Fun fact: Oleg used to live in Australia and both of us have travelled to Australia before. Oleg used to work in Newcastle which is 160km North of Sydney. Qiao-An had only been to Melbourne before for a stopover before heading to New Zealand.
So why come back? Something about the laidback Aussie lifestyle really suits us. The picture perfect coastline, the country of flat white (enough reason for us to be honest), and the great weather which makes it so easy to enjoy the outdoors. In April, the weather is a lot milder as it's heading towards autumn. Expect temperatures of about 20-25C during the day, when you're walking out in the full sun it can feel even warmer.
This blog will cover our suggested itinerary for 7 days in New South Wales (NSW). From mountains to gorgeous coastlines, there's so much to see than just the Sydney Opera House and Bondi beach, we promise it will be worth your while. Don't believe us? We will let the pictures speak for themselves!
Day 1-2 Newcastle
Newcastle has a population of about 322,000 vs. Sydney's 5.32 million. For those looking for a city with beautiful coastlines without the massive crowds, this is the place to be. They're also right in the heart of the Hunter Valley which is known for its Australian wines.
It's an easy 2 hour drive from Sydney to Newy (Newcastle) which makes a rental car a good option or you can travel by train.
The place has a surfer town vibe with cute cafes, restaurants and shops. Something we have never really seen in any other country are the ocean baths which are completely free and they have toilets, showers and changing rooms available. For the more adventurous people, you can also have a dip in the Bogey Hole which often has marine visitors such as jellyfish floating around. Whether you decide to go in or not, it's definitely worth seeing! The best way to see the coastline is to do the Bathers Way Walk which links Merewether Ocean Baths to Nobby's Beach and it's 6km long. Along this route you will pass Merewether Beach, Bogey Hole, ANZAC Memorial Walk, and Newcastle Beach. There are big parking lots at either ends of this route. For those who would like to go surfing, there are lots of good surfing spots around Newcastle (Nobbys Beach, Newcastle and Merewether Beach).
If you want to interact with some of Australia's famous native animals, a visit to Oakvale Wildlife Park should not be missed. They have a large variety of animals, such as koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, ostriches, reptiles and you have the opportunity to learn about their native wildlife and how to protect it.
Top sites to visit:
Merewether Ocean Baths
Merewether Beach
Nobbys Beach & Lighthouse
Newcastle Beach
Bogey Hole
Newcastle Ocean Baths (undergoing renovation due to finish end of 2023)
ANZAC Memorial Walk
Oakvale Wildlife Park (close to Newcastle)
How to get around:
Walking
By car
Where to stay:
If you do not have access to a car, stay as close to the beach as possible so that you're always walking distance away. Anywhere in the proximity of Newcastle Beach is a good option. The more affordable options will generally be apartments but if you come over by car, check if they have parking as parking costs can quickly add up.
If you have a car, it doesn't matter as much where you stay. We stayed in Merewether but will not be recommending that accommodation as they were completely inflexible with changing the dates due to a delayed international flight of ours. The advantage of staying in Merewether is that the prices are a bit cheaper than in Newcastle and you still have access to a stunning beach and ocean baths. Depending on where you stay, it's also only a 20 minute walk to Darby Street which has cute cafes and restaurants.
For the foodies:
Something that really surprised us coming from The Netherlands where we easily pay 4,50 EUR for a flat white, is that in Australia we never paid more than 3.00 EUR for a regular sized flat white. We don't even have to tell you that the flat white in Australia is also 10 times better. The only thing is, we found that coffee places tend to close around 14:30/15:00 which is quite early.
There are two supermarket chains we liked getting our food at: Woolworths and Coles. If you're looking for some typical Aussie snacks get yourself a pack of Tim Tams and coffee and look up the Tim Tam slam on YouTube.
Breakfast/coffee
Akuna Cafe (it's in Merewether and had the best smoothie bowls we've had in a long time! Their breakfast options are endless though and they'll have something for everyone. The coffee is also amazing)
Good Brother Espresso Shop (for delicious avo toast, bagels and coffee)
One Penny Black (opens early and has great coffee, breakfast and lunch)
Recommendations from locals:
Signal Box
Estabar
Lunch/snacks
Harry's Cafe de Wheels (for a classic Aussie meat pie with combinations such as mashed potatoes, mushy peas and gravy and hotdogs. The original Harry Café de Wheels mobile food caravan was opened in Sydney in 1945)
Dinner
O GA NE (An amazingly affordable Korean restaurant with authentic Korean fried chicken)
Day 3-4: Blue Mountains
Even though mountains may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to Australia, allow us to introduce you to the Blue Mountains. The name comes from the forests of Eucalyptus trees that release tiny droplets of oil which mix with the water vapour and sunlight to create this blue haze. It is a world heritage listed site and covers an area of 1.03 million hectares. The area is so vast that every year about 130 bushwalkers get lost or have to be rescued.
Luckily, there are lots of day trip options which you can do by train or by car. The train will stop at different stations (like Katoomba or Wentworth Falls) in the Blue Mountains area and from there you will have to walk or take a bus. The car provides more flexibility and allows you to park closer to the site.
We only stayed one night but could've easily stayed longer as there is so much to see in the area. We suggest having a look at the "Out of the Blue" guidebook which was created by Annette Blake, who owns No. 14 Lovel St (where we stayed). It's an independent guidebook with over 250 local businesses in it and covering a lot more about the possibilities in the Blue Mountains than you'll ever find online.
Wentworth Falls
Our first stop was Wentworth Falls, it's a popular area for tourists but we got there at lunch time on a weekday and were lucky to get a parking spot right away. Once you get on one of the tracks down towards the waterfalls, groups quickly disperse and we didn't feel like the place was crowded. We did the Wentworth Falls track and combined it with the Undercliff track which will bring you straight back to the parking lot. You can find a lot of information on the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website and current information on closed areas.
There are various lookout points in this area which makes it a great place to start in the Blue Mountains as you'll immediately see that iconic blue haze over the Jamison Valley. Another thing that will be impossible to miss is the screeching of the cockatoos on the way. The paths are narrow at times and you have to descend down 200 steps to get down to the bottom of the falls where there are some shallow pools you can swim in. It is recommended to wear sturdy shoes and bring swimwear if you plan to take a dip!
What we loved about the place is that not a lot of people make it all the way down so you have enough time to take in the beauty of the falls without feeling like it's you and everyone else waiting to take pictures. You're allowed to climb and sit on the rocks around the area. There's a lot of freedom to explore and find a spot to relax without fences, ropes and signs telling you not to touch anything. Those are the places we enjoy the most.
Good to know before going to Wentworth Falls:
No entrance fee and free parking
Bring sturdy shoes (no flip flops)
You can swim in the shallow pools at the falls, bring swimwear!
Check the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website for any closures
Echo Point Lookout (Three Sisters)
Then we decided to go to Echo Point Lookout which is the most popular view point of the Three Sisters and Jamison Valley. This area attracts even more tourists because it's easily accessible. There is a visitor centre, toilets and big viewing platforms (with wheelchair access).
Parking is a bit trickier here as there are limited spots right outside the lookout and then there's only street parking after that. The first hour of parking is the cheapest (5 EUR for 1 hour), after that it gets pretty expensive so we decided to keep our visit within an hour. For a quick visit, we recommend the Echo Point to Three Sisters walk which starts at the information centre and passes several lookout points before ending at the iconic honeymoon bridge which connects to the Three Sisters. By the time we got to Echo Point, it was already quite busy. There is a long set of stairs going down to the bridge, which meant for us there was quite some queuing and waiting for people to take their pictures whilst there is a constant flow of people constantly either going up or down. Just be prepared to take this site a bit slower. Once we got to the Honeymoon Bridge it was closed due to rockfall risk. We're not sure if it will open again in the future. It is still the easiest and fastest walk to do in the area and gives you a closer view of the rock formations of the Three Sisters.
If you ask us, we much preferred Wentworth Falls. With the amount of tourists Echo Point Lookout brings in, it just isn't the best experience. Either come really early, before the tour buses come in or just be prepared to share the place with a lot of people and to be patient. There are other walks you can do which no doubt will also lead you to areas where there are less tourists but then you have to be prepared to pay more for parking.
Conclusion, Echo Point Lookout is family friendly and easily accessible for less mobile people. Wentworth Falls is more suited to people who like to have a bit more freedom to explore during their walks and budget friendly because there's no parking fee.
Top sites to visit:
Wentworth Falls
Echo Point Lookout (Three Sisters)
Katoomba
How to get around:
Walking
By car
By train
Where to stay:
No. 14 Lovel St - It's a guesthouse in Katoomba offering dorms and private rooms with shared bathroom facilities. There are two lounge areas, a large kitchen which is well equipped and organised so every room has space to store their food items and plenty of space in the bathroom area. There is free parking on the road and it's a 5-10 minute walk to the main street in Katoomba. The rooms have the "Out of the Blue" guidebook so you can read up on all the things to do in the area.
For the foodies:
Breakfast/coffee
Tempus Katoomba (a stylish restaurant which serves breakfast during the week and also has a dinner service in the weekends. We grabbed a coffee to go from here but everything looked delicious)
Dinner/drinks
8Things Eatery (this was a great find on the main street in Katoomba. At first you may think the name and menu are confused but they have 8 different international menu items. We thoroughly enjoyed our Korean pork belly bao buns and Bali nasi.)
Day 5-7: Sydney
A visit to New South Wales, would not be complete without visiting Sydney. It's one of the places Qiao-An has been excited about visiting because whenever you watch the NYE fireworks show, you always see the iconic fireworks over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Even though there were no fireworks, it was Qiao-An's birthday so there was plenty to celebrate!
There are a few options to get to Sydney CBD from the airport, we had to return our car rental so we took a train (airport link) from Mascot train station which worked out to be just under 3 AUD per person. However, if you leave from the airport you pay 20 AUD per person. There are options by bus and taxi you could look into as well. A taxi might make more sense if you're travelling with 2 or more people. An Uber will cost you approx. 50 AUD depending on where you're going in Sydney.
Distances in Sydney can be quite big depending on where you go. The public transport system is well connected and you have quite some options. The best way to pay for your fares are by getting the Opal card. These are available at metro stations, newsagents or convenience stores. The card is free! Coming from the Netherlands where you pay 7,50 EUR for the transportation card and then it's only valid for 5 years after which you're expected to purchase a new one *sigh*, it's nice to see that in other countries it is possible to offer them for free.
There is so much to see and do in and around Sydney that we didn't even manage to see everything Oleg had planned.
Central Business District (CBD)
The Rocks, Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge are all in the Circular Quay area. It's really beautiful at sunrise and sunset. If you have time, try to do both because in the evening you see everything is lit up beautifully. At sunrise, only the early risers and runners are out. For another perspective on the Opera House, go to the Royal Botanic Gardens. We went on Qiao-An's birthday for a birthday picnic, you can sit right opposite it on the grass. There are also benches but they're often taken as they're the best seats in the house. If you're up for a longer walk (or run) through the park, you can start around Mrs Macquarie's Chair and walk towards the Opera House. The Royal Botanic Gardens cover an area of 30 hectares. There are areas dedicated to different flora from all over the world, it has clean public restrooms, and a café.
Bondi Beach
The next day, we went to Bondi Beach by bus which took about 40 minutes. As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed by that familiar ocean breeze and wonderful coastline. Arguably one of the most iconic pictures from Bondi is at the Icebergs swimming pool. This is similar to an ocean bath except this place is a swimming club and has an entrance fee of 8 AUD per person. Included in this fee is the use of hot showers and a sauna, which is pretty cool. We don't know anywhere else where you can pay such a small fee to make use of such facilities with the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Bondi beach is also known as Australia's most famous surfing beach, it's a great hangout spot to watch surfers or catch some waves yourself. We were recommended the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk but it was a moody day so we decided to give it a miss. We also already did the Coastal Walk in Newcastle which we thought would be too similar of a view and experience. If you would like to do some shopping, Gould Street and Campbell Parade are good options.
What to do in Sydney continued
Another thing to experience is the breakfast/brunch culture. Cafes are usually open early and close mid afternoon. One day we also grabbed a quick bite to eat at a Mexican style chain takeaway (Guzman y Gomez) in the middle of the CBD and it was full of office workers. Most people would avoid this but we really enjoyed people watching and experiencing different parts of the city.
We didn't have enough time to go to Manly Beach on this trip but Oleg has been before and the best way to get there is to take a ferry from Circular Quay. The added bonus is that you get to see Sydney from the water!
Top sites to visit:
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Rocks
Royal Botanic Gardens
Bondi Beach & Bondi Icebergs
Manly Beach
How to get around:
Walking
By metro
By bus
Where to stay:
Pacific House Hostel - Located in the Woolloomooloo area of Sydney, it's a really safe and central location to get to all the main attractions. We can recommend this area, especially for Sydney first timers. It's one of the nicest hostels we ever stayed at. We liked the design, they had complimentary breakfast (don't expect too much), good wifi and coin laundry. We got a private room with shared bathroom facilities. Mind you, accommodation is expensive in Sydney (83 EUR for two people per night). The nearest metro station is St. James and from there you can pretty much get anywhere. It's also walking distance to King's Cross which is quite a quirky and vibrant neighbourhood. It has great cafes and restaurants but is also known for its red-light district and party scene. This is why we chose not to stay in the district but only to venture over for food.
Holiday Inn Express - We stayed one night here as our flight arrived in the evening and we had to pick up a car rental first thing in the morning near to the airport. It was a convenient and comfortable stay, with complimentary breakfast. We really liked that they had cheap coin laundry (2 AUD) with complimentary laundry powder and use of the dryer.
For the foodies:
As mentioned under the foodies section for Newcastle, Woolworths and Coles are good supermarkets to go to in case you want to do your own groceries. One more typical Aussie food we haven't mentioned yet is Vegemite. Pretty much any place that has complimentary breakfast will serve this. You're either going to be in the love it or hate it team, there is no in between (let us know in the comments which team you're on). Have it on toasted bread with butter and spread it very thinly on top. Bon Appétit!
Breakfast/coffee
Tuyo Potts Point (awesome coffee and avocado toast, need we say more?)
ASLAN Coffee Roasters - The Rocks (a great coffee place tucked away in a small street. They also serve breakfast and lunch)
The Depot Bondi (a good coffee and pastry stop, they also serve lots of breakfast and lunch options)
Lunch/snacks
Vinfafe (an outdoors Vietnamese street style restaurant. We had amazing crispy pork belly banh mi for lunch. It's a great affordable lunch and dinner location)
La Renaissance Patisserie & Cafe (this is where Oleg got Qiao-An's birthday cake and it was divine. Their coffees and croissants are also very good)
Gram Cafe & Pancakes The Galeries (this one belongs under breakfast too in case pancakes are your thing. We love Japanese style fluffy pancakes and when we per chance walked by this place, we had to try it. The pancake with matcha cream is a winner!)
Guzman y Gomez (there's tons of branches all over Sydney, it's a good Mexican style takeaway to grab a quick bite to eat)
Dinner/drinks
Sydney has a big Asian community, 10% of Sydney's population have Chinese ancestry. We love the cuisine so our dinner recommendations have an Asian theme. If you're also partial to this cuisine, make sure to visit Sydney's China Town as well. It's especially bustling in the evening.
Sapporo Miso Ramen Factory (for delicious ramen in an authentic Japanese setting. The owner is from Hokkaido and extremely efficient, when we were there for dinner he was running the whole dinner service on his own and did a great job)
Sushi Boss (this place also took us right back to Japan, a little difficult to find as it's tucked away in a mall which adds to the experience. Delicious and affordable sushi, with an extensive food menu)
Spice World (this will not only satisfy your hotpot craving but also is a feast for the eyes. They have a few quirky details like cute shaped chilli butter and being able to order a portion of meat which will be draped à la Lady Gaga around a barbie doll)
Goros (inspired by the Japanese Izakaya or pub, they offer food, drinks, karaoke, a photobooth, and air hockey. We didn't try the food but the drinks, photobooth and air hockey were worth it)
So if you're ever planning a trip to Sydney, we hope to have inspired you to include a visit to Newcastle and the Blue Mountains as well!
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