25 Incredible Weekend Getaways in NSW

  • All Ages

The daily grind can wreak havoc on your mental health, let's be honest! This is why we all need to grab the kids, load up the car and hit the road for a little weekend getaway in NSW from time to time.

To give you the rest and relaxation you deserve, we've sourced awesome weekend getaways in NSW for all tastes and budgets - enjoy!

25 Incredible Weekend Getaways in NSW

Budget-Friendly Weekend Getaways in NSW

Camping

Best Kid Friendly Getaways Near Sydney on a Budget
'Cause, nothing says weekend getaway quite like a camping trip with the family!


Good old-fashioned camping can be the ultimate family bonding experience and weekend getaway in NSW. What could be better than sharing campfire stories beneath a starry sky in the beautiful fresh air? 

Check out the best family camping spots around Sydney, including Cockatoo Island and Royal National Park, or why not go all out on a gorgeous glamping holiday in Bathurst, Jervis Bay, or even at Taronga Zoo? And for those who can't get enough of the great outdoors, there are plenty of picturesque beach camping spots in NSW to indulge your family of water babies.

Farm Stays

 

Mowbray Park Farm Stay
Mowbray Park is an oasis of family-friendly farm fun.


Another farm stay option is Mowbray Park Farm—the self-catering farm stay that offers everything from egg collecting, cow milking, pony rides for under 8s and tennis, mountain biking, archery and canoeing! There is something for everyone. They offer two-night farm stays or day visits for a shorter option. Read our ellaslist Mowbray Park Farm family farm stay review.

Location: 745 Barkers Lodge Rd, Picton

Bilpin Springs Lodge
Bilpin Springs Lodge


Another favourite is Bilpin Springs Lodge - a farm stay and bed and breakfast only 90 minutes drive from Sydney in the heart of the apple-picking district.

Read the ellaslist review of Bilpin Country Lodge, where we fed the chooks, Charlie the pony and the alpaca, and enjoyed an action-packed canoe ride and fished for yabbies. We rounded off our amazing weekend with apple picking at a nearby orchard. What fun!

Location: 46 Bilpin Springs Rd, Bilpin

Good Value Weekend Getaways in NSW

Caravan & Holiday Parks 

NRMA Parks and Resorts are constantly being voted the best family-friendly holiday parks in the country, and it's not hard to see why!

For an affordable price, you can book weekend getaways in NSW and get the most bang for your buck! Here are two of our favourite NRMA Holiday Parks, plus a Newcastle gem that is just a short drive from home:

NRMA holiday parks
There's no end to the fun waiting to be had at NRMA's fantastic range of budget-friendly holiday parks.

 

NRMA Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park: This is one of the only beachfront caravan parks in Sydney, and despite being in the thick of the big smoke, its secluded location truly makes it feel like you are in another world. A perfect weekend getaway in NSW for those looking for something a little closer to home.

The park is right across the road from the beach and sits on the edge of Narrabeen Lakes. There is so much for the family to do, including a waterpark, playground, games rooms and more.

Location: 38 Lake Park Rd, North Narrabeen 

Weekend getaways in NSW
NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort


NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort: Located on beautiful Umina Beach on the New South Wales Central Coast, this gem is only 1.5 hours north of Sydney and is the perfect getaway for those looking to escape the city.

The park is surrounded by bushland and backs onto the Brisbane Water National Park. Set on the beachfront, the park offers so much to do, from fishing, tennis and swimming to the splash park and adventure playground. 

Location: 90 Sydney Ave, Umina Beach

NRMA Holiday parks
Stockton Beach Holiday Park

 

Stockton Beach Holiday Park: Located just metres from the beach, Stockton Beach Holiday Park offers a range of cabin, caravan and camping accommodations, ideal for quick weekend getaways in NSW.

Just a short ferry ride from the heart of Newcastle, this park is a great place to set up a base and explore. Stockton Beach is the perfect place for a surf, fishing or discovering the famous sand dunes. Whether you are looking to check out the café and restaurant culture of Newcastle, get your adrenaline pumping with a quad bike on the dunes, or relax and enjoy the serenity, Stockton Beach Holiday Park is the perfect place for your next family holiday. 

Location: 3 Pitt St, Stockton

Weekend getaways in NSW
The whole family will love Shoal Bay Holiday Park.


Holiday Parks have it all. From kids clubs, epic water playgrounds, games and arcade rooms, to budget accommodation options and beachfront locales, they truly do tick all the boxes for families. Check out our full list of the best caravan parks in NSW, many within driving distance from Sydney.

And if you're looking for resorts with kids' clubs, we've got you sorted on that front too! Just be mindful that many of these are more than a few hours outside Sydney.

Some of our favourites include the award-winning NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park, the amazing waterpark at BIG4 Tweed Billabong with water slides to make your jaw drop, and the Seal Rocks Holiday Park, where the sense of community spirit in the fishing village will have you hooked.

Fairmont Resort, Blue Mountains

Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains
Toot toot! Happy kids are coming through.


ellaslist has dubbed the Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains one of our all-time favourite weekend getaways in NSW. Not only that, it is fantastic value and only 90 minutes from Sydney!

Fairmont Resort does family luxury in style from the get-go in the foyer. Kids will be in awe of the high ceilings, crisp air and sprawling grounds. The best part? KidZone! Here kids can enjoy the merry-go-round, the Fairmont Express mini-train, electric convertible mini-cars, two massive play centres with mini tenpin bowling, a mirror maze arcade, and a heated pool. 

Parents will love the luxury and affordability of this getaway just as much as the kids enjoy the thrills and fun. 

Location: 1 Sublime Point Rd, Leura

Bathurst

Bathurst Jenolan Caves
Discover the stunning limestone labyrinth that is the world's oldest cave system.

 

Less than three hours north-west of Sydney, you'll uncover one of NSW’s most vibrant towns.

The historic city of Bathurst is an entertainment mecca full of surprises, plus it's home to one of Australia's most famous and iconic raceways. This diverse, colourful melting pot bursts with fascinating history, iconic sites and extraordinary natural wonders. From the breathtaking Jenolan Caves to the legendary Mount Panorama, our guide to the best things to do in Bathurst is full of fun family adventures and gastronomic delights just waiting to be explored!

Wollongong

Grand Pacific Drive
The legendary Grand Pacific Drive is the best way to make the trip to Wollongong.


We recently discovered Wollongong as one of the best-kept, secretly awesome weekend getaways in NSW for families. 

The Early Start Discovery Space, JamberooSymbio Wildlife Park, and loads of picture-perfect Wollongong beaches make for days full of inexpensive and exciting family fun.

In terms of accommodation, you NEED to check out the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach. The views are spectacular, there is a kids’ area and kids’ activities during school holidays, and it's just a few minutes walk from a mega-slide playground.

Central Coast

Weekend getaways in NSW
The stunning Central Coast


Visiting the Central Coast is a favourite holiday pastime of so many Sydney families. With affordable prices, gorgeous natural features and lots of attractions for the kids, how couldn't it be?

Avoca Beach is one of our favourite Central Coast beaches. With yummy cafes in the village, weekend markets, Aquafun on Avoca Lake and the beautiful nearby Bouddi National Park, Avoca is well worth finding a cheap rental property or hotel.

Terrigal Beach is another favourite spot, specifically the Crowne Plaza, with waterfront views and the Water Dragons Kids Club running during school holidays.

While you're there, make sure you visit the Wyong Milk Factory, where you can show the kids how their favourite milk, cheeses and chocolates are produced, or relax in the cafe, enjoy the pirate-themed playground or even take a kayak out along Wyong River. And if you and the kids can't get enough of the water, you can't afford to miss a stop off at Central Coast Aqua Park during the summer months.

Hunter Valley

Weekend getaways in NSW
Hot-air ballooning in the Hunter Valley.


We know the first thing in most parents’ minds when they think of the Hunter Valley is wine! However, there are so many great things to do with the kids in the Hunter Valley, and they are all fantastic value.

The Big4 Hunter Valley Holiday Park is the perfect getaway for families with active kids. During your stay, check out the Hunter Valley Wildlife Park, Hunter Valley Gardens and the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company.

With delicious food and wine, cheap prices and endless green space for kids to run around, the Hunter Valley is a no-brainer getaway! And if you do want wine (who doesn't?), check out these kid-friendly wineries in the Hunter Valley

Indulgent Weekend Getaways in NSW

If you feel like splashing out on weekend getaways in NSW with a little more luxury, our ultimate indulgence options are the perfect fit for you.

Kingscliff

Weekend getaways in NSW
A popular holiday destination, Kingscliff is a great place to head for your next weekend getaway in NSW.


It's a bit of a drive from Sydney, but worth it!

Kingscliff is home to the famous Salt Beach, a huge stretch of blue ocean and white sand that has been used for weddings and as a popular holiday destination for years.

Peppers Salt Resort and Spa and the Mantra on Salt Beach resorts are buzzing with kids in peak holiday seasons but with the air of luxury that parents crave. When you're not lounging by the pool, the onsite restaurants at the Mantra, in particular, are simply delicious - some of the best Tweed Heads has to offer.

Port Stephens

Weekend getaways in NSW
The beaches in Port Stephens are some of the best on the east coast.


Just two and a half hours from Sydney, Port Stephens has often been called nature's playground for all the natural beauty it boasts.

A weekend trip to Port Stephens is all about getting outdoors, with loads of outdoor activities on offer, such as fishing, whale spotting, sand dune quad biking/sandboarding, swimming and, of course, plenty of relaxing in the sun.

And for family-friendly accommodation, the Ramada Resort Shoal Bay has frequently been rated among the best resorts for families seeking luxury weekend getaways in NSW.

Weekend Getaways Further Afield

Tamworth

Tamworth
Well worth the drive, Tamworth is a great weekend getaway in NSW.


Take the kids to see the Big Golden Guitar! Tamworth is roughly a five-hour drive northwest of Sydney, so it’s a comfortable first road trip for the kids and a chance to see the true countryside that makes Australia great.

Take a self-guided audio tour through Maitland Gaol, Australia’s longest continually-run prison in Australia that lets children take agency over their experience, and check out the Tamworth Regional Playground - it boasts the Southern Hemisphere’s largest skywalk, water play, massive slides, mega swings, and is kid-friendly cafe adjacent.

You will feel like a true blue, checking out junior rodeos, Chaffey Dam, the Mount Misery Gold Mine Museum, the miniature railway, Tamworth Marsupial Park, and so much more. The best time to visit Tamworth is during the Tamworth Country Music Festival!

Merimbula

Weekend getaways in NSW
Merimbula Beach Holiday Park


A six-hour drive from Sydney is the Merimbula Beach NRMA Holiday Park, which is economical and has an action-packed kids' club.

Activities include tug of war, face painting, magic shows, tennis, sand sculpting, go-karts, and plenty more.

Villas, cabins, camping and caravanning options are available here, so there’s sure to be something that fits your budget.

Location: 2 Short Point Rd, Merimbula

BOOK YOUR NSW GETAWAY NOW VIA BOOKING.COM

More Weekend Getaways 

Best Family Farm Stays Near Sydney
The Best NSW Resorts With Kids' Clubs
South Coast Beaches That Are Prettier Than Sydney Beaches


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