Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure or out-of-the-ordinary experiences, there’s Easter holiday adventure fun to be had in every corner of New South Wales. We explore nine NSW adventures for the Easter holidays.
1. Get into the great outdoors
Just a 30-minute drive north of central Sydney, Manly serves up rolling surf, underwater wonders and bush trails. Combine adrenaline-pumping activities with the area’s stunning natural surroundings: go snorkelling or stand-up paddle boarding with EcoTreasures; learn to ride the waves with Manly Surf School; or take on the tracks and fire trails in national parkland on two wheels with Joe’s Mountain Bike Tours.
2. Take a cultural tour
Join Guringai Aboriginal Tours to explore the cultural significance of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, a 40-minute drive north of central Sydney. Focused on helping you gain an in-depth understanding of Australia’s indigenous history, this Aboriginal-owned tour company leads you past significant sites to a cave with ancient engravings, where you’ll learn how Aboriginal people used the site as a classroom and cared for the surrounding environment.
3. Ride on the sand dunes
Port Stephens, a 2.5-hour drive north of Sydney, is a natural adventure playground. Here you can go dolphin spotting or kayak up the Myall River. Or take a 4WD tours and sandboard on the Stockton Sand Dunes, the largest shifting sand dunes in the southern hemisphere. For a memorable family experience, cruise around the dunes on camelback with Oakfield Ranch.
4. Meet the makers
If you’re heading further north, put Hosanna Farmstay on your must-stay list. Set in the Tweed hinterland, an eight-hour drive from Sydney, this beautiful property gives kids an understanding of where their food comes from, and little ones can have hands-on fun collecting eggs and milking cows. Bring your campervan or tent, or stay in a cabin, hut or in the homestead.
Bring your campervan or tent, or stay in a cabin, hut or in the homestead.
At Hosanna Farmstay
Book in a farm tour, have a swim in the dam, walk one of the trails or relax in the wood-fired sauna.
5. Settle into station life
Give the kids a taste of rural outback life at Corynnia Station, a working sheep property around three hours by car from Wagga Wagga, in the Riverina region of southwest NSW. Cycle through the property and spot kangaroos alongside pet sheep and chickens. There’s even a pool to cool off in after a round of tennis, boules or croquet. Book ahead for farm tours and factor in time to visit the nearby Altina Wildlife Park, where you can ogle a menagerie of animals from a horse-drawn cart.
6. Go on safari
A five-hour drive northwest of Sydney brings you to Dubbo and the renowned Taronga Western Plains Zoo. See the zoo from a different perspective in an open-air cart, which seats six people and allows you to whiz around and disembark at whim to get a closer look at the animals. If it’s a warm day the kids can cool off under water jets at The Waterhole — this new precinct also features an outdoor café and animal habitats.
7. Build a bobsled team
The alpine resort of Thredbo, around a five-hour drive southwest of Sydney, is open every day of the year. You may be accustomed to seeing the stunning Snowy Mountains village topped with snow, but it’s just as fun during the warmer months. Here you can tackle the 700-metre Alpine Bobsled track, which twists and turns down the mountain. To ride solo, kids must be nine or older and 130cm tall, and smaller family members can ride with an adult.
8. Camp in a national park
A six-hour drive south of Sydney, near Bega on the Sapphire Coast, the South East Forests National Park is home to a beautiful rainforest that makes it easy to replace screen time with serene time. Immerse yourselves in the gem-like green hues of the old-growth canopy above while looking out for koalas, swamp wallabies and bandicoots. Go for the day or book a stay at one of the park’s campgrounds, such as Waratah Gully or Nunnock.
9. Climb in the treetops
Merimbula, set on the edge of a beautiful bay and lakes 20 minutes south of Bega, is home to Magic Mountain Amusement Park.
Sign up for the Tree Climb Challenge and put your tree-scrambling skills to the test.
Magic Mountain Amusement Park
Put the family’s tree-scrambling skills to the test by signing up for the Tree Climb Challenge (for ages eight and up, with a height minimum of 120cm).
There are three courses and more than 30 challenges to choose from, and the scenic outlook over the Merimbula peninsula is an added bonus.
We’ve given you nine NSW adventures for the Easter holidays, now its up to you to Venture, Explore and Conquer.
Image Credits: Destination NSW
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