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New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is Australias most populated state with over 6.2 million inhabitants. The state houses the countries largest and arguably the countries most well known city; Sydney, home to Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

Sydney is the place where over 4.50 million Australians call home. The state's area totals 802,000 square kilometres. New South Wales has wonderful scenery incorporating western plains, mountains and coastal views. It is divided into four regions.

Hunter ValleyThe coastal region running from Queensland to Victoria is the home to many beaches, coastal lakes and National Parks. The Great Dividing range runs parallel to this, hosting the Blue Mountains, the Snowy Mountains, the wineries of the Hunter Valley and the New England Tablelands. This then leads into the farming land and dry western slopes, which in total occupies two thirds of the whole state.

Three SistersThese regions are also divided. There are 5 different regions along the coast. These include the South Coast which starts at the Victoria and New South Wales border and heads north to Sydney, the Central Coast which starts at Sydney and heads north as far as Newcastle where it then changes to the Lower North Coast up until Port Macquarie.

From here begins running from the Mid North Coast from Port Macquarie until Grafton, and finally the Far North Coast to Tweed Heads at the New South Wales and Queensland border.

There are also the inland regions including the South West, Central West, North West and Outback stretching to south Queensland and east South Australia, as well as New England and the Snowy Mountains. Both Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island are also part of New South Wales.

Nelson BayThere are two main highways leaving the lively city of Sydney. The Pacific Highway leads north to many magnificent beaches and pretty coastal towns. Heading north from Sydney you will come across the beautiful Port Stephens, which is less than a two and a half hour drive away from Sydney, great for dolphin watching, fishing and exploring the Hunter.

Nelson BayNelson Bay is a real jewel in the crown of Port Stephens. The bay offers something for everyone, particularly those who enjoy fishing, surfing, and dolphin watching. The journey takes around 2 and a half hours from Sydney and is roughly 65 kilometres North of Newcastle.

The Princes Highway leads south towards the quieter coastal regions. There are also two main rivers; the Murray and the Darling. The climate is generally hotter the further north, dryer the further west and colder the further south. This makes it ideal for surfing, skiing, and bushwalking.

A Little History

EndeavourThe state is packed with history, mostly concerned with the gold rush, although just as significant was the brutality of the penal settlement. New South Wales is also the original landing of Captain Cook.

The first European settlement was built in 1788 at the Sydney Harbour where Captain Arthur Phillip arrived with 11 sailing ships. Captain Cook had originally planned on setting up a colony at Botany Bay, although Captain Arthur Phillip decided on the more suitable Port Jackson (better known as Sydney Harbour).

Tank Stream (Circular Quay) was home to the first white settlement in Australia, and from then on further development occurred around Sydney's natural harbour.

A Bit of Work

The information below may be useful if you are looking for casual employment.

Points of Interest

Byron BayByron Bay is world famous, the most easterly point in mainland Australia and the first place in Australia to witness the sun rising.

The Snowy Mountains, as the name suggests, offers skiing in the winter and excellent bushwalking in the summer with it's wide array of wild flowers.

New South Wales Facts

* New South Wales Area: 800,642 square kilometres
* New South Wales Capital: Sydney

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Other New South Wales Destinations