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Vintage Rail Journeys

Join Aurora Australis train for an adventure in Regional NSW.

You’ll probably remember the Southern Aurora overnight sleeping train which ran from 1962-1986. They’ve bought 16 carriages from this famous train, and have restored 11 of them to operation so that you can enjoy the comfort of travelling in them once again.

Across the three different rail tours, you’ll see some of NSW’s best scenery, as they primarily travel during daylight hours. You’ll enjoy meeting the locals on river cruises, at museums and gardens. You’ll hear about innovations from farmers and producers. You’ll love the guidance provided by the Off-train Guest Attendants and coach drivers.

You’ll enjoy hearty meals in the dining carriage prepared by their onboard chef, Scott Dowling from Orange, NSW. He uses local produce wherever he can.

The decor in your compartment is straight out of the 1960’s, and you’ll find the service from your guest attendant to be just like flying Business Class.

They’re sure you’ll have a great holiday, all while supporting regional small business.

You’ll also be making a real contribution to the preservation of this iconic train, and helping Railway Societies preserve this heritage.

Repco Bathurst 1000 Aurora

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Five Easy Day Trips from Sydney by Train

These five easy day trips from Sydney by train mean that you don’t need a car to explore the city’s outer reaches. If you take the train, everyone can relax and take in the scenery. You can even enjoy a few cheeky drinks at lunch if you like and snooze on the trip home! I have chosen trips that take two hours or less, so you will have enough time on arrival to explore and enjoy the destination.

I really could have made this six trips by train if I encouraged you to visit Newcastle but I decided after doing it again recently myself for a catch up with family, I think it’s just a little too far to be a fun day trip. Stay for a weekend instead.

Kiama and the Illawarra

Woy woy and the central coast, katoomba and the blue mountains, brooklyn and the hawkesbury river, bowral and the southern highlands.

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For many years, the major attraction in the pretty seaside town of Kiama has been the famous Kiama Blowhole, with the lovely beaches and the rocky coastline a close second.

There are some big draw cards, including the 20km long Kiama Coast Walk that opened a few years ago. It’s a lovely scenic track that is easy to complete by train, with stations at the start and finish. No need to complete the entire thing; it is easily carved up into three sections, perfect for families or those short on time.

You could choose to complete it over a few visits.

• Minnamurra to Kiama Blowhole (8km)
• Kiama to Loves Bay (5km)
• Loves Bay to Gerringong (6km)

To fuel all that walking, you will need some sustenance. After years of being best known for its ice creamery and fish and chips, the town has a growing food scene. Among our favourites is  Penny Whistlers in Shoalhaven Street, offering some fantastic salads like the Roasted Broccoli & Macadamia, or big juicy burgers and even a Brazilian seafood stew; all served with stunning water views. I also love Otis Deli, owned by Emily Herbert, the ex-head chef at Ottolenghi Belgravia. They do fantastic salads and are perfect for stocking up on picnic supplies.

The region is also famous for its fresh produce. Head to the waterfront park for one of the many markets, including a weekly growers market on Wednesdays and various weekend options. Check the local tourism site for details .

The Blowhole is still worth a look when the weather is behaving, and the nearby visitor centre will help you out with maps and suggestions for where to eat.

In warm weather, a swim at one of the four ocean swimming pools along the coast is hard to resist.

Photographers will love Cathedral Rocks just south of town. If the weather is not so kind, the historic Terrace Shops and many cafes will help fill your time.

The trip down from Sydney’s Central Station takes about 2 hours. You can also join the train at Hurstville. Tip : Ride on the left side of the train for the best views

The train ride north from Central to the Central Coast town of Woy Woy takes about 75 minutes, with the final 30 minutes from Hornsby to Woy Woy being quite picturesque.

Woy Woy itself has come to life over the last few years, from a dull commuter suburb to one of the coast’s foodie hotspots.

Check out Link and Pin just opposite the station on arrival for a great coffee (and more) served by a super friendly team. Woy Woy is also home to several second-hand bookshops and op shops – I rarely leave without a treasure or two. The Bayview Hotel, just across from the station, has a Rooftop Bar, Frankies with a Japanese-inspired menu. They make a decent cocktail too! Another popular lunch option is seafood from Fishermans Wharf . Either grab some takeaway or splurge on a meal in the attached restaurant.

From the wharf near the Bayview Hotel, you can take a ferry to explore the local waterways, the cute little ferry heads over to Empire Bay – no need to get off, just make a round trip.

There are several beaches you can explore with the help of the local buses, including Ettalong, Umina, Pearl Beach and Patonga.

Local bus (53) to Ettalong Beach, takes less than 10 mins. Once you are there, stroll the 2km waterfront walk to Umina Beach. Several buses will get you back to Woy Woy. Alternatively, take the ferry to Palm Beach and make your way back to Sydney on the bus.

If you are a regular reader of our site, you will know we have a bit of a love affair with the Blue Mountains and as a non-driver myself, I have done this trip by train more times than I can count. The train ride west to Katoomba is probably the most popular of the journeys we are sharing today, with good reason. You can take a limited stops train from the city at 7.30am and be in the mountains by 9.30am ready to tackle your first bushwalk or hunt down your first lookout .

We recommend strolling via the main street of Katoomba down to Echo Point (there is a bus if you want to save your legs) and then taking a walk to Scenic World via the Giant Stairway and the valley floor. You can take the Scenic Railway up to the top for a reduced fee.

If you prefer to stay up high, the Prince Henry Cliff walk is a brilliant choice, with dozens of lookouts along the way.

The Hawkesbury River is a popular spot for local water lovers with fishing, skiing, kayaking and houseboat rental popular along its 120km path from Broken Bay to Penrith. It is thought to be one of the cleanest rivers in the state.

The best-selling Australian novel,  The Secret River,  is set on the Hawkesbury. It is also the location used for the 2004 feature film The Oyster Farmer.

Once you have had a look around the waterfront, we suggest you get out on the water. There are a few ways to do this; you can take the ferry to Little Wobby or Dangar Island or join the official River Postman on his daily run. Hire boats are also available if you are brave!

Dangar Island Circuit:  We have some lovely friends who live on Dangar Island and have had a couple of great visits there. You can take a walk around Dangar, an easy 1 km trip before popping in to the club or the cafe for refreshments. The locals are friendly, and you will probably find someone to chat to. You can read my friend’s article on Brooklyn here . There is a more challenging walk at Little Wobby or you explore the bushland on the mangrove walk which you can reach on foot from Brooklyn. Tip : Hawkesbury River Station has 100 stairs and no lift, but the staff will help with prams if required. We do not recommend it to wheelchair users.

Hawkesbury River station in Brooklyn is on the Newcastle and Central Coast train line. Find more ideas for exploring the Hawkesbury.

Most Sydneysiders think Bowral is a lot further from Sydney than it is, but it is the perfect distance for a day trip. The train journey takes between 90-120 minutes, depending on the time of day.

So why do we think you should head to the Southern Highlands – well, so many reasons – among them:

• The Bradman International Cricket Museum
• The autumn and spring foliage
• Antique shops and boutiques
• A pie from Gumnut Patisserie or Stones Patisserie
• Fine dining at Paste Thai Restaurant or one of the other local options

The Southern Highlands offers a little taste of English style countryside close to Sydney. With four distinct seasons, it is a lovely spot to spend a day and feels you have travelled a long way.

The direct train from Central takes just 90 minutes and delivers you to the heart of Bowral. This is a Canberra Service that makes a stop at Mittagong on the way to Bowral. You can also join a service at Campbelltown Station that takes approximately one hour.

Check out our Beginner’s Guide to the Southern Highlands for more ideas about spending time here.

We have written a great list of day trips from Sydney if you have a car .

Have questions about things to see and do in Sydney? Head over and join our Facebook Group and we will be happy to help

Main Image – Kiama from the air – Credit Dee Kramer Photography (Destination NSW)

11 thoughts on “Five Easy Day Trips from Sydney by Train”

I love day (or weekend) trips to the Blue Mountains and Katoomba! They’re some of my favourite places in (far) western Sydney.

Good to know there are places you can get to so easily (and cheaply). I enjoyed my trip to the Blue Mountains but didn’t get to many other places outside of Sydney so I’d love to explore more when I hopefully get back there

I always enjoy catching the train to somewhere and the South Coast line is particularly beautiful and picturesque. I always enjoy that train trip.

I haven’t been to Australia yet but this post helps me understand where I need to visit.thanks for sharing

This is amazing! I have a driving license, but I don’t feel confident to drive in a different country, so it’s good to know you can access all these beautiful places by train 🙂 I’m saving this guide for later!

So good to know you can visit many places from Sydney easily! I absolutely love train rides so I just saved your post for later 🙂

I love Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Some great insider tips here for places to explore. What a coastline. Thanks for sharing.

I had never thought about taking a train trip through a foreign country but this sounds so fun. It would definitely take some stress off and I wouldn’t worry about getting lost this way. Plus, the stops all sound like so much fun, and beautiful. Definitely worth adding to the “to do” travel list.

Australia is such a dream destination of mine! These places are beautiful and the fact that they’re reachable by train is a huge bonus 🙂

I have done the train to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains with my eldest daughter who lives in Sydney. We had 3 amazing days of facials and massage and also seeing the sights.

Once again, you have me excited about planning another trip to Sydney. We have been a few times, but always without a car, something that has stopped us from visiting the Blue Mountains. But a train option opens up a world of possibilities.

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Celebrating 50 years 1974-2024

Welcome to Lachlan Valle y Railway (LVR), a revered rail preservation society nestled in the heart of Cowra in the New South Wales Central West. Since our establishment in 1974, LVR has been passionately committed to preserving and operating former New South Wales Government Railways locomotives and rolling stock.   Relive the golden era of rail travel with us as we proudly celebrate 50 years of delivering heritage rail experiences. Our impressive fleet of heritage steam and diesel locomotives, railmotors and carriages based at Orange will take you on an unforgettable day out across the picturesque landscapes of regional New South Wales.   Join us, and let our dedicated team of volunteers make your journey a celebration of history and nostalgia.

LVR Sleeper Drive

Help us rebuild the Cowra Heritage Railway Donations being sought

Upcoming Tours

For a full list of upcoming events, including mainline heritage train journeys across New South Wales - click below

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Cowra, NSW, 2794

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Tel: (02) 6342 4999

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LACHLAN VALLEY RAILWAY

NEWS FLASH…

Time for Jumpers & Jazz and a heritage train ride!

Tickets available

Full details on the TIMETABLE & BOOKINGS pages

The ‘Downs Explorer’ aims to provide a unique heritage railway experience on the Darling Downs and Granite Belt through the operation of our tourist railway. The ‘Downs Explorer’ is based at the site of Warwick’s former historic Locomotive Depot in Hamilton Street Warwick Queensland. Now called the Warwick Railway Precinct , it is the operations base for our C17 Steam and DH45 diesel locomotives and our vintage carriage fleet.

The ‘Downs Explorer’ offers you a range of unique heritage rail experiences through some of the most picturesque countryside in Australia. We offer regular tours from Warwick to Stanthorpe, Wallangarra, Clifton, Wheatvale, Hendon, Toowoomba, plus special long weekends to Miles, Goondiwindi and Tenterfield, NSW.

Book Your Rail Adventure

Covid safety.

From 1 August 2022 almost all restrictions have been lifted for travel on our railway.

Hand cleansing and masks will still be available if required and patrons are asked to use normal sensible precautions.

Explore the History

Our Heritage Railway is a living Rail Museum. Explore our rich rail history here online or at our Rail Precinct Wednesdays or Thursdays each week.

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Trending topics, navy settles lawsuit with sailors who denied covid-19 vaccine.

The Navy and the Department of Defense have settled a lawsuit over the former COVID-19 vaccine mandate with 36 members of the Special Warfare community, the law firm representing the plaintiffs announced Wednesday.

A settlement hearing between lawyers for the Special Warfare community members and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro took place Wednesday. Details were not immediately available on PACER, the online site for federal court documents. The lawsuit was initially filed on behalf of the 36 Special Warfare community members but was turned into a class suit, according to a news release from First Liberty, the law firm that handled the case for the plaintiffs.

According to the settlement agreement, included as exhibit one in a motion by attorneys for Austin and Del Toro, the Navy will review all personnel records of the plaintiffs to ensure the sea service removed any administrative separation processing or proceedings, formal counseling or non-judicial punishments related to the refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Navy will also review the personnel records of the plaintiffs who were separated to make sure there is a reenlistment code on their DD-214 and that there are no indications they were discharged for misconduct.

Other agreements focused on religious accommodations and beliefs, with the Navy required to do training and include a public statement on its website about the acceptance of religious beliefs. The Navy will also have to pay $1.5 million in attorney fees.

“This has been a long and difficult journey, but the Navy SEALs never gave up,” Danielle Runyan, chair of the Military Practice Group at First Liberty Institute, said in the release. “We are thrilled that those members of the Navy who were guided by their conscience and steadfast in their faith will not be penalized in their Navy careers.”

Heather Mongilio

Heather Mongilio is a reporter with USNI News. She has a master’s degree in science journalism and has covered local courts, crime, health, military affairs and the Naval Academy. Follow @hmongilio

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Rail Safety Week 2024

Rail Safety Week 2024 will take place from 5 to 11 August.

Now in its 18th year, this rail industry initiative brings together operators from across NSW to promote key rail safety messages. Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, and Sydney Light Rail will take part in this year’s multi-modal campaign. 

This Rail Safety Week, remember key safety tips:

• Look up from your phone.
• Stay safe, stand behind the yellow line.
• Look and listen for trains.
• Remember, trains can’t swerve or stop quickly.

Rail Safety Week is a reminder to all travellers to slow down, watch their step and be aware of their surrounds to avoid slips, trips and falls. Parents with children and prams remember to always use the wrist strap, apply the pram brake when stationary, and hold your child's hand.

Take responsibility for your safety and help ensure a safer journey for everyone.

Read more about safety .  

New road connection to Sydney Airport to open in September, as government urges drivers to familarise themselves

Details have been released about a new road connection to Sydney Airport known as the Sydney Gateway.

The NSW government has released virtual videos of the connection and tested road signage with the public.

What's next?

The connection will open on September 1.

The new road connection to Sydney Airport will open on September 1, the NSW government has announced, but drivers are being urged to practise their journeys to avoid missing flights.

The Minns government has released animated virtual drive-through videos of the Sydney Gateway, which links the M8 and St Peters interchange with the domestic and international airport terminals.

The videos, designed to help drivers build a mental image of the lanes and turn-offs they will need to take, were also used ahead of the Rozelle interchange's opening.

However, that wasn't enough to prevent chaos on the so-called spaghetti junction as drivers became overwhelmed by the myriad of sometimes confusing signage.

To avoid a repeat of that situation, Transport for NSW has been testing signage and road markings on members of the public, some of whom haven't liked what they were shown.

As a result of the feedback, 100 changes have ordered ahead of the opening, to make the road simpler to navigate.

Whilst the government is still predicting some disruption, Roads Minister John Graham is hoping the virtual guides will reduce confusion.

"Transport for NSW is working closely with Sydney Airport for the smoothest start but I urge all Sydney drivers to take a moment to familiarise themselves with the animations we are issuing today, " he said.

Toll-free, time savings promised

While many drivers will encounter tolls on their way to the airport, the Gateway is toll-free.

The $2.6 billion project, which was started by the previous government, has been completed in stages, including a flyover into the domestic terminal, two arched bridges near the international terminal and improvements to Airport Drive.

It is forecast to shave about 20 minutes off a trip between Parramatta and the airport during peak-hour.

Once a motorist is on the M4, they won't encounter any traffic lights heading to the domestic terminal.

The government says the link will also reduce the number of heavy vehicles in local streets by providing an alternative route for around 10,000 trucks per day travelling to the airport and Port Botany.

"For anyone who has sat in traffic around Mascot as the minutes to a flight tick down, this will be a welcome piece of toll-free motorway, while the local community will see fewer trucks on their streets," Mr Graham said.

Transport authorities are hoping to iron out the kinks before the school holidays start at the end of September, bringing an increase in traffic.

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