New South Wales is blessed with a combination of history (it is Australia's oldest state), natural beauty (snow-capped mountains, forests and miles of spectacular coastline) and urban glitz (Sydney). The echo of Australian settlement rings through graceful sandstone edifices while historic pubs are sprinkled around the countryside. Large tracts of pristine bushland are protected in a series of state and national parks that virtually surround the capital city and make for wonderful exploration.

The coastline delivers miles of white sandy beaches and pounding surf. Sydney is one of the few Australian cities to have a bounty of quality beaches on its doorstep, including the world-famous Bondi Beach. Sydney itself is the dynamic hub of the southern hemisphere, and one of the most stunning cities in the world. It's full of iconic symbols such as Sydney Harbour and its remarkable Opera House, whose architecture looks like sails full of wind, celebrating the city's nautical connections and also emphasising the sense of energy that permeates this city. 

It is unlikely that Captain Cook could have foreseen Sydney's rapid ascent into a world-premier city when he first docked at what is now Sydney Harbour in 1770, claiming the state for the British and proclaiming it New South Wales.