8 Fairy-Tale Small Towns In New South Wales

New South Wales is one of six states that make up Australia. The state covers an area of over 309,000 miles, and its geography can be divided into four distinct sections: the mountains, the Western and Central Plains, and the Coast. With warm summers and mild winters, New South Wales, Australia, is a place that is always on the move, and with year-round activities and constant natural beauty, there are plenty of opportunities to get the full New South Wales experience. From 18th-century ruins and mountain tops, to swimming with turtles and surfing the beautiful waters, these eight small towns are some of the most magical places in the state.

Bowral

A popular tourist destination is the charming town of Bowral, located in New South Wales' Southern Highlands. This magical town is known as the birthplace of Mary Poppins and features the Mary Poppins Statue commemorating the iconic fictional character that has brought joy to many. For panoramic views of the area, visit the Bowral Lookout, a historical landmark accessible at Mount Gibraltar Reserve, offering a picnic area, restrooms, and trails. For a cute, compact experience, visit Corbett Gardens. This urban park has a wide array of colorful seasonal flower displays and is known for its Spring Tulip Festival. The festival, held from mid-September to early October, features live music, food, and community activities as well as over 80,000 annuals and mass-planted tulips.

Byron Bay

Byron Bay is a popular coastal town in New South Wales, located on the easternmost part of mainland Australia. Well-known for its beaches and surfing, Byron Bay is a magical place that offers up-close experiences with wildlife, natural beauty, and tropical weather. There are several beaches scattered throughout the area that provide captivating views and various entertaining activities. Take a swim or go bird watching at Tallow Beach, located in Arakwal National Park, or head to Clarkes Beach, which offers rock pools and a wide, sweeping sandy beach where visitors can learn how to surf and even catch a glimpse of humpback whales that frequent the area. With rocky outcrops, the waters of the Nguthungulli Julian Rocks nature reserve are known for snorkeling and diving among turtles, stingrays, and gray nurse sharks.

Jervis Bay

Located on the south coast of New South Wales, Jervis Bay, Australia, is a 102-square-kilometre ocean bay and village with crystal-clear waters that are surrounded by stunning natural views. Spend the day at Hyams Beach and walk along the sugar white sand and catch a glimpse of dolphins dancing in the water. The Jervis Bay Maritime Museum features a gallery of historical displays, situated within a pond and gardens, accessible along a boardwalk. The Cape St. George Lighthouse is a well-visited tourist attraction that seems to be pulled straight out of a fairy tale. Overlooking the beaches and sea, the ruins of a 19th-century lighthouse tell a story of the past. Close by is Cave Beach, where sandy trails and native wildlife are the backdrop for mesmerizing caves.

Crescent Head

The coastal village of Crescent Head, Australia, located on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, offers world-renowned point break bush walking. Experience magic at the Big Hill Rainforest Walking Track, where coastal views, rocky headlands, and lush rainforest merge together for an unforgettable journey. Spend the day exploring Crescent Head’s most popular family beach, Killick Beach, a long, undeveloped area that has long attracted surfers from across the globe. Alternatively, you can head down to Killick Creek, a river that is perfect for swimming, fishing, and other recreational water activities. For those who want to experience the beauty of the Australian outdoors in comfort, Goolawah National Park offers beach camping, where you can watch the sun rise and set across the water.

Merimbula

Merimbula is a coastal resort town on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Being a resort town, there are plenty of opportunities to engage in memorable activities with friends and family. Walk down the 3.4-km Merimbula Boardwalk to the Merimbula Bridge, where you can walk past the Sydney Rock Oyster Farms, under captivating eucalyptus canopies, and over unique mangrove beds. Take the family to Magic Mountain Merimbula, a theme park with water slides and pools, tree climbing, go-karts, and rides. Another family-friendly activity is to visit the Pataroo Palace, an animal sanctuary and education center that showcases many native Australian animals, such as koalas, kangaroos, as well as bats, snakes, and colorful birds.

Katoomba

The primary town of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales is Katoomba, Australia, known for its iconic landmarks and natural beauty. If you are looking for an amazing experience, with sweeping views, visit Scenic World, a mountainous locale with a railway and cable car ride. Filled with biking and walking trails is the nearby Blue Mountains National Park, at the edge of the Great Dividing Range. Take a guided tour to the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah, one of the highest botanic gardens in the country, where you can enjoy the awe-inspiring views surrounded by cool-climate plants. Reaching 3,481 feet, the peak of Mount York, the eucalyptus-covered Blue Mountain summit, will make you feel on top of the world.

Narooma

On the far south coast of New South Wales is the small, picturesque coastal town of Narooma, Australia. Take a boat out to the island of Barunguba, Montague Island, a nature reserve where you can see colonies of seals and a variety of colorful birds, equipped with a cottage, lighthouse, and water activities, particularly scuba diving. Close to the centre of town is a stunning beach park, known as Narooma Surf Beach, which looks out to Montague Island. Visitors can swim with the seals, as the waters of Narooma are well populated with these stunning creatures. Take the kids to Bar Beach South, located in North Narooma. With its naturally enclosed beach and placid waters, it is a prime area for children to snorkel and get a one-of-a-kind experience.

Eden

Offering visitors a slice of paradise is the small coastal town of Eden, Australia, located in the South Coast region of New South Wales. Home to the Killer Whale Trail Lookout, a popular tourist attraction that offers a one-of-a-kind experience, Eden is a place that has a lot of activities and events dedicated to these top oceanic predators. The annual Eden Whale Festival, held from October 3rd to 5th, celebrates the southern migration of whales, where visitors can watch these animals up close. The Eden Killer Whale Museum explores the area’s whaling and maritime history through tours and larger-than-life exhibits. When visiting Eden, make sure to head over to Aslings Beach, which has both surfing and swimming, and features an amazing rock pool that is a top attraction.

Overall, New South Wales has so much to offer that it is more than just a dream vacation destination; it is a place where every corner tells a story, and every town feels as though it has been lifted straight from the pages of a fairy tale. With experiences that range from cultural to adventurous, each of the towns scattered across the state has its own distinct character. Whether it is attending one-of-a-kind, vibrant festivals, wandering through mountain villages, swimming in crystal clear waters, or losing yourself in the natural beauty that surrounds you, these towns offer a sense of wonder that is hard to match.