Captain James Cook first landed in Australia in what is now New South Wales (NSW), and this is where the first permanent European settlement was established. Today it is Australia's most populous state ( 6.4 million ) and has the country's largest city ( 4.2 million ), Sydney. Those expecting NSW to be little more than Sydney's outskirts are in for a real surprise.

The Blue Mountains, the beautiful south coast towards Jervis Bay and the north coast towards Forster envelope a natural beauty that is hard to surpass anywhere in the world.

Sydney, though, is a good place to start your exploration of NSW with its opera house and its harbour and bridge. It was at Sydney Cove, where today the ferries run from Circular Quay, that the first European settlement was established in 1788. Not surprisingly, Sydney has an air of history that is missing from many other Australian towns and cities. This doesn't stop Sydney from being far more brash and lively than many of its younger counterparts though.

If Sydney's adventurous spirit doesn't suit you, the serene natural beauty of the Blue Mountains is only 2 hours by car or train to the west.

Scuba Divers have several options in these temperate waters, Jervis Bay to the south and Forster to the north offer some spectacular diving (shark-spotting divers will love it) and peaceful beach and country holidaymaking. Diving is offered there by several local dive shops.

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Sydney | Blue Mountains | Central Coast | Taree | Hunter Valley