MEDIA INFORMATION | DESTINATION NSW ATE 2016

NATURE EXPERIENCES IN NEW SOUTH WALES As Australia’s most geographically diverse state, NSW offers a range of nature experiences from hiking through wilderness areas, snorkelling and diving, spotting Australian wildlife or leisurely touring.

NATURAL STATISTICS

The state is home to four natural World Heritage Areas – the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves of Australia; the Greater Blue Mountains Area; the Lord Howe Island Group and the Willandra Lakes Region with Mungo National Park at its heart.

Almost 10% of the state is covered by more than 860 national parks and reserves protecting more than 7 million hectares that feature landscapes as diverse as rainforests and rugged bush to coastal landscapes and outback deserts.

The NSW coastline is a remarkable 1,590km long, with 990km of beautiful sandy beaches. It’s no wonder that beach-goers and surfers love NSW beaches; there are about 890 ocean and bay beaches in the state. Sydney itself has almost 100 beaches (ocean and harbour), four of which feature on the National Surfing Reserve Register - Manly, North Narrabeen, Cronulla and Maroubra.

As a result, the diversity and abundance of native wildlife is outstanding and a big drawcard for visitors. NSW received more than 2.8 million international visitors who engaged in a nature-based activity during their trip to Australia, up by 9% on the year ending December 2014. They spent nearly 76.3 million nights in the state, up by 11% on the year ending December 2014.

Most popular nature-based activities included visiting the beach, national or state parks, botanical or other public gardens, wildlife parks, zoos or aquariums, bushwalking, farm visits, whale- and dolphin-watching cruises or outback trips.

TOP: THREE SISTERS - BLUE MOUNTAINS BOTTOM: DOLPHIN WATCH CRUISES JERVIS BAY

BEACH LIFE

Whether you enjoy a walk along the golden sands of Bondi Beach, a surf lesson at Manly, a coastal walk or a kayak, you’ll find the perfect beach to match your wish-list in Sydney.

Surfing is part of Sydney’s soul, so get into the groove on your holiday. Book in for surf lessons at Bondi with Let’s Go Surfing, with Manly Surf School or with Surf Skool at Freshwater Beach. For experienced board riders, Sydney’s world-famous breaks offer endless challenges, from Maroubra and Cronulla in the south to Palm Beach, Newport and Dee Why in the north.

Visitors might like to venture further afield and paddle to beaches that are accessible only by water. Go kayaking with Sydney Harbour Kayaks at Spit Bridge, or choose from one of the Natural Wanders harbour tours at Kayak Sydney, Milsons Point. You’ll have plenty of fun on a stand-up paddle board at Rose Bay with Oz Stand Up Paddle or at Manly Stand Up Paddle School; join a paddle board tour from Mosman or Watsons Bay with Sydney Scenic SUP. For a splash of extra adrenalin, take a kiteboarding lesson at Botany Bay with Kiteboarding Lessons.

For those who love to run or walk with a beach view, the Manly to Spit Scenic Walkway offers something slightly different from conventional tracks. Expect some stairs and rugged terrain to provide additional challenges, but you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Sydney Harbour and plenty of wildlife to spot along the way. The spectacular Bondi Beach to Coogee Coastal Walk is another very popular trail to run or walk; you can make it as long or as short as you want, stop for a swim, have lunch or just enjoy the panoramic ocean views along the way.

ULTIMATE BUSHWALKING DESTINATION

NSW has some of the greatest single and multi-day walks in the world. You can hike up Australia’s highest mountain, walk amongst ancient rainforests and along coastal tracks, and explore beautiful environment in any of the 38 national parks that make up the state’s World Heritage Areas.

There are walks to suit everyone. Backpackers will love the Light to Light Walk on the far South Coast spanning 30km of coastline while, in the Blue Mountains, the Kanangra Walls to Katoomba Walk is a challenging 45km-hike through stunning scenery. The Solitary Islands Coastal Walk is an easy four-day walk over 60km on the North Coast.

There are plenty of short walks too such as the White Sands Walk at Jervis Bay on the South Coast where you’ll wander past secluded beaches along the whitest sands in the world. The

dramatic Breadknife and Grand High Tops Walk in Warrumbungle National Park is regarded as one of the state’s best day walks because of its rugged volcanic landscape; the hike to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko is equally rewarding, with awe-inspiring views from the summit.

Lord Howe Island is a nature lover’s paradise where, at any one time, you’ll be one of only 400 visitors on this stunning World Heritage-listed island. While the trek to the summit of Mt Gower is recognised as one of the world’s best one-day hikes, there are plenty of other stunning walking trails that are less challenging but very rewarding.

MEET AUSTRALIA’S ANIMALS

Introduce yourself to animals from around the globe at Taronga Zoo Sydney, which has a glimmering harbour backdrop; it’s the zoo with a view. Featherdale Wildlife Park, a 40-minute drive from the city centre, features more than 2,200 animals from over 300 species including little penguins and a 4.5m saltwater crocodile. You can have your photo taken cuddling a koala or hand feeding kangaroos.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary are harbourside locations where you can admire beautiful sea creatures at close quarters without getting wet. WILD LIFE Sydney is located next to the aquarium at Darling Harbour. There’s always plenty going on here with keeper talks, daily feeding sessions, meeting koalas and other native Australian animals in their habitats.

THE GARDEN CITY

In the heart of the city, the harbour foreshore and gardens will entice you to enjoy the ‘great outdoors’. The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, this year celebrating its bicentenary, is the ideal place for a walk or run, with gentle, paved paths overlooking the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. A jog over the bridge itself is fun, while paths at the city end of the bridge wind their way through the historic streets of The Rocks, Walsh Bay and Darling Harbour.

Just 10km from the city centre, Centennial Park offers plenty of quiet tracks to explore on foot, by bike or on horseback. Running on the inside track is a welcome break for legs used to hard surfaces. In Western Sydney, Sydney Olympic Park has more than 35km of paths and cycle ways leading through wetlands, along the river and through expanses of native grassland. It’s easy to get to from the city by train, bus or ferry.

LETS GO SURFING - BONDI MANLY BEACH

ELLENBOROUGH FALLS - NORTH COAST. IMAGE: THE LEGENDARY PACIFIC COAST

SEE DOLPHINS AND WHALES IN THE WILD

If you’ve always wanted to see dolphins and whales in the wild, NSW is your dream destination. And whether it’s on a special dolphin- or whale-watching cruise or from the shore, the NSW coastline is packed with opportunities to see them in all their splendour.

Popular vantage points around Sydney include Cape Solander in Botany Bay National Park; along the spectacular 6km Bondi to Coogee coastal walk; North Head Lookout in Manly, and Barrenjoey Lighthouse at Palm Beach. Whale Watching Sydney offers a range of tours departing from Darling Harbour, Circular Quay and San Souci; depart from Manly with Manly Whale Watching or choose from an extensive timetable with Fantasea and Captain Cook Cruises.

On the South Coast, Dolphin Watch Cruises operates a daily dolphin cruise and whale-watch cruises (between May and November) from Huskisson in Jervis Bay. Their 17-metre catamaran has a hydrophone and five viewing platforms. Eden’s Twofold Bay is one of the few places where you can see humpbacks lunge feeding on nutrient-rich krill; the 16-metre Cat Balou was purpose-built for the task.

On the North Coast, Moonshadow Cruises and Tamboi Queen Cruises based in Port Stephens offer numerous daily options for cruising with whales and the bay’s resident dolphins. Go Sea Kayak offers daily sea kayak tours from Byron Bay - if you don’t see a whale, dolphin or sea turtle on the trip you can go again for free. Whale Watching Byron Bay operates several cruises daily between June and November.

NATURE GETAWAYS

With pristine landscapes, mountain ranges and long stretches of coastline, it’s no surprise that the Blue Mountains and the North and South coasts are among the most popular nature getaways in NSW. And the best way to unlock their secrets is on a touring route.

The Blue Mountains National Park is at the centre of a World Heritage landscape of massive cliffs, deep rainforest gullies and sandstone canyons that glisten with waterfalls. Enjoy a drive along the loops and trails that make up the 1,200-km Greater Blue

Mountains Drive, take a guided tour of Jenolan Caves or visit the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah to see one of the world’s oldest and rarest plants, the Wollemi Pine.

The journey north from Sydney along The Legendary Pacific Coast is the best way to discover the amazing landscapes of the North Coast, an almost continuous line of surf beaches, national parks and a hinterland of rolling green hills and valleys. Along the way, visit wineries and waterfalls, sample organic produce at village markets and join a whale- or dolphin-watching cruise. Surfing beaches at Byron Bay and Ballina are some of the best in Australia.

The Sydney Melbourne Coastal Drive is a meandering coastal route that passes by more than 30 national parks, marine parks and reserves as well as beaches and lush green countryside. Stunning natural attractions abound with highlights being Jervis Bay’s white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, Montague Island’s fur seal colonies, and whale-watching cruises departing from Eden.

Alternatively, go touring from Sydney to the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley or Southern Highlands with Boutique Tours Australia, Mount’n Beach Safaris, Beautiful Tours Australia and Blue Diamond Tours.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONsydney.com, visitnsw.com

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PR CONTACT Allison Lee Director, Media & Public Relations Destination NSW +61 (0) 2 9931 1318 +61 (0) 437 490 187 allison.lee@dnsw.com.au

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