5 Summer Escapes
Five beach towns for swimming, water activities and coastal weekends, all within driving distance of Sydney.
Our Favourite Summer Weekend Destinations
Last updated
For a summer weekend away from the city we’re looking for a good beach and enough cafes, restaurants and activities to fill a couple of days. At the same time, we want somewhere within driving distance of Sydney, with enough accommodation to support a weekend stay.
We selected these five coastal towns from our favourite Next Escape weekend destinations because each offers a different kind of summer weekend, from lively beach towns and surf breaks to calm bay swimming, wildlife cruises and sand-dune activities. Each section links to a complete Next Escape guide covering where to explore, eat and stay. We’ve also included our favourite accommodation in each destination, all places we’ve personally stayed at and loved.
Next Escape is your guide to real places and real experiences, with practical, independent travel advice based on first-hand visits: the places we’ve explored, the restaurants we’ve eaten at and the walks we’ve done. This page may contain affiliate links; if you book or buy through them, Next Escape may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
MORE IDEAS
For a full round-up of all our favourite beach towns, check out the Beach Escapes section.
Terrigal
From Sydney: 1 hour and 30 minutes (85 km)
Terrigal combines a relaxed beachy feel with sophisticated dining and an iconic headland walk, all just 90 minutes from Sydney. It has a patrolled beach, calm water and paddleboard hire at Terrigal Lagoon, plus enough cafes, restaurants and accommodation to make a weekend easy.
Summer is when Terrigal is at its liveliest. Stay overnight so you can walk The Skillion early, swim before the beach fills and finish the day with sunset cocktails overlooking the ocean.
READ THE FULL NEXT ESCAPE GUIDE TO TERRIGAL →
OUR FAVOURITE ACCOMMODATION
Crowne Plaza
The Crowne Plaza has been part of the Terrigal landscape since the 1980s and is an easy, comfortable base for the weekend. You are right across the road from the beach and in the heart of Terrigal’s cafes and restaurants. The facilities are all you’d expect from a 4-star hotel, with a great pool, spa, gym and parking. There’s a mix of rooms and suites, all with balconies and most with ocean views.
Killcare
From Sydney: 1 hour and 30 minutes (101 km)
This small coastal village pairs beaches with quality dining and suits couples and food lovers looking for a quieter coastal stay. The village sits on the Bouddi Peninsula and is the gateway to the 8.5 km one-way Bouddi Coastal Walk, with Killcare Beach on one side and the calm waters of Hardys Bay on the other.
Summer here means beach swims, waterfront lunches around Hardys Bay and slow afternoons around the pool at Bells at Killcare. If you want to tackle the Bouddi Coastal Walk, start early before the day heats up, or choose a shorter section between the beaches.
READ THE FULL NEXT ESCAPE GUIDE TO KILLCARE →
OUR FAVOURITE ACCOMMODATION
Bells at Killcare
Bells at Killcare is a gorgeous boutique hotel and restaurant in Killcare Heights, up the hill from Killcare Beach on one side and Hardys Bay on the other. The grounds are beautiful, with little creeks, meandering paths and a manicured lawn with plenty of spots to sit, read and relax. The on-site Wild Flower Bar & Dining serves seasonal menus built around fresh produce and has a great wine list.
Gerringong
From Sydney: 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes (141 km)
Gerringong has a beachy, surf-town feel with a slower-paced atmosphere. It works well for families, surfers and couples looking for a relaxed beach weekend. Although Gerringong is a small town, there are still plenty of cafes and restaurants.
Summer is made for swimming at Werri Beach and the ocean pool, or heading to nearby Seven Mile Beach for a long beach day. Gerringong also sits at the southern end of the Kiama Coastal Walk if you are feeling active.
READ THE FULL NEXT ESCAPE GUIDE TO GERRINGONG →
OUR FAVOURITE ACCOMMODATION
Park Ridge Retreat
Park Ridge Retreat is in central Gerringong, close to the cafes and restaurants. It’s an ideal base if you want to walk to lunch or dinner. The beach is around a 15-minute walk away.
Huskisson
From Sydney: around 2 hours and 30 minutes (193 km)
Huskisson is the main town on Jervis Bay: a small main street, a wharf, a few great places to eat and easy access to the beaches and bay. It works equally well for families, groups and couples, with calm swimming, dolphin cruises, kayaking and Booderee National Park nearby.
For swimming, snorkelling, wildlife spotting and switching off for a couple of days, Huskisson is hard to beat in summer. It is a longer drive than the Central Coast choices, so give it a full weekend or three nights if you can, and book accommodation and cruises early for school holidays.
READ THE FULL NEXT ESCAPE GUIDE TO HUSKISSON →
OUR FAVOURITE ACCOMMODATION
Paperbark Camp
About 10 minutes from Huskisson in Woollamia, Paperbark Camp sits on 80 acres of eucalyptus bushland along Currambene Creek. There are 12 luxury safari tents, bikes and kayaks on-site, and wallabies wandering the property at dusk. This is our pick of the Huskisson accommodation, particularly for couples.
Nelson Bay and Port Stephens
From Sydney: around 2 hours and 30 minutes (214 km)
Nelson Bay is the main base for exploring Port Stephens, with calm harbour beaches, surf beaches, sand dunes and wildlife experiences spread across the peninsula. You can ride camels at Anna Bay, eat freshly shucked oysters, take a dolphin cruise and finish the day with waterfront dining.
This is our pick for an activity-filled summer weekend. Book the sand-dune experiences and cruises ahead, allow time for swimming and kayaking, and choose accommodation around Nelson Bay, Corlette or Soldiers Point depending on whether you want to be close to town or somewhere quieter. It works best with at least two nights.
READ THE FULL NEXT ESCAPE GUIDE TO NELSON BAY AND PORT STEPHENS →
OUR FAVOURITE ACCOMMODATION
The Anchorage, Corlette
Set around a quiet private marina at Corlette, about five minutes from Nelson Bay, The Anchorage is a Hamptons-style boutique hotel with rooms overlooking the water. Facilities include a family pool, an adults-only pool, a small beach beside the hotel, The Galley Kitchen and Moby’s Bar. The decor is fresh, the rooms are lovely and the whole property has a restful, coastal feel.