From beachside wine bars and safari tents in the bush to Georgian villages and coastal walks, NSW has no shortage of romantic getaways. Here are our picks for couples escapes across coastal and country NSW. All destinations are within driving distance of Sydney. If you don’t want just one destination, jump to the end for road trip suggestions that work well for couples.
Central Coast
The Central Coast is an easy place to start for a couples weekend close to Sydney, with beach towns, coastal walks, boutique stays and plenty of waterfront dining.
-
Killcare
Drive time from Sydney: 1.5 hours
Killcare suits couples who want a polished coastal weekend with boutique accommodation, fine dining at Bells at Killcare and Bouddi National Park walks nearby.
-
Terrigal
Drive time from Sydney: 1.5 hours
Terrigal works well for a couples weekend built around beach walks, waterfront cocktails, seaside dining and an easy stay close to the sand.
South Coast
The NSW South Coast works well for couples who want a coastal escape with beaches, walks, relaxed towns, good food and longer holiday options further down the coast.
-
Culburra Beach
Drive time from Sydney: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Watch the sunset, then settle in for wood-fired pizza at Terra & Mare, dinner at The Common or cocktails at Loco Lane: Culburra Beach is a quiet, unhurried pick for couples wanting a beach weekend without the crowds.
-
Gerringong
Drive time from Sydney: Around 2 hours
For a quieter South Coast weekend, Gerringong gives couples Werri Beach, ocean views, coastal dining, a brewery in town and winery nearby.
-
Huskisson
Drive time from Sydney: Around 2 hours and 30 minutes
Pick Huskisson for a Jervis Bay weekend built around beach swims, dolphin cruises, glamping at Paperbark Camp and dinner at The Gunyah.
-
Kiama
Drive time from Sydney: 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours
Kiama makes for an easy coastal weekend option for couples: coastal views, the Kiama Coastal Walk, ocean pools, excellent restaurants and wine bars.
-
Mollymook
Drive time from Sydney: 3 to 3.5 hours
Mollymook is the quieter South Coast pick for couples who want Bannisters, Rick Stein, lazy beach mornings and long beach walks in one small coastal base.
Country NSW and Southern Highlands
For a slower country weekend, these towns pair heritage streets, cellar doors, village shopping, gardens and long lunches within a manageable drive from Sydney.
-
Berrima
Drive time from Sydney: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Berrima is a slow Southern Highlands stop for heritage streets, antique browsing, nearby cellar doors and long lunches.
-
Berry
Drive time from Sydney: 2 hours
Boutiques, bakeries, restaurants, nearby wineries and Shoalhaven countryside drives make Berry an easy country weekend for two.
-
Bowral
Drive time from Sydney: 1.5 hours
Bowral brings together cool-climate gardens, boutiques, wineries and polished country-town dining within an easy drive of Sydney and Canberra.
-
Kangaroo Valley
Drive time from Sydney: 2 hours and 15 minutes
A quiet country base for couples who prefer river swimming and kayaking, bush walks, waterfalls, wombats at dusk and cosy village meals over a packed restaurant scene.
Hunter Region and the North Coast
North of Sydney, these destinations bring together marina stays, wildlife experiences, wine country, destination dining and coastal scenery.
-
Hunter Valley
Drive time from Sydney: 2 hours
The Hunter Valley is the obvious food-and-wine choice for Sydneysiders, with over 150 cellar doors, long lunches and boutique accommodation close enough for a weekend.
-
Nelson Bay, Port Stephens
Drive time from Sydney: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Marina stays, Rick Stein at Bannisters, dolphin cruises and the Tomaree Head walk make Nelson Bay an excellent location for a romantic weekend away with a beach-holiday feel.
Romantic road trips
We have two ready-made suggested road trip itineraries that work well for couples heading off from Sydney. Both are on the NSW South Coast:
- South Coast 4-day road trip: this is an easy loop with fairly minimal driving (300 km in total), from Sydney to Kiama, Gerringong and Berry, then back to Sydney.
- South Coast 6-day road trip: this longer trip (total 732 km) with more driving each day takes you south from Sydney to Kiama, Mollymook, Narooma then back north via Huskisson to Sydney.