Energising Nature-Based Escapes

The most memorable holidays are those that leave you feeling refreshed and inspired long after you’ve left. Whether you crave crisp mountain air, starry night skies, or the long-lasting calm following an ocean dip, here are 13 experiences across Sydney and NSW that will reconnect you with nature and make you feel new again.
1. Be moved by sacred places
Aboriginal culture pulses across the land in NSW. It stirs your spirit as you walk the sacred Bingi Dreaming track on the NSW South Coast; climb Mount Gulaga with your Yuin cultural guide in Tilba, sand-board down Worimi’s towering dunes in Port Stephens and as you enjoy bush-tucker and crabbing tours of the Tweed.
2. Connect with friendly creatures
NSW’s animals are as welcoming as its locals. Be energised by an enriching new bond as you swim with wild whales in Jervis Bay, seals around Montague Island and dolphins in Port Stephens; and befriend koalas in Port Macquarie, Gunnedah and Narrandera.
3. Be humbled by the bigger picture
There’s freedom in knowing how significant you are – and stargazing across NSW makes you feel tiny and fills you with big awe. Go bush for the gigantic skies of Australia’s first Dark Sky Park in the Warrumbungles, or visit observatories at Werrington, Parkes and Campbelltown.
4. Feel new in the big blue
Sprout fresh green shoots in the Blue Mountains, where you can renew your sense of adventure with canyoning and climbing, recharge in World Heritage serenity at Spicers Sangoma and the Wolgan Valley, and heal yourself with Japanese spa treatments.
5. Be charmed by farm life
Get off the grid and experience next-level satisfaction as you learn new skills during an enriching stay at a working farm, such as Callubri Station in the heart of Outback NSW. Or, closer to Sydney, treat the kids to an unforgettable Hawkesbury Farmstay.
6. Stand on top of the world
Climb to the roof of Australia to savour a new feeling of accomplishment. Feel the magic in the air as earth awakens below you during a sunrise yoga session on Mount Kosciuszko, and set your adventurous spirit free on a winter ski trip.
7. Retreat to the Shoalhaven
Follow the Grand Pacific Drive across the Sea Cliff Bridge for a revitalising experience in the Shoalhaven’s wild heart. Relax in peace at the newly-opened Jackson Ranch, where your cabin is steps away from serene Lake Willinga and a rainforest walk soothes the soul.
8. Slip off the grid
With ancient Gondwana rainforests that have existed since before Australia was even a continent, the Barrington Coast’s big nature offers the ultimate rejuvenation. Glamp in the wilderness and feel the spirit of regeneration at the Pulse of the Earth festival in spring.
5. Be charmed by farm life
Get off the grid and experience next-level satisfaction as you learn new skills during an enriching stay at a working farm, such as Callubri Station in the heart of Outback NSW. Or, closer to Sydney, treat the kids to an unforgettable Hawkesbury Farmstay.
6. Stand on top of the world
Climb to the roof of Australia to savour a new feeling of accomplishment. Feel the magic in the air as earth awakens below you during a sunrise yoga session on Mount Kosciuszko, and set your adventurous spirit free on a winter ski trip.
7. Retreat to the Shoalhaven
Follow the Grand Pacific Drive across the Sea Cliff Bridge for a revitalising experience in the Shoalhaven’s wild heart. Relax in peace at the newly-opened Jackson Ranch, where your cabin is steps away from serene Lake Willinga and a rainforest walk soothes the soul.
8. Slip off the grid
With ancient Gondwana rainforests that have existed since before Australia was even a continent, the Barrington Coast’s big nature offers the ultimate rejuvenation. Glamp in the wilderness and feel the spirit of regeneration at the Pulse of the Earth festival in spring.
9. Relax with a new kind of streaming
Be revitalised by southern rivers. Paddle your kayak on the Kangaroo River, explore Wombeyan Caves on the banks of the Wollondilly, forest-bathe alongside soothing waters at Minnamurra and be energised as the Yarrunga’s mighty flow tumbles over Fitzroy Falls.
10. Find bush solitude in the city
Sydney’s garnished with wild playgrounds. Reconnect with nature in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, where scenic bush trails guide you to ancient Aboriginal rock art. Or, paddle on Lake Parramatta and take a hike in Lane Cove National Park to feel instantly energised.
11. Be wowed by Wagga Wagga
Feel connected to the Riverina’s landscapes around Wagga Wagga. Spend the night in an eco-hut at Kimo Estate with epic Murrumbidgee views, and explore Wiradjuri Country on an Aboriginal cultural tour or a road-trip along the Mighty Murray River Drive.
12. Be awed by unique landscapes
Feel connected to something bigger than us as you explore Mungo’s otherworldly moonscapes, ancient forests of the Rainforest Way, rainbow-draped cascades along the Waterfall Way and the spectacular, painterly desertscapes of Mutawintji.
13. Soak up the serenity
Feel your worries float away in more than 100 idyllic ocean pools along the coast, make a glamorous splash at Sydney’s highest pool at Crown Sydney and Bondi Icebergs, and immerse yourself in Yarrangobilly and Moree’s thermal pools to feel revitalised inside and out.