What's new in NSW

Sydney

Here is the pick of the best new tours, experiences and accommodation opening in NSW.

Here is the pick of the best new tours, experiences and accommodation opening in NSW, including exciting awards for NSW's leading hotels and restaurants.

New in food and wine

• Set to open by mid-June is The Lookout, a restaurant offering stunning views and focused on local produce and is the latest from the team from Trippas White. Perched on the edge of the Blue Mountains' Echo Point Escarpment, the onsite wine bar features wine sourced entirely from NSW with all fourteen NSW wine regions represented, as well as a diverse range of NSW boutique producers and interesting varietals.
• The Hydro Majestic has expanded its decadent high tea experience to include Mystic High Tea. All part of the history and charm of the newly reopened Hydro Majestic, guests have their tea leaves read in the dramatic setting of Cat's Alley after indulging in high tea in the indoor Wintergarden. 
• The Hunter Valley's new EXP restaurant has opened to rave reviews. Local chef Frank Faulkner has created an exceptional menu using the best local produce from the region and an equally exciting wine list.
• Discover Sydney's 16 craft and microbreweries and go behind the scenes to meet the brewers and learn about the craft of beer making on Sydney's only beer tour on Dave's Brewery Tours. Dave will guide you through Sydney's exciting craft beer scene with six tours on offer and visiting North, South, East and Western Sydney. The tours visit Sydney's hottest and lesser-known craft and microbreweries. 
• The Gantry Restaurant and Black Star Pastry are collaborating with NSW food and wine producers to host a series of Wine Dinners focusing on the wine regions of NSW. Upcoming dinners include Orange featuring Swinging Bridge Wines on 24 June; Hunter Valley featuring Keith Tulloch Wines on 22 July; Canberra District featuring Helm Wines on 26 August; and Mudgee featuring Well Mannered Wines on 30 September. 
• New to Byron Bay is Taste Byron Bay, which is running food tour and cooking classes. The weekly cooking classes will be held at Fig Tree Restaurant, while there are three different Taste of Byron Bay food tours to choose.
• The Central Coast has welcomed a new boutique brewery, Block'n'Tackle. The brewery and cellar door at Kincumber offers tasting by the glass or the paddle and is open Wednesday to Sunday each week. 

New accommodation and refurbs

• Newtown's only hotel, The Urban, is one of Sydney's newest hotels and is ideally located for anyone wanting to stay in and experience the inner city suburb of Newtown. The stylish hotel is located just moments from some of Newtown and Enmore's must-visit cafes and restaurants including Hartsyard, Gretz, Cow & Moon, Brewtown and so much more.
• Templers Mill in Orange has undergone a refurbishment and added on 36 additional Deluxe King rooms, giving this existing hotel a fresh and modern feel.
• Albury has welcomed another new hotel, the stylish Quest Albury on Townsend. This adds to Albury's ongoing surge in development, which includes Atura Albury and a $10.5 million redevelopment of the Murray Art Museum Albury, MAMA, which is due for completion in late 2015.
• Halcyon House, at Cabarita Beach, on the NSW North Coast is a renovated 21 room boutique hotel that was once a former surfer's motel. Now a luxury hotel, Halcyon House, features poolside restaurant, Paper Daisy, which is headed by chef Ben Devlin, who was awarded the Brisbane Good Food Guide young chef of the year in 2014.
• Mansfield on the Manning, near Forster on the Mid-North Coast, has completed a refurbishment of its stylish accommodation, which includes a accommodation in a refurbed 1970's Airstream caravan, stylishly renovated cabins, an infinity pool as well as access to a Kombito go touring and camping on your own.
• Elmsleigh Farmstay is a new farmstay experience between Deniliquin and Hay on the Long Paddock touring route. Stay in the historic shearer's quarters and explore the Hay Plains, nearby Booroorban State Forest which is excellent for bushwalking and book into one of the farm's eco tours.

New tours, workshops and experiences

• Beyond The Wharf and Sydney's First Fleet Ferries has launched an exciting new Ancestral Spiritexploration guide, which allows passengers to discover significant Indigenous sites such moments from wharves across Sydney. Beyond The Wharf offer a range of exciting itineraries and information about Sydney Harbour that visitors can discover online and explore by taking a ferry, such as cheap eat on the waterfront, kids beyond the wharf and date night in Double Bay. 
• Country music fans and Australiana lovers rejoice, as the Slim Dusty Centreis set to open its doors in Kempsey, on the NSW North Coast, in October. Celebrating the life and achievements of Australian icon and country music legend of Slim Dusty, the centre will be a world-class venue depicting the life and achievements of Slim and the way in which his music has reflected the changing face of Australia.
• Orange based producer Sophie Hansen, from Mandagery Creek Venison and Local is Lovely, is holding new Pracshopswhere you can leave the art of food and lifestyle photography and styling and new story telling workshops. The workshops are in addition to the Farm Kitchen and field trips events that Sophie hosts regularly.
• Yuraygir Walking Experiences runs guided tours of this North Coast track, which covers 65kms along the most undeveloped section of the NSW coastline. The four-day tour offers easy to moderate walking conditions along one of Australia's most stunning coastlines and accommodation in lodges along the track.
• The Riverina has launched a selection of new themed touring trailsshowcasing the variety of agri-tourism and food and wine experiences in the region. With twelve trails to choose from there is something to suit all tastes, young and old. There is a Picnic Hamper Trail, Sweet Tooth Trail, Wool Trail, Beer and Cider Trail, Organic and Well-being Trail, Produce Pantry Trail and more.
• River Cottage Australia, based in Tilba on the South Coast, is now running a Cooking School. Taking place at the River Cottage Australian farm, participants will meet Paul and hear about his philosophy. Courses include Meat, Bake, Cheese and the option and stay for dinner. 
• Sydney Bike Tours have launched in The Rocks and are offering guided and self-guided tours. Bike hires starts from $9 for 1 hour, while tours include Sydney Fish Markets, Harbour Bridge and Hyde Park. Cycling is a great way to explore Sydney and take advantage of the cycle ways the city has to offer.