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One of the best things about living in Sydney is the amount of beautiful places to visit in the surrounding areas of NSW. No matter what time of year it is, there are so many day trips from Sydney you can take on the weekend, whether you fancy a lying on a beach, a city break or hiking in a NSW national park.
As you regular readers will know, I like to get out and about a lot, as I’m still full of expat excitement when it comes to exploring Australia. My international friends here are always asking me for recommendations of places to go around Sydney, and if there’s anywhere they can visit without a car.
To help those of you looking for similar inspiration, I’ve compiled a list of my top ten Sydney day trips, along with information on how long it takes to drive there, and how to get there using public transport. Enjoy!
Day Trips from Sydney: Contents
Here’s a list of my top recommended day trips from Sydney. To skip down to any location, just click on the item below.
5. Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park
6. Grand Pacific Drive via Sea Cliff Bridge
9. Royal National Park: Wattamolla Beach
10. Central Coast: Woy Woy & Bouddi National Park
1. Blue Mountains
A visit to the Blue Mountains National Park is classic day trip from Sydney that all visitors should pencil in. The unique sandstone cliffs and soft blankets of eucalyptus trees will transport you a world away from the city.
There’s plenty in the Blue Mountains to keep you occupied for a day or longer. If you want a cheap day out, you could visit the quaint shops and cafes in Katoomba and Leura, marvel at the Three Sisters rock formation from Echo Point lookout, or embark on a choice of easy or challenging hikes from Wentworth Falls.
If you’re on a higher budget, consider the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus with entry to Scenic World or a Blue Mountains day tour and hike with a small group.
How to get there:
2 hours to Katoomba by car from Sydney CBD (102km)
2 hours by train from Central Station
Further reading:
How to Visit the Blue Mountains for Under $10: Day Trip Itinerary by Train
Blue Mountains activities:
2. Palm Beach
Palm Beach is another hotspot for a classic Sydney day trip, and a must-visit destination for beach lovers.
Lying at the northern tip of a narrow, tree-covered peninsula in Sydney, you not only have the choice of the ocean beach to the west, the Pittwater beach to the east, and a number of cafes, but a great hike up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse to look down on the isthmus and Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
It’s also the filming location of popular soap opera Home and Away. You can even go on a Home and Away tour to Summer Bay, which includes watching them film on certain days!
How to get there:
Just over 1 hour by car from Sydney CBD (44km)
1 hour 30 mins by bus from Wynyard Station
Further reading:
Things to Do in Palm Beach, Sydney
3. Watsons Bay
Even though Watsons Bay is only half an hour from the city, I’m including it as a day trip as it has a real seaside, holiday feel that’s different to most of the other beach suburbs in Sydney.
Like Palm Beach, it lies at the tip of a peninsula, but it also has a choice of beaches, a walk through South Head National Park to Hornby Lighthouse, city and ocean views from The Gap cliffs, and a choice of places to eat and drink at.
You can easily spend the day here and feel like you’ve been on a mini-break!
How to get there:
35 minutes by car from Sydney CBD (12km)
1 hour by bus from Wynyard Station (number 324)
25 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay
Further reading:
How to Spend a Day in Watsons Bay: Sand, Sea and City Views
4. Bundeena
This picturesque, little-known village at the tip of the Royal National Park is one of my absolute favourite day trips from Sydney. Once you disembark the ferry from Cronulla, you’ll feel like you’re in another world with the leafy streets, beautiful beaches and tiny row of cafes and shops.
You can either enjoy the beaches such as Horderns and Jibbons, walk the Royal Coast Track to The Balconies or Wedding Cake Rock, or if you visit on the first Sunday of the month, follow the Bundeena Art Trail and have a nose at the local artists’ work inside their homes.
How to get there:
1 hour 20 minutes by car from Sydney CBD (56km)
1 hour 30 minutes from Town Hall Station via train and ferry (changing at Cronulla)
Further reading:
Bundeena Art Trail, Markets and Royal Coast Track
Guide to Bundeena, Maianbar & Bonnie Vale Camping
5. Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park: Resolute Beach & West Head Lookout
Gorgeous Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park lies across the water from Palm Beach and makes an amazing day trip from Sydney for nature lovers. Just catch the ferry from Palm Beach to Mackerel, and from there you can hike to the beautiful Resolute Beach and onwards to West Head Lookout.
This is one of my favourite places to visit near Sydney as the scenery is absolutely stunning, with turquoise water, tree-lined tracks, and if you visit on a weekday, hardly anyone around.
If you prefer an organised trip, you can book a full-day Aboriginal Explorer Tour to Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park. The trip includes a three-hour scenic cruise on a catamaran, a three-hour bus tour, learning about indigenous history, a visit to Aboriginal rock engravings and hotel pick-up and drop-off..
How to get there:
1 hour by car from Sydney CBD to Palm Beach Wharf (44km)
1 hour 30 minutes by bus from Wynyard Station to Palm Beach Wharf
Then 30 minutes on the Fantasea ferry from Palm Beach to Mackerel
Alternatively, it’s 1 hour by car from Sydney CBD to West Head Lookout (44km)
Further reading:
Stunning Walk to West Head Lookout in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park
Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park activities:
6. Grand Pacific Drive via Sea Cliff Bridge
This is the New South Wales version of the Great Ocean Road and the stuff that coastal drives are made of! The Grand Pacific Drive has to be one of the best short drives around Sydney. Just detour off the highway at Helensburgh and stop off at Bald Hill lookout at Stanwell Tops before crossing the legendary Sea Cliff Bridge.
The northern Wollongong seaside suburbs such as Thirroul, Austinmer and Bulli that lie beyond have beautiful beaches, ocean pools, the mountainous backdrop of the Illawarra escarpment, and a very holiday-like feel.
If you don’t have a car and want to book a group tour, try the Wildlife, Waterfalls and Wine Tour. This 11-hour trip stops at Bald Hill Lookout (to see the view in the picture below) and includes a beachside cafe lunch at Bulli on the Grand Pacific Drive, a visit to a boutique winery and Symbio Wildlife Park to see koalas and kangaroos and a short hike.
How to get there:
1 hour 20 minutes by car from Sydney CBD to Stanwell Tops (69km)
1 hour 20 minutes by train from Town Hall Station to Stanwell Park
Further reading:
Exploring the Grand Pacific Drive via Sea Cliff Bridge
7. Southern Highlands
Leave the hustle and bustle behind and go back in time with a day trip to the quaint, historical towns of the Southern Highlands, NSW!
Peruse antiques stores and sip great coffee in olde-worlde cafes in Bowral and Mittagong; hike your way through Morton National Park at Fitzroy Falls; or head down to Kangaroo Valley, where the heritage buildings are backed by lush greenery.
You can even book a full-day Walking with Wombats Experience, where you’ll visit Morton National Park, Budderoo and Kangaroo Valley, visit waterfalls and rainforest and enjoy a twilight dinner surrounded by wombats and kangaroos!
How to get there:
1 hour 30 minutes by car from Sydney CBD to Mittagong (130km)
Between 1 hour 40 mins and 2 hours 25 minutes by train from Town Hall to Mittagong
Further reading:
Guide to the Southern Highlands: Historical Towns, Fitzroy Falls & Kangaroo Valley
8. La Perouse
With numerous white beaches, historic Bare Island Fort, nearby coastal walking trails in Kamay Botany Bay National Park and great snorkelling opportunities, there’s plenty to do on a day trip to La Perouse.
Situated at the southern end of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, at the entrance to Botany Bay, La Perouse is easily reached from the city, yet feels like a whole separate entity to Sydney.
You can get there by car or public bus, or to join a group, consider booking a Botany Bay and Rocks Walking Tour, which explores the colonial history of both areas.
How to get there:
30 minutes by car from Sydney CBD (18km)
50 minutes by bus from Central Station
Further reading:
La Perouse: Beaches, Aboriginal Markets & Bare Fort Island
9. Royal National Park: Wattamolla Beach
Situated between Sydney and Wollongong, “The Royal” is a popular day trip from Sydney for those looking to get back to nature. Wattamolla Beach is easy to reach by car and passes by the beautifully located café at Audley Dance Centre.
As well as a lovely beach, you’ll find Wattomolla Lagoon, a picnic area and walks along the Royal Coast Track.
If you prefer to join an organised tour to the Royal National Park, you can book a Full-Day Coastal Hiking Adventure which includes the Figure 8 Pools and secluded beaches.
How to get there:
1 hour 20 minutes by car from Sydney CBD
No public transport
Further reading:
Guide to Wattamolla Beach in the Royal National Park
10. Central Coast: Woy Woy Peninsula & Bouddi National Park
Lying north of Sydney, visible from Palm Beach across Broken Bay, the southern end of the NSW Central Coast is close enough for an easy day trip from the city.
Visit the busier, tropical-looking seaside suburbs such as Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach; laze on the more isolated Pearl Beach and Patonga Beach; or drive to Bouddi National Park for a choice of coastal walks.
How to get there:
1 hour 30 minutes by car from Sydney CBD to Umina Beach (92km)
1 hour 15 mins from Central Station to Woy Woy Station
Then a D550 on-demand bus service from Woy Woy to the surrounding areas
Further reading:
What to See at Umina Beach and the Woy Woy Peninsula
How to Spend a Weekend at The Entrance, Central Coast NSW
If you’re looking for a longer break than these day trips from Sydney, here are some more great ideas:
10 Best Weekend Getaways from Sydney
Happy exploring!
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