Tumbrella

What are the best options for short breaks from Sydney? James Friel.

Great as Sydney is, sometimes you just need to get out of the city.

Luckily, there’s heaps of options within just a few hours.

For the biggest change from the bright lights, go west to the Blue Mountains. You’re likely to find the best deals in Katoomba, the area’s main hub. However, to escape the majority of the day trippers, you’d be better off venturing to a smaller town like Leura, Blackheath or Wentworth Falls.

Once there, you can either go wild trying your hand at any activity from horse riding to canyoning, or simply cosy up in front of a log fire. Another more surreal, and strangely magical, experience is to catch a concert in the Jenolan Caves.

Alternatively, head north from Sydney for a boozy wine tour in the Hunter Valley. The scenery’s great, but you probably won’t notice after a few tasty chardonnays.

Also to the north, but not as far as Hunter, is Sydney’s most northern tip, Palm Beach. It was made famous for being the location of Aussie soap Home and Away, but there’s much more to Palm Beach than simply getting your photo taken under Alf Stewart’s name at the surf club.

The beach itself is a peaceful expanse of sand stretching from the sleepy suburb up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse, which offers majestic views over the Hawkesbury River and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

To really recharge your batteries, then get the ferry over to Halls Wharf and the Pittwater YHA, for just about the most peaceful hostel you’re likely to find in New South Wales.

Another great option, especially if you’re with a group of mates, is to explore the Hawkesbury River. Head inland to the Wisemans Ferry area and hire a house boat for the weekend.

Just an hour on the train south of Sydney is one of the state’s best kept secrets – the Royal National Park, where the beaches are plentiful and the people sparce.

One option is to head down to Cronulla and get a ferry over to Bundeena for a chilled out day munching fish and chips on the beach. The more adventurous, however, might want to try getting the train all the way to the bottom of the park, at Otford, before doing the two-day Coastal Walk back up to Bundeena.

And finally, perhaps the greatest escape from the city is actually right bang in the middle of it – camping on Cockatoo Island, just an eight minute ferry trip from Circular Quay.

Any tips on the best Sydney escapes? Leave your thoughts below.

Ask Tumbrella a travel question below.