DK Travel : Sydney : Beyond Sydney : Outdoor

Bouddi National Park

With clifftop walks overlooking the ocean and Broken Bay, secluded beaches, heathlands and banksia forests, this tiny coastal park is a gem. It extends from Box Head to McMaster’s Beach on the Central Coast, and offers good bushwalking trails and camping facilities.
Brisbane Waters National Park

Aboriginal rock art and spring wildflowers are the highlights of this 12,000-ha (39,640-acre) park overlooking Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River. There are great views over the Hawkes-bury from the path leading from Pearl Beach to tiny Patonga, accessible by ferry from Palm Beach.
Illawarra Coast

A massive sandstone escarpment traces the coastline south of Royal National Park and north of Wollongong. A string of small towns nestled beneath the escarpment all offer spectacular ocean views.
Jenolan Caves

Discovered in 1838, this striking complex of underground limestone caves lies southwest of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. They are Australia’s best-known caves, renowned for their icy underground rivers, huge caverns and intriguing limestone formations, all surrounded by an extensive wildlife reserve.
Kiama Blowhole

A large fishing and resort town, Kiama is one of the most attractive coastal spots south of Sydney. Discovered by explorer George Bass in 1797, this 25-m (82-ft) blowhole originates in a natural fault in the cliffs. It erupts whenever a wave hits with enough force, which can be every few minutes. Water can be thrown as high as 60 m (200 ft).
Mount Annan Botanic Gardens

Set amidst hills and lakes, these lovely 416-ha (852-acre) botanic gardens are Australia’s largest. Opened in 1988 and located near Camden, they showcase the diversity of Australian native flora, including over 4,000 exotic species. Also cultivated are rare and endangered species such as the Wollemi pine.
Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens

Covering 28 ha (60 acres), these botanic gardens are located on a summit of the Blue Mountains. The rich basalt soil lies 1,000 m (3,281 ft) above sea level. Along with stunning views, the gardens feature an excellent collection of cool-climate plants, a large rock garden, a herb garden and the Plant Explorers Walk.
Three Sisters

The most popular landmark of the Blue Mountains is this spectacular rock formation, which derives its name from an Aboriginal Dreamtime legend. The story relates that the leader of the Katoomba people, concerned for the safety of his three beautiful daughters, turned them into stone to protect them from enemies but died before being able to reverse his spell. The Three Sisters stand at the entrance to the long climb into Jamison Valley.
Wentworth Falls

These impressive 300-m (1,082-ft) falls mark the start of some of the Blue Mountains’ most challenging walking trails down to neighbouring Jamison Valley. The Wentworth Falls Reserve lies near the village of Wentworth, named for one of the first Europeans to explore the region (see Wentworth, Blaxland & Lawson).
Wollemi National Park

This scenic national park is the largest wilderness area in NSW at 492,976 ha (1,217,650 acres). The rugged terrain is composed of a maze of canyons and gorges that traverse rainforested mountains. Other features include riverside beaches, whitewater rafting, camping and examples of the Wollemi pine.