Hotels

For many travelers, Sydney is New South Wales, and they look to the other, less-populous states for Australia's famous wilderness experiences. There may be no substitute for Queensland's Great Barrier Reef or the Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park, but New South Wales has many of Australia's natural wonders within its borders. For example, the Blue Mountains rise 3,500 feet out of a eucalyptus-laden forest to the west of the city. High on the list of don't-miss sites are the World Heritage areas of Lord Howe Island and the subtropical rain forests of the North Coast, as well as desert Outback, the highest mountain peaks in the country, lush river valleys, warm seas, golden beaches, and some of Australia's finest vineyards.