Finally, borders are re-opened, and this is such an exciting news for my family. We have been thinking of visiting Sydney and New South Wales to experience the call of nature and wildlife activities available there. From watching sunsets in sea caves, learning about koala conservation to spotting dolphins, these are experiences that you must not miss!
Here are some of the nature and wildlife experiences that I would love to explore with my family!
Taronga Zoo
Home to over 4,000 animals, Taronga Zoo is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour and takes about 12 minutes by ferry from Sydney CBD. There are unique overnight stay experiences amongst the wild available here. There are two accommodations available at the zoo. First option is the elegant Wildlife Retreat surrounded by beautiful, lush sanctuary where koalas and echidna’s roam. Second option is Roar and Snore, a safari-style experience featuring intimate animal encounters and fascinating keeper talks while enjoying the glistening sunset and sunrise over Sydney Harbour.
Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary
Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary is set amidst idyllic bushland, offering unique opportunity to see koalas in their natural habitat. Take a stroll thru the Sanctuary Story Walk and immerse in an educational experience telling the story of koala and its habitat. Or stop by the Newcastle Airport SKYwalk which offers a unique ‘tree top’ perspective into the koala’s habitat. Or, you can also plan an overnight ‘glamping’ experience at the sanctuary!
Symbio Wildlife Park
Located just 1 hour south of Sydney, this park makes the perfect day trip for picnics with large playgrounds and splash pools to cool down in summer. This zoo boasts 16 acres of manicured gardens with a range of Australian and exotic wildlife animals such as cheetahs, red pandas, meerkats and many more. Let’s bring the kids to the Symbio Farmyard, and get up close feeding and meeting goats, sheep, guinea pigs and many more.
Grand Pacific Drive
The Grand Pacific Drive is a 140-kilometre scenic coastal drive through lush rainforests starting from Royal National Park, over the Sea Cliff Bridge and through coastal townships of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and the Shoalhaven region on the South Coast of New South Wales. For adventure seekers, there’s skydiving at Wollongong, Coastal Walk and Illawara Fly Treetop Adventures at Kiama and mountain biking at Tathra Beach, Sapphire Coast. If you’re foodie, visit the vineyard at Coolangatta Estate at Shoalhaven or have cheese at Tilba Real Dairy – ABC Cheese Factory at Eurobodalla and end with oyster shucking at Jim Wild’s Oyster.
Iris Lodge Alpacas at Central Coast
My kids would love to get up close and personal with alpacas and Ilama and Iris Lodge Alpacas is the perfect choice! There are over 70 alpacas here at Iris Lodge Alpacas and you can experience the farm life by enjoying breakfast and feeding the alpacas whilst learning about them.
Darling Harbour
There are several city family fun activities available in Darling Harbour. Visit Sea Life Sydney Aquarium or Wild Life Sydney Zoo to get up close to Australian native animals. Climb aboard a submarine or sailing ship at Australian National Maritime Museum. Finally, let the kids enjoy water games, slides and swings at Darling Quarter Playground which is free for your kids to enjoy!
Flower Festivals in Spring
Spring in NSW and Sydney are beautiful with flower festivals happening from August – December. The streets of Sydney will be peppered with Jacarandas (purple trees in late October – November), visit the Cherry Blossoms Festival at Auburn Botanic Gardens (August) and blooming Tulip Time festival at Bowral (August). Take gorgeous instaworthy pictures amongst the Canola Fields on country roads at Riverina (August), at the Paper Daisy display at Australian Botanic Garden (September) and the glorious Sunflower Fields at Kingscliff (March or December).
Coastal Lifestyle
Get the best of coastal lifestyle by visiting Bondi Beach. This beach is popular for whale watching, walking and golfing. Swim in ocean pools at Bondi Icebergs or enjoy the warmth of sauna. Take coastal walks to spot wildlife such as whales during the migration season (late May – Mid November).
There are so many unique nature and wildlife experience to explore in Sydney and New South Wales! With a budget in mind, I’m checking the 5D/4N Vivid Sydney Package available at https://sedunia.com.my/australia/new-south-wales/ . At Sedunia, they provide attractive packages and options to customize packages to fit my needs. From flights, accommodation to ground arrangements, they’re able to assist which makes it extremely convenient. My family is so excited about it!
If you would like more information on Sydney and New South Wales, visit https://www.sydney.com