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These World Heritage-listed mountains are named for their constant bluish haze, the result of evaporating eucalyptus oil. The lovely mountains offer numerous bushwalks and plenty of natural attractions, including the Three Sisters, the Jenolan Caves and Wentworth Falls. When the explorers Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and WC Wentworth (see Wentworth, Blaxland & Lawson), crossed the 1,100-m (3,600-ft) range in 1813, they opened up the continent’s grassland interior to white settlement. The main township of Katoomba (see Visit Katoomba) is about 107 km (56 miles) west of Sydney.

Grapes have been grown in this region since the 1830s. Now there are more than 60 vineyards and countless providores producing condiments, cheese and other gourmet delicacies; some also contain restaurants or cafés. Most of the wineries surround Pokolbin and neighbouring Cessnock, which is the regional township closest to Sydney. Beautiful Hunter Valley is also a popular area for outdoor activities such as cycling, golf, horseriding and hot air ballooning. Numerous tour operators in Sydney offer attractive day, overnight and weekend packages to the area.

The coast from Broken Bay (see Pittwater & Broken Bay) to Newcastle offers glorious ocean beaches, national parks and several lakes and water-ways. The main regional town is Gosford, at the head of Brisbane Waters. This large waterway runs out to Broken Bay past Woy Woy and the pleasant townships of Hardy’s Bay in Killcare, Pretty Beach and Wagstaffe. Behind Wagstaffe is Bouddi National Park, which extends north to pleasant McMaster’s Beach. Pearl Beach (see Swim at Pearl Beach) and the tiny fishing village of Patonga, surrounded by Brisbane Waters National Park, overlook Broken Bay.

This broad river runs from Windsor (see Windsor) in the west to Broken Bay (see Pittwater & Broken Bay) in the east, passing massive sandstone escarpments, historic riverside towns, national parks, mangrove islands, fishing villages and holiday homes, as well as the spectacular Berowa Waters and Cowan Creek (see Sail Pittwater & Cowan Creek) coves and Pittwater (see Pittwater & Broken Bay). Berowa Waters is home to the famous Berowa Waters Inn. Cowan Creek peters out near pretty Bobbin Head. Although parts of the river are popular with water-skiers, it’s actually best enjoyed at a leisurely pace.

The picturesque Hawkesbury River

Pittwater is a long, slender waterway running from Newport to Palm Beach (see Palm), Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Broken Bay. Exclusive houses, private wharves and public marinas populate its eastern shoreline. Housing on the western shoreline thins out as you head north, until you reach Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, north of isolated Towlers Bay and exclusive Scotland Island. Pittwater’s sheltered waters have long been a favourite haunt with yachties. Broken Bay is a beautiful, wide and sometimes wild expanse of water dominated by Lion Island, an uninhabited rocky outcrop.

Bounded by the Hawkesbury River to the north and Pittwater to the east, this gorgeous native bushland is a bushwalker’s and kayaker’s delight. There are numerous walking trails, picnic-and campgrounds, lookouts, hundreds of Aboriginal rock art sites, secluded beaches, a tucked-away restaurant overlooking the water at Cottage Point and marinas at Akuna Bay and Bobbin Head. Cycling and horseriding are allowed in certain sections of the park. Flora and fauna highlights include banksias, waratahs, Sydney red gums, kangaroos, flying foxes, pelicans, platypus, blue-tongued lizards, cockatoos and parrots. The visitors centre runs activities and provides maps and other useful information.

This stretch of stunning ocean beaches runs from Manly to Barrenjoey Head. Palm Beach is a haven for Sydney millionaires, as well as being the outdoor location for the popular TV soap opera Home and Away . The Barrenjoey Lighthouse overlooks Broken Bay, the Central Coast and the Hawkesbury River. Behind Palm Beach lies lovely Pittwater.

The fertile soil found here in the 1780s spared the fledgling colony from probable starvation and spawned Sydney’s original satellite township. It was a rural retreat for Governor Phillip, who built a cottage here in 1790. Old Government House, which replaced Phillip’s cottage in 1799, is one of Sydney’s most historic sites. Other highlights include Experiment Farm Cottage, Elizabeth Farm, Hambledon Cottage (see Historic Sites & Townships) and Australia’s oldest cemetery, St. John’s. Here you’ll find the grave of “The Flogging Parson”, Reverend Samuel Marsden, the early colony’s notoriously sadistic magistrate.

Proclaimed in 1879, this is Australia’s oldest national park and the world’s second oldest. The 15,074-ha (37,248-acre) park is 32 km (19 miles) south of Sydney. Here you’ll find subtropical rainforests, deep valleys, cycle and walking trails, rugged ocean beaches, sandstone clifftops, heathlands, mangroves and inland lagoons. There are several picnic- and campgrounds, and if you’re lucky you could spy a swamp wallaby, a satin bowerbird, a pied oystercatcher or the endangered tiger quoll. A tram from Loftus Station connects with the visitors centre on Sundays and public holidays.

The coastal hinterland and the city of Wollongong, one or two hours south of Sydney, is a popular weekend getaway destination. With no shortage of antiques and crafts shops, galleries, B&Bs, English-style pubs, ivy-clad Georgian buildings and cottage gardens, this region is reminiscent of the English countryside. Since 1993, a major attraction has been Bundanon, the former estate and studio of artist Arthur Boyd, who bequeathed his property to the nation. Other popular attractions include the historic townships of Bowral, Berrima, Kiama (see Kiama Blowhole), Berry and Kangaroo Valley. The movie Babe was filmed in nearby Robertson.