Zig Zag Railway is now running 4 daily rides, 7 days a week. Here’s why now is the perfect time to book.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to make the trip out to the Blue Mountains and beyond, this is it. Zig Zag Railway has expanded its timetable to 4 daily rides, running every single day of the week. Whether you’re planning a weekend escape from Sydney, a mid-week family day out, or a spontaneous Blue Mountains adventure, there’s now more flexibility than ever to fit a heritage rail experience into your schedule.
What Is Zig Zag Railway?
Perched at the top of the Blue Mountains, Zig Zag Railway is one of Australia’s most unique and beloved heritage rail experiences. Established in 1869, the railway was built to navigate the dramatic descent of the Great Lithgow Zig Zag – a feat of 19th-century engineering that helped open the Blue Mountains to the world.
Today, passengers board heritage locomotives and haul through sandstone cliffs, lush mountain forests, and sweeping valley views that change with every season. It’s the kind of experience that’s hard to find anywhere else in New South Wales.
4 Rides a Day, Every Day. What That Means for You
The expanded timetable isn’t just a number. It means:
You no longer need to plan around a limited weekend schedule. Midweek visitors, school holiday families, and travellers passing through on a Tuesday all have access to the same full experience. Seats are still limited though, so online booking is strongly recommended to guarantee your spot.
There are three journey options to choose from. The classic Clarence to Bottom Points return runs for around 90 minutes, taking you down the Great Lithgow Zig Zag, stopping at Top Points and Bottom Points for locomotive run-arounds before returning to Clarence. If you’re arriving via NSW TrainLink’s Blue Mountains Line, the Bottom Points to Clarence return is a 1 hour 45 minute option that connects directly with train services. For something shorter, the Clarence to Top Points return is a 45-minute ride, perfect for couples, families with little ones, or anyone who just wants just a taste of the mountain scenery.
What to Expect On the Day
The Zig Zag Railway runs even in wintery weather – rain, fog, sunshine, it doesn’t matter. Mist settling over the valleys on a grey morning has its own kind of magic, and golden light on a clear afternoon is something else entirely. Every ride looks different depending on the season and conditions.
On board, you’ll travel in heritage carriages through tunnels and over viaducts, watching the locomotive uncouple and run around at each stop, a piece of rail theatre that delights kids and adults alike. The team and volunteers who keep this railway running are passionate, friendly, and knowledgeable, and that comes through in every ride.
Back at Clarence Station, there’s a souvenir store, the Café for hot drinks and food, static carriages to dine in, and plenty of green space for a picnic.
A Piece of History Worth Protecting
The Zig Zag Railway runs through one of Australia’s oldest reserves – gazetted in 1881, twenty years before Federation, when the colony of NSW recognised just how remarkable this stretch of landscape and engineering truly was. The reserve has been preserved for nearly 150 years, and Zig Zag Railway now manages it on behalf of the people of NSW.
The railway traverses the lands of the Wiradjuri Aboriginal Nation, and acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land and their continuing connection to country.
Plan Your Visit
Zig Zag Railway is located at 840 Chifley Road, Clarence, NSW 2790. You can arrive by car or connect via NSW TrainLink. Seats sell out, especially on weekends and during school holidays, so booking ahead online is the best way to make sure you don’t miss out.
With 4 rides running every day of the week, the only question left is: which one will you catch?
