We had a 5-day trip through the towns west of Sydney across the Blue Mountains and to towns of Lithgow, Bathurst, Wellington, Dubbo (visiting the western plains zoo), Gilgandra, and Mudgee and back through the wine growing country of the Hunter Valley. A distance of about 700 kilometers.
In each town we inspected a motel and settled in at about 4 in the afternoon. We listened to the news on television at 6 o'clock and then went to a local club for dinner. All medium sized towns in NSW have clubs. Returned Soldiers Clubs, Sporting Clubs and the like, where you get good reasonably priced meals, some with entertainment and all with poker machines, (slot machines). Country motels average about $80 AUS per room per night. Meals at clubs about $20 AUS per person and wine about $20 AUS a bottle.

• The Blue Mountains appear blue because of the aroma given off by the Gum trees. The Blue Mountains are 100 kilometers from Sydney and accessible by electric train, coach or car. There are many bed and breakfast places, motels,5 star resorts and golf courses.
• Port Macquarie named after a governor in the early 1800's is a seaside town about 5 hours drive north of Sydney with good accommodation and climate. The beaches are magnificent, miles and miles of white sand and crystal clear Pacific Ocean..
• About 10 years ago 4 of our American friends came to visit. On their way to Australia they had a stopover in New Zealand and walked the famous Milford track in the South Island and then flew to Melbourne for a few days.
• They stayed with us for while in Sydney and we traveled together in a hired, 6-passenger van. We went south down the coast and west to Canberra. We visited the Houses of Parliament and the Australian War Memorial as well as many other sites then turned north up along the western side of the Great Dividing Range and back over the Blue Mountains to Sydney. We then drove to Surfers Paradise in Queensland and flew back. This was all done over a period of 2 weeks. However it was too quick. If coming to Australia via NZ it should be for a minimum of 6 if possible.

• Pre book a city hotel from the US You can get a taxi, bus or a train to the city.
• Day 1.
  See what is on at the Opera House and book seats. Book a coach trip to the Blue Mountains and a dinner cruise on the harbour. Get the Explorer Bus around the city. Book for dinner about 1 hour before sunset at the revolving restaurant in the Centrepoint Tower where you can look over the whole of Sydney and beyond. You will see the sun go down and the lights of Sydney come on.
• Day 2.
  Walk the city, visiting the large department stores and the Queen Victoria Building. Walk the Rocks and the foreshore nearby. If you have time, visit the Botanic Gardens.
• Day 3.
  Take a Harbour ferry to Manly. This is about an hour trip. Spend the day on the surf beach and walk the esplanade. Have fish and chips on the beach for lunch and dinner in a nearby hotel bistro near the beach, have a few beers and get the ferry home on the harbour in the night.
• Day 4.
  Take the ferry to Taronga Park Zoo, across the harbour. The Zoo is set right on the harbour edge where you can enjoy the animals; the surrounding gardens and have lunch. Go to Darling Harbour, or the King street wharf, select from 20 or more restaurants for dinner on the waterfront.
• Day 5.
  Take it easy in preparation for a big night out at the Opera House. Have dinner at a restaurant along the waterfront to the Opera House.
• Day 6.
  A coach trip to the Blue Mountains.
• Day 7.
  How about another ferry trip to Watson's Bay? Do this about 10.30am and have lunch and a few beers at the local pub.
  Watson's Bay is at the headlands to Sydney Harbour and you will see the ocean from the cliff tops nearby. This night say farewell to Sydney with a dinner cruises on the Harbour.
  
  I hope you will enjoy your stay and come again to savor more of the delights of our Country.

• visitnsw.com.au