A family holiday trip to Sydney and beyond
Are you currently planning your next family holiday and been looking for a new destination, or perhaps looking to go back to somewhere you've been to before but discover a new part? We challenged Brie Benfell and her family to rediscover New South Wales by hitting the road and leaving their regular holiday haunt of Sydney and going beyond on a self drive.
Why did you decide to accept our family self-drive challenge?
We love road trips and it’s something Matthew and I have loved to do since being together. We had our children in the peak of the pandemic and have been dreaming of getting into a car and taking them on an adventure to where we first met, Australia. We don’t have a car in Singapore either so we truly miss being on the road. The best thing about road trips is you can stop off anywhere and truly explore! Stopping off into towns you would never ever normally see… the kids take nice long naps too, haha!
What was your favourite part?
Honestly, everything. We got to see so much in a short amount of time. Quality time with just us. It was bliss! Port Stephens was the greatest highlight, what a place! Theadora LOVED the Koala Sanctuary so very much and I think her ultimate favourite (and ours) were the sand dunes and sand boarding, so fun and the views took our breath away. We managed to get in a dolphin boat ride (even though we only saw one), the boat trip was beautiful and another great way to see Port Stephens. We also visited the shark and ray encounter which was fun for everyone! Thea loved feeding the rays (she was more confident than me)!
In Sydney, we visited Bondi Beach (where Matthew and I first met and got engaged) so being in the same spot with our children was magical. They have amazing rock pools for kids, yummy cafes, and the best playgrounds with the most epic views! From Bondi to Brontë to Manly Beach. No matter what beach you end up at, you will love it!
If you are visiting Sydney the Zoo is always a must. You can say hello to the giraffes whilst taking in the city views. We got a fast ferry to the zoo and enjoyed the boat ride (the best way to see Sydney) and the kids love it!
We travelled to Watsons Bay for a picnic with their famous fish and chips, it was a beautiful afternoon. This is super fun and again, the city views are insane! This spot is a must visit. Grab a delicious lunch or drink at The Watsons Bay Hotel too.
Walking around The Rocks was another great highlight. You can pop in and out of cute shops, walk to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and take a stroll all the way down to see the Sydney Opera House. Be sure to escape the tourists and head to the Botanic Gardens just around the corner. Best views and no one is ever there!
Palm Beach is a MUST visit, and its only an hour drive away from Sydney. Stunning beach, great ice cream and the loveliest people. We parked up, opened the boot of the car, ate food, dipped our toes in the ocean and played in the sand. It was a day we will remember for the rest of our lives.
The self-drive was planned out by one of our CheapTickets.sg Aussie Specialists who is also a parent themselves, how did you find it?
You can tell because they know exactly what families need. The itinerary was epic and to be honest, we had never heard of Port Stephens and now we are telling everyone we know to go! We still can’t get over all the things it has to offer! Sometimes it can seem daunting to travel with a young toddler (2.5 years old) and baby (9 months) but everywhere we stayed and visited was catered to it. No stress! Another great thing is if we forgot anything a Kmart or Coles was always nearby!
Is there anything you would do differently next time you come?
We just wanted to be there longer! I think less time in the city and more time road tripping to places like Port Stephens and Palm Beach. We craved the outdoors and nature.
How did you prepare for this trip? (time to book, packing list, etc...)
CheapTickets made everything stress free. Easy to book and organise! Our biggest priority is getting great flight times, a big enough car with full insurance and family accommodations and we would 100% find all of that so easily. We would repeat this trip in a heartbeat! I always have a checklist when it comes to packing (especially for the kids) but I also knew we could get everything in Australia. Out of everything we packed we ended up forgetting diapers, so we touched down, got in the car and headed to a Coles for diapers and snacks! No point in bringing snacks as the produce is amazing in Australia.. and cheaper than Singapore!
How was the experience of travelling with the whole family? Any advice for parents planning to do the same?
It was so much easier than we thought it would be to be honest. We were stressed thinking about it but they ended up loving the car (although I had to sit in the middle of them and never got to sit up front with Matt). We had plans for each day but we weren’t ever stressed if it happened or not. Just see where the day takes you and I promise you, it will be stress free!
Is New South Wales a children-friendly destination? Can you give some examples on why yes?
Absolutely, everywhere we went was so great for kids. There were always diaper changing areas no matter where we went. Our favourite thing was that they have playgrounds everywhere! The Brontë beach play area is a must visit. The most beautiful park and we wish we found it sooner as we could spend hours there! Thea and Everett loved it.
Is our itinerary complete in terms of things to do in NSW for families? Are there any activities you would have liked to have?
We personally feel this was the perfect itinerary. A perfect mix of it all! We just wish we had more time and if we go back we will 100% revisit everything we did, we loved it that much!
Visit Sydney and beyond with CheapTickets.sg
You can follow Brie’s New South Wales self drive itinerary to discover the best spots beyond Sydney. We’ve put together a guide to include family friendly places to visit including koala sanctuaries and the top beaches with enough activities to keep everyone in the family entertained!
CheapTickets.sg and Tourism Destination NSW want to thank Brie and her family for sharing their experience of their family self drive experience beyond Sydney.