5 day trips from Sydney to do these holidays

Get out and start exploring your backyard. These places are perfect to visit on a day trip from Sydney and are welcoming travellers with open arms.

Leura

For: Waterfalls and cable cars

Drive time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Leura is the ideal destination for exploring all that the Blue Mountains have to offer with its tree-lined streets, local businesses, old cottages and beautiful gardens. The friendly and stunning village location has a classy and vintage style and is hailed as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Blue Mountains. You can visit Leura for a day trip from Sydney or make a night of it for some extra time exploring.

Must do:

• Go on the Scenic Skyway, Railway and Cableway at Scenic World. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the NSW Rural Fire Service, this business remains open.
• Browse the boutique shops in Leura, Katoomba and other local towns. Leura, in particular, is renowned for its unique shops. Once you work up an appetite, be sure to grab a snack at Leura Garage.
• Visit the Echo Point Lookout at sunset for panoramic views, where you will still find the Three Sisters perched in the distance.
• Take a walk around the pretty Leura Cascades.

Berry

For: Donuts and beach days

Drive time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

The adorable village of Berry has the best of both worlds: an old country town vibe and also located just a short drive from the beach – and is welcoming visitors back right now. Sample local produce and walk among the heritage buildings before taking a dip somewhere nearby.

Must do:

• If you’ve got kids in tow, then the famous Donut Van must be your first stop. Parked just off the road in a brown caravan lies this scrumptious treat trap, where you’ll find locals and tourists alike indulging in a crispy-yet-soft cinnamon doughnut. Be sure to buy an extra for the road!
• Stroll around the village centre and shop at vintage lolly stores and quirky shops. At the end of the street, make a pit stop at the cosy and classic Berry Hotel, where you can enjoy a lovely pub meal.
• Have a beach day at seaside Shoalhaven Heads, which also boasts a gorgeous river and celebrated wineries.
• Eat Breakfast at Salmon & Co. Eatery Restaurant and Café, where you will be served amazing coffee and a big breakfast … home-made waffles, YUM.

Keep reading:

• Sydney family-friendly travel guide
• The best road trips from Sydney

Bowral

For: Cool cafes and hill country

Drive time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Fires have swept across the Southern Highlands and have had a major impact on local towns and businesses. According to Destination NSW, all towns are welcoming visitors once more. Just a short trip outside of Sydney lays the boutique shop-filled town of Bowral. Here, you can visit an array of gorgeous cafes, pubs and stores.

Must do:

• There is an array of boutique stores for you to visit on the main strip of the town. If you have a sweet tooth go to Bowral’s Sweets & Treats or step back in time as you enter into Antiques on Boolwey.
• Support small town cinemas and buy a ticket to watch an Oscar-nominated film or a National Theatre screening at Empire Cinemas Bowral. The oldest commercial cinema in Australia, this institution started operating from 15 September 1915.
• Visit the Milk Factory Gallery and Exhibition Space if you want to get a cultural fix. Built in 1921 as a depot for local farmers to manufacture dairy products, the factory is now home to contemporary artwork and exhibitions.
• Eat at Harry’s on Green Lane, a café filled with plant life and exotic travel memorabilia. With book-lined rooms and dramatic high ceilings that are reminiscent of Raffles, Harry’s provides classic, rustic provincial cuisine, accompanied by an impressive international wine list.

Hunter Valley

For: Good food and heritage history

Drive time: 3 to 4 hours

Hunter Valley is the place to visit if your family is all about food, wine and more food. This pretty valley is perfect for a country drive full of pit stops for cheese, olives, chocolate, beer… the list goes on. Visit the towns of Scone, Aberdeen, Muswellbrook and Lovedale on your next weekend escape.

Must do:

• Visit Scone, home to the Australian Stock Horse Society Museum. Claiming the title of Horse Capital of Australia, Scone hosts the annual Scone Horse Festival, featuring the prestigious Scone Cup. You can also water ski, sail and canoe at Lake Glenbawn, one of the best freshwater fishing spots in NSW.
• Drive into Aberdeen and wander around a town that is steeped in 175 years of Scottish heritage. Kids will love spotting the plaques set into the footpaths and buildings, which identify historic places from Aberdeen’s past. The town is also home to the annual Aberdeen Highland Games, which celebrate the Scottish and Celtic history of the Upper Hunter Region.
• Muswellbrook is the region’s largest town and is also known for its food and wine production. Visit Hunter Belle Cheese for gourmet cheeses made by hand from the milk of local Swiss brown cows. You can even set out on 4.5-kilometre heritage walk and take in 40 historical points of interest, including fascinating colonial building such as the 1869-built railway station.
• Nestled in between Pokolbin and Cessnock, Lovedale has high-quality stores and fabulous wineries. Activities in this town include spas and massages, browsing art galleries, horse-back riding, golfing and even hot-air balloon rides.

Terrigal

For: Surf and shopping

Drive time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Terrigal is one of the most popular spots for families on the Central Coast, and it’s no surprise why. A day out in this ritzy little hub is like a day out in Sydney, minus the hustle and bustle.

Must do:

• For small bars with good vibes, head to the rooftops at Mumbo Jumbo’s and Rhonda’s, or enjoy the thumping beats of live bands at the Florida Beach Bar.
• Enjoy panoramic views from the Skillion Lookout. You might even spot humpback whales if you are lucky.
• Spend the day lazing on Terrigal Beach.
• Learn about all things ‘ocean’ at the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre.

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