Eco-Friendly Road Trip Locations and Activities in New South Wales

Australia is built for road trips, making it the perfect way to explore and take in the beauty this country has to offer. When travelling around New South Wales it’s important that you’re taking steps to preserve the natural beauty and environment of all regions. There are many eco-friendly destinations and activities around New South Wales that are a must see on your next road trip adventure!  

Here are some eco-friendly road trips through the main regions of New South Wales that should be on everyone’s travelling bucket list! 

Sydney 

Sydney is one of the largest cities in Australia, home to the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, to name a couple of popular landmarks.  

Not only is Sydney home to the oldest national park in Australia but also the world – The Royal National Park! The Royal National Park is a 45-minute drive from our Sydney Branch Location. There are many eco-friendly activities to experience within the National Park, some include: walking tracks, picnicking, canoeing, swimming, birdwatching, and other cultural learning experiences about Aboriginal culture and cultural heritage. Within the Royal National Park there are camping locations available, one of them being the Bonnie Vale campground, which is accessible by campervans.  

Do you enjoy swimming in crystal clear waters along the side of beautiful marine life? Then it’s time for you to visit Cabbage Tree Bay/Fairy Bower! Manly is also only a 45-minute drive from our Sydney Branch location. Experience a guided snorkelling tour with EcoTreasures, where you’’ get educated about the local area, water safety and snorkelling tips. Depending on the time of year you might find Sydney’s famous Blue Groper, one of over 160 species of fish recorded in the reserve.  

While you are in Manly, another activity that is eco-friendly is going kayaking with the Manly Kayak Centre. Hire a kayak or stand-up paddle board (SUP) from their location on Manly Wharf and explore the beautiful hidden gems of Manly. One of those being Store Beach, a beach only accessible by water!  

Want to discover more hidden locations in Sydney, read our Sydney’s Best Hidden Gems article!  

Blue Mountains 

It’s time for you to visit the world-famous Blue Mountains! Not only are there World Heritage-listed landscapes, but also grand gardens, galleries, heritage hotels and the crisp mountain air! 

There are many stunning bush walks and hikes to explore. Choose to explore with Tread Lightly Eco Tours located in Katoomba, only a 1.5-hour drive from the centre of Sydney. They operate an award winning and advanced ecotourism accredited guiding company in the Blue Mountains. Experience guided ecological bush walks ranging from two to eight hours through rainforests, wander past waterfalls, and learn about Aboriginal Culture.  

Drive next to Oberon, just over an hour drive from Katoomba. With an elevation of 1,113m, during the winter the town can turn into a snowy winter wonderland. Each month The Oberon Community and Farmers Market runs. This is a sustainable activity as you are supporting the local community and farmers in purchasing locally gown fruit and vegetables, artworks, wine etc.  

Enjoy getting out in nature and learning about ancient history? It’s time for you to explore one of the most ancient open caves in the world with the most stunning limestone formations, the Jenolan Caves. The Jenolan Caves is a 30-minute drive from Oberon. Book a guided tour through the caves to get the best out of learning about the history of the caves. Some other walks to explore in Jenolan Caves are the Jenolan River Track, the McKeown’s Valley Track and the Six Foot Track. Also keep an eye out for native wildlife such as wallabies and lyrebirds on your walking adventures.

Hunter Valley 

The Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s major wine regions including world-renowned brands and family-run boutiques. The Hunter region is about a 2-hour drive from our branch location in Sydney. There are also many eco-friendly destinations and activities available in the region.  

Explore the Watagans Mountains on an Eco-tour with AWETOURS. Get off the beaten track and immerse yourself through the Australian bush, walking to the Boarding House Dam, through rain forests and discovering wonderful flora and fauna. The Watagans National Park has many walking tracks, locations for abseiling tours, picnic and BBQ locations and wildlife encounters, so keep an eye out! 

Hunter Valley Gardens is a delightful experience for both local and international visitors. There are eight kilometres of walking paths through award winning themed gardens, both native and exotic plants to see. Also, in walking distance from the gardens is the Shopping Village with a collection of bespoke shops offering local cuisines, wines, antiques and unique clothing etc. Purchasing from the local communities is a form of sustainable tourism for your eco-friendly road trip. 

If you enjoy wine, the Hunter Valley is the place for you! Visit and support the Keith Tulloch Winery who are the first certified Carbon Neutral winery in the Hunter Valley. Some of the initiatives that have been implementing are:  

• Eliminating single use plastics 
• Changing all lighting to LED 
• Using only organic fertiliser  
• Purchased electric forklifts that are charged with solar power rather than using LPG, and many more initiatives! 

Enjoy a glass of wine knowing it has been created in an eco-friendly environment!

Eco-friendly road trips around Australia are possible when travelling to locations that are sustainable and making sure that you as travellers are proactive in your ecotourism research for your travels. With so many eco-friendly destinations and activities, New South Wales is the place to explore for your next road trip holiday!  

The Travellers Autobarn hire location in New South Wales is in Sydney. Now that you know more about eco-friendly road trips in New South Wales, it’s time to start your booking today!

To learn more about eco-friendly road trips around other states in Australia, check our our Eco-Friendly Road Trips Around Australia article.