Scuba dive the dazzling reef of a secluded island, mountain bike down the country's highest mountain, raft the longest river in Australia and scale the cliffs of a World Heritage location – this is adventuring in NSW. Through mountains, gorges, reefs, deserts, rivers and waves, these are just 11 adventures to make you feel like you're making the most of your time on this earth. 

Skydive in Wollongong

For 60 hair-raising seconds, you'll freefall at a speed of around 200km/h. The parachute goes up and for the next five-to-seven minutes you float towards the spectacular scenery of the South Coast. Your tandem skydive then lands in Wollongong, 90 minutes south of Sydney, where you can plan your next arial adventure with Touchdown Helicopter, which, depending on courage, will mean cruising around the waterfalls, canyons and icons of the region or literally flying the helicopter yourself.

From paddling the bay to climbing the cliff edge in Jervis Bay

For a location famed for postcard scenery and calm waters, Jervis Bay is a miniature adventure hub. Take advantage of the still bay with Jervis Bay Stand Up Paddle or Sea Kayak Jervis Bay, where you'll cruise the waters alongside the bay's dolphins, seals, sharks and dozens of bird species (if it's the right time of year you might even see baby whales). Or test your lung capacity with Woebegone Freedive to swim with the bay's underwater inhabitants. On land, find NSW's best outdoor climbing routes outside the Blue Mountains in Nowra (Outdoor Raw can facilitate) while Treetops Adventure Nowra has high rope courses for kids and adult adventurers.

Scuba dive at Lord Howe Island

Its crystal-clear waters, vast coral reefs, plentiful marine life and underwater trenches have made Lord Howe Island (around a two-hour flight from Sydney), no exaggeration, one of the best places in the world to scuba dive. You can explore more than 60 dive sites around the island, including the volcanic sea stack of Balls Pyramid. Anyone needing a guide or equipment, Dive Lord Howe can provide.

Surfboard and horseback adventures in Byron Bay 

The warm waters and variety of breaks at Byron Bay (far North Coast) make it a popular place to learn to surf. There are many surf schools to choose from: Lets Go Surfing is an inclusive, community-focused and environmentally conscious surf school and has been recognised in multiple tourism, health and fitness awards. Opened in 2020, budget-friendly Surf House Byron Bay is also the home of Soul Surf School. Then pretend like you're a coastal explorer from days past with a Zephyr Horses trail ride or take to the seas for a spot of dolphin spotting with Cape Byron Kayaks.

Hit the slopes in the Snowy Mountains

The NSW Snowy Mountains is home to four ski resorts with runs accessible to all abilities. Perisher and Thredbo are the largest resorts, with daily ski lessons available to help you master the slopes. You can also tackle the cross-country trails, learn to snowboard, or take a toboggan up the nearest hill to re-create scenes from Cool Runnings. 

Get vertical in the Blue Mountains

The dramatic cliff faces of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains are famous Australia-wide for rock climbing, abseiling and canyoning. Newcomers or solo travellers can sign up for a tour with the likes of High and Wild Australian Adventures or Blue Mountains Climbing School based in Katoomba and Blackheath respectively. Experts can find countless routes across the region, catering to boulderers and sport climbers with a variety of different styles of climbing. Whatever route you take, the views will be incredible – even if you're taking them in from a window seat of the Zig Zag Railway once you've packed your ropes away. 

Mountain bike and hike in Thredbo

During the warmer months, Thredbo's snowfields melt to reveal a network of infamous mountain bike trails that start at the top of the Australia's highest peak – why Thredbo Mountain Bike Park is known as one of Australia's top mountain-biking destinations. Daily riding clinics are available for all skill levels while veterans can take on black runs (challenging tracks) like the notorious Cannonball. Without snow, the region also becomes a spectacular hiking destination – trek the epic Snowies Alpine Walk for many of the best sights combined into one 56km journey. 

Journey down the Hawkesbury River

The Hawkesbury River, northwest of Sydney, is a tranquil place to spend an afternoon kayaking. With two or three days up your sleeve you could explore the waterways all the way from the historic riverside town of Windsor to Brooklyn, near the mouth of the river, gliding past mangroves, pretty riverside towns and national park scenery as you go. You can hire your own kayak (try Hawkesbury River Kayaks in Brooklyn) or join a guided tour on the Hawkesbury River Kayak Tour with River Adventures in nearby Mooney Mooney. For more speed, swap the kayak for a motor with Jet Ski Safaris NSW were you can cruise across the river, no licence needed. 

The most epic hikes on the land

NSW has many famous multi-day hikes. Picking which one is about deciding what kind of landscape you fancy and how many days you have. Find epic coastal scenery with beach dips in between on the Murramarang South Coast Walk (34km) and the Tomaree Coastal Walk (27km). Hike across mountain tops, cliff edges and panoramic scenes with the Grand Cliff Top Walk (19km) and the Main Range Track (22km) . And traverse gorges, rivers and rainforest without seeing another person for the entire trip on The Green Gully Track (65km), a loop track within the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, northwest of Port Macquarie. 

Walk amid the treetops in the Illawarra

Walk, climb and fly amid the treetops of the Illawarra Rainforest on the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk, two hours south of Sydney. The 1.5km treetop walk begins on the rainforest floor and leads you up into the verdant canopy, where you can enjoy views of the Royal National Park, Lake Illawarra and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Afterwards, enter your Robin Hood era and book in for a session of archery. 

Exploring the Murray River

Some parts of the Murray are serene, others are wild – all are set up for adventure. On the steadier parts of the river, swap your raft oars for a canoe paddle and join Murray River Canoe Trails or In Motion Fitness for a tour of the iconic river. If you have your own adventure gear, boat and drive, take yourself to Lake Hume or Lake Mulwala, both off the main river, for some of the best water- skiing runs long enough to test both your willpower and stamina. 

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