- Where are we going? – Sydney – The Blue Mountains – Kangaroo Valley – Canberra – Jervis Bay -Wollongong- Sydney)
- Time: One week
- Distance: around 850 Kilometers
The Sydney Road Trip
This ultimate Sydney road trip is a great little break away from Sydney with lots of different stop-offs to enjoy.
There will be a mix of nature, wildlife, history, relaxation, and 850 kilometers of Australia road-tripping. Altogether you should allow yourself a full week to complete the lap.
If you don’t have the time to go for a week, then you can visit all of these sites on a Sydney day trip.
Sydney Road Trip: The Blue Mountains
Located only an hour and a half away from Sydney and very easily accessible. Our first stop on our Sydney road trip is – The Blue Mountains, a MUST-SEE for Australians and tourists alike!!
We had heard about this tourist attraction numerous times before but never took it that seriously – We couldn’t have been more wrong! The Blue Mountains could be one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the world!
Things to Do in the Blue Mountains
This place literarily had us both saying WOW on arrival! Australia’s own Grand Canyon is truly a sight to behold!
In fact, when Charles Darwin visited the area in 1836, he described it as “Exceedingly well worth visiting”. Nearly 200 years later and he is still spot on!
The Three Sisters – Walking out to the main and large viewpoint at over 900 meters high you will be greeted by the famous landmark with a surreal amount of vastness in the background. It is at this moment that you place your hand underneath your chin to close your mouth! Simply jaw-dropping.
Evans Lookout – But that’s not all, there is still so much more to see in this gigantic place! Make sure you have explored the many choices to drive/hike the different viewpoints and waterfalls around “The Three Sisters” before making your way to our personal favourite – Evans Lookout.
This lookout may not get all the headlines, but it could arguably be the best view in all of The Blue Mountains!
Located only a short 20-minute drive away by car. Here you will find a spectacular view of the Grose River Valley, with sandstone cliffs rising vertically up from the forests hundreds of meters below you and a waterfall crashing down as well!
Echo Point – A very popular spot to take in the views any time of the day. but the best time to come here is at sunrise. From Echo Point, you can see the sunrise behind The Three Sisters whilst overlooking Jamison Valley. Perhaps the most beautiful spot to watch the sunrise when in the Blue Mountains on your Sydney road trip,
We would recommend exploring the Blue Mountain area over a two-day period. Especially if you are planning one of the many hikes that are available. In fact, The Blue Mountains have the longest walking trails in Australia with over 250 kilometers of tracks. You won’t walk all of these in your 2-day stay!
Blue Mountains Weather
The best time to visit Sydney is from September to November and February to May when the weather is pleasant and the tourist crowd is not at its peak. However, June to August is considered to be the cheapest time to visit Sydney due to the city’s winter season.
Regarding a trip to the Blue Mountains, take into consideration that in the winter months, certain parts of the parks may be closed due to landslides. Some parts may even have snow, so bring your warm gear. You can check for any weather updates here.
Blue Mountains Accommodation
Blue Mountains Australia is proud to present the most comprehensive accommodation guide to Australia’s most spectacular destination. With literally hundreds of accommodation venues in the Blue Mountains, this site allows you to easily select the accommodation style and location you are seeking.
Accommodations range from luxury to budget, from groups, families to couples, and romantic retreats. Of course, you can’t forget the four-legged family members with pet-friendly choices and of course the various campsite options.
Sydney Road Trip: Kangaroo Valley – The Name May be Misleading!
At the next stop on our Sydney road trip, we are viewing one of Australia’s famous animals. Yes, I understand that you are expecting kangaroos in a valley as the name suggests, and they will be here also.
However, we are here to see some wild wombats! Getting to Kangaroo Valley will take around 2 hours by car from The Blue Mountains and roughly the same on a Sydney day trip.
Make your way to Bendeela Camping Reserve, this may as well be a free sightseeing activity as it only costs $6 per night as of 2022.
Driving into the Kangaroo Valley area is a scenic drive, take your time exploring the area as the magic doesn’t happen till around sunset. It is around this time that the wombats will be leaving their burrows to start their feeding right through the night of the grasses on the very large campground.
We saw around 30 different of these cute yet not-so-small animals on our one-night stay, and of course you will see some kangaroos as well!
These are shy and beautiful creatures who should always be respected – Do not scare the animals!
Kangaroo Valley Accommodation
If camping is not your thing:
Kangaroo Valley Things to Do
Other than the main wombat attraction there are still plenty of things to do in Kangaroo Valley.
Activities such as wild swimming at Flat Rock Falls, exploring Kangaroo River by kayak, sightseeing at Fitz Roy Waterfall (only a 5-minute walk from the carpark!), or sampling some wines at Yarrawa Estate.
Make sure to stay updated on what may be going on during your time of visit. To find out click here.
Sydney Road Trip: Canberra – Australia’s Capital
We don’t think too many people put Canberra on their to-see list. This is a shame as it is the country’s capital and definitely worth a visit, even if it is for one day on a Sydney day trip.
The government of Australia is based in this city, it is here where these overpaid numbties decide the future of Australia.
The main attractions in Canberra are some of Australia’s iconic government buildings and museums related to Australia’s history and culture.
Beware of speed vans in the area – so we heard…….
Canberra Things to Do
Our favourite sight of the day was the “Australian War Memorial”. This is a must-visit for every Australian no matter what age. It is a place where you will learn a lot about history, sadness, pride, and extreme hardship.
Make sure to book in advance or else you could be waiting a while to get in, entry is free!!
There is a daily Last Post Ceremony that starts at 16.45, entry starts at around 16.15. If you wish to attend, then this must also be booked in advance and again is free of charge.
The National Museum of Australia is also based here. Inside there are lots of varieties of exhibits to see, from Australia’s aboriginal history and culture to the European explorers.
General admission is once again Free!! Additional costs apply to certain exhibitions and events.
Canberra Accommodation
From luxury stays and self-contained apartments to hostels and campsites, there’s always a great place to stay near your favourite Canberra attractions.
Check out booking.com and choose between heritage-listed hotels, and eco stays, as well as major chains, caravan parks, and charming B&Bs.
Sydney Road Trip: Jervis Bay – The Whitest Sand in the World!
After a couple of days on our Sydney road trip of hiking, driving, and learning it is time to chill at the beach for a while.
Jervis Bay isn’t any ordinary Beach; it is said to have the whitest sand in the world. Combine that with turquoise waters and you have got yourself a good spot to relax for a few days!
There are many activities you can do here. Fishing swimming, hiking, and snorkeling, or simply doing nothing and embracing the surroundings.
There is an entrance fee for this National Park which will cost $13 per vehicle. If you are staying for a couple of nights in the park, then this entree fee is included with your camping fees.
Although the entire bay and park is called Jervis Bay, for the best scenery stay in the actual ground location on the southern side named Jervis Bay as well.
Sydney Road Trip: The Grand Pacific Drive
The last part of this itinerary is a classic Australia road trip which can be done as a Sydney day trip any time. Leaving Jervis Bay to Sydney will take about 3 hours and is 200 kilometers. The good news is that it is one of the world’s best scenic coastal drives.
You can stop off at many beaches, lookouts, and towns such as Wollongong along the way, or put on some good tunes and just cruise the road enjoying the views from the comfort of your car. The highlight of this trip that is a must-stop is – The Sea Cliff Bridge.
If you’re lucky and it is between the months of May and November then you have a great chance of seeing some whales playing in the sea.
More than 40,000 humpback and southern right whales make their way along the New South Wales coastline that time of year in their annual migration from Antarctica to the warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, you will come across excellent vantage points where you can see these giants of the deep splashing in the water.
Do You Have a Car?
Unless you have your own transport you are going to need to hire a car to discover these sites on your Sydney road trip. It is possible to take tours to certain places like Jervis Bay, but your own transport allows you that freedom to go at your own pace and stop anywhere, anytime you want.
If you have flown into Sydney then you can pick up a rental there. There are a few different types of rental at different budgets.
Below are the main two we would recommend. Cars and vans can be booked out more than 6 months in advance depending on the time of year. So do not wait till the last minute to avoid disappointment!
- Discovercars – This is the best website to compare all car rental companies and score the best deal for you. There are all sorts of vehicles available, from small-budget cars to large family saloons, or perhaps even a 4×4.
- Spaceship Vans – Are you a backpacker or a budget traveler? No problem, then this is the one for you! There are great deals available on Spaceship Vans. We used it for four weeks in New Zealand and had no issues, highly recommended by us! Another bonus is that they have depots in Airlie Beach and Brisbane to drop the vehicle off once your trip is completed.
The best deals are in the winter months, just make sure to bring warm clothing with you. Hiring a van can also score you a great deal. Vans come fully equipped and you don’t have to spend money on any accommodation.
Don’t forget insurance!
Get A Free Quote – World Nomads Travel Insurance
Enjoy Your Ultimate Sydney Road Trip!
We hope you have your road trip play list made and ready to go because you are in for one epic Australia road trip.
Although lesser known than the famous East Coast road trip this Sydney road trip is still an incredible choice, ticking the boxes of wildlife, history, landmarks and nature and all easily accessible from Sydney.
For more information check out our articles about itineraries around all of Australia such as Cairns to Brisbane.
Why not leave a comment to let us know how you get on? We would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to leave us a message below or contact us through our socials.
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