 In 1770, the black soil, greenery and distant hills of Eastern Australia reminded Captain James Cook of Southern Wales, so he named the area New South Wales.
Sydney and its beaches are so delightfully seductive, the casual visitor can sometimes forget about the rest of New South Wales - which is a pity, because the state has much to offer. Almost half of the international tourists spend most of their Australian holidays in New South Wales.
The state is divided geographically into four regions: the 1500-kilometre coast with its magnificent beaches, the Great Dividing Range, running parallel to the coast; then the western pastoral slopes of the range, giving way to the Western Plains of the New South Wales outback.
Cosmopolitan and sun-drenched Sydney, Australia's largest city is a strong contender for the description "lifestyle capital of the world". Its coastline is inviting, its harbour sparkling, its citizens friendly and its shopping varied and worthwhile. The vibrant city of skyscrapers and yachts is bigger than most tourists expect stretching about 100 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean to the Blue Mountains. Its size and spread are most apparent form the air, flying in at dawn on a fine day. Many international flights arrive at that time, allowing travellers to gaze down on a mosaic of terracotta roofs, silver water and grey-green valleys filled with eucalypts and mist.
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Australian Perspective
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