Things to Do in New South Wales, Australia: City Guides

From the bustling streets of Sydney to the rugged outback, New South Wales is Australia’s most populous state, bringing together crowded metropolitan life, a varied coastline, and a dry inland landscape within one region. Its eastern edge meets the Coral and Tasman Seas, featuring a narrow coastal strip that holds major urban centers like Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong, while the land reaches west toward South Australia. As you plan your trip, you can explore the region using Neywo, which offers free audio guides for 5 cities in New South Wales across 225 narrated places and 5 walking tours in 11 languages. This New South Wales travel guide helps you discover the history, culture, and natural wonders that define this dynamic part of Australia.

What to See and Do in New South Wales

The story of New South Wales begins tens of thousands of years before it became a British colony, with Aboriginal people as the original inhabitants of the region. In 1770, James Cook charted the eastern coast of the continent, and the Colony of New South Wales was founded as a British penal colony in 1788. Today, the state’s cultural life has a strong concentration in Sydney and features major cultural institutions like the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, alongside museums such as the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Beyond its major metropolitan areas, New South Wales protects a remarkable variety of natural places across more than 780 national parks and reserves. The Royal National Park on Sydney’s southern outskirts was proclaimed in 1879, making it Australia’s first national park and the world’s second after Yellowstone in the United States. Kosciuszko National Park is the largest park in the state and includes the alpine region, while Wollemi National Park is home to the rare Wollemi Pine. In the western part of the state, parks such as Mutawintji National Park protect places sacred to Aboriginal people, and mining towns like Broken Hill showcase the unique outback heritage that has even served as a backdrop for cinema, including the filming of Mad Max 2.

Exploring the Best Towns and Cities

To truly experience the region, discovering the best towns to visit in New South Wales reveals a mix of coastal hubs and inland heritage destinations:

• Sydney: The vibrant capital concentration of the state, featuring world-famous architectural icons like the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, alongside the 2000 Summer Olympics cauldron.
• Broken Hill: A historic outback mining hub where you can visit the Synagogue of the Outback Museum, the Sacred Heart Cathedral, the Broken Hill Mosque, and the Wesley Uniting Church.
• Wollongong: A coastal city on the narrow coastal strip offering sites such as St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral and Flagstaff Hill Fort.
• Mudgee and Orange: Regional inland destinations featuring local landmarks like St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Mudgee, and the Strand Theatre and Uniting Church and Kindergarten Hall in Orange.

Discover New South Wales with Neywo

To get the most out of your journey, download the Neywo audio guide app before you set out. With free audio guides for 5 cities in New South Wales, 225 narrated places in total, and 5 walking tours available in 11 languages, you can explore completely at your own pace. Each story plays automatically as you reach the place, with no group to follow and no rigid schedule to keep. Whether you are exploring the urban streets of Sydney, discovering the heritage of Broken Hill, Mudgee, and Orange, or visiting the coastal landmarks of Wollongong, Neywo brings the history and stories of New South Wales directly to your ears.