With just the tap of your Opal card, you can explore lush bushwalking trails, take in vast mountain panoramas and relax on secluded beaches. And that’s all with barely leaving the Sydney area. So if you’re car-less, or just looking to drive less, here are eight easy day trips from Sydney by train all on the Sydney Trains network.
1. Kiama
Distance from Central station: 2 hours, 14 minutes to Kiama
Train line: South Coast Line
After taking a scenic train ride down the coast, which passes through the lush national park before offering sweeping views of the coast and ocean, you’ll get to the end of the South Coast Line at Kiama. (Okay, technically you can continue on a bit further south but you need to switch trains.)
With coastal charm, local eateries, beautiful beaches and surrounded by green rolling hills, Kiama feels a lot further away from the big city than it actually is. The station is pretty central and you can easily get to spots like the lighthouse, blowhole and beaches on foot.
Must-sees in Kiama that you can access by train: Kiama Coastal Walk, Kiama Blowhole, Kiama Lighthouse, beaches
2. Blue Mountains
Distance from Central station: 2 hours to Katoomba
Train line: Blue Mountains Line
The picturesque Blue Mountains are a hiker’s paradise, with hundreds of walking trails creating veins through the 2,680-square-kilometre national park. And if you’re not into bushwalks, there are plenty of spots that let you take in the views without having long walks first.
There are more than a dozen train stations in the Blue Mountains, but Katoomba is the largest town. It’s also home to the iconic Three Sisters. They’re a 30-minute walk from the station down the town’s main street, which has plenty of places to grab a bite after the train ride.
Must-sees in the Blue Mountains that you can access by train: Three sisters, Wentworth Falls
Read our guide to the Blue Mountains (unfortunately, not train-friendly)
3. Royal National Park
Distance from Central station: 48 minutes to Heathcote; 53 minutes to Waterfall
Train line: T4
Most pictures of Royal National Park display its epic coastline, but the interior of the park is well worth a visit. And, it’s much more accessible. From both Heathcote and Waterfall stations, you can access a bunch of bushwalking tracks that take you into Australia’s oldest national park.
One of the Royal’s most popular swimming spots, Karloo Pools, can be found via a 2.7 kilometre (5.3 kilometre return) track from Heathcote Station.
Must-sees in Royal National Park that you can access by train: Karloo Pools, Uloola Falls, Otford Lookout
Read our guide to walks in Royal National Park
4. Hawkesbury/Brooklyn
Distance from Central station: 1 hour to Hawkesbury River Station (Brooklyn)
Train line: Central Coast and Newcastle Line
Surrounded by national park, this community perched on a peninsula has all the makings of a quaint day away. From fish and chips by the water to kayaks available to rent to explore coves and nearby islands, Brooklyn, NSW is nothing like supposed namesake. There’s a few bushwalks in the area, too (including a 13.4 kilometre track back to Cowan station if you’re feeling energetic).
Must-sees in the Hawkesbury/Brooklyn: Dangar Island, Jerusalem Bay
5. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Distance from Central station: 58 minutes to Mount Ku-ring-gai Station or 1 hour to Berowra
Train line: T1
Riddled with bays and inlets, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is home to countless walking tracks, secluded beaches and even a sphinx. Yes, a sphinx. (Unfortunately, that isn’t accessibly by train though).
Hopping off the train at either Mount Ku-ring-gai or Berowra station, you’ll have easy access to our favourite walk in the entire park. The stunning, but very practically named, Mount Ku-ring-gai Track to Berowra Station takes you along the coastline of three placid bays before heading back up toward the train line. The walk can be done in either direction, but we usually start in Berowra.
Must-sees in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park: Mount Ku-ring-gai Track to Berowra Station, Jerusalem Bay Track, Apple Tree Bay (via Mount Ku-ring-gai track)
6. Wollongong
Distance from Central station: 1 hour, 30 minutes to Wollongong Station
Train line: South Coast Line
Perched between the sea and the escarpment, Wollongong may be a city of 200,000 people, but it has all the charm of a small coastal town. Dozens of expansive beaches (that are much less busy than Bondi), the huge waterfront Stuart Park and plenty of eateries with ocean views make it a great day trip or even a weekend away.
Must-sees in Wollongong: Stuart Park, Flagstaff Point Lighthouse, North Beach
7. Southern Highlands
Distance from Central station: 2 hours, 30 minutes to Bowral
Train line: T8 to Campbelltown, then Southern Highlands Line to Bowral
Spread out over thousands of square kilometres, the Southern Highlands area is expansive and includes more than a dozen cellar doors and a handful of quaint towns and villages. The largest town, Bowral, does have a train station service a few times a day. From the station, you’ll be within easy reach of boutiques, eateries and gardens.
Tulip fan? You don’t have to travel all the way to Canberra for Floriade; Bowral has its very own tulip festival in Corbett Gardens. If you don’t mind jumping into a taxi, wineries are also just a few minutes from town.
Must-sees in the Southern Highlands: Wineries, Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame (if you’re a fan)
8. Newcastle
Distance from Central station: 2 hours, 45 minutes to Newcastle Interchange
Train line: Central Coast and Newcastle Line
With hatted restaurants and art galleries, stunning beaches and refreshing ocean pools there’s a great blend of things to do in Newcastle. The second-largest city in New South Wales, it’s got a similar charm to Wollongong in that it’s got a coastal town vibe, but the amenities of a big city.
Okay, we admit… At this distance, we know Newcastle is probably pushing it for a day trip, but it’s technically doable.
Although the train no longer goes right into the centre of town, you can still take the train to Newcastle Interchange. From there, you can hop on a tram and head further into the city.
Must-sees in Newcastle: Anzac Walk, Nobbys Beach, Bogey Hole
What are some of the best day trips by train from Sydney for hiking?
There’s plenty of spots across Sydney where you can go on day hikes that are accessible from a train station. These all offer walking tracks within an easy reach from a station. You’ll be walking enough on the tracks, after al!
- Berowra Valley National Park: Access tracks from Berowra or Mount Ku-ring-gai station
- Blue Mountains: Access tracks from Katoomba, Wentworth Falls, Leura, Blackheath and many more stations
- Heathcote National Park: Access tracks from Waterfall station (west side of the station)
- Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park: Access tracks from Berowra or Mount Ku-ring-gai station
- Royal National Park: Access tracks from Heathcote, Waterfall or Otford station
What are some of the best day trips from Sydney by train for beaches?
- Cronulla: Access the beach from Cronulla station
- Kiama: Access the beach from Kiama station
- Newcastle: Access the beach via a tram ride from Newcastle Interchange station
- Royal National Park: Access beaches via walking tracks from Otford Station
- Wollongong: Access beaches via Fairy Meadow, North Wollongong or Wollongong station
Looking for a day tour instead? Here’s a few guided options to these destinations that you can try:
