When you’re living and studying in Sydney, you often want to explore areas further out of the city. But how do you know where to go?! We’ve compiled this list of the top places to visit on a road trip – and if you don’t have a car, you can also get public transport there!

Port Stephens

Port Stephens is only a 2 and a half hour drive north from Sydney and it will feel like a world away! Go sandboarding, dolphin spotting, kayaking or relax on one of the many beaches. Port Stephens is a chilled coastal town that you won’t want to leave.

Blue Mountains

A must-see destination, the Blue Mountains is less than two hours west of the city. Famous for the Three Sisters, bushland and scenery, the Blue Mountains should be on every Australian visitor’s itinerary. With something for everyone including hikes, shopping, site-seeing and more, the Blue Mountains is an iconic stop for Aussie travellers.

Wollongong

90 minutes south of Sydney, Wollongong, “the Gong”, is a cooler-weathered coastal town. Known for being a great spot to skydive you can test your nerves (if you dare) or hang out on one of the many beaches. On your way to the Gong you’ll drive along the Grand Pacific Drive – a spectacular coastal drive with beautiful views that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Hunter Valley

If you love wine, the Hunter Valley is where you should make a trip to! Only two and a half hours north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley is renowned for its wineries and rolling hills. Spend the weekend and taste all the flavours, leaving with a bag of goodies for yourself.

Canberra

Australia’s capital, Canberra is a three-hour drive south-west of Sydney. Here, you can visit the nation’s Parliament, check out all of the free museums, visit the interactive science museum Questacon, or even ride a bike comfortably around the city.

To get the most out of your road trip and to see as much as you can of your getaway location, you should spend the night there! YHA has hostels in each of these locations with staff that can help you find your way to the sites, plus you can save money by cooking in the communal kitchens – which means you’ll meet new people too!

YHA is the biggest budget accommodation network in Australia. With more than 70 hostels around the country, there is a YHA ready to welcome you wherever your wanderlust might lead.