Day trips · New South Wales
The best day tours from Sydney
The Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley wine country, the Port Stephens dunes and dolphins, and Jervis Bay’s white beaches: here is how the day tours compare, with honest advice on how long you spend on the coach, which tours really start in Sydney, and getting your money back if the weather turns.
See our 8 picks
The best day tours from Sydney go to the Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley and Port Stephens. Most guided trips take 10 to 12 hours and pick you up in the city. Our top pick is the all-inclusive Blue Mountains tour from €147. It covers Scenic World and a wildlife park, then brings you back by river cruise.
Our 8 picks for day tours from Sydney
The first four leave from central Sydney. The last four start out of town, in the Hunter Valley or in Port Stephens. Each card says where it starts.
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from €147 per person Our top pick 10 hours 4.8 (3,977) reviews on GetYourGuide
Blue Mountains all-inclusive day
A 10-hour day with early entry to Scenic World, a rainforest walk and the Three Sisters. You see kangaroos and koalas at Featherdale or Sydney Zoo. A river cruise brings you back. Lunch is included only on the all-inclusive option.
Best for A first visit, with everything arranged
Check availability: Blue Mountains all-inclusive day on GetYourGuide -
from €132 per person 10.5–11 hours 4.7 (2,969) reviews on GetYourGuide
Blue Mountains with Scenic World and a koala photo
You visit Echo Point, Katoomba Cascades and Cahill’s Lookout. You ride three Scenic World rides. At Sydney Zoo you get a photo with a koala. A harbour ferry ends the day at Circular Quay. Lunch is not included.
Best for Families
Check availability: Blue Mountains with Scenic World and a koala photo on GetYourGuide -
from €125 per person 12 hours 4.6 (350) reviews on GetYourGuide
Port Stephens dunes, dolphins and koalas from Sydney
A 12-hour coach day to Port Stephens. You take a 90-minute dolphin cruise, visit a koala sanctuary and go sandboarding on the dunes by 4WD. Lunch is not included. You are back in Sydney by 7pm.
Best for No car, and you want dunes and dolphins in one day
Check availability: Port Stephens dunes, dolphins and koalas from Sydney on GetYourGuide -
from €112 per person 12 hours 4.3 (828) reviews on GetYourGuide
Jervis Bay: dolphins, white sand and kangaroos
A 12-hour trip south in a minibus. It has a 1.5-hour dolphin cruise, Hyams Beach and wild kangaroos in Booderee National Park. You meet in Haymarket, with no hotel pickup. The guide speaks English or Portuguese. Lunch is not included.
Best for Beach and nature fans
Check availability: Jervis Bay: dolphins, white sand and kangaroos on GetYourGuide -
from €81 per person 4 hours 4.6 (538) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hunter Valley half day: cheese and wine
A 4-hour tour of three boutique wineries, with a cheese and wine match. It starts in the Hunter Valley, not in Sydney. Pickup is only in Pokolbin and Cessnock. You must be 18 or over.
Best for Wine lovers staying in the valley
Check availability: Hunter Valley half day: cheese and wine on GetYourGuide -
from €150 per person 7 hours 4.7 (263) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hunter Valley full day: wine, cheese and chocolate
A 7-hour wine day with a cheese pairing, a chocolate and wine match and a grazing-box lunch. It starts in the Hunter Valley. The listing says pickup from Sydney is not possible. You must be 18 or over.
Best for Food and wine lovers staying in the valley
Check availability: Hunter Valley full day: wine, cheese and chocolate on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person 1 h 30 min 4.5 (577) reviews on GetYourGuide
Port Stephens sandboarding by 4WD
A 1.5-hour 4WD trip onto the Stockton dunes, with unlimited sandboarding and help from the crew. You meet at Anna Bay. There is no pickup and no food. It is not for people with back or heart problems.
Best for Visitors with a car in Port Stephens
Check availability: Port Stephens sandboarding by 4WD on GetYourGuide -
from €29 per person 1 h 30 min 4.4 (1,032) reviews on GetYourGuide
Port Stephens dolphin cruise with a boom net
A 1.5-hour cruise around the eastern harbour, with live talk from the captain. In good weather you can ride in the boom net, a net pulled behind the boat. You meet at Nelson Bay. The listing says sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Best for Families with their own car
Check availability: Port Stephens dolphin cruise with a boom net on GetYourGuide
Compare the day tours: price, length and reviews
| Tour | From | Duration | Pickup | Starts from | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountains all-inclusive day | €147 per person | 10 hours | Pickup included | Sydney (pickup) | A first visit, with everything arranged | The most-reviewed Blue Mountains tour here, with nearly 4,000 reviews. |
| Blue Mountains with Scenic World and a koala photo | €132 per person | 10.5–11 hours | Pickup included | Sydney (hotel pickup) | Families | Every entry fee is in the price, plus the koala photo kids love. |
| Port Stephens dunes, dolphins and koalas from Sydney | €125 per person | 12 hours | Pickup included | Sydney (hotel pickup) | No car, and you want dunes and dolphins in one day | The one pick that does Port Stephens from Sydney with pickup. |
| Jervis Bay: dolphins, white sand and kangaroos | €112 per person | 12 hours | Meeting point | 812 George St, Haymarket | Beach and nature fans | The only pick for the white beaches south of Sydney. |
| Hunter Valley half day: cheese and wine | €81 per person | 4 hours | Pickup included | Hunter Valley (Pokolbin, Cessnock) | Wine lovers staying in the valley | The most-booked Hunter Valley tour here, with over 500 reviews. |
| Hunter Valley full day: wine, cheese and chocolate | €150 per person | 7 hours | Pickup included | Hunter Valley (local pickup) | Food and wine lovers staying in the valley | Lunch and every tasting are in the price. |
| Port Stephens sandboarding by 4WD | €27 per person | 1 h 30 min | Meeting point | Anna Bay (Port Stephens) | Visitors with a car in Port Stephens | The most-booked dune trip, for about €27. |
| Port Stephens dolphin cruise with a boom net | €29 per person | 1 h 30 min | Meeting point | Nelson Bay (Port Stephens) | Families with their own car | Over 1,000 reviews, and one of the lowest prices here. |
Blue Mountains all-inclusive day
€147 per person10 hours 4.8 (3,977)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Starts from
- Sydney (pickup)
- Who it suits
- A first visit, with everything arranged
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed Blue Mountains tour here, with nearly 4,000 reviews.
Blue Mountains with Scenic World and a koala photo
€132 per person10.5–11 hours 4.7 (2,969)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Starts from
- Sydney (hotel pickup)
- Who it suits
- Families
- Why we picked it
- Every entry fee is in the price, plus the koala photo kids love.
Port Stephens dunes, dolphins and koalas from Sydney
€125 per person12 hours 4.6 (350)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Starts from
- Sydney (hotel pickup)
- Who it suits
- No car, and you want dunes and dolphins in one day
- Why we picked it
- The one pick that does Port Stephens from Sydney with pickup.
Jervis Bay: dolphins, white sand and kangaroos
€112 per person12 hours 4.3 (828)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Starts from
- 812 George St, Haymarket
- Who it suits
- Beach and nature fans
- Why we picked it
- The only pick for the white beaches south of Sydney.
Hunter Valley half day: cheese and wine
€81 per person4 hours 4.6 (538)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Starts from
- Hunter Valley (Pokolbin, Cessnock)
- Who it suits
- Wine lovers staying in the valley
- Why we picked it
- The most-booked Hunter Valley tour here, with over 500 reviews.
Hunter Valley full day: wine, cheese and chocolate
€150 per person7 hours 4.7 (263)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Starts from
- Hunter Valley (local pickup)
- Who it suits
- Food and wine lovers staying in the valley
- Why we picked it
- Lunch and every tasting are in the price.
Port Stephens sandboarding by 4WD
€27 per person1 h 30 min 4.5 (577)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Starts from
- Anna Bay (Port Stephens)
- Who it suits
- Visitors with a car in Port Stephens
- Why we picked it
- The most-booked dune trip, for about €27.
Port Stephens dolphin cruise with a boom net
€29 per person1 h 30 min 4.4 (1,032)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Starts from
- Nelson Bay (Port Stephens)
- Who it suits
- Families with their own car
- Why we picked it
- Over 1,000 reviews, and one of the lowest prices here.
- Small group: Hunter Valley full day: wine, cheese and chocolate takes up to 14 people.
- All 8 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are “from” prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Which one-day tours from Sydney are worth it?
The Blue Mountains are the easiest one-day trip from Sydney. They are close, and the tours run all year. Pick the Hunter Valley if you love wine. Pick Port Stephens for dunes and dolphins.
Jervis Bay and Port Stephens are the longest days, at 12 hours. Canberra suits history fans. One-day tours from Sydney all start early, so plan an easy evening.
Day trips outside of Sydney by distance
Here is how far each place is, by car or train. Times are one way.
- Blue Mountains: 60 km, about 90 minutes by express train or car.
- Hunter Valley: about 160 km to Cessnock, about 2 hours by road.
- Port Stephens: about 2.5 hours by car.
- Canberra: about 3 hours by car.
- Jervis Bay: a little over 3 hours by car, Visit NSW says.
Blue Mountains day trips
A Blue Mountains day trip shows you the Three Sisters at Echo Point and the views over the valley. The walk to the Three Sisters lookouts is free. Most tours also ride the Scenic World railway, cable car and Skyway.
Scenic World’s day pass starts at A$64 for adults, if you go on your own. You can also go to the Blue Mountains by train and do the walks alone.
Hunter Valley wine and food tours
A Hunter Valley tour is about more than wine. Our picks add cheese pairings, chocolate and a grazing-box lunch. On the half-day tour, you can look for kangaroos at the cheese stop.
Both Hunter picks here start in the valley, not in Sydney. Stay a night nearby, or see the Hunter guide below for tours with a Sydney pickup.
Port Stephens: dolphins and sand dunes
Port Stephens gives you dolphins and huge sand dunes on one trip. The dunes are on Worimi Conservation Lands at Stockton Bight. The beach there is not patrolled, so do not swim.
From Sydney, the 12-hour coach tour does it all with pickup. With a car, book the dune trip and the dolphin cruise on their own.
Jervis Bay: white beaches and dolphins
Jervis Bay is the trip for white sand and clear water. Our pick has a dolphin cruise, a walk on the White Sands trail and Hyams Beach. You also look for wild kangaroos in Booderee National Park.
It is a 12-hour day, and you meet in Haymarket. Bring your own lunch money.
Royal National Park and the South Coast
We have no guided pick for this coast, so go on your own by car or train. The Grand Pacific Drive runs 140 km from Royal National Park to Nowra. It crosses the Sea Cliff Bridge, and Wollongong is the main town.
Entry to Royal National Park costs A$12 per car per day. The train also runs from Sydney to Wollongong.
Tour or self-drive: how to choose
A tour with a city pickup means no car and no driving after wine tastings. The cost is a fixed plan and an early start.
Driving gives you more time at each stop. Check where your tour starts: four of our picks start outside Sydney. For trains, see our guide to getting around Sydney, which explains the Opal card.
Sydney weekend tours: one day or a weekend away?
One day is enough for the Blue Mountains. The Hunter Valley and Port Stephens are better with a night away. That way, you can join the tours that start there.
For a weekend away, our guide to where to stay in Sydney lists hotels in Katoomba and Pokolbin.
Tips for your day out of Sydney
Expect an early start
Pickups start early. One small-group Blue Mountains tour picks up from 6:40am, and the Port Stephens tour gets back by 7pm.
Check where the tour starts
Four of our picks start outside Sydney: two in the Hunter Valley and two in Port Stephens. Read the meeting point before you book.
If the weather turns
Two Blue Mountains tours run in all weather. They give no refund inside 24 hours. Check the forecast before that cut-off.
Bring lunch money
Lunch is not included on most of our picks. The all-inclusive Blue Mountains option and the full-day Hunter tour include it.
Pack for the day
Bring a hat, sunscreen and water. The Blue Mountains can be cool, so add a jacket.
Day tours from Sydney: questions and answers
Which day trips from Sydney are the best?
How far is each day trip from Sydney?
Is the Blue Mountains worth a day trip?
Is a Hunter Valley tour only about wine?
Where can I see dolphins on a day trip from Sydney?
Should I take a tour or drive myself?
What do day tours from Sydney include?
Can I cancel a day tour from Sydney?
More day tours from Sydney, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (10), facts checked on 25 October 2026
- Visit NSW: getting to the Blue Mountains
- NSW Government: Three Sisters Walk
- Scenic World: Unlimited Discovery Pass
- Hunter Valley Wine Country: how to get here
- Port Stephens: getting here
- Worimi Conservation Lands
- Visit Canberra: getting to Canberra
- Visit NSW: Jervis Bay
- NSW National Parks: Royal National Park
- Visit Wollongong: Grand Pacific Drive
Written by the Things to Do in Sydney editorial team.