Boxing Day in NSW

The presents have been opened and the turkey has been eaten, so it’s time to decide how you want to spend Boxing Day. Head for the mountains, swim in ocean pools along the South Coast, pick juicy cherries, meet plenty of animals or have fun at a beachside carnival. There’s so much to do in NSW this Summer.

Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley

A short drive or train ride from Sydney, the Blue Mountains is the perfect Boxing Day escape. Ride the Scenic Railway into the Jamison Valley and glide 270m above it on the Scenic Skyway at Scenic World. Then refuel with lunch at Echoes Restaurant or the Wintergarden High Tea at the Hydro Majestic.

In the Hunter Valley, the annual Christmas Lights Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens will still be on display with over one million lights, rides, entertainment and food. A number of the wineries will also be open on Boxing Day, so you can sample the famous local semillon under the Summer sunshine.

South Coast

Jump in the car for a South Coast ocean pool road trip – there are a dozen in the Illawarra region alone and two more in Kiama. Stretch your legs along the Kiama Coast Walk, White Sands Walk or Light to Light Walk. And enjoy some old fashioned fun at the Huskisson Carnival, which starts on Boxing Day.

How about some animal encounters? Meet meerkats, lions and giraffes at Mogo Zoo in Eurobodalla. Get up close to koalas and wombats at Symbio Wildlife Park in Helensburgh before cooling off in the new Splash Park. Join a tour to Montague Island and snorkel or scuba dive with playful seals.

North Coast

Near Kempsey, you can join hundreds of eager runners in the Hat Head Trig Marathon – or just cheer them along from the sidelines. For racing of a different kind, dust off your best dress or your sharpest suit and get your place trackside at the Ballina Boxing Day Races or Newcastle Boxing Day Races.

In Port Stephens, many of the best wildlife and adventure activities will be running over the holidays. Head out on the water in search of dolphins, zip over vast sand dunes on a quad bike or ride a camel along the beach. Meet more animals at the Australian Reptile Park on the Central Coast or at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.

Country NSW

Cherry season is in full swing in December – take a road trip to Orange or Young to pick your own (or just eat your fill). The residents of Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo will be waiting for visitors. Take a safari truck through the Lion Pride Lands, walk through the Wild Herds exhibit and spot the new white rhino calf.