Feel refreshed and inspired after an immersion in the life-affirming landscapes of New South Wales. Whether you crave crisp mountain air, starry night skies or the long-lasting calm following an ocean dip, here are 12 experiences across the state that will reconnect you with nature and make you feel new again.

Be moved by sacred places

Feel Aboriginal cultures pulsing through the land as you explore the state. Understand how the distinctive landscapes of the South Coast have shaped the traditions of local Yuin people as you walk the sacred Bingi Dreaming Track in Eurobodalla National Park or climb Gulaga (Mount Dromedary) in Tilba with a Yuin cultural guide. Embrace the spiritual experience of touring the expansive rock art galleries of the Mutawintji Historic Site near Broken Hill in Outback NSW, and be amazed by the many uses for native plants on an Aboriginal walking tour in Byron Bay on the Far North Coast.

Bond with iconic wildlife

Find joy in connecting with wildlife in energising new ways as you swim with wild whales in Jervis Bay and playful seals around Montague Island on the South Coast, or with dolphins in Port Stephens, north of Sydney. Coo over koalas at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, or get a buzz spotting the furry icons in Gunnedah and Narrandera, with both of these Country NSW towns known for their wild koala populations.

Be charmed by farm life

Get off the grid and experience next-level satisfaction as you learn new skills during an enriching stay at a working farm, such as Callubri Station in the heart of Outback NSW. Treat the kids to an unforgettable Hawkesbury farm stay close to Sydney, where little ones can get a kick out of collecting fresh eggs at the likes of Bilpin Country Lodge. Or revel in Italian country style on a stay at Rosedale Farm outside Orange, northwest of Sydney, where an exotic menagerie of farm animals, including a camel and two ostriches, roam the luxuriously restored historic property.

Find inner calm in the night sky

Find peace in being part of something bigger while gazing at the dazzling night skies of New South Wales. Feel uplifted by the celestial magnificence of Australia's first Dark Sky Park, a six-hour drive northwest of Sydney in Warrumbungle National Park, or get a thrill peering deeper into space at observatories at Campbelltown in Western Sydney and in Parkes in the state's Central West.

Feel new in the big blue

Sprout fresh green shoots in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, where you can renew your sense of adventure with canyoning, climbing and bushwalking galore. Recharge in UNESCO World Heritage-listed serenity — and luxury — at the likes of Spicers Sangoma Retreat and Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, and heal yourself in the only Japanese-style onsen (hot spring) in New South Wales.

Get a natural high

Breathe in the crisp mountain air on an invigorating walk to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko to savour a new feeling of accomplishment as you stand on the roof of Australia. Feel the magic in the air as the earth awakens below you during a sunrise yoga session in the nearby Snowy Mountains hub of Thredbo, then set your adventurous spirit free on a winter ski trip.

Embrace the freedom of slipping off the grid

Switch off and reconnect on an off-grid stay immersed in nature. Be among the first guests to experience Sugar Rock Ranch, a recently launched cosy hand-built cabin on the Far South Coast where you can enjoy long walks in the next-door Beowa National Park (formerly Ben Boyd National Park). Or gather your family to make new memories at Mirumiru Bubble Tent, where a family-friendly bubble tent campsite outside of Tenterfield in the New England high country features a treehouse tent kids will adore.

Relax with a different kind of streaming

Be revitalised by the rivers lacing the diverse landscapes of New South Wales. Heading south from Sydney, soak up the benefits of forest bathing alongside the calm Minnamurra River near Kiama, feel your muscles work as you paddle a kayak on the Kangaroo River in the Kangaroo Valley, and feel buoyed by the natural beauty of the Wombeyan Caves on the banks of the Wollondilly River near Goulburn. Or follow the curves of the Murray River on the Mighty Murray River Drive, enriched by pioneer and Aboriginal history, fine food and classic Country NSW hospitality along the way.

Find bush solitude in the city

Reconnect with nature without leaving Sydney in Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, where sun-dappled bush trails guide you to ancient Aboriginal rock art. Deepen your knowledge of this magical slice of urban wilderness on a mindful guided walk with Trip Slow, or take a hike in Lane Cove National Park to feel instantly energised. Select your favourite paddlecraft for a fun day exploring Lake Parramatta Reserve, or pack a picnic to savour on the leafy shores of Manly Dam on the Northern Beaches.

Be awed by dramatic landscapes

Embrace the sense of wonder as you explore the surreal moonscapes of Mungo Nat

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ional Park in Outback NSW, and feel the power Fitzroy Falls plunging 81 metres off a dramatic Southern Highlands escarpment into the verdant valley below. Appreciate the otherworldly beauty and resilience of Gondwana Rainforests dating back millions of years, and feel your heart beat faster as you trace the soaring sandstone cliffs of the Royal National Park south of Sydney.

Rejuvenate with an unforgettable swim

Feel your worries float away in more than 100 idyllic ocean pools along the New South Wales coast, including Bondi Icebergs, below the freshly renovated Icebergs Dining Room and Bar at Bondi Beach. Or enjoy a revitalising soak in Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool, surrounded by bushland in the Blue Mountains. Harness the healing properties of the tea-tree infused waters of Lake Ainwsorth at Lennox Head on the North Coast, and cool off under waterfalls at the likes of Nellies Glen, a serene bushland swimming hole with a picturesque waterfall in Budderoo National Park on the South Coast.

Sync to nature's soundtrack

Be calmed by the sounds of nature as your e-bike does the whisper-quiet legwork, with recently launched e-bike tours including an off-the-beaten-track wine tour with Canberra Wine Region E-Bike Tours in Murrumbateman and two self-guided tours in the lush Byron Bay hinterland offered by Beyond Byron E Bikes. Or hire an electric vehicle for a peaceful, eco-friendly road trip. Be serenaded by native birds on the Far North Coast's lush Rainforest Way, and admire the ever-changing landscapes on the Waterfall Way as you cruise silently past cascading Mid North Coast waterfalls en route to the dramatic Northern Tablelands.

Note to editors:

Find this article, accompanied by additional downloadable images, (for registered Media Centre users) on the Destination NSW Media Centre.

There's so much going on across Sydney and New South Wales. For access to the latest news and to be kept up to date, register now with the Destination NSW Media Centre media.destinationnsw.com