A ranked list and every destination’s best bookable experiences, from the Opera House to the Snowy Mountains.
Sydney has by far the widest choice of tours in New South Wales, and many of the best days out in the rest of the state are day trips from the city: the Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens and Jervis Bay.
Elsewhere, coverage varies. Newcastle, the Snowy Mountains outside ski season and especially Broken Hill have very few products, and we say so on their pages. We do not print prices here, because they change. Every link shows the live price.
If you only book a few things, start here.
#1 · Guided tour A guided walk through the building’s foyers and, when they are free, its main performance halls, with the story of how it was designed and built.
The most famous building in Australia, far better from the inside.
#2 · Day trip A day out that combines a ride on the heritage Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow with the Three Sisters and Scenic World. Check the listing for the days the railway runs.
The classic Blue Mountains day, with a heritage railway on the way.
#3 · Day trip A day trip from Sydney with tastings at wineries, a gin distillery and stops for cheese and chocolate.
Wine, cheese and chocolate without anyone having to drive.
#4 · Day trip A full day from Sydney with a dolphin cruise on the bay and time at the white beaches, with stops on the way.
White sand and wild dolphins in one long day from Sydney.
#5 · Day trip A full day from Sydney with a dolphin cruise on the bay and sandboarding on the dunes.
Dunes and dolphins, the two reasons to go to Port Stephens.
#6 · Climb Clip on and climb the outer arch of the bridge to the summit, high above the harbour, with a guide and the safety gear supplied. Check the listing for age and health requirements.
The view from the top of the bridge is unforgettable.
#7 · Kayaking A guided paddle from the beach around the bay, looking for dolphins and sea turtles, with a swim stop when conditions allow.
The best way to meet Byron Bay’s dolphins and turtles.
#8 · Day trip A very long day from Sydney to the snow at Thredbo, with transport included. Check the listing for lift tickets and hire.
A real day in the snow from Sydney, transport sorted.
#9 · Day trip A guided day up the escarpment to Dorrigo’s rainforest, with the Skywalk and walks to waterfalls.
World Heritage rainforest that is hard to reach without a car.
#10 · Wine tour A winery tour around Orange with tastings and a five-course lunch at a winery restaurant.
A long lunch in cool-climate wine country.
Prices and availability change with season and currency: each link shows the live price on GetYourGuide.
Options that cover more than one place, or a lot of Sydney in one go.
Day trip A dolphin-watching cruise and time on the Stockton Bight sand dunes in one day. Check the listing for the departure point and what is included.
Sightseeing pass Open-top bus loops around the city and out to Bondi, with an optional harbour cruise. A simple way to get your bearings on a first day.
Jump to any destination below.
Guided tour A guided walk through the building’s foyers and, when they are free, its main performance halls, with the story of how it was designed and built.
Climb Clip on and climb the outer arch of the bridge to the summit, high above the harbour, with a guide and the safety gear supplied. Check the listing for age and health requirements.
Sightseeing A small-group drive from the harbour to Bondi, taking in the main city sights and lookouts with a guide. A good first-morning overview.
Entry ticket Zoo entry with the ferry from Circular Quay and back, so you arrive by water. Allow most of a day for the zoo.
Day trip A day out that combines a ride on the heritage Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow with the Three Sisters and Scenic World. Check the listing for the days the railway runs.
Day trip Breakfast among kangaroos, then Scenic World, waterfalls and lookouts, with a chance to see koalas at a wildlife park.
Day trip A day trip from Sydney that takes in the Three Sisters, Scenic World and time in the village of Leura.
Small group A small-group day, capped at about ten people, with the Scenic World rides and a wildlife stop.
Day trip A day trip from Sydney with tastings at wineries, a gin distillery and stops for cheese and chocolate.
Day trip A guided day from Sydney with tastings and a look behind the scenes at a winery. Check the listing for lunch options.
Day trip Tastings at several wineries with a two-course lunch and a chocolate stop.
Day trip A day that mixes craft beer with wine tasting, for groups who want both.
Day trip A full day from Sydney with a dolphin cruise on the bay and sandboarding on the dunes.
Cruise A cruise from Nelson Bay to find the bay’s dolphins; in the warmer months you can ride in a boom net trailing behind the boat.
Adventure A guided quad bike ride across the Stockton Bight dunes in the Worimi Conservation Lands. Check age and licence requirements.
Browse Whale-watching cruises, kayaking, snorkelling and more departures from Nelson Bay, with live availability.
Private tour A private full-day tour of the Central Coast, with beaches, lookouts and wildlife. Check the listing for the stops included.
Day trip A day out from Sydney that combines the coast with a visit to a wildlife sanctuary to see Australian animals.
Scenic flight A scenic flight over the beaches, lakes and headlands of the Central Coast, departing near The Entrance.
Browse Tickets and tours that include the Australian Reptile Park near Gosford, with live availability.
Cruise A cruise from Newcastle Harbour out to sea to look for humpback whales during the migration season.
Browse All boat trips from Newcastle on GetYourGuide, with live availability.
Browse Guided walks and tours in and around the city, with live availability.
Browse Things to do on Lake Macquarie, the large coastal lake just south of Newcastle.
Kayaking A guided paddle from the beach around the bay, looking for dolphins and sea turtles, with a swim stop when conditions allow.
Kayaking A guided sea kayak trip in the waters off the cape, where pods of dolphins are often seen.
Browse All kayaking and canoeing trips in Byron Bay on GetYourGuide, with live availability.
Browse Guided tours in and around Byron Bay and the hinterland, with live availability.
Day trip A guided day up the escarpment to Dorrigo’s rainforest, with the Skywalk and walks to waterfalls.
Day trip A day exploring the rainforests and waterfalls of the hinterland. Check the listing for the stops.
Kayaking A guided kayak trip in the marine park with a marine scientist explaining the wildlife and the reef.
Browse Boat trips from Coffs Harbour, including whale watching in season, with live availability.
Day trip A full day from Sydney with a dolphin cruise on the bay and time at the white beaches, with stops on the way.
Cruise A cruise from Huskisson around the bay to look for its resident bottlenose dolphins.
Cruise A dolphin-watching cruise with the chance to ride in a boom net behind the boat in the warmer months.
Cruise A cruise out towards the heads to look for humpback whales during the migration season.
Day trip A very long day from Sydney to the snow at Thredbo, with transport included. Check the listing for lift tickets and hire.
Day trip A snow day at Thredbo with transport, listed under Canberra departures. Check the pick-up points.
Browse Activities and tours based in Jindabyne, with live availability.
Browse All products in Kosciuszko National Park on GetYourGuide, with live availability.
Browse GetYourGuide’s state-wide listing, which includes any tours that appear for the far west. Coverage of Broken Hill is currently very thin.
Wine tour A winery tour around Orange with tastings and a five-course lunch at a winery restaurant.
Tasting A seated tasting at a family-owned winery in Orange’s cool-climate hills.
Winery tour A tour of the vineyard and winery with an insight into cool-climate winemaking, followed by a tasting.
Browse Tours and activities around Mudgee on GetYourGuide, with live availability.
Live prices and dates straight from GetYourGuide.
Harbour cruises, guided walks and day trips from Sydney take the logistics off your hands. Compare tours and tickets across New South Wales and book in a couple of taps.
For the Harbour Bridge climb, Opera House tours, Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley day trips in summer and school holidays, yes. Elsewhere you can usually book a day or two before.
The Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Jervis Bay and the Central Coast are the most popular, with tours that include pick-up in the city.
In Sydney and the Blue Mountains, not really: public transport works well. Tours make the most sense for wine regions, where nobody has to drive, and for places that are hard to reach by public transport.
Many GetYourGuide products offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, but check each listing.