The government’s NSW Dine and Discover Vouchers to help get us back out and spending have been extended to 30 June 2022.

Finding ways to use the dining vouchers are pretty easy but some people struggle with the Discover option. The search tool has some limitations so to help you find some great “Discover” options – businesses that offer interesting products and could really do with some support, we have put together a list cause we love a list!

We have also written about fun ways to use your Stay NSW Vouchers

Like all good things, there are terms and conditions, so let’s go over the main ones. If you are already familiar with this just jump straight down to the list.

If you have previously registered for these vouchers you will receive them automatically. If not you have until June 2022 to register and you will have access to six vouchers.

How To Use Your Vouchers – The Small Print

The easiest way to use the vouchers is via the Service NSW App*. Once you have applied and your vouchers are approved, they should appear in the app within an hour.

There are several conditions around using your vouchers.

• Use the voucher before 30 June 2022
• Use the full value in one visit – you can not carry over any remaining value of the voucher’s balance.
• You can not combine vouchers, i.e. you can not add your 2 x $25 voucher for a $50 bill for one person; however, two people can combine their $25 vouchers towards one bill.

How Can You Find Which Businesses To Accept Your Vouchers?

Service NSW has a business finder search tool on their website, but honestly, it’s a bit lacking. You search by postcode or suburb, and there is no way of filtering, so while it works OK for dining, it’s very much hit and miss for the Discover Vouchers.

Often, tour or activity-based businesses have registered or operational addresses far from the suburb that the activity happens.

While you can use your Discover Vouchers at cinemas and well-known attractions, it’s the tour operators like the ones below that have really missed their international guests who could undoubtedly do with some support. Add some feel good to your experience by spending your voucher where it can really help!

Please note: Some businesses are doubling the voucher’s value, and others have ways you can combine your vouchers for an extended experience, so check the best option directly with the operator as these may change.

Why not play tourist at home and support the companies that usually entertain our international guests? These businesses make thousands of people happy every year, and now it’s your turn to find out why and feel good for knowing you’re helping when they need it most!

Captain Cook Cruises

Harbour Cruises are not just for tourists! As locals, we really enjoy being out on the Harbour, and Captain Cook really looks after their guests.

Captain Cook is doubling the value of your Discover voucher to $50 on a host of premium dining and adventure cruises.

• Sunset Dinner from $54, normally $99
• Top Deck Lunch from $54, normally $109
• 6-course Gold Dinners with the option of a paired wine from $164 normally $189
• Rocket Sightseeing Free, normally $30

A night out on Sydney Harbour is always a good idea!

The Harbour Bar & Restaurant  – Sydney’s new floating bar ticks the box with live acoustic music, bespoke cocktails, comfy lounges and 360-degree waterfront views. Sittings are for a minimum of 90 minutes which is the option to stay on.

• Harbour Bar – entry Free, normally $29
• Harbour Restaurant – from $24, normally $59

Why not try out Harbour Bar or Harbour Restaurant on your next date night?

Oz Jetboating

Use your $25 voucher to book a 30 Minute Shark Attack Thrill Ride. Thrills, smiles and laughs all around on this exciting harbour jaunt. It’s a whole new perspective on the icons with fun commentary and plenty of excitement.

To redeem the voucher call, 02 9808 3700 during business hours and the reservation team assist with a booking.

Sydney Harbour Tallships

Great family outing, you can even take a turn at the wheel or climb the mast! A sunset cruise on a tall ship is a memorable way to spend a couple of hours on the water.

The Afternoon Discovery tour is priced at $54 so once you take off your $25 voucher you will only spend $29 for a 90-minute tour of Sydney Harbour. You can also add a climb the mast experience or a drinks package.

My Sydney Boat

Get some friends together (and combine your vouchers) for a sunset Champagne Cruisin Experience with My Sydney Boat. The vessel is a state-of-the-art 12-metre cruiser with 500 horsepower twin outboards and can seat ten guests.

See the best of the harbour over a 90-minute tour that celeb guests like Tom Hanks and Anthony Robbins have enjoyed. Sip French Champagne and delight in the magic golden hour views. Various pick points around the harbour.

Local Sauce Tours

Local Sauce calls themselves Sydney’s “funniest” small group tours. Their tours focus on helping you see Sydney like a local, telling entertaining stories, mixing in some history and stopping at excellent, independently-owned bars, restaurants and cafes along the way.

I have done three of the tours on offer and enjoyed them. This is a great way to get to know your hometown a little better and find places to go back to next time you head out.

Sydney Secret Bar Tour – How long since you had a night out in the city? You will discover four small bars on these fun bar tours and learn about the city’s bar culture. Along the way, guides throw in some interesting history and more than a few laughs.

Explore either Darlinghurst or Surry Hills. We had a blast on the Darlinghurst tour and hope to book the Surry Hills one soon.

There is a new Chinatown tour “Chinatown – Stories, Snacks & Secrets” that will help you discover half a dozen new places to eat and teach you a little bit about the history of the area along the way.

Local Sauce also runs a Newtown food and street art tour if that’s more your thing.

Use your voucher to take $25 off any of their tours. Use the code DDNSW or PARENTSNSW.

Taste Cultural Food Tours

Taste Cultural Food Tours is a social enterprise that provides training and opportunity to migrants and youth and is possibly the best way to “travel” overseas in 2021.

The tours mix delicious bites with engaging stories of food, history, and culture. Perfect for foodies like us missing overseas food-based trips!

We recently joined a tour of Hurstville and found some great new places to dine and enjoyed learning more about the traditions and superstitions of Chinese New Year.

These suburban experiences allow you to enjoy some cuisines you love when you travel; Vietnamese in Cabramatta, Indian in Harris Park, or tours that combine a mix of cuisines found in multicultural hotspots like Liverpool, Bankstown and Merrylands.

Taste also offers Barangaroo tours for those who want to get the lowdown on the best alternative places to eat in this new precinct.

The Sydney Connection

The Sydney Connection – Join Maree on one of her famous Dining Walks, where you will experience Sydney’s small bar culture and eat at three different inner-city Sydney restaurants in one night. Along the way, Maree will share her knowledge of these fabulous city locations or answer questions you have about Sydney.

Choose from Potts Point, Darlinghurst or Surry Hills. Learn more about the city and go home with a full belly; it sounds like the perfect night to us!

Sydney Photography walks

Alfonso Calero offers beginner and intermediate smartphone and digital photography walks in the city centre. Three-hour daytime, night courses and sunset classes are offered for $99. Your voucher saves you $25.

EcoWalks Tours

How well do you know the bushland that surrounds Sydney Harbour? EcoWalks has a number of guided walks that provide a great introduction to bushwalking or just a wonderful way to learn more about the landscape.

Most walks are 3 hours and suitable for Choose from Q Station Wildlife Meanders, Middle Head Battery walk – exploring military relics, Georges Head Walk or Curlew Camp Sydney Walk. Walks are priced from $39 (before your voucher is applied).

The Rocks Ghost Tours

It does not have to be Halloween to get your spook on, join this Ghost Tour of the Rocks for a dark and spooky history of The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest precinct. Tours are just $20 after your voucher is deducted. Tours are offered at 7:45pm 5 nights a week.

Skirting Sydney

How much do you know about the women who shaped our city? On this 2-hour walking tour Simon, your incredibly knowledgeable guide will tell the story of some of the city’s amazing women, from a convict who went on to become governor’s wife, to those who fought for women’s suffrage and equality, and those who challenged the status quo in business breaking glass ceilings before it even had a name. I loved this tour and highly recommend it.

Sydney Architecture Walks

How much do you know about the buildings you walk past across the city? With seven tours on offer, the guides at Sydney Architecture Walks (SAW) will help you discover so much about this wonderful city we call home.

Tours include Utzon and the Sydney Opera House, Modern Sydney, The transformation and regeneration of Ultimo or Chippendale and even a bicycle tour. I want to do them all!

Opera Australia

Buy tickets to opera at the Sydney Opera House this summer with your Discover voucher and Opera Australia will match it giving you $50 off your ticket.

Operas you can book tickets to include La Bohème, Turandot, The Marriage of Figaro, Otello

This offer is available across full-price tickets in Premium, A, B, C and D Reserve. D Reserve tickets are usually $99 (excluding Saturday night performances), but with this offer, you’ll pay just $49 (plus booking fee) by using your Dine & Discover voucher.

Australian Ballet

Use your voucher towards tickets for any ballet at Sydney Opera House, including special events, talks and classes. Tickets can only be booked by phone Monday to Friday

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs have 7 shows on their performance schedule this year. With tickets ranging starting at $58 your $25 Discover voucher can get you in for just $33

Make the most of your time outdoors this summer with these great offerings

Troll Tours – Jump on the back of a Harley or ride in style on a three-seater trike while you explore one of Troll Tours popular routes

• The Three Bridge
• Eastern Panoramas
• City Viewer

To book one of these or design your own day out (charges are by the hour), contact Troll Tours on 9568 3082, and they will apply your voucher to your booking.

Manly Kayak Centre

Hire a kayak or paddleboard and explore the north of the Harbour or paddle around to Store Beach for a swim. Manly Kayak Centre is right by the wharf and offers a range of options.

Manly Surf n Slide

Manly Surf n Slide is just a short walk from the ferry wharf and is a perfect school holiday option. There are three giant slides, and with heated water, it’s fun even when the weather cools down.

There is an onsite cafe for breakfast, lunch or just a coffee. And remember, there is no age limit on having fun!

Eco Treasures

Eco Treasures offer paddleboard, kayak and snorkel hire and tours at both The Basin in Ku-ring-gai National Park and Manly. You can exchange one Discover voucher for 1-hours hire.

Strike Bowling

Use both a dine and a discover voucher on a visit to Strike Bowling for $25 off your lane and $25 off your food bill. Locations at King Street Wharf, Chatswood, Castle Hill and the Entertainment Quarter.

Climb Fit

Use your discover voucher for casual entry and equipment hire or even membership at Climb Fit indoor climbing centres. There are centres at Kirrawee, St Leonards and Macquarie.

X-Golf

If the rain has you off the course you can still get your fix at X-Golf Indoor Golf Entertainment Centre. Suitable for golfers of all levels this could be a perfect time to see if you are a golfing natural. Casual play, comps, coaching & heaps of fun!

Holey Moley

Get $25 off mini-golf when you book online with a Dine & Discover voucher. Venues at Wollongong, Newtown, Darlinghurst, Castle Towers and more.

Australian Maritime Museum

Trade your voucher for a Big Ticket at the Australian Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour. The museum is accepting both Dine and Discover vouchers so you can hit up the cafe after your visit.

Almost all the animal parks in Sydney will accept your discover voucher and with a huge portion of their income – that they use to feed to animals – coming from visitor tickets they could really use your help.

Taronga Zoo

Taronga is accepting vouchers at Mosman or Dubbo for in-person or online tickets or annual memberships.

Symbio Wildlife Park

Symbio Wildlife Park is offering $25 off adult entry or donate your voucher to the Starlight Foundation

Sea Life Aquarium

Explore the Sea Life Aquarium with your using your Dine and Discover

Featherdale Wildlife Park

Featherdale is upping the value of your discover voucher – trade it for an adult entry worth $35. You can also use your second voucher for animal encounters or annual passes. Dine vouchers are also accepted.

Wildlife Zoo Sydney

Planning a day in Darling Harbour? Wildlife Zoo is accepting vouchers against their most popular tickets.

Sydney Zoo

Sydney Zoo – An adult ticket will be just $14.99 when you use your discover voucher here. They also accept dine vouchers.

Check out our detailed guide to animal and wildlife experiences in Sydney to help you decide which one to visit.

Some operators allow you to use your vouchers for tours and experiences beyond July as long as you book before the cut off date.

Local Travel Planner

Sip n Savour – Premium wine tasting tour in the Southern Highlands is probably where one of my vouchers will go! The operator, Local Travel Planner, will match your $25, meaning you get $50 off the usual tour price. Just $145 per person for a full-day tour includes lunch, tastings at three award-winning boutique wineries, and a choice of a bottle of wine up to the value of $50. Departs from Sydney.

AEA Tours

Hunter Valley Day Tour from Sydney – AEA Tours offer a small group tour to the Hunter from Sydney several times a week. This is an exceptional experience for anyone who has not visited the region for a while to see how much it has changed in recent years.

Go beyond the big-name stops and explore some of the Hunters small producers. You will visit 3 wineries with tastings and enjoy a grazing board for lunch. Make a stop at the sensational Binnorie Dairy, where I guarantee you will want to buy almost everything you taste and visit Hunter’s only locally operated distillery.

AEA Luxury Day Tour of Mudgee – Well known for their high-quality multi-day tours of NSW, AAE also offer a range of fabulous day tours. One for wine lovers is their day tour of Mudgee that includes two winery visits, a superb lunch at Guneemooroo Estate and a tasting at Mudgee Honey Haven.

AEA tours offer a little bit of luxury and really fantastic service. If you are staying in Mudgee, add this tour to your list of things to do.

The next group of suggestions is perfect for anyone heading away for their summer holidays.

While our regional areas have been busier lately than the city centres, some operators are still struggling with a lack of international visitors; these visitors consistently rate them highly, so isn’t it about time we locals found out what all the five-star ratings are about?

Blue Mountains Explorer Bus

Blue Mountains Explorer Bus – After a covid shut down the big red bus is back on the streets!
The drivers have missed having guests on board, but they have used the time to overhaul their route and add some great new tours and experiences.

Kids ride free on all Blue Mountains Explorer bus tours making this is an affordable day out for the family.

Scenic World

Get $25 off your Scenic World entry pass. You can also use your vouchers for the current Dinosaur Valley exhibition that is on until February 27, 2022.

Blue Mountains Picnics

Grab your special person and head to the Blue Mountains for a romantic picnic. This local company has discovered all the best spots and will make sure you can create special memories.

It’s a perfect way to propose too (just sayin)!

Blue Mountains Stargazing

Join Astrophysicist Dimitri, PhD and his partner Caroline for a fun and interactive 90-minute astronomy tour. These Leura locals will share their love and knowledge of the stars, skies, and the Blue Mountains.

The tour begins with a Jamison Valley sunset. It includes telescope viewing of the moon, planets, stars and deep space objects, naked-eye astronomy, constellation storytelling and hot chocolate, all with the sounds of Wentworth Falls in the background.

Elixir Journeys, Central Coast

These tours on the NSW Central Coast just north of Sydney include bush walks, sailing and kayaking trips and some great foodie options.

Guaranteed to make you fall in love with this beautiful part of the coast, one of their short walks, either the Nature Therapy or the Sunset Stroll in Bouddi National Park, are affordable ways to put your Discover voucher to good use. For a special treat, selected tours include lunch at Bells in Killcare!

Country Food Trails, Orange

There is plenty of variety on offer at Country Food Trails. With everything from walking and heritage tours of Orange and Millthorpe to tours focusing on particular specialties like ale, wine and even saffron!

Nicole offers down-to-earth food and wine tours of Orange, helping you discover one of NSW’s best regions.

Wine Knot Tours

Shoalhaven-based, the team at Wine Knot has a range of food and beverage tours designed to show off the region’s best products.

If you have a holiday planned for Mollymook/Ulladulla or Jervis Bay, really consider adding one of their great days out to your visit.

I love a pun, so their aptly named “Let The Tour BEER-GIN” immediately appealed. This Distillery/ Brewery Tour between Mollymook and Jervis Bay is a fabulous day out and includes plenty to eat and drink, including lunch at Harvest Bar in Milton.

Wine Knot will match your $25 voucher, meaning you will receive $50 off on any tour booked from Monday – Thursday. The guides are passionate about the region and love what they do, ensuring you have a top day out.

Dolphin Watch Cruises

Jervis Bay is one of the best spots in NSW to see dolphins year-round and Dolphin Watch Cruises – Jervis Bay is accepting vouchers for their tours. Their regular dolphin cruise is only $35 so $10 with your voucher. They have a number of other options. Must be booked by phone or in person to use the voucher.

South Bound Escapes

Operating out of Narooma on the far south coast, South Bound Escapes have a great range of affordable tours and activities on offer that is perfect for your next holiday. Discover this beautiful part of the coast and the popular Tilba Valley.

Use your voucher to hire an e-bike, book a pop-up picnic or join one of their local produce tours that will have you sampling the best food of the region including oysters, cheese, gin, and wine!

A few suggestions for using your vouchers here:

• 2.5 Hour E-Bike Hire – 2 vouchers per person
• Big Niles Brewery Beer Tasting Paddle with Grazing Box Picnic for Two – 1 Voucher + $12 per person
• Winery Tour to Tilba Valley Winery including return transport and lunch – 2 vouchers + $30 per person
• 3 Hours e-bike hire with a picnic – 2 vouchers +$45 per person
• Pop Up Picnic for 6 people including grazing box – 2 vouchers per person

Discover the Narooma to Dalmeny Coastal Trail on an e-bike & enjoy a delicious local produce picnic.

If you are making your way north, then check out these offerings

Tasting Plate Tours

These gourmet food tours showcase the Northern Rivers of NSW, helping you to discover the best farms, restaurants and growers. Their tailored tours operate small groups of 8 or fewer and offer to pick up from Byron, Tweed Valley and even the Gold Coast.

A stand out for us is the Back Roads of Byron tour, which explores the Hinterland’s small communities. It operates daily, and the itinerary changes based on which markets and restaurants are open.

Alternatively tour two of the regions most popular Distilleries, Husk and Cape Byron Distillery with a trip to Stone and Wood. Gin, Rum, Beer and Cider oh and some fab local food, a day you won’t easily forget.

Try to use your voucher direct with the tour operator rather than a 3rd party like Klook or Viator to make sure all the money goes directly to support these small businesses.

Between last year’s bushfires and covid-19, our zoos, wildlife parks, amusement parks, water parks, and cultural institutions could all use the extra money and patronage this stimulus package offers. Whether it’s a day in Sydney’s CBD or Byron Bay, or the Bega Valley, this boost offers NSW venues the chance to get back on their feet!

If you are a tourism operator in NSW and would like to be considered for this list, please get in touch.

Find more great things to do in Sydney

• 33 Lookouts in the Blue Mountains
• An ABC of Gardens in Sydney
• The Best Day Trips from Sydney
• 21 of the Best Picnic Spots in Sydney

In case you missed all this last year, in an attempt to get the NSW economy pumping again, the NSW Government issued a voucher system to help us get out and about again. Under the scheme, every NSW resident over 18 years of age will be eligible to receive 4 x $25 vouchers to use at eligible businesses. Applications for these have now closed.

The vouchers were divided into two categories:

2 x $25 Dine vouchers for eating at restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries, pubs and clubs from Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays (please note vouchers can’t be used to buy alcohol).

2 x $25 Discover NSW vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including live music, sports and arts venues, any day of the week, excluding public holidays.

Find our all about the Stay NSW Vouchers

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