Sydney is undeniably one of the most iconic cities not only in Australia but the world. With several gorgeous sights in and around Sydney, the city rightly serves as the cultural capital of the nation.
Some of the iconic sights in the city include the Sydney Opera, which ranks on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. As such, the city and the surrounding region offer plenty of sites for the perfect day trip.
The beautiful views from the mountains through to the endless activities on the beautiful beaches are just the starting point for some of the places you can visit around Sydney.
Planning for a day trip around Sydney? Here are must-see places near Sydney for tourists and locals planning a day trip:
- Blue Mountains National Park
- Palm Beach
- The Hunter Valley
- Hawkesbury River Cruise
- Royal National Park
Blue Mountains National Park
Arguably one of the most spectacular and popular day trips in Sydney is the Blue Mountains National Park.
This amazing place is home to many tree species, and visitors can take a walk through the mountains while enjoying incredible views of the landscape.
The blue haze over the mountains, which inspires its name, is also a thing of breath-taking beauty.
Nature lovers especially love to explore the many hiking trails in the park. This 664,000-acre park also offers tourists the awesome views of waterfalls, rugged gorges, dense forests, and aboriginal decorated rock formations.
The Three Sisters rock formation is also a highlight in the park and is easily the best attraction for photographers in the Blue Mountains.
Designated lookout points also make it easy for visitors to lay their eyes on virtually all points of the Blue Mountain park.
From these points, tourists can marvel at the picturesque ride on the Katoomba Scenic Railway down the Jamison Valley.
A day trip to the Blue Mountains Park also promises to be activity-packed, with hiking, rock climbing, abseiling, horseback riding, and mountain biking being some of the more popular activities.
Palm Beach
Another day trip destination for locals and tourists is Palm Beach. This is a place of fine golden sand, coastal views, world-class surfing, and cool breezes.
As such, it is the perfect place to unwind and escape from the hassles of the city.
As part of the popular Northern Beaches, Palm Beach offers activities such as beach golfing, surfing, and hiking around the dunes. Boat riding round the turquoise waters is also an activity that visitors can try.
Tourists can also whet their appetite by indulging in a serving of fresh seafood.
The Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley is a few hours from Sydney and is a popular hiking destination, especially for food and nature lovers. The Hunter Valley is a fertile region and is famous for producing fresh food products such as oils and cheese.
As such, it is home to exceptional restaurants that offer mouth-watering menus. Nature lovers are not left out either, as they can enjoy the view of eucalyptus fields and kangaroos as well.
Hawkesbury River
The Hawkesbury River forms the boundary of the Ku-ring-gai National Park and is one of the most beautiful rivers in Australia.
The main towns along the river, including Richmond and Windsor, offer various tourist attractions such as galleries, heritage buildings, museums, gardens, and markets.
The farms that dot the banks of the river and bushes along the river are also beautiful to watch. Boat riding is also a good way for tourists to explore the waters of the Hawkesbury River.
Royal National Park
Beach lovers and nature buffs will especially love this day trip destination. The park is characterised by about 21 kilometres of a cliff-fringed coast and activity-packed beaches.
This second oldest national park in the world is an hour from Sydney’s CBD. The beauty of this park lies in the heathland covering and its indented valleys.
The park is also home to the Hacking River, which offers activities such as boating and fishing. Along the coast of the park, tourists can also enjoy activities such as surfing, swimming, snorkelling, whale watching, and fishing.
With over 240 bird species in the park, tourists also get to enjoy birdwatching as well as enjoy the view of aboriginal rock formations as part of the attractions.
Sydney is a city of endless sights for tourists and locals and day trips to the various sites around the city are therefore common with visitors.
The Blue Mountains National Park is probably the most popular day trip around Sydney and is highly sought after by local and international tourists alike.
If you are planning to visit the Blue Mountains, look no further than FJ Tours Day Tours.
At FJ Tours, our friendly sightseeing day tours are the best way to maximise your travel time, which means you can relax and enjoy the beauty of the Blue Mountains.
Find out more about FJ Tours Blue Mountains Day Tours here.
