4 destinations in Sydney and New South Wales for great adventures and gourmet experiences
Instead of your staple vacation in the city of Sydney, let’s hop on a road trip to discover the finest experienes New South Wales has to offer.
As one of the most vibrant and bustling states of Australia, Sydney and New South Wales is a destination where you can find unique experiences to cater to every preference from arts and culture enthusiasts to gourmet cuisine lovers and athletic adventurers.
While we all love the iconic city of Sydney and the stunning Sydney Harbour and Sydney Opera House, it is time to venture out to the other regions in New South Wales. And within just a few hours or less, you can find a long list of attractions ready to tantalise your body and soul.
From a staycation surrounded by nature on the Central Coast to fine cuisine and wine tours, with a side of hot air balloon rides in the Hunter Valley and antique shopping in Bowral, L’Officiel Malaysia partners with Singapore Airlines to present you with a guide to the finest hidden gems in Sydney and New South Wales. Are you ready to hop on a drive to explore the best of the region?
Enjoy special airfares from Singapore Airlines here.
A Luxury Resort Escape at the Central Coast
If you are looking for a quiet and decadent retreat to unwind and be pampered, then it's time to hop on a car and drive 90 minutes north of Sydney to discover the Central Coast Region.
And we'd recommend a stay at Pretty Beach House inside Bouddi National Park, one of the most luxurious and secluded lodges within the NSW region, to experience the abundance of Mother Nature. At Pretty Beach House, you can enjoy a myriad of different accommodations to suit your needs, from the scenic Treetop Pavilion that overlooks lustrous greens and sparkling waters of Broken Bay to the decadent The Retreat that boasts the largest space featuring a private patio and a heated plunge pool for your pleasure.
For the ultimate pampering experience at Pretty Beach House, be sure to visit Bouddi Spa, a private sanctuary for in-house guests where you can be pampered in Australian botanical products from the premium iKOU skincare range for a variety of treatments, designed to rebalance the synergy between mind, body & soul.
Aside from the luxurious accomodations, the surrounding area of Pretty Beach House offers a long list of exciting activities including beach fishing, sunset cruises and more. If you're a fan of oysters, you should deifnitely book one of the famous Sydney Oyster Farm Tours, where the curated tour will take you to Hawkesbury River to farm and prepare your own oysters from the waters and indulge in a buffet of the freshest catch. After a well-deserved treat, you can hop over for a pearl farm tour in the area to get first-hand experience on how Australian pearls are grown and harvested.
For family vacationers, the Iris Lodge Alpaca Farm in Jilliby Central Coast is a great option to let the entire family enjoy a day out in the sun with alpacas, sheeps and cows. You can even sign up for a breakfast with alpaca experience and alpaca shearing workshop
Dive Into An Adventure at Port Stephens
From the luxurious Central Coast, let's take things up a notch with an adventurous escape at Port Stephens, where serene waters, magical sand dunes and athletic experiences await.
Located 2 hours away from Sydney and accessible via train and car, Port Stephens is a city that offers more than just scenic views. While you're in town, book a stay at Bannisters Port Stephens, one of the finest hotels near Nelson Bay. With a coastal beach vibe and design, Bannisters Port Stephens is an excellent destination for all visitors of Port Stephens to rest and rejuvenate after a day of exciting activities.
Located a stone's throw (or a quick drive) away, you can explore Port Stephens's many exhilarating experiences, from visiting the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, where you can play all day long with Australia's national mascot, to sandboarding and quad-biking at Stockton Sand Dunes.
Lauded as largest moving coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, the Stockon Sand Dunes offer not only exhilarating activities like sandboarding, thrill 4WD tours and quad biking, you can also opt for the more relaxing and experiential camel riding tour, where you traverse on the magical landscape on a majestic beast.
All these can be easily booked and arranged with a click of a button or arranged by your respective hotel concierges. And if the land does not entice you, head down the waters at the Great Lakes Marine Park for a fun-filled day of whale and dolphin cruises, diving, fishing, surfing, kayaking and more.
A Gourmet Getaway at the Southern Highlands
For foodies and wine enthusiasts, Southern Highlands is definitely one of the most highly recommended destination, where you are spoilt for choice with gourmet restaurants and antique shopping.
Among the many places within the region, Bowral is our favourite town, standing as the largest town in Southern Highlands and famed for the Tulip Time Festival, one of the oldest flower festivals in Australia, held annually in September at the prestgious Corbett Gardens, where you can take a scenic stroll to discover the various breed of beautiful tulips. Out of the festival period, Corbett Gardens still houses a magificent collection of floral wonders that will take your breathe away - definitely worth a visit no matter the time of year.
Colourful blooms aside, Bowral is also the home to various elegant boutiques and antique shops, where you get to dive into the local scene to discover hidden treasures. One of the must-visits is the Dirty Jane Vintage Market, where you can find a plethora of antique wonders salvaged and restored to its prime, ready to be taken home.
And now onto the most important schedule of this getaway - the food. Here within the Southern Highlands region, mouth-watering cuisines come in abundance (and with a side of local wines). Start the day with an Instagrammable brunch at Harry's On Green Lane, where the menu is quintessentially Australian. From classic pastas to beef ribs and chicken confit, you can enjoy a wide variety of dishes as you take in the beautiful interior of the establishment.
If you're a connoisseur for hearty and fine cuisine, Onesta Cucina is one of the most higly-rated restaurants that prides itself for delicious traditional Italian cuisine with a focus on locally sourced produce.
With a name that translate to "Honest Kitchen", Onesta Cucina lives up to its name for a stellar menu filled with heart-warming and cosy dishes, best served and enjoyed at their courtyard dining area outdoors. Truly the best way to end a short and sweet one-day gourmet getaway before heading to your next destination.
Of Fine Wine, Cuisine and Culture at Hunter Valley
Wrapping up, let us bring you on a trip to Hunter Valley, where you can find a myriad of activities that fits all age group and personalities.
To start, head down to the Little Valley Farm Eco Farmstay Laguna, where you will be able to spend your nights in Hunter Vallery, unlike any other - glamping inside a unique train carriage. This particular train carriage, which dates back to the 1950s when it used to be part of the Sydney Train system, is named Red Rattler and overlooks the entire landscape where the hotel's alpacas run wild and free.
Once you've settled your accommodation and are ready for an adventure, it is time to head out, hop on a hot air balloon and fly to the skies with Balloon Aloft, where they organise morning flight experiences to let you experience Hunter Valley at its finest before landing back to earth for bubbly breakfast at the Peterson House Winery (which is then followed by sparkling wine tasting!).
For wine connoisseurs, Hunter Valley is truly a haven and there are plenty of winery tours available to take you on a journey of discovery. Among the many wineries, the must-visits include the award-winning McGuigan Wines Cellar Door and the Wine House, where you can get a taste of their best local produce. The great thing about Hunter Valley is most of its wineries have an open cellar door policy, which means you can visit any time and try each winery's collection of wines.
With fine wine comes delectable cuisines and Hunter Valley is home to some of New South Wales' best dining offerings. Some of our top recommendations include Kawul, an establishment known for infusing Austalian native produce into its menu and The Deck Cafe, a celebrated brunch spot where you can dine with a view of serene forests and water.
And of course, we also have Muse Restaurant, a two-hatted restaurant (a pretigious culinary award in Australia), where you can enjoy delicious Modern Australian cuisine in the picturesque Keith Tulloch Wines courtyard. A perfect way to end your trip in the Hunter Vallery with aplomp!
Singapore Airlines (The winner of the World’s Best Airline in the 2023 Skytrax World Airline Awards) is the preferred airline for your next holiday to New South Wales, Australia.
For all Singapore Airlines flights, the airline is offering complimentary Wi-Fi for all passengers including Premium Economy and Economy classes. All you need to do is sign up and key in your KrisFlyer membership details when you book your flight.
Enjoy special airfares from Singapore Airlines here.
Discover Sydney and New South Wales with Holiday Tours, and enjoy amazing deals and special airfares from Singapore Airlines here.
