While exploring Sydney offers plenty of exciting activities and tourist spots, just beyond the city, there are incredible sparkling waters and World-Heritage wildernesses to behold. Day trips from Sydney could have you up in the Blue Mountains National Park or exploring the Ku-ring-gai National Park.
New South Wales has everything to offer. From glorious beaches to mountainous hikes, from Aboriginal culture to confectionary museums, there is no shortage of day trip ideas for anyone.
Whether you want to stretch your legs on some scenic walks or visit wildlife centres, we’ve got the top Sydney day trips, and some pointers for each location to show you where to charge an electric car as part of your trip. Why not hire an electric vehicle or Tesla to make your journey all the more special?
Blue Mountains
A UNESCO World Heritage Area and one of the most popular destinations, the Blue Mountains National Park is less than three hours from Sydney by train. The journey can take only fifty minutes by car along the M4 Motorway. During the school holidays, it might take a little longer. Hiring an EV will make the trip more exciting, and the journey passes by even quicker.
Incredibly scenic, with a blue haze and natural eucalyptus scent, there are 664,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness to explore. Why not visit the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden or Wentworth Falls? The Botanic Garden is home to 21,000 plants and 900 species. Each trip to the gardens feels like the first as it changes with each season.
Or explore the region’s thick eucalyptus forests and 140 kilometres of hiking trails. Take in the views of rugged gorges and spectacular waterfalls, Aboriginal rock paintings, engage in abseiling, rock climbing, mountain biking, or horseback riding.
One of the area’s highlights is the Three Sisters — stunning, picturesque massive rock formations. Or take a trip on the hair-raising Katoomba Scenic Railway down the Jamison Valley. No matter how often you visit the Blue Mountains National Park, there is always some new waterfall or hiking trail to explore.
Charging for a Blue Mountains EV trip
Heading out from Sydney to the Blue Mountains for a day on the road is made possible by Evie Networks ultra-fast charger at Caddens Corner, just outside Penrith. There’s also the NRMA fast charger in Lithgow, and if you are spending time at Scenic World, their Tesla Destination Charger is another option.
Berowra
Only a 40 minutes drive from Sydney along the M2 and M1. Choose to go to the Berowra Valley National Park on your Sydney day trip, where a panoramic view of the park will greet you from every lookout — offering many hiking opportunities with many great walks and watersports fun at Berowra Creek.
Or head to Berowra Waters, where you can take a ferry ride on the Hawkesbury River. The ferry is free for cars and runs 24/7. Get off at the Furber Recreation Reserve and enjoy a picnic by the water’s edge. Or make use of one of the electric BBQs. There are also many cafe and restaurant options if you would prefer to eat in.
You can hire boats from Berowra Waters to head downstream on a kayak or spend the day lounging on a BBQ boat.
It might be a good idea to drive if you’re planning to get wet or muddy. Hiring an EV is an excellent way to make the drive a little more interesting. There is plenty of parking space around Berowra Valley National Park and Berowra Waters.
Charging for a Berowra Valley EV trip
Berowra is relatively close to Sydney so almost every EV will handle a day trip with no issues. If you did need a top up, there’s the Macquarie Park Tesla Supercharger or for those coming to or from Western Sydney, the Evie Networks charger in Seven Hills.
Kiama
About two hours south of Sydney, Kiama is a bit of a further drive. Popular for both day and weekend trips, Kiama is well known to locals and tourists. As the drive is pretty long, you might want to leave around 7 am for your day trip. To make the early start slightly more bearable, consider hiring a Tesla for an exciting beginning to the journey.
En route to the south coast, stop at Berry and visit the world-famous Berry Doughnut Van. Queues can get quite long at peak times, so ensure you get there early. Then, have a stroll around Berry — a historic, charming town.
When you drive on to Kiama, the first stop is the beach. Seven Mile Beach National Park is a long, beautiful and unmissable coastline. Venture on a coastal walk along the Sand Track Walk. Or, take in the sights and, on a hot day, you might want to try a swim.
It would be best if you also headed to the Gerringong Whale Watching Platform at Werri Beach. With plenty of street parking, spend the morning looking for humpback whales and taking in the spectacular views. If you can find the time, make a trip to Gerringong Boat Harbour Rock Pools, Little Blowhole and Kiama Blowhole. An elegant, powerful natural water phenomenon.
Kiama Blowhole can get very busy, so you might not be able to find parking too close to the site. You can park just outside the harbour easily and walk from there.
Charging for a Kiama EV Trip
Once again, Kiama and Berry are well-catered for with EV fast chargers which you could use at either end of your trip. Use the Tesla Supercharger in Berry or the Chargefox Ultra Fast charger in Shell Cove.
Pokolbin
A beautiful town in the Hunter Valley, Pokolbin is north of Sydney and takes about two hours by car. Destination NSW labels the area as the heart of the New South Wales wine country. The closest wine region near Sydney, Pokolbin, is full of wineries and vineyard restaurants. Ensure you drive to Pokolbin so you can carry back your purchases more easily.
Home to some of Australia’s most renowned wines, such as Tyrrell’s, Tulloch and McGuigan, you can’t avoid taking a tour of the vineyards or tasting local wines. Or, you can hire a bicycle and explore the enchanting, rural roads of the country town.
There are many restaurants to try, or time your visit with the Hunter Valley Wine and Food Festival to sample the local produce. Pokolbin is also home to jazz and opera festivals in the fall and rock concerts all year round. You should also book a trip to The Hunter Wine Theatre and the Hunter Valley Wine School to learn insights into how wine is made and taste local wines.
Beyond the wine, check out some of Pokolbin’s golf courses, spa trips and craft breweries or the local distillery. Also, make sure to check out the sensational Hunter Valley Gardens.
Charging for a Hunter Valley EV Trip
During a Hunter Valley trip you may find your accommodation offers EV chargers for guests – including at the big hotels like the Crowne Plaza. For day trippers, the NRMA charger in Pokolbin itself is very useful, along with the Central Coast Tesla Supercharger in Tuggerah.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
A short 40-minute drive north of Sydney’s CBD, the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is Australia’s second oldest national park. If you want to escape into nature, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is the place to go. There is plenty of parking for your rented EV, costing $12 for the day.
With peaceful bays, bushland creaks, rainforests and eucalyptus forests, this national park offers stunning views everywhere you turn. There are plenty of day trip activities, from hiking a walking track, Aboriginal heritage walks, watching wildlife, bird watching or renting a boat. Plus, there are many waterfront cafes to stock up on fuel.
The magnificent views are not all the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park has to offer. With a significant history, this is a great place to take your kids for the day. There are more than 350 Aboriginal sites in the park, including rock engravings, burial sites, and axe-grinding grooves. You can learn about the rich Aboriginal history on the heritage walks or the culture tours at the Basin.
Make sure you also head to the West Head Lookout and the Barrenjoey Lighthouse for beautiful coastal views.
Charging your EV for Northern Sydney National Parks
The distances to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park from most parts of Sydney can easily be absorbed by modern electric vehicles. Depending on your trip, a top up could be found at the Macquarie Park Tesla Supercharger, or the Jolt Charger in Mona Vale if you feel like heading to the coast.
Wollongong
An hour drive along the stunning Grand Pacific Drive, you will want to hire a top of the range EV or Tesla to enjoy this road trip in, and this scenic drive from the Royal National Park to Nowra is 140 kilometres of rocky coastline and epic beaches.
The journey takes you across the Sea Cliff Bridge and winding around the cliffs, and this is a road trip to remember. Take time to visit the viewing platform at Sea Cliff Bridge and try a spot of whale watching.
Wollongong is also home to a diverse range of cafes and restaurants. With everything from vegan to Vietnamese, it is a great day trip destination for foodies, and seafood is, of course, their specialty.
Enjoy the Aboriginal art at the Wollongong Art Gallery or visit the Wollongong Botanic Garden for a cultural day trip. There is also the Science Space Museum and the Nan Tien Temple to check out. Or, if you prefer the outdoors, you can surf, swim or paddle in any of the magnificent beaches around. Austinmer and Belmore Basin are some of the most popular beaches.
Alternatively, venture hiking through the rainforest or a bicycle ride along the 42 kilometres of local trails. There are also more extreme sports on offer, from hang gliding to skydiving. With so much to do, it might be hard to limit your trip to just one day.
Charging for a Wollongong EV trip
Wollongong is within relatively easy reach of central and southern Sydney. Useful fast charging stations for top ups en route to or from Sydney could include East Village Shopping Centre or Evie Networks Cabramatta.
Gosford
Just over an hour drive by EV or an hour and a half train ride, Gosford lies just north of Sydney and a suburb of the Central Coast. With a rich history and beautiful landscape, Gosford is an ideal city escape day trip.
Head to the Australian Reptile Park to see a vast array of reptiles, such as kangaroos, koalas, Tasmanian devils, wombats, dingoes, cassowaries, komodo dragons, a giant Galapagos tortoise, crocodiles, and alligators.
Alternatively, go to the Gosford Edogawa Commemorative Garden to see the dry stone garden, timber footbridges, wisteria pergola, Japanese tea house, koi fish ponds, and beautiful plantings. The Henry Kendall Cottage & Historical Museum is home to a 19th-century poet, and the museum offers an eye-opening window to the past.
The Chocolate & Nougat Factory should be at the top of your list for those with a sweet tooth. Home to Australia’s favourites, like Nougat Limar, Bon Bon Fine Chocolate, and The Sydney Marshmallow Co., a day out at the chocolate factory includes learning about the world of confectionery and delicious tastings.
With so much to do in Gosford, you might consider spending several days there or going on several trips.
Charging for a Central Coast EV Trip
For anyone spending some extended time on the Central Coast, the primary option is the Tesla Supercharger in Tuggerah. If you end up heading towards The Entrance, Lake Macquarie Visitor Information Centre has a fast charger too.
Summing up
Hiring an EV for a day trip will make an average day out into something memorable.
There are so many incredible day trip destinations less than an hour or two from Sydney, and it’s never too early to start planning where to go next.
