This is by no means a complete list, just places or things I have found over the years.
Things to do around NSW

NameDetails
Eastern Section
Zig Zag RailwayZig Zag Railway offers visitors a range of different travel options providing a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the thrill of traveling by rail as it was done in the past.
Illawarra Light Railway MuseumA light railway museum in Albion Park, NSW Australia.
Scenic WorldThe World's Steepest Railway. The iconic Skyway views. The Southern Hemisphere's Steepest Aerial Cablecar.
Lithgow Visitor CentreWhat's happening around Lithgow
Lithgow Small Arms FactoryLithgow SAF was Australia's first high precision mass production facility. Weapons, sewing machines and other goods made here.
Nooroo GardenNooroo Garden showcases the beauty and spectacle of plant and flower species from around the world as well as Australian native plants.
Norman Lindsay GalleryHome of 'The Magic Pudding', various sculptures and paintings done by Norman Lindsay, home to the movie 'Sirens'.
Three SistersThe easy Three Sisters walk, in Katoomba, offers some of the most iconic views in Blue Mountains National Park, and takes you up close to the famous Three Sisters.
Mt Tomah GardensWander the gardens, join a tour, try an astronomy night..
Australian Reptile ParkOnly 60 minutes from Sydney or Newcastle, the Australian Reptile Park is a centrepiece attraction of the Central Coast. Look out for Australia’s first “Big Thing” – Ploddy the dinosaur, visible just before the Gosford exit heading north on the M1.
Central Coast Marine Discovery CentreThe Marine Discovery Centre delivers a range of high quality innovative and interactive educational programs, activities and experiences.
Port Stephens Visitor CentreWhat's happening around Port Stephens
Shark and RayThe things you can do include feed, pat and play with sharks, rays, and eels (you can even swim with them and the water is always 25 degrees!).
Irukandji Shark and Ray EncountersExperience the true nature of sharks, rays and the weird and wonderful world of the ocean. You can choose to enter the animal’s world by going into the water or feed and pat them from the edges of the pools.
Newcastle Visitor CentreWhat's happening around Newcastle
Hunter Valley Wildlife ParkA local favourite for over 30 years, Hunter Valley Wildlife Park has now evolved to be one of Australia's most diverse collections of rare and endangered species from across the globe.
Illawarra FlyTreetop walk, Zipline rides (currently the highest in Asutralia)
Mogo Wildlife ParkSee Australia’s largest collection of endangered and exotic species at Mogo Wildlife Park near Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast.
Kiama Visitor CentreWhat's happening around Kiama
Kiama BlowholeKiama’s famous Blowhole is the largest in the world, and when the swell is running from the southeast, you’re in for a real treat. The 2.5 metres opening in the rock face has had its plumes of water recorded at heights of over 30 metres!
Nan Tien Temple"Nan Tien" in Chinese, literally means "Paradise of the South". This is the biggest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere.
Jamberoo Action ParkWater theme park, offering world class rides and attractions in an impeccably maintained, natural setting between the mountains and the sea.
HARS Aviation MuseumThe HARS Aviation Museum is an all volunteer group of Aviation Professionals and Enthusiasts who have premises at Shellharbour Airport (YSHL), Albion Park Rail just over an hour by road South of Sydney
The Picnic TrainThis is travel as it used to be - a little slower and a lot more fun! The star attractions of any day out are our steam locomotives 5917 and R766 - rare survivors of the golden era of travel when steam ruled the rails.
Central Section
Bathurst MuseumsFossil, Rail, Motoring, and other museums in Bathurst.
Mudgee TourismWhat's happening around Mudgee
Cowra Japanese GardensGardens created by interred Japanese during WW2. The museum is worth the time.
Cowra Tourist CentreSee the POW Hologram is a 9-minute presentation that tells the story of the Cowra Breakout
Western Plains ZooDubbo Zoo has three accommodation options available, including Zoofari Lodge, Savannah Cabins and Billabong Camp.
Old Dubbo Gaol19th century prison explores the brutality of prison life, the daring escapes and heritage of the site delivered in a mix of theatrical performances and modern immersive displays.
Dubbo ObservatoryNight Sky and Telescope Viewing Tours, Astrophotography Sessions, Online Star Gazing, Remote Astronomical Imaging / Photometry
Dubbo Regional Botanic GardenPicturesque, free-admission garden with 4 areas, including a traditional Japanese landscape garden.
Age of Fishes MuseumOn display at the Museum are the best examples of the fish fossils so far recovered from the site
Canowindra International Balloon ChallengeCanowindra, the ballooning capital of Australia, a town full of historic pubs, antiques and wine, and to the north is the village of Yeoval, the childhood home of Banjo Paterson. This is held at the end of April
Temora Aviation MuseumThe Temora Aviation Museum is first and foremost a flying Museum, and its Flying Displays are conducted by the Temora Historic Flight Club (THFC) which is a separate entity from the Museum.
Junee Licquorice FactoryEver wanted to see what happens at a licorice and chocolate factory? Take a guided tour of our factory that'll bring joy to all your senses!
Junee Roundhouse Railway MuseumWhen opened in 1947, it was a state-of-the-art steam locomotive facility. Since 1994, the Roundhouse has seen a new lease of life. Half is now used for the museum, while the other portion is used for its original purpose of servicing and re-conditioning locomotives and rolling stock.
Monte Cristo HomesteadMonte Cristo in Junee is Australia’s privately owned Haunted Homestead. The home is open to the public, for self guided tours / night time ghost tours every Saturday night.
Narrandera Water Tower ArtThe theme for the Narrandera Water Tower Art comes from the team of Apparition Media spending time chatting with the community and the inspired work of Narrandera artist and Wiradjuri man, Owen Lyons whose artwork inspired the symbolic concepts for the mural.
Mount Grenfell art site walkOn the rocky overhangs of Mount Grenfell art site walk are human figures, animals, medicine, waterways, land, and Dreaming stories depicted in red, yellow, and ochre pigment, applied with a finger or brush.
The Great Cobar MuseumCobar is built around the thriving mining - copper, lead, silver, zinc, gold - and pastoral industries
Coonabarabran Visitors CentreVisit Australia's largest optical astronomy research facility, Siding Spring Observatory. Gaze through telescopes at our stunning starry night skies, admire mineral and fossil displays
Parkes ObservatoryRadio telescope used for the Apollo 11 moon landing, as seen in the movie 'The Dish'.
Peakhill Open Cut Gold MineA tour of the mine reveals eye-opening original gold working dating back to 1890s, several walking trails, easy and difficult with well constructed viewing areas to the open cut mining areas.
Western Section
Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals MuseumAlso known as the GeoCentre, represents the extensive mineral history of Broken Hill. This geological science museum boasts a 42kg silver nugget as well as a large mineral collection, and it is home to the Silver Tree.
Sulphide Street Railway and Historical MuseumHouses the Silverton Tramway Company locomotives and memorabilia in the original1905 magnificent station building and grounds.
Pro Hart Art GalleryPro Hart’s art captures the lush colours, the sense of space and the spiritual quality of the outback in ways very few artists are able to emulate.
Mad Max 2 MuseumA museum dedicated to Mad Max 2 (The Road Warrior). Filmed around Broken Hill and Silverton (Mundi Mundi Lookout) in 1981

Canberra

NameDetails
Canberra Tourist CentreWhat's happening around Canberra
Canberra Deep Space Communication ComplexHas ties with NASA as part of the Space Communication projects.
421 Discovery Drive, Paddy's River District ACT
Cockington GreenEnglish village made with miniature buildings in a scenic landscaped park
Handmade CanberraHandmade Canberra is Canberra’s favourite handmade food and design market.
National Dinosaur MuseumDinosaur museum featuring skeletons, fossils and a garden with life-like models.
Canberra Reptile ZooPlace to watch and touch native Australian frogs and reptiles, including snakes, turtles and crocs.
FloriadeRuns mid September to mid October each year in Commonwealth Park on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
National Gallery of AustraliaDelight in the art and world-class exhibitions on show at the National Gallery, on the shores of Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin.
National Zoo and AquariumOver 2.6km of walking trails and 47 acres of picturesque gardens.

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