Why pay thousands of dollars to join a tour of New South Wales when you can save money and choose your own self-drive tour?. You are guaranteed to see more of the area and pay less! If you are ready for a real life choose your own adventure, read on for a self-drive tour which will show you highlights you shouldn't miss around Sydney in a week.
From the Darling Harbour Ferry you can snap the photographs professionals do with unobstructed views of the Oprah House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Luna Park, Wilson's Point and Darling Harbour. Sightseeing by ferry is by far the most relaxing way. You don't have to fight through the bustle of tourists or wait in line to take a selfie posing in front of Sydney Harbour bridge, all while enjoying the scenery in air conditioned comfort.
When you have made your return trip to Circular Quay head back to the car and point your navigator to the most famous beach in Sydney, Bondi Beach! Keep your eyes peeled for celebrities as you make your way down to the ocean waves with the likes of Paris Hilton, Dr. Chris Brown, Liev Schrieber, Hugh Jackman and Gerard Butler, but don't drown! Bondi Beach is notorious for drowning, deaths have occurred, and if you start to struggle, your family might watch you struggle and be saved by a good looking lifeguard on an episode of Bondi Rescue! After an afternoon in the sun, it's time to head back to the car and set your navigator for your caravan park or hotel in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens.
Optional additions to the day:
Day 2 - Experience Port Stephens
Bounce out of bed and put your sunscreen on as the sun is calling your name. One day isn't quite enough to see everything Port Stephens has to offer, personally a month wouldn't be enough for me, however two days gives you a chance to see the highlights and make a list of things you want to come back to see! First stop is the Salamander Bay Visitor Centre where you can get the local history, book tours, pick up travel brochures etc. then when you're ready to go for breakfast, The Home Interior on Donald Street Nelson Bay is known as the "Best Coffee in Nelson Bay". The hearty breakfast and coffee aromas will definitely give you energy to wander around the Nelson Bay Shopping Precinct with their unique shops having a coastal feel with embroidered cotton clothing and surf shops being local and tourist favourites. With your relaxing shopping fix complete, it's time to trundle up to Tomaree Head Summit for sensational views of the coast. Make sure you bring your binoculars and look up from time to time as you might spot a wild Koala or two year round or a whale between May and October. Following your trek, cool down at Fly Point, a local spot for snorkelling or a dive before you get back in the car and head back to your place to stay.
Daily drive total: Approximately 21 minutes (9.2km)
Day 3 - Keep Experiencing Port Stephens
A scenic drive around Port Stephens is a must. Sights which make great photos include, the sandbar between Shark Island and Fingal Bay Spit, the pristine and private Wreck Beach, Boat Harbour, Gan Gan Hill Lookout, Stockton's Birubi Beach and One Mile Beach. If you want to catch a wave or two, the local surfing hot spots are Samurai Beach, Zenith Beach and Box Beach, while you can look for one or two of the 150 local dolphins from the beach in Nelson or Shoal Bay.
After your scenic drive, it's time to head to West Head Lookout in Kuringai Chase National Park to camp at The Basin
Daily drive total: Approximately 3 hours 26 minutes (235km)
Optional additions at Port Stephens:
West Head Lookout is well regarded as one of Sydney's best lookouts. The sensational view of the heads and beaches gives you a taste for what you will see for the day. Download the map from here and follow the trail of lookouts and Aboriginal Cultural Sites. There is great fishing at Great Mackerel and Currawong beach, stop to dream of having your own boat over lunch at The Marina Cafe in Lovett Bay. Next on the agenda is looking for whales at Barrenjoey Lighthouse and beach hopping down through Sydney's Northern Beaches including Bilgola Beach, Bungan Beach, Warriewood Beach, Narrabean Beach, Collaroy Beach, Dee Why Beach, Freshwater Beach, Manly Beach and finally snorkelling at Shelly Beach. Finish the day at The Ivanhoe Hotel Manly for a cheap bistro meal and some local entertainment.
Daily drive total: Approximately 2 hours 14 minutes (76km)
Day 5 - Head into the Blue Mountains Regretfully saying goodbye to the coasts, beaches, whales, dolphins and snorkelling for the rest of the holiday, it's time to have some land experiences! Waterfalls, cliff faces and sensational lookouts await you in the iconic Blue Mountains. Set your navigator to Wentworth Falls, then Bridal Veil Falls & Govetts Leap Lookout, Narrow Neck Lookout, Katoomba Falls and the Three Sisters to watch a beautiful sunset.
Daily drive total: Approximately 2 hours 34 minutes (156km)
Optional additions in the Blue Mountains
Day 6 - Jenolan Caves
You have seen the coast and mountains, now it's time to see the Jenolan Caves! Known as Australia's Most Spectacular Caves the day will be filled with Stalactites and Stalagmites and local geology.
Daily drive total: Approximately 1 hour 14 minutes (74km)
Day 7 - Head for home Unfortunately the trip has ended, however your holiday memories will live on!
Trip total: Approximately 14 hours 45 minutes travel time. (765km)* *Trip time not inclusive of travelling to Sydney or from Jenolan Caves.
50 things to see on a Sydney surrounds self-drive tour
- Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Learn about Aboriginal Artwork
- Watch a show at the Sydney Oprah House
- Experience the magic at Sydney Luna Park
- Have a picnic at Wilson's Point Sydney
- Hop on board a submarine at Australian National Maritime Museum
- Celebrity Spotting on Bondi Beach
- Get lost at Bondi Junction Westfield Shopping Centre
- Check out the events at Darling Harbour
- Win some money for your holiday at The Star Casino
- Order the "Best Coffee in Nelson Bay" at The Home Interior
- Shop like a local at the Nelson Bay Shopping Precinct
- Whale spotting at Nelson Bay between May and October
- Koala spotting at Tomaree Head
- Diving or snorkelling at Fly Point
- Viewing Port Stephens from Tomaree Head Summit
- Walk the sandbar between Shark Island and Fingal Bay Spit
- Look for an anchor on Wreck Beach
- Boat Harbour,
- Gan Gan Hill Lookout,
- Stockton's Birubi Beach
- One Mile Beach.
- Catch a wave at Zenith Beach
- Sit on a private beach at Box Beach,
- Look for 150 local dolphins from Nelson or Shoal Bay.
- Experience the Best Lookout in Sydney at West Head Lookout in Kuringai Chase National Park
- Go skinny dipping or 4wd at the clothing optional Samurai Beach
- Head across to Tea Gardens
- Sand Boarding or quad biking at Stockton Beach
- Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters
- Dream about being rich and famous at The Marina Cafe in Lovett Bay.
- Look out for whales at Barrenjoey Lighthouse
- Go swimming at Bilgola Beach
- Cool down at Bungan Beach
- Walk to the Blowhole at Warriewood Beach
- Have lunch at the newly refurbished Surf Club at Narrabean Beach
- Learn to surf at Collaroy Beach
- Play outdoor Ping Pong at Dee Why Beach
- Body Board at Freshwater Beach
- Swim at Sydney's popular Manly Beach
- Snorkel at Shelly Beach.
- Have a cheap dinner at The Ivanhoe Hotel Manly
- See grand valley views in person at Wentworth Falls,
- Experience a waterfall and lookout on one walk at Bridal Veil Falls & Govetts Leap Lookout
- Mountain bike over Narrow Neck Lookout
- See the postcard worthy Katoomba Falls
- Watch a beautiful sunset at Three Sisters
- Hope on the Katoomba Scenic Railway and Skyway
- Relax at the Leura cascades
- Visit Australia's Most Spectacular Caves at Jenolan Caves
From the Darling Harbour Ferry you can snap the photographs professionals do with unobstructed views of the Oprah House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Luna Park, Wilson's Point and Darling Harbour. Sightseeing by ferry is by far the most relaxing way. You don't have to fight through the bustle of tourists or wait in line to take a selfie posing in front of Sydney Harbour bridge, all while enjoying the scenery in air conditioned comfort.
When you have made your return trip to Circular Quay head back to the car and point your navigator to the most famous beach in Sydney, Bondi Beach! Keep your eyes peeled for celebrities as you make your way down to the ocean waves with the likes of Paris Hilton, Dr. Chris Brown, Liev Schrieber, Hugh Jackman and Gerard Butler, but don't drown! Bondi Beach is notorious for drowning, deaths have occurred, and if you start to struggle, your family might watch you struggle and be saved by a good looking lifeguard on an episode of Bondi Rescue! After an afternoon in the sun, it's time to head back to the car and set your navigator for your caravan park or hotel in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens.
Optional additions to the day:
- Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Get lost at Bondi Junction Westfield Shopping Centre
- Admire Aboriginal Artwork at Circular Quay
- See a show at the Sydney Oprah House
Day 2 - Experience Port Stephens
Bounce out of bed and put your sunscreen on as the sun is calling your name. One day isn't quite enough to see everything Port Stephens has to offer, personally a month wouldn't be enough for me, however two days gives you a chance to see the highlights and make a list of things you want to come back to see! First stop is the Salamander Bay Visitor Centre where you can get the local history, book tours, pick up travel brochures etc. then when you're ready to go for breakfast, The Home Interior on Donald Street Nelson Bay is known as the "Best Coffee in Nelson Bay". The hearty breakfast and coffee aromas will definitely give you energy to wander around the Nelson Bay Shopping Precinct with their unique shops having a coastal feel with embroidered cotton clothing and surf shops being local and tourist favourites. With your relaxing shopping fix complete, it's time to trundle up to Tomaree Head Summit for sensational views of the coast. Make sure you bring your binoculars and look up from time to time as you might spot a wild Koala or two year round or a whale between May and October. Following your trek, cool down at Fly Point, a local spot for snorkelling or a dive before you get back in the car and head back to your place to stay.
Daily drive total: Approximately 21 minutes (9.2km)
Day 3 - Keep Experiencing Port Stephens
A scenic drive around Port Stephens is a must. Sights which make great photos include, the sandbar between Shark Island and Fingal Bay Spit, the pristine and private Wreck Beach, Boat Harbour, Gan Gan Hill Lookout, Stockton's Birubi Beach and One Mile Beach. If you want to catch a wave or two, the local surfing hot spots are Samurai Beach, Zenith Beach and Box Beach, while you can look for one or two of the 150 local dolphins from the beach in Nelson or Shoal Bay.
After your scenic drive, it's time to head to West Head Lookout in Kuringai Chase National Park to camp at The Basin
Daily drive total: Approximately 3 hours 26 minutes (235km)
Optional additions at Port Stephens:
- Go skinny dipping or 4wd at the clothing optional Samurai Beach
- Head across to Tea Gardens
- Sand Boarding or quad biking at Stockton Beach
- Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters
West Head Lookout is well regarded as one of Sydney's best lookouts. The sensational view of the heads and beaches gives you a taste for what you will see for the day. Download the map from here and follow the trail of lookouts and Aboriginal Cultural Sites. There is great fishing at Great Mackerel and Currawong beach, stop to dream of having your own boat over lunch at The Marina Cafe in Lovett Bay. Next on the agenda is looking for whales at Barrenjoey Lighthouse and beach hopping down through Sydney's Northern Beaches including Bilgola Beach, Bungan Beach, Warriewood Beach, Narrabean Beach, Collaroy Beach, Dee Why Beach, Freshwater Beach, Manly Beach and finally snorkelling at Shelly Beach. Finish the day at The Ivanhoe Hotel Manly for a cheap bistro meal and some local entertainment.
Daily drive total: Approximately 2 hours 14 minutes (76km)
Day 5 - Head into the Blue Mountains Regretfully saying goodbye to the coasts, beaches, whales, dolphins and snorkelling for the rest of the holiday, it's time to have some land experiences! Waterfalls, cliff faces and sensational lookouts await you in the iconic Blue Mountains. Set your navigator to Wentworth Falls, then Bridal Veil Falls & Govetts Leap Lookout, Narrow Neck Lookout, Katoomba Falls and the Three Sisters to watch a beautiful sunset.
Daily drive total: Approximately 2 hours 34 minutes (156km)
Optional additions in the Blue Mountains
Day 6 - Jenolan Caves
You have seen the coast and mountains, now it's time to see the Jenolan Caves! Known as Australia's Most Spectacular Caves the day will be filled with Stalactites and Stalagmites and local geology.
Daily drive total: Approximately 1 hour 14 minutes (74km)
Day 7 - Head for home Unfortunately the trip has ended, however your holiday memories will live on!
Trip total: Approximately 14 hours 45 minutes travel time. (765km)* *Trip time not inclusive of travelling to Sydney or from Jenolan Caves.
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