The Easter long weekend is one of Australia’s most beloved family holidays, and if you’re looking for something a little more special than the supermarket egg hunt, the Blue Mountains deliver in a big way.
With fresh mountain air, spectacular scenery, and a slower pace of life just 90 minutes from Sydney, the region has long been a favourite escape for families over Easter. And right at the heart of it, there’s an experience that captures everything that makes the season magical: a heritage train ride through one of Australia’s most historic railway formations.
Here’s why Zig Zag Railway has become one of the most popular Easter activities in NSW and why families keep coming back year after year.
Why the Blue Mountains is the Ideal Easter Getaway
Easter falls in the sweet spot of the Australian calendar. The summer heat has softened, the school holidays are in full swing, and the Blue Mountains are at their atmospheric best, morning mist rolling across the valleys, golden autumn light filtering through the eucalypts, and that unmistakable cool, crisp air that makes everything feel a little more alive.
For families travelling from Sydney, Western Sydney, or Lithgow, the Blue Mountains offers a genuine escape without the stress of long-haul travel. And for those already staying in the region, the Easter long weekend is the perfect excuse to explore something new.
What Makes a Great Family Easter Activity?
The best Easter day out isn’t just about chocolate, it’s about giving kids something to feel genuinely excited about. An experience with a sense of occasion. Something that gets them away from screens and into the world, wide-eyed and present.
The most memorable family Easter activities tend to share a few things in common:
- A sense of adventure – something that feels like a real event, not just a regular outing
- Engagement for all ages – activities that work for toddlers, primary schoolers, and the grandparents who’ve come along for the ride
- A beautiful setting – because the backdrop matters, especially when you’re making memories
- Something unique – an experience that can’t be replicated at home or at the local park
A heritage train journey through the Blue Mountains ticks every single one.
Why Zig Zag Railway is One of NSW’s Best Easter Activities
Zig Zag Railway sits 15 minutes from the Blue Mountains township of Lithgow. Established in 1869, it operates one of Australia’s most historically significant railway formations, the famous Great Lithgow Zig Zag, a feat of 19th-century engineering that once solved the seemingly impossible challenge of descending the Blue Mountains escarpment by rail.
Today, families board beautifully restored heritage trains for a 90-minute return journey that winds through tunnels, past sandstone cuttings, and across breathtaking mountain scenery. It’s the kind of experience that creates genuine wonder for children discovering it for the first time and for adults reconnecting with something they’d almost forgotten.
For families visiting during Easter, the railway takes on a special seasonal character. The festive atmosphere, the sense of occasion, and the natural beauty of the autumn mountains combine to make it one of the most memorable Easter family experiences in NSW.
Easter Activities for Kids in the Blue Mountains
Beyond the train ride itself, Zig Zag Railway offers a full day out for families. After the journey, there’s room to breathe with wide open spaces, picnic areas, a café, and a gift shop stocked with railway souvenirs and Australian-made gifts.
For younger children, especially, a heritage train has a quality that’s hard to replicate. The sound of the whistle and engine. The feeling of the carriages rocking gently as the locomotive rounds a bend. These are sensory experiences that lodge in memory, the kind of thing kids describe to their friends on the first day back at school.
Over the Easter period, Zig Zag Railway typically runs special seasonal events that add an extra layer of magic to the experience. These events are designed specifically for families and young children, and they sell out quickly, so checking the What’s On page well in advance is always a good idea.
A Note for Grandparents and Extended Families
Easter is a great time for multiple generations to gather together, and finding an activity that genuinely works for everyone – from a restless five-year-old to a grandparent who prefers a relaxed pace – is no small feat!
A heritage train journey solves that problem beautifully. There’s no walking required. Everyone sits together, looks out the same window, and shares the same experience. The history resonates with older visitors; the adventure resonates with the young ones. It’s rare to find an activity that bridges that gap so naturally.
Planning Your Easter Visit to Zig Zag Railway
Getting there: Zig Zag Railway is located at 840 Chifley Road, Clarence NSW 2790, approximately 15 minutes from Lithgow and around 90 minutes from Sydney’s CBD via the Great Western Highway or by train to Lithgow.
When to book: Easter is one of the busiest periods of the year for the railway. Special event sessions in particular sell out well in advance. Booking online as early as possible is strongly recommended.
What to bring: Comfortable shoes, a camera, and a sense of adventure. The station has a café and picnic facilities, so you’re welcome to make a full day of it.
Who it’s for: Families with children of all ages, couples, grandparents, school holiday visitors, and anyone who appreciates heritage, history, and a genuinely beautiful corner of NSW.
Make This Easter One to Remember
The Easter long weekend comes around once a year, and the best version of it isn’t spent indoors. It’s spent somewhere beautiful, doing something that feels like a real occasion, with the people who matter most.
Zig Zag Railway has been creating those moments for families across NSW for decades. This Easter, we’d love to create one for yours.
