The oldest state in Australia has quite a lot to offer from a visitor’s perspective. From bustling cities to the beauty of the local flora and fauna, there are a few places of interest that should be high on the list of any tourist who decides to come to New South Wales as part of their travel plans. There are reasons to include all of these places over other less important ones, so be sure to include at least a couple of them in your itinerary:

Sydney – The capital of New South Wales and the largest city in Australia by population, Sydney is a world renowned city for its beauty and high standard of living. Its most recognizable landmarks are no doubt the majestic Sydney Opera House and accompanying Harbour Bridge, both of which draw thousands of tourists on their own during each and every month of the year. Taking a ferry around the waterfront is something that every tourist should do in order to appreciate Sydney’s true beauty. On top of this all, there are even more attractions scattered throughout the city to make Sydney day trips unforgettable experiences for anyone.

Blue Mountains – Located close to the suburbs of Sydney, is it really no surprise to see this mountainous region as being one of the favourite travel destinations of Sydney residents. Even tourists who have come from afar can enjoy the national park, with the gorges, valleys and rock formations offering good challenges for hikers and mountain bikers. Those interested in animals will find plenty of species endemic to Australia, such as koalas and potoroos, although most of them are hard to spot during the day time. The closeness to Sydney makes any Blue Mountains one day trip a worthwhile addition to your travel itinerary.

Coffs Harbour – Located on the north coast of New South Wales is Coffs Harbour, a tourist destination popular for its “Big Banana” theme park, which is a homage to the local banana industry. While kids and people with big families will have their hands full with the theme park, others may want to relax on the relatively quiet beaches or try their hand at surfing and kayaking. There is also the Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve and Dorrigo National Park nearby, with the latter one being considered as a World Heritage Site.

Norfolk Island – Norfolk Island used to be inhabited by Polynesians, then it slowly became a convict colony a few centuries ago. Now it is home to one of the best holiday resorts in all of Australia. One-third of the island is still home to national parks and suggestive hiking trails, with the remainder being occupied by ruins and ancient structures build by the Polynesians that used to settle here long ago, well before European explorers even came to Australia.