4 Great Getaways In New South Wales

With its endless sparkling, magical beaches and relaxed coastal lifestyle, a New South Wales road trip is the perfect way to bliss out this summer.

Get ready for salty hair, warm skin and sand in the car – we’ve pulled together a list of our favourite NSW vaycays with intel from local creatives who love great food, good shopping and maximum chill time.

Written

Sally Tabart

The spectacular Fitzroy Falls in the Morton National Park is just under a two-hour drive from Sydney. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

Highlands Merchant opened in Moss Vale. The cafe is owned and run by Lisa Wisken, pictured here is Head Chef Rachel Howlett. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

Lunch at Highlands Merchant. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

NSW’s Southern Highlands are known for their cool temperate climate, lending to an abundance of wineries, dairy farms, beef studs and sheep properties. This shot was captured en route, a few kilometres before arriving to Fitzroy Falls. Photo – Nikki To for The Design Files.

NSW Southern Highlands with Sarah K

Sarah K is a New South Wales-based architect, designer and serial ideas person. Having lived in cities big and small all over Australia, Sarah has most recently settled in Moss Vale, a small town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, which she loves for its plethora of natural beauty and small, close community with ‘all types of people are thrown in together’. She takes us on a curated day trip around her adopted home, that includes the ‘mesmerising’ Fitzroy Falls and lush surrounding nature walks; a visit to a treasure trove for second hand Australian and European goods (which Sarah calls ‘the best place in New South Wales, if not all of Oz’!); and some of the best art and food the area has to offer.

Check it out

Moore Street General in Austinmer. Photo – Nikki To.

‘The beauty of this area for me is still the drama of the landscape,’ says Dom. Photo – Nikki To.

Boards and surfwear in store. Photo – Nikki To.

The view from the top out over Austinmer. Photo – Nikki To.

Austinmer And Thirroul With Dominique Brammah

If you’ve ever dreamed of making the move from big city life to something a little slower, let Dominique Brammah be your inspiration for the day! The Arent & Pyke interior designer made the move from Bondi to the coastal town of Austinmer in northern Wollongong in 2016, and hasn’t looked back. Still captivated by ‘the drama of the landscape’, Dominique shares her favourite local eateries, shops and a walk to Sublime Point (the name says it all!) ‘which offers an unforgettable view of the whole Coal Coast.’

Check it out

Looking out over the headland. Photo – Jacqui Turk for The Design Files.

‘The baristas are friendly and everything on offer is great,’ tells Virgine. Photo – Jacqui Turk for The Design Files.

Looking down from Clareville across Pittwater Harbour. Photo – Jacqui Turk for The Design Files.

The Little Black Shack on Mackerel Beach. Photo – Luisa Brimble.

Avalon Beach And Surrounds With Virgine Batterson

Virgine Batterson of children and womenswear clothing brand Mamapapa migrated to Australia from France in 2001. Despite growing up in very different surrounds, the beach culture of Avalon on Sydney’s northern beaches is something she ‘couldn’t live without now!’. Only an hour away from the Sydney city centre, Virgine show us some of her favourite haunts in the coastal paradise she calls home.

Check it out

Bouddi Coastal Walk on the NSW Central Coast. Photo – Jacs Powell.

The Mars-like landscape! Photo – Jacs Powell.

The walk starts at Putty Beach Road, Killcare Heights. Photo – Jacs Powell.

A Stylist’s Guide To The NSW Central Coast

Xanthe Highfield is the co-founder of interiors studio Stewart + Highfield, and has won an AFI award for her amazing work, which spans art direction and production design for a host of top local film productions and TV shows. Late last year we called on her expertise of another kind; the Woy Woy-based creative gives us a tour of hot spots along the NSW Central Coast. Read on for a spectacular coastal walk, a jaw-dropping spot to sip a wine and a dreamy clifftop Airbnb recommendation!

Check it out