There's no shortage of extraordinary vistas in Sydney, but West Head Lookout is one of the best. This mind-blowing spot gives you panoramas to the south over Pittwater, east over Barrenjoey Head and north to Broken Bay. Smack bang in the middle of it all is Lion Island, backdropped by the Central Coast's uncrowded beaches. You could easily spend a day here, so it's a good idea to pack a picnic. To add some art, take a wander on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, along which is Red Hands Cave.

For a long time, the Gledhills were like ghosts. A few people said they'd seen them, but finding proof was difficult. These days, there's more information floating about, but the forest-encircled falls — and the ten-metre-wide pool into which they tumble — are still tricky to find. Set in the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, you'll need to do your research before you head out.

Where the Hawkesbury River meets the sea, overlooking the insular peninsular of the Northern Beaches, some 15,000 hectares of dense forests, hidden coves and sheltered beaches are waiting for you. If you want to keep one eye on civilisation, you can catch the ferry from Mackerel Beach Wharf across the sapphire expanse of Pittwater to Palm Beach, where you'll find bijou cafés and waterfront diners.