Top New South Wales Outdoor Activities - page 3

The Sydney Opera House is one of Australia’s most famous landmarks—but much of it remains hidden to visitors without tickets to a performance. This guided walking tour offers a closer look inside the UNESCO World Heritage–listed building, with access to spaces typically reserved for showgoers. As you explore, your guide shares entertaining stories about the venue’s design, history, and the productions that bring it to life.

Vivid Sydney draws large crowds along the foreshore, making it difficult to find clear viewing spots. This harbour cruise offers a different perspective from the water aboard a luxury motor catamaran, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Cruise across Sydney Harbour while watching the city’s light installations reflect across the water, and enjoy a complimentary drink as the illuminated skyline comes into view.

Escape the crowds on land and admire Sydney’s top landmarks—including Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House—on an evening dinner cruise that includes a 3-course meal with food and wine sourced from New South Wales. Sailing at sunset means that you can admire Sydney Harbour when it's at its most photogenic, while a top deck provides you with panoramic views of the scenery.

Skip crowded harbor tours and enjoy a personalized and luxurious private cruise for up to six passengers—a peaceful way to soak in the sights without having to compete for space on deck. Cruise around Sydney Harbour to see landmarks like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, and take in the views while sipping a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine.

Cruise along the Tweed River to the rainforest on this half-day scenic boat trip with morning tea and lunch. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins as you start your trip upriver, passing by islands and sandbanks. Continue your journey through the Northern Rivers region up to Stotts Island Nature Reserve and enjoy incredible views of birds of prey and pelicans, along with an informative and entertaining commentary from your captain.

Enjoy a full day out exploring both the highlights of the Blue Mountains, the Featherdale Wildlife sanctuary, and finishing with a river cruise ending at the Opera House. Some of the sights you’ll see in the Blue Mountains are the Grand Canyon, The 3 Sisters, Echo Point, and Kootomba Falls (plus more). You’ll see koalas and kangaroos at the sanctuary, and the iconic boat ride to finish the day.

Nature lovers—this is the tour for you! Swap the hustle and bustle of Sydney for a day exploring the natural beauty outside the city. Avoid spending time stuck in traffic by going on a tour designed to miss peak hour traffic jams. A guided bushwalk is included, so you won’t have to worry about studying a map. See Wentworth Falls, and the Three Sisters rock formation. A highlight is an incredible sunset over the Blue Mountains—the ideal photo opportunity.

On this family-friendly tour of a 200-acre commercial fruit plantation you’ll learn how tropical fruits grow, how they’re harvested and planted, and, most importantly, how they taste. Enjoy a fully guided plantation safari, tasting show, wildlife-spotting cruise, fauna park, and Aussie bush tucker experience. Shop for more frit, juices, ice-creams, and other snacks at the on-site cafe.

Discover the breathtaking views and magnificent waterfalls of the Blue Mountains without the crowds by delaying your morning departure from Sydney. Spend the day on guided bushwalks through this UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscape, admiring the views from lookout spots. This tour is timed so you miss the worst of the Sydney traffic and linger at the Three Sisters around sunset, after the crowds have disappeared.

Located on the shoreline of Sydney Harbour, Sydney Taronga Zoo is home to thousands of fascinating animals, including Australian natives such as the koala, kangaroo, and platypus. Check the schedule for daily keeper presentations, or book an animal encounter or guided tour (own expense) for a more in-depth experience.

Enjoy an in-depth experience of Sydney Taronga Zoo on a guided tour with a zoo guide who introduces you to Australian native animals including koalas and kangaroos. Learn more than you could on your own. This small-group tour is limited to ten people and includes admission tickets to Taronga Zoo.

Indulge your inner foodie as you discover the fine wines and culinary delights of Australia’s famous Hunter Valley. Set out from Sydney on a full-day small-group trip, stopping to enjoy tours and tastings at the region’s most prestigious boutique wineries. Along the way, tuck into lunch at a local restaurant and sample regional cheeses and chocolates.

Cruise the ocean waters to look for humpback and southern right whales as they migrate between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Your whale-watching experience starts from Sydney Harbour and heads to the open ocean on a custom-built catamaran with large viewing windows and spacious decks that provide excellent sightlines. Often, dolphins, seabirds, and other marine animals make an appearance during the whale-watching tour, which lasts a couple of hours.

Experience the magic of sailing Sydney Harbour—without fighting the crowds on dry land—during a twilight cruise aboard a restored historic tall ship (traditional sailing vessel with rigging). See the city from a new perspective as it lights up for the evening, and sail past must-see landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. While onboard, enjoy an included dinner—saving you from finding a restaurant after the cruise ends.

Uncover the secrets of Sydney’s heritage as you explore The Rocks on this guided walking tour of the historic precinct. Offering amazing views over the Sydney Harbour and the Campbells Cove Wharves, your guide will lead you along shady laneways and cobbled courtyards where you’ll discover some of Sydney’s earliest buildings, including Cadman’s Cottage, built in 1816 and the Garrison Church, which dates back to the 1840s.

Discover the joy of coming face to face with majestic humpback whales while cruising across the ocean on a sailing boat on this fun-filled tour from Sydney Harbour. Running between May and November, the annual whale migration is a sight to behold. This small-group sailing tour gives travelers the chance to cruise alongside these incredible creatures without noisy engines or megaphones, so you can enjoy an immersive and wild natural experience.

Discover the history of Sydney on a 2.5-hour walking tour and pub crawl in The Rocks. Your knowledgeable and entertaining guide takes you to four of Sydney's oldest pubs where you try a different glass of craft beer, cider, or wine in each venue. Learn about the early days of the British colony in Australia and hear the stories of these old-time pubs as you enjoy their rich atmosphere and tasty drinks.

Getting from Sydney to the Blue Mountains can be time-consuming if you’re relying on trains and local transport. This day tour connects the region’s highlights without wasting a second of your vacation time. Take in sweeping views of the Three Sisters and Jamison Valley, experience the rides at Scenic World, and see native wildlife at either Featherdale Wildlife Park or Sydney Zoo before returning with a relaxing cruise along the Parramatta River.

Many whale-watching tours head straight into open water, but this cruise begins in Sydney Harbour, where you can enjoy breakfast or a barbecue lunch (depending on the option selected). After your meal, sail past sights such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge en route to the Pacific Ocean, in search of migrating humpback and southern right whales. A naturalist guide provides live commentary along the way, and helps you spot marine life.

Understanding Sydney’s layered history can be difficult without local context, particularly in areas shaped by both Indigenous heritage and European colonies. This guided pub walking tour explores The Rocks, an area with deep cultural significance, through stories connected to its long-standing pubs. Walk between venues with a local guide, enjoy four included drinks, and learn how social gathering places reflected changing communities over time.

The world’s most beautiful harbour deserves the very best cruise to experience it. Choose from two spectacular options, the Harbour Experience aboard our premier sightseeing fleet or, enhance your cruise with the Premium Harbour Experience to enjoy a house beverage of your choice and a Cheese & Charcuterie board to share, as you cruise by the majestic Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison and other top sights on this 1.5 hour cruise. Listen to commentary straight from your smartphone, relax into your seat or choose to venture up to the upper open-air deck as you marvel at the beauty of Sydney Harbour.

Experience a close encounter with humpback whales—without having to leave the city—on this thrilling speedboat tour from Sydney. Hop on board the city’s fastest commercial ship and set off across Sydney Harbour, past landmarks such as Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Head out into the Tasman Sea, where you have the chance to spot whales swimming and playing in their natural habitat.

Get the most out of your day in the Hunter Valley by combining two of its features—wine and native Australian wildlife—in a single itinerary. With a guide in the lead and transportation all arranged in advance, learn about the famous wine-producing region and its animal inhabitants through stops at a local wildlife park and several boutique wineries. You can also sample cheese and indulge in a winery lunch (extra cost).

Enjoy a private full-day tour from Sydney to the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire the scenic Jamison Valley, Three Sisters rock formations, and have lunch in the quaint village of Leura (not included). Explore the rain forest at Scenic World, which features the Scenic Skyway and Scenic Railway rides (own expense). Admire towering waterfalls, forest-clad mountains, and sculptural rocks, and see native Australian animals at Featherdale Wildlife Park.