Drives: Sydney, New South Wales

Drives: Sydney Region, NSW

The pick of the Drives in the Sydney Region ... in which getting there is truly half the fun.

Being the third settlement to be established in the colony of New South Wales, the Upper Hawkesbury is full of history and heritage. During its first 100 years, the colony relied on the Uppper Hawkesbury River for its food. The area is steeped in history, with sleepy colonial era villages, historic cemeteries, Aboriginal habitation sites and convict relics, surrounded by lush farmland and virgin forests, all awaiting discovery. It's the ideal place to explore and experience firsthand the early history of our nation. Length: 200 km return (from Sydney CBD)

Southern Highlands/Illawarra

A wonderful day out in the country for a group, family, couple or an individual. this tour takes in the natural beauty of the Southern Highlands, returning along the scenic Illawarra coast. Along the way are many great picnic spots, parks and gardens, cafes and restaurants, arts and crafts outlets, steam train rides, museums, wineries, rainforest and beachside walks, panoramic vistas across waterfalls, valleys and canyons and the Illawarra coast. How To Get there: Hume Highway south east via Campbelltown

Old Northern Road

When travelling from Sydney to the Hunter Valley, it is so easy to put the brain on auto pilot and take the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway (F3). There is a longer (an additional 32 kms), slower, but far more interesting way that follows the pathway of the pioneer settlers through the Hawkesbury and Macdonald River valleys to Bucketty, Wollombi and on to Cessnock in the Hunter Valley. Along the way are the historic villages of the Hawkesbury district, Heritage-listed convict roadworks and bridges, First Fleeter graves, and numerous sleepy, forgotten farming communities. Length: 182.4 km

Macarthur District

A drive through Sydney's inner western suburbs to the Macarthur District which has been one of Sydney s most prosperous farming districts since the early 19th century. Pass through the many towns and villages along the upper reaches of the Georges and Nepean Rivers, visiting bushland reserves, wineries, historic farms and homesteads. Take in the panoramic view of man-made Lake Burragorang, then travel along one of Sydney s oldest rural roads to Warragamba Dam, Sydney s main water supply, the construction of which formed the lake. The tour commences from and finishes at Sydney CBD.

Great North Road

Colonial Sydney was saved from starvation many times by the farming communities which sprung up along the Hawkesbury River around the turn of the 19th century. This tour travels north to the Hawkesbury along almost the full length of the first road built to the Central Hawkesbury River region, the Great North Road (1826 to 1836). It returns via the original road to Windsor (1792), taking in the many historic farm buildings and settlements which dot the Upper and Middle Hawkesbury valley. Museums and information centres along the way offer a wealth of historical and general interest information.

Blue Mountains Loop

A day trip to the Blue Mountains which takes a different route up and down, incorporating the Nepean River and the town of Windsor, the stone fruit growing towns of Kurrajong and Bilpin, the mining town of Lithgow and the major towns and scenic attractions of the Blue Mountains. Along the way enjoy different views of the Blue Mountains to those traditionally seen, pass the Lithgow Zig Zig railway, local produce stalls, the abandoned Lapstone and Glenbrook railway deviations and travel along the first road across the mountains.

Sydney's Northern Beaches

North of Manly are a string of popular surf beaches, ribbons of golden sand separated by picturesque, rocky headlands which extend all the way north to the tip of Barrenjoey Peninsula and Broken Bay. Once the haunt of rum smugglers, they now attract swimmers, surfers, snorkellers and walkers throughout the year. Between the surrounding suburbs are parks and bushland reserves, a number of which encompass fresh and saltwater lagoons that are havens for wildlife.

Sydney's North Shore

Development of Sydney's North Shore region was always slower than the south, its steep, heavily wooded valleys between and beyond the high, rocky headlands which punctuate Port Jackson's northern shoreline were difficult to access and less suitable to farming than the lightly timbered plains of the harbour's southern shores. Sydney's North Shore Drive is designed to be travelled in conjuction with the Sydney's Northern Beaches Drive, which begins where this drive ends.

Sydney's Eastern Suburbs

The Eastern Suburbs is the name given to that part of the Sydney metropolitan area directly to the east and south-east of the Sydney central business district. The area is characterised by winding crescent-like streets, large expensive homes, harbourside beaches and villages. The coastal suburbs extend from the peninsula of South Head at Watsons Bay in the north to La Perouse in the South. Away from the coast and harbour, the inner suburban landscape is dominated by overhanging trees, renovated terrace houses, cafes and modernized pubs and bars.