Collect your rental car from Budget Rent-A-Car, Sydney City depot. Alternatively you may collect your vehicle from the Sydney Airport depot at an additional cost. Drive to the Blue Mountains (approximately 125 kms). Part of the vast expanse of the Great Dividing Range, the Blue Mountains derive their name from the ever-present blue haze created by the sun's rays striking the minuscule droplets of eucalyptus oil evaporating from the leaves of the dense forests that cover their slopes. Once believed insurmountable by the early colonists and spanning over a million hectares, the Blue Mountains are famed for their breathtaking scenery, with cascading waterfalls tumbling into sheer canyons, towering rainforests and craggy peaks that rise up to dominate the landscapes to the west of Sydney. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Stay overnight at Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa in an Executive Suite.

Travel today through the historic town of Katoomba, the largest in the region, and then on through Blackheath, Bell and Bilpin towards the fertile landscapes of the Hunter Valley, the oldest wine-producing region in New South Wales. Proceed to the Peppers Guesthouse where you will stay 2 nights in a classic room. This drive is approximately 250 kms.

Today affords you a full day at your leisure to explore the Hunter Valley at your own pace, enjoying the rich mix of colonial grace, rural charm and, of course, wine. The first vines were brought to the region in the 1820's and the Hunter Valley is renowned as one of Australia's more scenic wine growing areas, with the Hunter River winding its way lazily through the grapevine clad hills. Famed for the production of top quality world-class table wines, the Valley has a staggering abundance of wineries, ranging from very large commercial estates, to the smaller boutique style wineries. There are almost 150 wineries in this area, including the renowned Tyrells, Draytons and Lindemans, and such is the local passion with the cultivation of the grape that even the jail in the small town of Cessnock has its own vineyard, from which the inmates have managed to produce some award-winning wines themselves.

Depart the Hunter Valley and travel to Port Stephens. Stay 1 night at the Peppers Anchorage in an Anchorage Room. This drive is approximately 95 kms. Port Stephens is actually a vast bay consisting of a series of idyllic seaside villages scattered along a crystal clear waterway overlooking the glittering waters of the Pacific Ocean. Famous for its natural unspoilt beauty, the area is known locally as the “Blue Water Paradise” and presents some idyllic spots for swimming or fishing White sandy beaches and attractive bays and inlets ring the shores of this expansive estuary, which is two and a half times the size of Sydney Harbour. Commonly referred to as the “Dolphin Capital of Australia”, Port Stephens is best known for its resident population of over 140 bottlenose dolphins that play amongst the clear waters of the bay The best way to see the pods of these playful creatures is on one of the many cruises that depart Nelson Bay daily, presenting, in many cases, a unique opportunity to swim with these remarkable creatures all year round.

Commence your return journey to Sydney, rejoining the Pacific Highway and travelling south along the National Freeway back to the city. Make your way back to the Sydney City or Sydney Airport Budget Rent-a-Car Depot to return your vehicle. This drive is approximately 205 kms.