If you’re looking for something a little more heart pumping, the Blue Mountains offers a range of extreme sports including skydiving, rock climbing, canyoning, abseiling, mountain biking, horse riding and four wheel drive adventures. There are numerous adventure companies throughout the mountains that can provide you with everything from maps and equipment to fully guided tours.
Known for its rich history from the early days of European settlement, Armidale has many fine heritage buildings, elegant cathedrals and grand pastoral homesteads. Armidales free Heritage Tour runs daily from the Visitors Centre and is an excellent way of enjoying a tour of the city. The serene beauty of the City of Armidale contrasts dramatically with the timeless beauty of the rugged gorge country, the waterfalls and the wilderness along the escarpment of the Great Dividing Range nearby.
Address: 1.5km north of Gosford on the Pacific Highway Gosford NSW 2250
The Australian Reptile Park is home to the largest collection of reptiles in Australia. Established in 1948 the park is one of the countries premier attractions with daily Crocodile, Dingoes, Wombats and Galapagos Tortoises wildlife shows. Visitors have the opportunity to hand-feed friendly red, gray and Kangaroo Island kangaroos, as well as wallaroos. You can also learn about the Reptile Park’s life-saving role as the sole supplier of venom for the nations snake & funnel-web anti-venom program.
Address: 35km north of Tenterfield Tenterfield NSW 2372
Bald Rock National Park is located on 8883 hectares and is Australia's largest exposed granite rock. This magnificent dome is 750 metres long, 500 metres wide and rises 200 metres above the surrounding bushland. An invigorating climb via one of the two marked walking tracks is rewarded by expansive views across the beautiful granite landscape. The summit walk takes approximately 3 hours to complete a round trip. Bald Rock National Park is ideal for bushwalking and bush camping.
Situated 23 km south of Lord Howe Island, Ball’s Pyramid is the world’s tallest sea stack and one of a series of volcanic pinnacles formed from a massive eruption millions of years ago. This triangle of basalt rock juts up 550 metres. Windswept and inhospitable, Ball’s Pyramid was first climbed by mountaineers in 1965. Today, such activity is off-limits and viewing is by cruise boat only. Its surrounding waters are popular diving and fishing spots, and hundreds of sea birds circle its summit.
Address: Campbell Pde Bondi NSW 2026
Bondi Beach is Australia's most famous beach. Bondi's mixture of lifestyles would suit most visitors, whether you're drawn to the fashionable northern end or the surf-crazy south. You'll find that Bondi is one of the better Sydney beaches, simply because it has great surf, good food and great atmosphere.
Address: St Jude Street Bowral NSW 2576
The Museum is located in Donald Bradman’s childhood home town of Bowral, alongside Bradman Oval where his cricketing career began. With five galleries, a hundred seat theatre, special exhibitions plus a wonderful collection of memorabilia, rare archival film footage and photographs, he Museum provides hours of entertainment. The Museum precinct is also home to a life size Bradman bronze statue and the Sir Donald & Lady Jessie Bradman Garden where their ashes were scattered in October 2001.
Brisbane Water National Park is located north of the Hawkesbury River. With a total of 11,369 hectares it is one of the oldest national parks in New South Wales. The Sandstone landscape is rich in Aboriginal art, in fact several hundred rock engraving sites exist within the park. Somersby Falls & Girrakool picnic areas have excellent picnic facilities, fishing spots & rainforest walks. Backpack camping facilities are available for walkers using the Great North Walk, but there are no facilities.
The only way to truly experience the majesty of the Blue Mountains is on foot. There are countless walks for all levels of fitness. Take a short stroll to an expansive lookout, enjoy a pleasant half-day or full-day walk, or test yourself with more challenging scrambles as you negotiate historic passes or scale mountain peaks over a multi day adventure. Two of the most popular hiking areas are Jamison Valley and Grose Valley. Information, supplies and guides are all available from nearby towns.
If you ever wanted to experience what it was really like to live off the land, then the New England North West region is the place to do it. A number of Jackaroo/Jillaroo schools and courses can be found throughout the area. Activities include sheep shearing, milking, mustering, calf wrestling, horse riding, roping and lassoing. This is a truly unique country-Australia experience that should not be missed.
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