Scenic Railway Blue Mountains

Katoomba, New South Wales 2780

Escape the hustle and bustle of the sunny Sydney city and trek out to the Blue Mountains.

The region is a bushland paradise, featuring epic rock formations and sprawling mountaintops. It is an ancient region, as old as 300 million years, even around during the dinosaur era. Listed as one of Sydney’s best day activities, the Blue Mountains is swarming with attractions, from epic natural wonders to unique flora and fauna. In the heart of the Blue Mountains, the Scenic Railway offers visitors the chance to explore the swathes of velvet scenery all around them from a different perspective. With incredible views above the tree canopies.

About the Scenic Railway

According to the Guinness Book of Records, it’s the steepest railway in the world and was originally built to be part of the Katoomba mining tramways that were constructed in the late 1800s. With a measure of 52-degree incline (128% incline), even the most daring guest will have butterflies fluttering in their stomach.

The railway itself weaves down sandstone cliffs, dipping into a rock tunnel next to the famous Orphan Rock landmark, and then re-emerges to incredible views of the surroundings.

Why it’s Worth the Ride

In 2013, the railway underwent an award-winning redevelopment, which made the unforgettable experience even better, with glass-roofed carriages for more expansive views of the rainforest and the Jamison Valley below.

But that’s not all. The Scenic Railway allows passengers to choose their adventure. The custom-designed carriages give passengers the chance to adjust their seating position up to 20 degrees and choose an adrenalin-pumping “Cliffhanger” option that ascends the mountain at a breath-taking 64-degree angle.

If you’re after a more relaxing experience, you can opt for the “Laidback” option or the “Original” adventure which runs at a 52-degree angle.

Dating back to 1945 when it first started operating as a tourist attraction, the railway has seen more than 25 million passengers on their adventures, and the current version is the fifth-generation train.

At any one time, the Scenic Railway can carry 84 passengers, departing every ten minutes. You can get off the train at the bottom station and hit the Scenic Walkway, which takes you around a 2.4-kilometre walk through Jurassic rainforest.

Where Did It Get Its Name?

First used in the late 1800s, the term Scenic Railway described an amusement ride at English seaside funfairs. The rides were made up of carriages on a track that took passengers past a range of exotic backdrops like the Swiss Alps or the Egyptian Pyramids.

If you’re looking to experience the incredible natural beauty of the Blue Mountains, the Scenic Railway is for you. With its steep incline and its route through the rainforest and past sandstone cliff, you’ll get to view the stunning scenery of the region up close.

Not only that, but the incline and the ability to change the angle of your seat makes it so much more than just a simple train ride through the mountains. It is an exceptional way to explore the Blue Mountains.

Other Rides Offered at Scenic World

• Scenic Skyway

  Glide between the clifftops of the Blue mountains, gazing over the treetop canopy at the valley below. The Scenic Skyway, a large gondola will be suspended 270 metres above the bushland, slowly flying along with the suspending connection between the two clifftops. The gondola can hold a large group of people. Equipped with 360 views of the surrounds, with large glass windows, and even a glass floor. It will be as you are floating mid-air, taking in the green-velvet trees covering the region, with the rocky cliff tops and rock formations in the background. The entire journey in the clouds is 720 kilometres, giving you plenty of time to snap the perfect Instagram shot of your journey. But be warned, this ride is not for the faint of heart, with the glass floor making even the most daring tourist waver.

• Scenic Cableway

  This 545-metre journey takes visitors along an adventurous cableway amidst the bushland. It is one of the best spots to see the iconic Three Sisters. Gently descending you into the lush Jamison valley while you take in panromantic views of the Blue Mountains. It is a fully enclosed cabin, with a spacious interior offering lookout sections and handles for the nervous guests. Each section of the cabin gives you a different perspective, from the top showcasing the region’s most spectacular natural wonders, including the Three Sisters, Orphan Rock, and Katoomba Falls. Whereas the bottom can display the ancient fern trees of the valley, as well as any nearby wildlife.

• Scenic Walkway

  Not much for heights? Don’t despair as Scenic World has something for everyone! Offering a man-made walkway, with boardwalks scattered about the lush greenery of the forest floor. Simply start strolling along the 2.4 kilometres stretch of track and get up close and personal with some of the region’s most beloved plants and animals. Each track has different information signs, displaying history or facts about the Blue Mountains. This allows visitors to discover more about what they are seeing, making the interactions that much better. Lookout points and resting stops also line the tracks, letting you set up a picnic to refuel, or simply marvel at the scenic surrounds.

Regardless of what experience you choose to do, whether it is all four of them, or simply the railway, Scenic World truly is an unforgettable attraction to visit. Letting you see the marvels of the Blue mountains first hand, from in the clouds, to up close and personal on the ground.