What to do in Sydney during winter

What to do in Sydney during winter

You think just because it’s getting cold in Sydney there’s nothing to do rather than staying indoors with a hot cup of tea or a hot chocolate? Well, we will prove you otherwise! In and around Sydney there‘s still so much to explore even in the colder months of the year. Most people think that only because the temperatures drop, Sydney will be cold and rainy. However, this amazing city still has so many beautiful and sunny days; it just gets colder than in summer. So in the following you will find a list of stunning places to explore in and around Sydney during winter.

1. Visit Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Go see Australia’s second oldest national park, the so-called Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, which was established in 1894. This national park offers a unique experience all year round. You can do different walks which vary in distance and difficulty (we can recommend the America Bay Track). So there is a track for everyone. You will find stunning lookout points (West Head Lookout for example), secluded beaches (e.g. West Head Beach and Resolute Beach), a lot of rainforest, and also areas to have a picnic in case you get hungry from all the exploring. So make sure to pack your favourite snacks and most importantly some water to stay hydrated.

1. Go to Palm Beach

Close to Palm Beach, but still part of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park you can find the Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk. Since the winter months in New South Wales (NSW) are perfect to spot whales, we recommend doing this walk between May and August. Make sure to go up to Barrenjoey Head for the best view! After hopefully seeing some whales, we suggest to visit Palm Beach and go to the “Boathouse” restaurant for lunch or drinks. The Boathouse is directly located on the water so a stunning view is guaranteed.

1. Visit Royal National Park

Being Australia’s oldest and the world’s second-oldest national park, established in 1879, it’s definitely worth visiting Royal National Park. No matter if you go for just a day or if you stay for a few days and camp in between, this national park has a lot to offer. Beautiful hikes along the coast, such as the famous Coast Track, which is among other things known by the “Wedding Cake Rock” (see second photo). When walking along the coast you can also spot lots of whales, especially during this time of the year. Another highlight in the Royal National Park are definitely the Figure 8 Pools. However, the way to get there is not that easy, so be careful and inform yourself about the conditions first as the Figure 8 Pools can only be accessed during low tide. So make sure to check the tides before you go.

1. Do a Trip to…

…the Blue Mountains.

There are some great hikes you can do in the Blue Mountains, and definitely make sure to check out the Three Sisters (rock formation), ride the steepest incline railway in the world (trust us you’re going to love this one), or take the scenic skyway gondola from where you can see stunning views such as the Katoomba Falls and the Three Sisters. The scenic skyway also has a glass floor in the middle of the gondola for those who dare to look down!

This all sounded great to you, but you want to add a little bit more of adventure? Canyoning in the Blue Mountains may be the right option for you then! With over 900 canyons the Blue Mountains is the place to do it. While during the summer you can swim, jump into rock pools and abseil through waterfalls, the winter edition involves basically all the adventure and excitement without getting wet. So dress up nice and warm and let’s get this adventure of yours started!

…Hunter Valley.

Another destination you do not want to miss out on is Hunter Valley. Go to different wineries to taste wine, look at the beautiful vineyards, learn about wine production or even choose to taste chocolate and vodka. Did you know that there are around 150 wineries in Hunter Valley? So there is definitely not a lack of wineries! Our recommendation: if you are not planning on staying the night in Hunter Valley, definitely go with a guided tour. That way you do not need to worry about getting back to Sydney (don’t drink & drive) and it’s much more convenient for you as everything is organized and  you can just relax and enjoy your day. For the best deals, just contact us!

…Port Stephens.

Spend an incredible day in Port Stephens by doing a guided tour with us departing from Sydney. You will stop at a wildlife park on your way to Port Stephens, where you get the chance to see koalas, wombats and many other animals. But the highlight is that the kangaroos are just running around the park! After the perfect start into the day, do a dolphin cruise in Port Stephens and then ride through the sand dunes with a 4WD and go sandboarding on some of the largest sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s so much fun!

…Jervis Bay.

Jervis Bay is home to the whitest beach in the world, called Hyams Beach. Besides visiting that beach, you can also do some amazing walks or explore other secluded beaches (e.g. Murrays Beach or Cave Beach) over there. It’s the perfect weekend getaway.

1. Winter Activities

Even in the winter there are still many activities you could do. Have you ever skydived or done it before and loved it? Prices are no longer an excuse not to do it, because we can give you major discounts. Another thing you definitely have to do is the Bridge Climb on the Harbour Bridge. You can choose the time of the day when you want to do it. Tip: You can also do it during night; it’s even more special to do it now during the Vivid Festival. Another activity you can definitely do in winter is surfing. If you have never tried it before or if you are still a beginner, you should consider doing a surf camp. It is super fun and you will be much more confident afterwards. “Escape Rooms” are also a great activity to do in winter! What is an Escape Room? It’s basically a team based game where the whole group tries to follow clues in order to escape a locked room. If you are looking for something more special than this, there are also kayak tours to e.g. Berowra Waters or Hawkesbury River you can do which take you to places you wouldn’t know of otherwise. And these magical places are only less than an hour away from Sydney CBD! It’s the perfect trip if you want to escape the city life for a bit and just enjoy nature and the quietness.

1. Escape Sydney…

…to some place warmer.

If you want to stay in Australia, we would recommend doing a road trip up to Cairns to explore the stunning East Coast with amazing places such as Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Noosa, Fraser Island, Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, Great Barrier Reef or the Outback with Uluru and Darwin. But you could also leave Australia and visit Fiji or Asia. Just be in touch with us if you would like us to help you plan the perfect itinerary and package for you with a big discount on top.

…to some place colder.

You don’t mind the cold weather, but if it has to be cold it might as well be cold enough to do some winter sports? We feel you! But no worries, the ski and snowboard season is starting soon – July and August being the high season – and the best is that it is only a couple of hours away from Sydney in Thredbo, Perisher or Queenstown. You can go as long as you want, even just for the weekend! Be in touch, we can create you a customized package including transport, accommodation, lift passes, gear hire etc. – Stay tuned, a whole new article about this topic is going to be uploaded on our website soon!