding coastline. Set aside an entire day for this trip.
Driving this inland route between Australia’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, is the perfect way to explore the very heart of Australia. The drive will take you roughly 8 days, during which you will stop at laidback seaside villages, lush wildlife parks and sandy beaches.
If you’re looking for a fun weekend trip from Sydney, this historical route through the Blue Mountains was first used by travellers during the 1800s. We can’t imagine it’s changed much since then, with a lush canopy of ferns and coachwood trees along the entire pathway. There’s plenty of places to stop off along the way, including the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden and local cider breweries (for the passengers!).
Beginning in coastal Coffs Harbour and stretching on to inland Armidale – with five stops along the way – this route brings you to magical fern forests and waterfalls in the NSW Mid North Coast. You’ll explore the World Heritage-listed forest in Dorrigo National Park, dive into fresh waters at Dangar Falls and cross the Wollomombi River. The 210km route will take an entire day to reach Armidale.
If you’re short on time, this road trip is just over 2 hours from Sydney yet feels a million miles away. Moss Vale Road will bring you through the Southern Highlands’ mountains, rainforests and valleys with a number of hairpin turns along the way. You’ll bypass Nowra, Bowral, Fitzroy Falls and Kangaroo Valley.
A driving tour along the Alpine Way is a must-do for sweeping views of southern Kosciuszko National Park and the snow capped mountains. Breathe in crisp alpine air as you take the time to enjoy hiking or biking trails. The route will take about 3 days, and there’s some charming towns to stop in along the way.
Pile into your 4WD (you’re going to need it for this rural route!) to drive the legendary Silver City Highway, which links Buronga to the Queensland border through Wentworth, Broken Hill and Tibooburra. The 638 km highway is the ‘road less travelled’ through the dusty desert, rivers and scrublands of the Far West Region of NSW.