Why Zig Zag Railway Is One of the Best Family Day Trips in NSW

Some family outings are all promise and very little payoff. Others quietly do their job without fuss. Zig Zag Railway sits firmly in the second camp.

Located just outside Lithgow, Zig Zag Railway is a heritage steam railway that has kids hooked before you’ve even bought a ticket. There’s steam. There’s noise. There’s scale. And there’s something deeply satisfying about watching a train do a very deliberate, very old-fashioned zig and zag down the escarpment.

Zig Zag Railway Lithgow. Credit: Powerhouse Museum Collection

A quick bit of context (without the history lecture)

Built in the 1860s, Zig Zag Railway was a practical response to a very real problem: how to get trains safely down the steep western side of the Blue Mountains. Engineers created a series of switchbacks that allowed trains to descend gradually through hand-cut tunnels, across stone viaducts and along cliff edges, linking Sydney with the western plains of NSW. When a newer railway line opened in 1910, the zig zag was retired and largely forgotten. In the early 1970s, a group of dedicated volunteers brought it back to life, relaying track and restoring locomotives, with trains running again by 1975. Many parents will remember riding it as kids. After further closures, bushfires and floods, its return feels well earned – familiar, resilient and still impressive.

Steam train at station. Image courtesy of Zig Zag Railway.

Why kids are instantly into it

You don’t have to convince kids that this is exciting. The train does that for you. Even kids who aren’t Harry Potter fans and who don’t yell out “Hogwarts Express” the minute they see a steam train enjoy the experience.

Why? Steam engines have presence. They hiss, they rumble, they smell different. They feel alive in a way modern transport doesn’t. Even kids who aren’t “into trains” tend to soften the second a full-size locomotive pulls into the station.

For younger kids, it’s sensory overload in a good way. For primary-schoolers, it’s the combination of movement, tunnels and views that keeps their attention. Older kids usually start out unimpressed and then, quietly, get into it (we’ve seen it for ourselves).

Steam train going through Zig Zag Railway. Image courtesy of Zig Zag Railway.

How long is the journey?

Depending on where you start your journey, the train ride can run from 45 minutes to 90 minutes return. It’s long enough to feel like a proper experience, but short enough that kids don’t hit the “how much longer?” phase.

What do you actually see?

A lot, in a relatively short time. The train:

Zig-zags its way down the escarpment, reversing direction at set points (a big hit with kids)
Travels through hand-cut sandstone tunnels
Crosses historic stone viaducts
Offers wide views over bushland, cliffs and valleys you don’t see from the highway

There’s always something happening out the window, which helps enormously with attention spans. I-Spy anyone?

Clarence Station. Image courtesy of Zig Zag Railway.

The stations are part of the outing

Clarence Station isn’t just a platform. It’s where the day slows down nicely.

There’s space to wander, picnic tables if you’ve packed lunch, a small café and gift shop if you haven’t, and plenty of old railway bits for kids to inspect up close. You can arrive early, explore, do the train ride, then hang around afterwards without feeling rushed.

It’s also forgiving. Snack break? Toilet stop? Need to run off some energy before sitting still? Sorted.

Original luggage scaled at Clarence Station. Image courtesy of Zig Zag Railway.

Practical stuff Inner West parents actually want to know

Getting there
From the Inner West, it’s about a 2 hour drive. That puts it firmly in “proper day trip” territory. It also pairs well with a Blue Mountains overnight if you want to stretch it out.

You can reach Zig Zag Railway via NSW TrainLink’s Blue Mountains Line. Aim to sit in the last carriage, then let the guard know at Mt Victoria that you’re hopping off at Zig Zag. From the platform, it’s a short five-minute walk to Bottom Points to check in. Worth noting: access is via stairs only, so this option isn’t suitable for wheelchairs or prams.

Ages
Best for preschoolers through to tweens. Toddlers will enjoy it but need close supervision around platforms. Teens may pretend they’re unimpressed, but the combination of machinery and landscape usually wins them over.

Accessibility
Check ahead if you have specific accessibility needs. Staff and volunteers are genuinely helpful, but this is a heritage site, not a modern transport hub.

Toilets
There are no toilets on the train but toilets are available at each of the station stops on the the route.

Two walkers crossing Buttenshaw Bridge on Grand Cliff Top Walk. Photo: Remy Brand copyright.

Make it more than just the train

If you’re already heading out to Lithgow, it’s easy to turn Zig Zag Railway into a fuller day.

Options include:

A picnic nearby
A short, kid-friendly bush walk (check out the Grand Clifftop Walk).
Lunch in Lithgow
Rolling it into a Blue Mountains weekend

Book ahead. Seriously.

Zig Zag Railway runs on specific days and sessions do sell out, particularly during school holidays and long weekends. Plus, ticket aren’t available at the station so you need to book in advance.

A few sensible tips:

Book tickets online in advance
Choose an earlier session so the rest of the day feels open
Arrive early to explore the station
Bring snacks and water
If you’re meeting friends or going with extended family, book together.

About Author

Francesca Millena

Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.

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Why Zig Zag Railway Is One of the Best Family Day Trips in NSW

Why Zig Zag Railway Is One of the Best Family Day Trips in NSW