Occupying Australia's southeast corner, the diverse state of New South Wales is the country's oldest, and houses its cosmopolitan capital of Sydney. Captain James Cook sailed into Sydney's fine harbour in 1770 to establish the continent's first permanent European settlement, and the city began with a boisterous enclave known to residents as the Rocks, now the historic centre of the city.

Within New South Wales' extensive borders are at least 70 national parks, where Australia's sometimes bizarre wildlife and natural endowments provide each other sustenance. Featherdale Wildlife Park offers an authentic look at native land animals, while Oceanworld Manly provides a habitat for thousands of dwellers of the sea. The limestone Jenolan Caves illuminate the hidden life of the Blue Mountains, and the Forest of Tranquility protects the delicate balance of New South Wales' rainforests. Outdoor-lovers can ski the Snowy Mountains during winter, and attempt to scale Mt. Kosciusko, the country's highest peak, during the summer. Along the coast, Byron Bay in the state's surfing mecca, and several more white-sand beaches pop up with heartening consistency.