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Look at any map of New South Wales and one place name immediately stands out: Sydney. It may be a cradle of global icons, from the Sydney Opera House to the ‘coathanger’ Sydney Harbour Bridge, but there’s more to the state than this gleaming cosmopolis.

After around a 90-minute drive, you could be in the Blue Mountains. Delve into this wilderness of eucalypts, wollemi pines, and waterfalls in a day, or linger longer, waking up to wallabies hopping outside your window. Take a drive to the Aboriginal heartlands of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, only 20-30 km from the centre of Sydney, where the scarlet-painted handprints of the Garrigal people still adorn the sandstone. And, to reach New South Wales’ Outback, take The Indian Pacific train to Broken Hill, a frontier town rich in mining history where sculptures dot the burnt-orange desert.

Gastronomists rightly venerate the Hunter Valley, a two-hour drive from the city, for its vineyards and fine dining. But, you’ll find a host of gourmet experiences elsewhere in the state. Watch ink gin turn your drink a rich purple at Husk Distillers up in the Tweed (the lush countryside region around Byron Bay) or take a tasting tour of Byron’s many artisan producers.

Yearning for a snorkelling experience? You can snorkel among tropical fish and a kaleidoscope of corals at Lord Howe Island, a subtropical UNESCO World Heritage listed island, a short plane hop from Sydney. And when it comes to beaches, you’re spoiled for choice, from the white sands and clear waters of Jervis Bay to the south of Sydney, to the Pacific rollers of Coffs Coast — and not forgetting the celebrated surf of Byron Bay.

Taking inspiration from their own visits to the state, our specialists are ready to craft a trip that takes in the best of New South Wales, shaped around you.