Australia-New South Wales: Solo Travel Insiders’ Guide

Australia-New South Wales: Solo Travel Insiders’ Guide: a Guest Post by Delan Cooper

New South Wales is the oldest state in Australia and home to one of the world’s most beautiful cities, the harbor city of Sydney. It provides many travelers with a taste of Australia’s rich culture and features, attracting tourists from all over the world. Sydney has a ravishing waterside setting and a cultural vibrancy that makes it one of the world’s greatest cities. The city hosts the most recognizable landmarks in Australia; the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

For your first solo trip to the New South Wales state, there are numerous activities and places you can visit to make your best memories.

Things you need to know before traveling to New South Wales

• You might need to obtain an Opal Card when traveling to New South Wales. The Opal Card is a prepaid and rechargeable IC smart-card used for public transport in the state. It is the cheapest and easiest way to travel around New South Wales on a bus, train, ferry, or light rail.
• Its capital, Sydney, is famous for its wide choice of foods, from Asian flavors to European flavors. Cuisine in New South Wales, particularly Sydney, consists of Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian, African, Thai, Greek, and Indian dishes, reflecting the state’s multicultural personality.
• There are festivals celebrated every year in the state’s capital including;  (i) The Sydney art festival in January. (ii) The Vivid Sydney event, a light, music, and the art installation festival occurs anywhere between May and June. (iii) The Sculpture by the Sea festival is a sculpture exhibition that happens either in October or November, from Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk.
• You can use either air travel, train, or bus travel to get into New South Wales, depending on your preference, distance traveled, or expenditure budget.

Where to stay in New South Wales as a solo traveler

New South Wales has the best modern accommodation services you as a solo traveler may need.

1. Holiday Inn Express Newcastle

The hotel is located in Newcastle, New South Wales, just a few minutes’ drive from the University of Newcastle. The ‘Express Start’ Breakfast and free Wi-Fi access in all areas are the key features of the hotel. The hotel rooms are clean and comfy for a solo traveler.

2. The Pod Sydney

The hotel provides each guest with an individual bunk bed, a privacy curtain, and a locker. It is located at the heart of the Sydney Central Business District, close to a 10 minutes’ walk from the Central Train Station.

3. Mantra Albury

All the rooms in this hotel have air conditioners and single wardrobes, as well as fitted kettles. The hotel has a complimentary outdoor public parking lot, which is operational on an unlimited basis.

4. Veriu Broadway

Located just a few blocks from the Central Railway Station, Veriu Broadway offers modern rooms with a kitchenette and a sofa bed for solo travelers. The suites have free Wi-Fi and Netflix, and one can indulge in shopping at the Broadway shopping center, which is a 3 minutes’ walk from the facility.

Places to Visit while in New South Wales

The Fabled Harbor Bridge

A. The Central Business District of Sydney

The Central Business District is home to the famous 20th-century architectural wonders, the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. A visit to these two iconic structures first is memorable for any solo traveler. You can also tour around Circular Quay and visit the Australian Museum of Contemporary Art for free. Complete your tour with a walk through The Rocks and the Cobblestone Lane-ways. As you leave the CBD, you could do your shopping at The Strand Arcade or the Queen Victoria Building.

Stunning landscape of the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia

B. The Blue Mountains

For centuries, the Blue Mountains have been a favorite holiday destination for lovers of nature. Major attractions in the Blue Mountain region are the Three Sisters, the Wentworth Falls, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah, and the Jenolan Caves, alongside some of the best hiking trails in Australia.

C. Lord Howe Island

The island is situated about 660 kilometers off the north coast of New South Wales and comprises several attraction sites for serenity- seekers and nature lovers. One of the unique features of this island is that it is surrounded by the world’s most southerly coral reef. The island holds numerous islets, which are part of a former volcano, some white-sand beaches, and the Pandanus and Kentia palm forests. Birding is perfect on the island, with over 130 permanent and migratory bird species.

D. The South Coast Beaches

Along the coast from the southern fringe of Sydney to the Victorian border are New South Wales’ most beautiful white-sand beaches. Hyams Beach has the whitest sand in the whole world, Kiama beach holds the world’s largest blowhole, and the Jervis Bay stands out for its radiant powder-soft sands. The beaches have small holiday resorts offering opportunities for swimming, surfing, or even fishing.

A famous view from Lighthouse Rd over Tallows Beach and Cape Byron in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia

E. Byron Bay

The Byron Bay offers a spot for solo travelers who love surfing and hiking. The bay has a track, the Cape Byron Tracks, leading to Australia’s most easterly part and its well-known lighthouse.

Before Leaving for Home

After visiting numerous attraction sites and performing vigorous activities like mountain climbing or hiking, your body might experience fatigue. In such a case, body treatment and relaxation therapy, like a traditional Thai massage, might be the best option to get you back on track.  If so, try out a Thai massage in Concord.