A self-drive holiday is definitely one of the best ways to explore Sydney and its surrounding regions. The beauty of it all is that the regions are all within a short drive from the city so you can enjoy the best of city and nature experiences.

Planning a family holiday, not to mention a self-drive one, can be daunting with so many details to take care of. Here, we take the load off you with some tips on what are the must-sees and must-dos on your self-drive holiday around Sydney, New South Wales.

We recommend two self-drive routes offering you a diverse range of experiences. If time is not of the essence, why not do both routes?

The Great Vines & Dunes Adventure
(Sydney, Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Sydney)

This route combines the scenic and indulgent Hunter Valley wine country with Port Stephens sand dunes adventure so you can have a diverse experience in Sydney's surrounds. Two nights are recommended for a nice and relaxing stay in each region.

Head north of Sydney about 2 hours on the Pacific Highway towards Cessnock , the gateway to Hunter Valley wine country. Along the way, stop by at Australian Reptile Park, home to a wide variety of Australian native animals.

Hunter Valley Family Favourites
www.winecountry.com.au

• Hunter Valley Gardens (right): visit the delightful Story Book Garden featuring life-sized figurines of Humpty Dumpty, Alice in Wonderland and many other nursery rhyme characters.

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• Horse-riding (below): experience the freedom of horse riding out in the open fields with Hunter Valley Horse Riding & Adventures.

Hot-air ballooning: enjoy the unique experience of float over the vast expanse of the wine country and catching the sunrise. You?ll also be able to spot kangaroos coming out for breakfast. www.balloonaloft.com; www.huntervalleyballooning.com.au

• Winery tour: while parents enjoy wine tasting at the more than 110 wineries in Hunter Valley, children can go on a winery tour to get a close up view of the vines and learn about the wine making process.

From Hunter Valley, drive on to Port Stephens, only a one hour's drive away.

Port Stephens Family Favourites
www.portstephenstourism.org.au

• 4WD Tour & Sandboarding Adventure (right) - one of the greatest highlights of Port Stephens is the massive sand dunes measuring 32km long and dating back 2,500 years old. Explore this mini-Sahara desert on a 4WD tour with Port Stephens 4WD and enjoy sand tobogganing down the steep slopes.

Dolphin Watch Cruise (left) - also known as the Dolphin Capital of Australia, you can go on dolphin spotting and boomnetting to get closer to the friendly creatures.   Oakvale Farm & Fauna World - children will love this place where they get to meet a family of kangaroos, koalas, camels, emus, ostriches, lambs, pigs and ducks living happily under one roof.

• Toboggan Hill Park - enjoy a hair-raising ride through 700 metres of winding track on a toboggan. The park also has other activities like mini golf, a kiddie canoe ride and radio-controlled boats.

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• Fresh seafood - Tuck into the really fresh and yummy seafood. Pop in to Nelson Bay Fishermen?s Wharf to buy your seafood and then get it cooked at Bub's Cooked Fish and Chips around the back. Or indulge at Rock Lobster where the patio overlooks the Nelson bay Marina.

The Great Nature & Coastal Experience
(Sydney, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Sydney)

Rejuvenate amidst Mother Nature's creation in the Blue Mountains. Bask in the spectacular coastal activities around the Wollongong area. Enjoy the best of nature and coastal experiences in one holiday. Two nights are recommended for a nice and relaxing stay in each region.

Head west of Sydney about one and half hours on the M4 motorway towards Katoomba, the main town in the Blue Mountains. And before you know it, you're already in World-Heritage Listed territory. Amazing, so close to the city!

Blue Mountains Family Favourites
www.visitbluemountains.com.au

Nature walks - the best way (and free too!) for your family to see Blue Mountains is on foot. Famous for the Three Sisters rock formation, not many know that you can take a short walk to the 'First Sister' and enjoy stunning views from there.   Glow Worm Tour - for a magical experience, go on a Glow Worm Tour with Treadlightly Eco Tours and learn a little about astronomy as well. Spot also nocturnal animals such as possums and sugar gliders.

• Scenic World (right) - hop onto the Scenic Cableway ride for a spectacular view of the Three Sisters. Try also the Scenic Skyway which has a state of the art Electro-Sceni Glass Floor that turns transparent when the cable car goes over the valley, giving you gorgeous views of the lush rainforest canopy below.

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• Jenolan Caves - visit the majestic Jenolan Caves which comprises nine limestone chambers and be awed by the mystical Stalagmite and Stalagtite formations.

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• The Edge Movie - catch the The Edge Movie, a beautifully shot documentary which gives you a good introduction to the Blue Mountains on a six-storey high screen.

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• Quaint country shopping - enjoy shopping in the quaint mountain village of Leura and indulge in afternoon Devonshire tea at Bygone Beautys, a charming shop selling antiques and collectibles. It also boasts one of the world's largest private collection of teapots, more than 3,000 to-date.

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• Fruit picking - drop by the various fruit orchards along the Bells Line of Road to do a spot of fruit-picking. Do visit this website www.hawkesburyharvest.com.au beforehand to see what fruits are in season.

Travel to Wollongong through Southern Highlands with picturesque rolling plains and quaint country charm. Stop by at beautiful Berrima, rich in antique stores, books and arts and crafts. Enjoy an English Devonshire tea at White Horse Inn before making your way to Wollongong. You can stay the night in one of the many cozy country accommodation.

Idyllic Wollongong Family Favourites
www.tourismwollongong.com.au

• Whale watching - at Jervis Bay, you can go whale watching when the season is right (Aug till late Nov) otherwise you can spot dolphins all year round. Kiama Blowhole - witness this natural phenomenon of spectacular plumes of water sprouting from the mouth of the Blowhole.

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• Five Islands Brewery
  
  Learn more about beer-making on a brewery tour at Australia?s largest microbrewery on the beach and also tuck into a yummy fish and chips meal.

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• Symbio Wildlife Gardens - get close to more than 100 species of animals that roam freely at this wildlife park.

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• Skydiving, Hang-gliding or Para-gliding ? if mom and dad are game for this, there are plenty of options. A great way to admire the beautiful coastal scenery from above.

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• Grand Pacific Drive (left) - travel back to Sydney along the newly-opened Grand Pacific Drive where the highlight is the 665m long over-the-ocean Sea Cliff Bridge, offering magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and rugged cliff escarpments.

Now you too can enjoy a well-deserved family holiday! Exclusively for DBS/ POSB Credit Cardmembers with purchase of Qantas & British Airways return airfares, your first child tours and stays free with our $548 Let?s Go Sydney Family land package. Don?t miss our value-packed $88 top-up for Sydney Surrounds Getaway. For details, visit www.sydneyaustralia.com/sg.

To help you plan your driving routes, check out this website www.travelmate.com.au