Gladys Berejiklian enjoyed an "extremely positive" reception as she joined candidates on the hustings on Saturday morning, but said she expected voters to punish the government for imposing byelections upon them.
Byelections are underway in Gosford, North Shore and Manly, where campaign staff for several parties reported a smaller voter turnout than would be expected for a general election.
"I'm expecting a large swing," Ms Berejiklian said.
"But I have to say the reception today has been extremely positive.
"People are very happy to see me and talk to me and tell me what they like and don't like and also what they hope."
The main issues raised with her had been traffic issues and only three or four people had mentioned council amalgamations, she said.
"People don't necessarily ike coming out on a byelection. There's always a bit of resentment as to why people have to come out on a byelection and that always bothers people."
Liberal candidates for the blue-ribbon seats of North Shore and Manly have both fielded questions about their integrity over the course of the campaign.
North Shore candidate Felicity Wilson has been forced to retract claims that she had lived in the electorate for a decade, while Manly candidate James Griffin directed a company that may have traded while insolvent.
Manly independent candidate Kathryn Ridge, the leading contender to snatch the seat from the Liberals, said many die-hard Liberal voters had told her they planned to switch their vote for the first time.
But the Premier brushed off suggestions that these claims had disappointed her, insisting she was proud of all her candidates.
Mr Griffin is controversial figure on the peninsula owing to his involvement in plans to build a carpark under Manly Oval when he was deputy mayor.
He was still unsure whether his own mother would vote for him as he cast his vote at Manly West Public School.
Cathy Griffin is a senior member of the Manly Greens, who said they expected her vote to go to their candidate, Clara Williams Roldan.
"That's for her," Mr Griffin said. "I hope she votes with her heart."
Ms Berejiklian spent the morning on the North Shore and will spend the afternoon in Manly before heading to the Centra.
Labor has not fielded candidates in North Shore and Manly.
Opposition leader Luke Foley has spent the day on the Central Coast, where paralympian Liesl Tesch is expected to win and increase Labor's margin of 0.2 per cent.
The Liberal party holds North Shore by 21.9 per cent and Manly by 28.4 per cent.
