Nestled on the edge of the Blue Mountains, Lithgow is a country town that serves as the gateway to the Central West. It’s surrounded by historic hamlets and mining settlements, as well as ancient tracts of wilderness and dramatic sandstone canyons.
Things to do in Lithgow
Ride on the Zig Zag Railway, a heritage line that climbs the western flank of the magnificent Blue Mountains. This narrow gauge railway was originally built in the 1860s, with lovingly-restored historic steam and diesel engines hauling the passenger cars today.
Take in the views across the Capertee Valley from its sandstone escarpments, with the soaring peak of Pantoney’s Crown dominating its landscape. The Capertee Valley is the world’s second largest canyon and is renowned for its birdwatching, with regent honeyeaters and woodland birds spotted on its fertile river flats.
Don’t miss a visit to Wollemi National Park, the largest wilderness area in New South Wales, which features a rugged landscape of canyons, cliffs and pristine forests. The area has been sacred to the local Aboriginal people for more than 12,000 years, with rock engravings, ceremonial grounds and scarred trees still visible today.
Explore the Gardens of Stone National Park, a World Heritage-listed area that lies to the north-west of Lithgow. Go trekking, horse riding or mountain biking along the Bicentennial Trail to witness its spectacular canyons and rock pagodas, then take in the beautiful views from the Newnes Plateau Cliffs.
Getting around Lithgow
Lithgow is just over two hours’ drive from Sydney and connected by regular bus services. The town is compact enough to explore on foot, although having your own vehicle is best for accessing the surrounding natural attractions.