Port Macquarie - 270kms or 2 hours 45 minutes north

Port Macquarie (not to be confused with Lake Macquarie which is 270kms away) is famous for its year-round sub-tropical weather, its 17 stunning beaches and a river system stretching for kilometres inland. Its the perfect destination for the action-seeker or the leisure-seeker, with surfing, fishing, boating or just relaxing all right there on your doorstep. The area is foodie heaven with fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and seafood in abundance, and a huge selection of locally-produced beverages to follow, from craft beers to wines of all varietals.

Naturally with all this local produce, quality restaurants, bars and cafés abound, starting with the Port's famed The Stunned Mullet, Bill's Fishhouse and Bar and dozens of other cafes and bars serving mostly local food, beers and wines.

Arts and culture are also on the list for visitors, with museums and galleries and a monthly Artists Market. Other attractions include the Koala Hospital, whale watching, camel riding, Billabong Zoo and the Timbertown Heritage Theme Park.

Accommodation ranges from the sublime to the basic - from 4.5-star luxury to beach camping and farm stays to holiday rentals. In short - the Port's got it all!

Mudgee - 290kms or 3 hours 20 minutes north

Famous for its food and wine and boasting over 40 family-owned wineries right on its doorstep, the beautiful town of Mudgee is situated on the banks on the Cudgegong River.

Before Europeans settled in the area in the 1820s, the local Wiradjuri people called Mudgee “Moothi”, meaning “nest in the hills”. The discovery of gold in the 1850s brought many immigrants to the area, and German families planted the first vines soon after.  Mudgee is also famous for being the home of writer and poet Henry Lawson who lived his early years in Eurunderee just outside of the town.

Mudgee hosts a plethora of events throughout the year including the NRL Charity Shield, Fermenta (celebrating all things fermented), the Mudgee Classic cycling event, Mudgeeque (a BBQ, wine and food spectacular), the Winter Music Festival, the Mudgee Small Farm Field Day and Flavours of Mudgee. Of course with the abundance of local produce there are restaurants and bistros to tempt you, including the Pipeclay Pumphouse at the Robert Stein Vineyard & Winery and the Zin House at Lowe Family Wine Co – both are worth a special visit if you fancy some fine dining.Or you can indulge in a bit of DIY at several cooking schools or the sourdough, wine or brewing classes.

Accommodation options are numerous too, from bubble tents to teepees, rustic cottages to farm stays and luxury resorts to hotels and B&Bs – if you can imagine it, Mudgee’s got it!

Jenolan Caves - 280kms or 4 hours south-west

Widely recognised as one of the most impressive cave sites in the world, the Jenolan Caves are in the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve west of the Blue Mountains. At 340 million years old, Jenolan is the oldest known open cave system in the world. To the local indigenous tribes – the Gundungurra and Wiradjury - it was known as "Genowlan" meaning "high place shaped like a foot". It was a sacred place of healing waters where they would take their sick to bathe in the underground rivers and pools.

Discovered by Europeans in 1838, by the 1880s Jenolan Caves had become a hugely popular tourist destination and a must-see for schoolchildren on excursion. The current Caves House was built in 1898 to replace the original, which was destroyed by fire.

There are many guided and self-guided tours available to explore the caves, with varying levels of challenges from crawling through dark tunnels to easy walks through massive caverns. As well as the caves there are walking tours along the Jenolan River with spectacular views of the river, Blue Lake, waterfalls and suspension bridge. And don’t forget your swimming gear – the swimming holes are very tempting on a hot day!

For accommodation it’s hard to go past the heritage-listed Caves House. There’s also a motel-style Mountain Lodge and a budget backpacker Gate House option, or you can bunk down in the nearby town of Oberon where you will find a caravan park, cabins, cottages, retreats, motels, B&B’s and even a trout fishing farm stay!

Kiama - 275kms or 3 hours 15 minutes south

Named after the indigenous Wodi Wodi name “Kiaram”, which means “where the sea makes a noise” (a reference to the famous blowhole), Kiama is located on the Illawarra coast south of Sydney and is where the beach meets the escarpment. Famous for its spectacular coastline, iconic lighthouse and one of the world’s biggest blowholes, the area is a tourist mecca with verdant undulating hills spilling down to the coast, along with the natural wonders of the Minnamurra Rainforest and Saddleback Mountain.

It’s worth spending some time to immerse yourself in the history of the area. There are heritage walks that take in Pilot’s Cottage Museum, a maritime and regional museum with displays on shipping, the cedar industry and the local basalt quarries, or you can walk to the historic Terrace Houses, originally built for the local quarry workers in 1886 and now housing a fascinating selection of eateries, crafts, collectables and clothing stores.

One of Australia’s most beautiful coastal walks stretches from the mouth of the Minnamurra River south through Kiama to Gerringong’s Werri Beach - 20kms of stunning scenery that will take your breath away. With easy access points and suitable for most fitness levels, there’s no better way to appreciate this magnificent coastline. Swimming gear is essential, as are binoculars for whale-watching and a camera for the visual memories you’ll never want to forget.

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