The Blue Mountains by road and by rail. No cable cars and no queues: the best lookouts of the Blue Mountains in the morning, a 90-minute ride on the heritage steam train of the Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow at midday, and the scenic Bells Line of Road back to Sydney through old Windsor.
This ~285 km private loop leaves Sydney at 7:30 am, so that we reach Clarence station in good time for the 11:30 train. The Zig Zag Railway was built in the 19th century to bring trains down the steep western escarpment of the Blue Mountains: the line runs through tunnels and across sandstone viaducts, and the train changes direction at Top Points and Bottom Points. On the way back we take the Bells Line of Road, with the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden on Mount Tomah and the view from Kurrajong Heights, and finish in Windsor, one of the oldest towns in Australia.
Prefer Featherdale Wildlife Park and Scenic World? See our classic Blue Mountains day tour. Wild kangaroos instead of a train? Try Blue Mountains Hidden Routes.
Tour Highlights:
- Zig Zag Railway Heritage Steam Train: A 90-minute return ride from Clarence to Bottom Points, through tunnels and over sandstone viaducts.
- Wentworth Falls Lookout: The falls and the Jamison Valley.
- Three Sisters from Echo Point, Katoomba: The icon of the Blue Mountains.
- Govetts Leap, Blackheath: The Grose Valley and Bridal Veil Falls.
- Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah: Gardens and lookouts on the Bells Line of Road.
- Bellbird Hill Lookout, Kurrajong Heights: Views across the plain all the way to Sydney.
- Old Windsor (founded 1810): Thompson Square and the Macquarie Arms Hotel (built 1815).
- No Cable Cars: Lookouts and a train ride instead of the Scenic World queues.
Book early: train seats are sold online in advance only and the 11:30 train often sells out. Once your tour is confirmed, we reserve the seats for you. Train tickets are paid separately: about A$46.50 per adult, A$30 per child (3–16) or A$140 for a family of 2 adults and 2 children.