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New South Wales is one of Australia's SE states, lying to the E of South Australia, to the S of Queensland and to the N of Victoria. With a population of 6.7 million, it is the country's most populous state.
As the core territory of the first British colony on the Australian continent (settled in 1788) which was gradually made smaller as the other states and territories formed, New South Wales is home to the country's oldest and largest city, the state capital of Sydney. New South Wales also encloses the Australian Capital Territory, the location of the Australian national capital of Canberra, in its SE. Lord Howe Island, a subtropical island 550km E of the mainland, is also part of the state. Many tourists come to New South Wales to visit the city of Sydney and its attractions. While much tourism is focused on Sydney and the coastal areas, the whole of New South Wales offers a multitude of experiences, with plenty of things to see and do. As well as the vibrant young cities, you will find tropical rainforests, magnificent beaches, incomparable Sydney Harbour, the world class vineyards of the Hunter Valley, the majestic Blue Mountains, the southern plateaus rising to the high ski country of the Snowy Mountains, an assortment of mining towns, the rich farming areas of the Riverina and the rolling sheep and cattle pastures of the west. As is the case with all the states, New South Wales is big - it is 1200 kilometres (750 miles) east-west and 1000 kilometres (625 miles) north-south. Those are straight line map distances, actual road distances are considerably further. Winter is June - August. Coastal temperatures typically range from 15°C max. on the south coast, 18°C max. on the central coast and 20°C max.on the tropical north coastal regions. Minimums are seldom below 5°C for the coastal areas. Away from the coastal influence, the remainder of the state will typically have a winters day between 3°C min and 15°C max. although 0°C is common in the outback. The exception is the Snowy Mountains area with temperatures falling to -6°C. Summer is December - February. Temperatures typically range from 25°C - 28°C max. on the entire coastal strip. Summer minimums are seldom below 14°C - 16°C for the coastal areas although the far south coast is often cooler. Away from the coastal influence, the remainder of the state will typically have a summers day between 16°C min and 30°C max. although 35°C is common in the far west and 40°C. is often recorded in the central north. |
