Five towns near Sydney you should road trip to this weekend

Head north or south for amazing sea views and sprawling beaches. Head inland and quaint country villages, vineyards and mountains each offer enticing drawcards. Here are five locations to get you out and about from Sydney.

While this Weekend Drives article lists five towns to visit, there are many more in each pocket of the country which we encourage you to visit. Think of this as your starting point. The devastating summer bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic have affected communities across the country so there's never been a more important reason to safely visit the towns in your region to support local and in many cases, family businesses.

Remember to stick to the government's rules and regulations when it comes to travel, stays and dining. Also keep in mind those social distancing and hand hygiene measures we've come to know well. Not all locations listed may be currently in operation so it is best to call ahead or check their online listings before you head off.

Buried deep in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, you'll find the vibrant and historic town of Katoomba. With spectacular views and bushwalks and just 90 minutes drive from Sydney, it's a great choice for a weekend adventure. Katoomba is also famous for its dramatic views of the Three Sisters and Jamison Valley. You’ll find many delightful restaurants and cafes in town too with some offering a beautiful view of Echo Point as well.

The Hunter Valley is NSW’s premier wine-growing area full of snazzy wineries, history and amazing restaurants, but it doesn’t really have a focal town to visit. Cessnock in the valley’s north has more of a coal-mining heritage than grapes and has lots to see for those willing to explore. Gorgeous old buildings, many of them converted to shops, and just out of town you can visit the peculiar Brick Beehive Kilns within Potters resort and hotel. There’s the Hunter Valley Zoo, the Hunter Valley Gardens and, on a more sombre historical note, a memorial to the Bellbird mining disaster of 1923. Of course, there are plenty of wining and dining opportunities as well.

You don’t have to be a cricket fan to enjoy Bowral, but it helps. It’s the birth-place of Don Bradman and has a magnificent museum celebrating The Don’s career, but to make the 90 minute drive south of Sydney more worthwhile there’s plenty more to do. The leafy town is famous for its flowers and greenery, including the Corbett Gardens which are home to an annual Tulip festival. There are galleries, the charming Empire Cinema built in 1915, an antique market, a good mix of high-end restaurants and accessible cafes and the surrounding countryside of rolling hills and vineyards can be seen easily from Bowral Lookout.

The seaside town of Kiama is really the gateway to NSW’s south coast, and is just a two-hour drive from Sydney. If you’re looking for natural attractions it’s hard to go past The Blowhole with its geyser-like eruption of seawater 20 metres into the air, plus beaches for swimming or surfing, or canoeing on the Minnamurra River. Kiama has a weekly farmers’ market, seaside fish ‘n’ chips aplenty, an annual Jazz and Blues Festival and some interesting history including the 1880s timber terrace houses listed by the National Trust.

This classic Australian coastal town is far enough north of Sydney to make the drive seem significant, but at 90 minutes away, close enough to visit. Terrigal is all about the beach, a golden expanse of sand sheltered from heavy waves by Broken Head, and lined with all the beachy surf shops and fish ‘n’ chip takeaways you’d expect. Keep walking out to Skillion Lookout for a view, and maybe see a migrating whale, visit the Marine Discovery Centre or if you’re a diver check out the wreck of the HMAS Adelaide and its abundant fish life.

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