New South Wales

Overview
NSW is a land of extremes. The harsh temperature of white cliffs, where residents escape the heat by living underground, exist in harmony with the best snowfields and highest mountains in Australia. Ancient Aboriginal culture is celebrated, as is cutting-edge art and fashion in Sydney, the country's largest and best-known metropolis.

New South Wales also offers the chance to escape to the Snowy or Blue Mountains, drive through the rolling wine farm country of the Hunter Valley, enjoy get-aways to the historic villages of the southern highlands or indulge in whale-watching, surfing and swimming at free-spirited coastal villages and towns.

Beaches are a clear drawcard in NSW with those at Bondi and Byron Bay among the most popular. Surfing, swimming and whale-watching can be enjoyed almost anywhere along the coast, but in Jervis Bay National Park is Hyams Beach, home to the whitest sand in the world.

The history of the state stretches much further back beyond its establishment as a British penal colony in the 18th century. Mungo Man, the remains of a man over two metres tall discovered at Lake Mungo in 1974, proves that civilisation existed here up to 62,000 years ago, numerous Aboriginal nations have called the state home, and still do. The well-preserved fish traps of Brewarrina are estimated to be 40,000 years old and are thought by some to be the oldest man-made structures in the world. In ancient times they provided a focal point for seasonal celebrations that were attended by up to 50,000 Aboriginal people from all along the east coast.

After the American War of Independence spelt the end for the British penal settlements in America, the recently annexed NSW was an obvious solution to the problem of overcrowded prisons. Conditions were harsh; the first inmates of Maitland Gaol, who included many children, were forced to march the six kilometres to the prison in shackles and chains. After almost 150 years of misery, murder and misadventure, the prison is reputedly the most haunted in the country.

Harsh conditions were not limited to the prisons, with the fascinating and often demanding NSW outback claiming many lives. In 1845, explorer Charles Sturt lost his second-in-command and was stranded for six months near Milarinka while waiting for enough rain to replenish his party's water supply. Today remote Silverton is the quintessential outback town, with its buildings and stark surround featuring in Australian films such as Mad Max II and the Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

In stunning contrast, the bright lights and sophistication of Sydney sit beside the sparkling waters of the largest natural harbour n the world. The iconic images of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, along with the successes of the 2000 Olympics and the popular Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, have ensured Sydney and NSW a place on the world stage.

New South Wales Climate
The New South Wales climate is moderate, with few temperature extremes. From December to February (summertime), the coast experiences high humidity, and the northwestern region of the state tends to be the hottest. The Snowy Mountain region is usually the coldest area, with snowfall and long periods of frost in the winter months from June to August.