The best cheap holiday spots in NSW for a weekend break from Sydney

Shoalhaven (the beautiful stretch of the state in and around Jervis Bay) is a magical step back in time, just two-and-a-half hours south of Sydney. Callala Beach and Vincentia are popular beach getaways for Sydneysiders looking for a luxe beach break, but the lesser-visited coastal town of Huskisson is perfectly situated right in the heart of the bay with million-dollar views that won't break your budget. Australia’s oldest glamping site is a high-end option, but you can easily find beachfront accommodation (with plumbing and power) at one of Huskisson's camper and RV parks – cabins at Holiday Haven are available for as little as $135 night (and even cheaper if you're keen on camping). One of the best ways to explore the ancient mangroves, river estuaries and bay waters is on a guided kayak tour, which cost around $75 per person for a two-hour experience with Jervis Bay Kayaks. Keep your eyes peeled for green sea turtles, dolphins and giant rays, which are commonly spotted where the Currambene Creek flows into the natural harbour.

Time Out tip: When you're all tired out, you can't go past a good chunky tender meat pie for lunch from Huskisson Bakery and Café for no more than some loose change. 

The most populous town in the Blue Mountains is just a couple of hours by train out of Sydney Central. If hiking is your jam, you can trek to your heart’s content here without having to fork out a single cent – even after dark, thanks to the Katoomba Reserve Night-lit Walk (find out more here), which will take you past the majestic Katoomba Falls and onto the Three Sisters. Don't fret about forking out a hotel; the guest houses dotted around town are absolutely adorable and incredibly abundant. That way, you'll be just minutes from both the town centre and the Jamieson Valley. There are plenty of great places to grab an affordable bite on the main drag of Katoomba Street, but don't go past Cassiopeia, which is serving up one of the best coffee brews in the Blues, and a glorious range of ridiculously good baked treats. For a sophisticated day trip, check out one of the beautiful vineyards in the area – Dryridge Estate offers tastings for as little as $15 per person.

Time Out tip: For another free thing to do, we love the bushwalk to Minnehaha Falls, where you can also go for a (usually ice-cold) dip.

Forget the hassles of long drives and petrol stops, the XPT train runs daily between Sydney and Bathurst and will deposit you right in the heart of town from a mindblowing $12.40. The nation’s oldest inland settlement is a great option for history buffs, culture seekers and the culinary-curious. Bed and breakfast accommodation is a must here, like the cosy (but not costly) Bathurst Heights Bed and Breakfast. For the culture buffs, go exploring on the Bathurst Arts Trail or if you find yourself visiting on the first weekend of each month, meander the Riverside Markets. You can peruse the wares of local makers including potters, glass artists, sculptors and printmakers. If it's history you seek, a visit to Abercrombie House (pictured) is a must. The heritage-listed ancestral home of the Morgan family is a masterpiece of gothic architecture and you can take a tour of both the house and grounds every Wed-Sun for just $15. Autumn is an ideal time to visit this forested region.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an inner city-dwelling Sydneysider will drag their feet at the prospect of travelling any further than Marrickville. But this convenient city-stay in Sydney's west is full of art, culture and excellent eats more than worth the trip. Sydney’s second Big Smoke is in the middle of a huge hospitality and retail boom and it’ll cost you just a few dollars to reach by train or riverboat from central Sydney. The dining precinct in the heart of Parramatta is an absolute must-visit for foodies. Yes, you'll have your eateries by star restaurateurs (including the team behind high-end Middle Eastern diner Nour and sky-high Japanese-inspired jem Joji), but you'll also have a mix of dozens of multicultural cuisines run from authentically cosy shopfronts at your perusal. If in doubt, the Indian food here is peak. 

This seaside escape just south of Wollongong is a natural wonderland of volcanic rocks, gushing blowholes and ancient rainforests. Best of all, it’s just 90-minutes drive from Central Sydney – or two hours by train, although the stunning scenery en route will make the journey time fly by. The Kiama Coast Walk is an essential outing that takes in both of the famed blowholes and the sea-sculpted basalt of the Cathedral Rocks. The entire free trail is 20km, but it can be broken down into smaller, more manageable stretches if that’s a little more cardio than you were banking on. If the thrill of the ocean spray whets your appetite for yet more excitement, get your adrenaline pumping with a trip to the Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures, for one of the highest ziplines in Australia. Too white-knuckle? The treetop walk is a more serene option, where you can amble along an elevated boardwalk surrounded by the lush canopy of the rainforest from just $26. 

Time Out tip: Our favourite time to do the treetop walk is on the special sunrise tour where you'll be the king of the world watching the sun wake up from your highest perch in the escarpment.

Road tripping – or ‘nomading’ if you want to use the currently in-vogue lingo – is enjoying a surge in popularity across NSW, which is why it pays to take the roads less travelled. Instead of getting caught in head-slam-against-the-steering-wheel-worthy traffic heading up or down the coast, venture inland to some of the gorgeous country towns and villages Central NSW has ot offer. The best part? They're under the radar of most holiday seekers. Hidden gems like Rylstone, Canowindra, Tumbarumba and Holbrook are rich with history and unique local culture, as well as boasting great cuisine and wine to boot. If you consider yourself a nature-centric weekender, these rural towns located within national parkland are excellent places to base yourself. Accommodation options can sometimes be limited, but you can keep your overheads even leaner by hiring a campervan.

Oysters are a notouriously expensive delicacy. At $7 a pop in Sydney's fine diners, it can be hard to enjoy them when they're take up such a big chunk of the bill. Venture south to the heart of Australia’s Oyster Coast and sample succulent Clyde River oysters from the farm gates of Pearly Oyster Bar and Farm or the Oyster Shed on Wray Street, where you can slurp away guilt-free. Like, $2-$3 an oyster guilt-free. There are also wildlife encounters of the non-edible kind on the coast of Batemans Bay. Meet fur seals and penguins off Montague Island, follow ancient walking tracks like the 2km Wasp Head Walk in Murramaranga National Park, or go bush swimming in the Clyde River National Park, all without opening your wallet.

Time Out tip: Call it a a day at the Bay Breeze Boutique Motel, where you can get a room for two for around $220 a night.