subject: Top Summer Holiday Destinations In New South Wales [print this page] If there's nothing you detest more than the prospect of having to clean sand out of every corner of your body, car and home, living with the fear of being stung by a jellyfish or other exotic piece of marine life, and battling the glare along with a hundred other people, you might feel a little left out when it comes to summer holiday options! The beach really isn't the only summer activity to enjoy in Australia - there is something for every taste. There are also activities for every temperature preference ... if you want to sleep the hot day away and explore through the cool night, New South Wales has something for you. Today we are exploring what you can do in this diverse region of Australia for summer holidays ... no beaches included!
Blue Mountains
Even if you aren't a summer person, there's no reason to sit at home covered in wet towels for the hotter three months of the year! The Blue Mountains is the coolest place in mainland Australia, and offers a huge variety of tourist activities. There is bushwalking in the shade of trees many hundreds of years old to be done, abseiling in Wollemi, horse riding with one of many charter tours. You'll find the proximity to Sydney means that the accommodation around here books out faster than Port Macquarie hotels or those in the Northern Rivers district - plan early.
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie is one of the true hidden treasures of Australia. A year-round mild climate, safe and relaxing atmosphere and huge range of activities mean that many people take the half-day drive up from Sydney to enjoy a weekend at Port Macquarie hotels. The area has plenty to offer beach-lovers and sand-loathers alike! Head out refreshed from your Port Macquarie accommodation for activities like:
Picking your own strawberries and blueberries at either Ricardoe's Tomatoes or Hannam Vale
Go for a horse ride in the shady Bellrowan Valley - trail rides, pub rides and overnight packages are available. Overnight packages are great value - you'll be able to get your Port Macquarie hotel to hold your booking until you return.
Get up close and personal with the wildlife at the Billabong Wildlife Park. There's a koala breeding centre here, and opportunities to get to know our less cuddly (but just as beautiful!) national icons like crocodiles, lizards and snakes.
If you like the water but not the sand, jet boating is a thrilling and invigorating experience. The boat holds around a dozen people and is known as the fastest, strongest and most exciting vessel of its kind.
Warrumbungle
This little area of Australia is not often touted as one of our top tourist destinations. It doesn't have the breadth of experiences that booking at a Port Macquarie hotel will expose you to, but it is beautiful in its own right. A mix of volcanic spires and rainforest ensures that this area is always lush - even in the heat of summer. You can:
Check out the volcanic legacy in the Warrumbungle National Park
Sleep the heat of the day away and wake up at night to carpets of stars across the sky in Coonabarabran - the astronomy capital of Australia. Siding Spring Observatory is great to check out for earthbound astronauts.
Check out the mineral and fossil displays in Coonabarabran.
