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1 city
State · Nova Gales do Sul e Camberra (Sydney)
Nova Gales do Sul
New South Wales is the state of Sydney, of the Opera and the Harbour Bridge, of the Blue Mountains and Byron Bay, at the easternmost tip of the continent.
In the photo: Grose Valley, Blue Mountains
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The state
Get to know Nova Gales do Sul
New South Wales occupies the southeast of Australia, between the Pacific Ocean and the dry interior, and is the most populous state in the country. It was there that, in 1788, the first British fleet carrying convicts arrived, and the history of the penal colony still appears in Sydney buildings that are now UNESCO heritage sites.
Sydney, the capital, is the harbour city: the Opera, also a UNESCO site, the Harbour Bridge, the historic district of The Rocks, Taronga Zoo across the water, and the beaches of Bondi and Manly, with the ferry that crosses the bay. Hyde Park Barracks, Cockatoo Island and Old Government House in Parramatta are part of the UNESCO penal sites. On New Year’s Eve, the fireworks over the bridge and the bay draw crowds.
About 100 km to the west, the Blue Mountains are a UNESCO area of canyons, eucalyptus forests and lookouts. Katoomba, with the Three Sisters and Scenic World, Leura and Blackheath are the towns on the high plateau, linked to Sydney by train.
At the northern end of the coast, Byron Bay has the Cape Byron lighthouse, the easternmost point of the continent, surf beaches and, inland, Nightcap National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests, also UNESCO. Nearby Ballina has the region’s airport.
The state also includes the Hunter Valley, the country’s oldest wine region, the Snowy Mountains with Mount Kosciuszko, the highest point of the continent, and Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. On the table, Sydney oysters and seaside fish and chips are classics.
Destinations
1 destination in Nova Gales do Sul
When to go
The seasons are the same as in Brazil. In Sydney and along the coast, summer (December to February) is beach season, and spring and autumn usually bring mild, drier days. In winter (June to August) it is cold in the Blue Mountains and it snows in the Snowy Mountains; it is also when humpback whales pass along the coast, in a season that typically runs from June to November, with Byron Bay among the best places to see them.
Getting there
Sydney Airport (SYD) is the main gateway to Australia. Connections from Brazil are indirect, usually via Santiago, Chile or another city. Check before you book. From the airport, the train reaches central Sydney. For the Blue Mountains, the train departs from Central station and climbs the range to Katoomba and Blackheath. Byron Bay is about 770 km from Sydney: the most practical option is to fly to Ballina or to the Gold Coast in Queensland, about a 1-hour drive away.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Nova Gales do Sul
How many days should I allocate for Sydney?
Three to four days are enough for the Opera, the Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, a beach like Bondi or Manly and Taronga Zoo. With one or two more days you can include the Blue Mountains, which require at least a full day.
Can you do a day trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains?
Yes. The train departs from Central station and reaches Katoomba in about 2 hours, and from there buses and walking trails lead to the Three Sisters lookouts and Scenic World. To see Leura and Blackheath at a relaxed pace, it’s worth spending a night on the plateau.
How to get around Sydney without a car?
Trains, buses, ferries and the light rail cover the tourist spots, and the ferries departing from Circular Quay are themselves a bay cruise. On Sydney transport you can pay by tapping a credit card or your phone on the reader, without buying a ticket in advance.
When to see whales in New South Wales?
The humpback whale season typically runs from June to November, when they travel north along the coast and then return south. Cape Byron in Byron Bay and the coastal lookouts around Sydney are among the observation points, and there are boat trips in both towns.
How to go from Sydney to Byron Bay?
It’s about 770 km along the coast, a full-day drive or done in stages. The quickest option is to fly from Sydney to Ballina, next to Byron Bay, or to the Gold Coast, from where you continue by road.