8 Most Breathtaking Towns In New South Wales

In New South Wales, "breathtaking" isn't limited to coastal headlands or mountain lookouts. It's the way history and modern life knit themselves into these gorgeous Australian landscapes, where a Victorian-era post office shares the skyline with rolling farmlands, or a fishing port doubles as the stage for weekend markets. Some of these small towns awe with raw, dramatic scenery, others with the way culture and community take root in their setting, but all of them stop you in your tracks. And, yes, they can take your breath away.

Huskisson

Huskisson sits against the turquoise sweep of Jervis Bay, where the water is so clear it doubles as a window into the marine park's world of dolphins, seals, sharks, and, during migration, humpback whales. The cute cafes, gift shops, and pubs on Owen Street all center around the breathtaking natural attractions the town has to offer. Mainly, Huskisson Beach with its soft and impossibly white sand. Alongside nearby Callala Beach, it is one of the most popular walking, swimming, and kayaking stretches on the South Coast. Speaking of kayaking, you can rent them at several spots and paddle into the mouth of Currambene Creek, passing the Huskisson Wharf, where you can pop on a Dolphin Cruise or check the gorgeous waterfront properties.

Berry

Berry's beauty hits before you even reach the main street, a rolling dairy country framed by the Cambewarra Range, then suddenly you see avenues of oaks and elms planted by early settlers. The heritage architecture isn't just pretty wallpaper; it's the backdrop for a small town that feels alive. Every first Sunday of the month, the Berry Markets spill out with produce and handmade goods, making the village green hum with color. On quieter days, visit the Berry Museum, which is inside a remarkable old bank and captures the town's 19th-century story. But while history and modernity are beautifully woven into this landlocked town, what makes it so breathtaking is that it's a gateway to even more natural wonders of the Shoalhaven area. This includes Seven Mile Beach, just five kilometres east, which runs in a perfect line of white sand against the teal water of the Pacific Ocean.

Yamba

At the mouth of the Clarence River on the Far North Coast, Yamba is a water-soaked dream where dolphins ride the tide and beaches face every direction like a natural compass. Main Beach sets the tone with breathtaking golden sand, rolling surf, and a tidal ocean pool that glimmers at sunrise. Just above it, the mid-19th-century Yamba Lighthouse rises over Pilot Hill, its grassy headland a perfect spot for a picnic blanket and whale-watching when the season turns. On every Wednesday morning year-round, Whiting Beach comes alive with the Yamba Farmers & Producers Market, stalls piled with local prawns, spirits from Yamba Distilling Co., and live music drifting across the river mouth.

Byron Bay

Some of New South Wales' most breathtaking towns are remote and, for lack of a better term, wear their 'hidden gem' status like a crown. Byron Bay is not that town. It is a tourist attraction through and through. A place for those seeking luxury wellness attractions not far from Chris Hemsworth's multi-million dollar home. But, in part, this place is so popular because of its relentless beauty. Wategos Beach curves gently under dramatic cliffs and is a perfect place for swimming, beginner surfing, or an early-morning yoga session with the waves lapping at your feet. Offshore, Julian Rocks Nature Reserve teems with coral, turtles, and fish, making snorkeling here an unforgettable experience. Inland, the subtropical hinterland offers trails through lush rainforest, hidden waterfalls, and the Cumbebin Wetland Sanctuary. Even the town itself is visually incredible with oceanside villas, craft breweries, and resorts with uninterrupted ocean views.

Tibooburra

Australia's breathtaking beauty doesn't just come from blue waters hitting sandy shores or tiny towns hidden amongst the trees; it can also be found on the scorched earth of the Outback. Here, numerous Australian animals make their home under a relentless sun that shines down upon Tibooburra. The town sits at the very edge of New South Wales' northwest, bordering the states of Queensland and South Australia. Red desert spreads in all directions, punctuated by the jagged silhouettes of granite tors. The town itself, tiny and resolutely old-school, is framed by Sturt National Park to one side and Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park to the other. Both parks offer incredible opportunities to venture into a type of nature found in so few other parts of the world. The Jump-Up Loop Road through Sturt National Park delivers the kind of outback spectacle that makes cameras work overtime: mesas, rolling gibber plains, and wedge-tailed eagles threading the sky. Then there's the Tree Walk, tracing weathered Coolabahs, which feels like walking a natural gallery where arid season light hits red kangaroos roaming in the dust.

Tilba Tilba

Tucked beneath the towering presence of Mount Gulaga, Tilba Tilba radiates an out-of-time beauty that feels both epic and intimate. The mountain itself, an ancient volcano and sacred site for the Yuin people, demands attention: challenging rainforest trails lead to its summit, where granite outcrops frame sweeping views of emerald hills and the shimmering South Coast. Mystery Bay sits just east, a small seaside enclave where rock platforms meet the waves. The adjacent hamlet of Central Tilba threads history and artistry together in a way few towns do. Its 19th-century weatherboard buildings host artisan shops like Passionfish Candles, creating a streetscape that's as visually striking as the nature surrounding it. Not far away, the breathtaking gardens of Foxglove Spires sprawl across three and a half acres with fragrant lavender, wisteria, and pear trees intertwining in a tapestry of color that sits perfectly against the green slopes behind it.

Bermagui

Bermagui sits on the Sapphire Coast between the distant slopes of Gulaga. The Blue Pool clings to the rocky shoreline, a 50-meter natural ocean-fed swimming hole. Just beside it, dolphins sometimes arc through the waves, and whales drift past during the migration season. Just north, Camel Rock and Horse Head Rock punctuate the coast, their jagged, 450-million-year-old formations climbing through the surf. Walking between them, you feel the scale of the ocean against the rugged cliffs, with seabirds whirling overhead. Inland, Wallaga Lake stretches quietly behind the small town where the harbor's turquoise waters lap at the edge of Lamont Street, boats swaying gently at the wharf and reflecting the warm glow of cafes along the waterfront.

Eden

Eden lives up to its name, a coastal jewel cradled between Ben Boyd National Park and the deep, glimmering waters of Twofold Bay. This third-deepest natural harbor in the Southern Hemisphere has a legendary history with wild orcas that once cooperated with whalers, a story preserved at the Eden Killer Whale Museum and traced along the self-drive Killer Whale Trail. Today, migrating humpbacks pass close to shore from May through early November, drawing visitors to vantage points around Twofold Bay or aboard Cat Balou Cruises for an intimate, guided encounter with the giants of the sea. Inland, the Gravity Eden Mountain Bike Park winds over 58 kilometres of sculpted trails through Nullica State Forest, connecting beginner loops to challenging descents framed by eucalyptus and a breathtaking forest canopy.

From the rugged red deserts of Tibooburra to the surf-kissed shores of Byron Bay, New South Wales bursts with landscapes that simply take your breath away. Yamba's river bends and coastal energy pulse with life, while Huskisson's pure white sand beaches stretch alongside turquoise waters. Each of these small towns offers a raw mixture of nature, modernity, and history, proving that this Australian state has more than Sydney to offer tourists from around the world.