Ace Rental Cars Blog

New South Wales is filled with a range of experiences that are perfect to explore throughout winter. Whether it’s escaping to warmer climates up north or embracing the cooler ones in the snow, all you need to do is grab your Ace rental car, follow this guide and get on the road to make the most of your winter in New South Wales.

• Sydney
• Kangaroo Valley
• Snowy Mountains
• Byron Bay

Explore City Culture

• Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Pavilion Performing Arts Centre
• Cocktail bars

Explore the arts and culture in Sydney/Eora with this winter-perfect range of activities to keep you warm and dry. The world-class Art Gallery of New South Wales is an unmissable destination for some of the best art from around the country and around the world. Free to enter and boasting a range of exhibitions, the Art Gallery of NSW is also home to one of the world’s largest permanent exhibitions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art. Sydney is also renowned for its performing arts and entertainment, with the Pavilion Performing Arts Centre in Sydney’s south a hotspot for shows and performances. From comedy to theatre, music to dance, the Pavilion has you covered for a night inside and immersed in cultural experience. To top off your getaway in Sydney, you can’t go past the amazing bars that are on offer in the CBD and surrounding areas. Make sure to check out the tucked away Cantina OK! for their rare Mexican spirits and delicious margaritas in their intimate standing-room-only bar for the ultimate Sydney experience. For the ultimate Sydney/Mexico bar experience, make sure to check out Cantina OK! This tiny, tucked away bar serves up rare Mexican spirits and delicious margaritas to only 20 standing customers at a time.

Get Cosy in Kangaroo Valley

• Small town charm
• Wine and dine
• Fitzroy Falls

Warm up with a cosy getaway to the small town of Kangaroo Valley in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, where the Traditional Owners of the land are the Wodi-Wodi people. Filled with boutique restaurants and quaint wineries, Kangaroo Valley makes for the perfect winter escape if you’re looking to trade big city lights for small town charm. Wine and dine at any of the eateries on offer, like Yarrawa Estate or The Woolshed Restaurant, and explore one of the region’s oldest pubs at the Friendly Inn Hotel. With lush bushland surrounding Kangaroo Valley and stretching out as far as the eye can see, put on a warm jacket and head off on a bush walk to discover the calm serenity of this pocket of nature, including the spectacular waterfall at Fitzroy Falls in the Morton National Park.

Embrace the Cold with a Snowy Getaway

• Snowy Mountains
• Thredbo Village
• Hot thermal pools

There’s no better time to embrace the icy temperatures and summit the ski slopes than in the middle of the winter, and there’s no better place to do so than the Snowy Mountains. Thredbo Village, which sits on the traditional land of the Monaro-Ngarigo people, is an ideal spot to set up base to explore the area. There’s a range of accommodation options that sit at the foot of the mountain, making it easy to navigate your way from home to the slopes. If you plan on making the most of the snow-strewn hillsides, save on the snow fields by purchasing an Ikon Pass. The pass allows you seven days of unlimited access to Thredbo’s ski resort, as well as discounts on gear, food, and drinks. In addition to the epic slopes that this region boasts, make sure to also check out the Yarrangobilly Caves. Boasting a thermal pool made by a natural hot spring that heats the water to a toasty temperature of 27 degrees all year round, it’s not only a relaxing activity to help you recover after all that skiing, it also doesn’t cost a cent to visit.

Escape Winter in Byron Bay

• Main Beach
• Wategos

If you’re after an escape from the cooler temperatures in winter, look no further than Byron Bay in the state’s north, a region that is home to the Traditional Owners of the Arakwal people. This slice of coastal paradise still boasts warm temperatures throughout the winter months, and with none of the summer crowds filling up the beaches. The waters around Byron Bay tend to stay warm right up until August, making this the perfect mid-year seaside getaway. In the town’s centre, Main Beach is a popular spot for a day on the sand, with a strip of shops lining the beachfront, making it easy for you to grab a snack or a meal in between swims. If you’re after a pocket of beach with a bit more surf—and maybe even some dolphins playing in the waves around you—head to Wategos Beach along the cape headland. Wategos boasts a white-washed sandy strip of beach surrounded by lush forest, as well as a picnic area with barbeque facilities, so you can spend the whole day soaking up the sun and washing away the winter blues with the turquoise waves.

With your Ace rental car, it’s easy to make the most of winter with this handy guide to experiences that are perfect for the season, no matter where you find yourself in New South Wales.