New South Wales

The country's biggest and flashiest city, capital Sydney sits midway down the New South Wales coast. All along the coast, sandy beaches string together in an almost unbroken scenic strip. Many are great for surfing and swimming, and most are open to the public. The trip up the coast from Sydney is the be-all-end-all of backpacker party routes, while the south coast is colder and far less touristy but every bit as beau¬tiful. Directly west of Sydney's suburban reaches and just 100km inland, the Blue Mountains separate the coastal strip and its hinterlands from the expansive Central West and outback regions. Once an insurmountable obstacle, the mountains now encompass some of the state's favorite getaways. The New England Plateau, along the Great Dividing Range north of the wineries of the Hunter Valley, achieves an unusu¬ally lush and high-altitude setting for a cozy collection of small Australian towns. Just below the carved-out enclave of the Australian Capital Territory, the Snowy Moun¬tains offer winter skiing and superb summer hiking. The attractions of New South Wales are as varied as the terrain. Whether it's challenging bushwalks, laid-back surf culture, cosmopolitan fun, or the simplicity of the outback, most visitors find some¬thing to write home about.