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If life in the fast lane is taking its toll, Sydney's residents can easily get away from it all. Right on their doorstep, golden beaches and magnificent national parks beckon, interwoven with intricate waterways. Everything in this section of the website can be done as a day-trip from the city, although some require an overnight stay to explore more fully. North of Sydney the Hawkesbury River flows into the jagged jaws of the aptly named Broken Bay , which streaks across the map like a bolt of lightning. The entire area is surrounded by bush, with the huge spaces of the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park in the south and the Brisbane Waters National Park in the north. Beyond Broken Bay, the Central Coast between Gosford and Newcastle is an ideal spot for a bit of fishing, sailing and lazing around. Newcastle is more attractive than its reputation as a coal and steel city might suggest. Immediately beyond, however, are the bountiful vineyards of the Hunter Valley , which make a great day out, with visits to wineries interspersed with some gentle driving on country roads. To the west , you escape suburbia to emerge at the foot of the beautiful World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains , while the scenic Hawkesbury-Nepean river valley is home to historic rural towns such as Richmond and Windsor . Heading south , the Royal National Park is an hour's drive away, while on the coast beyond are a string of small, laid-back towns - Waterfall, Stanwell Park, Wombarra - with beautiful, unspoilt beaches . The industrial city of Wollongong and neighbouring Port Kembla are impressively located between the Illawarra Escarpment and the sea, but of paltry interest to visitors, although more interesting spots cluster around. Inland, the Southern Highlands are covered with yet more national parks, punctuated by pleasing little towns such as Bundanoon and Berrima .
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