Sydney’s vast rail network connects not just the suburbs to the city. Hop on a train at Central Station, and within an hour or two you can be in picturesque national parks or in charming coastal towns.

With just the tap of your Opal card, you can take some of the best trips from Sydney to 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 10 easy day trips from Sydney by train all on the Sydney Trains network.

1. Kiama

Train station: Kiama
Train line: South Coast Line
Distance from Central station: 2 hours, 14 minutes to Kiama
Frequency of trains: About every hour
Accessible station? Yes

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

Read our guide to Kiama

✅ We’ve done this trip by train.

2. Blue Mountains

Train station: Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba or Blackheath
Train line: Blue Mountains Line
Distance from Central station: 2 hours to Katoomba
Frequency of trains: Every hour
Accessible station? Katoomba is, but Wentworth Falls, Leura and Balckheath are not.

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.

Other towns in the Blue Mountains with east-to-reach sites from train stations include Wentworth Falls (home to our favourite hike in the Blue Mountains – National Pass, which unfortunately us closed), Leura and Blackheath.

Must-sees in the Blue Mountains that you can access by train: Three sisters, Wentworth Falls

Read our guide to the Blue Mountains (unfortunately, this one is not train-friendly)

✅ We’ve done this trip by train, stopping at various stations in the Blue Mountains.

3. Royal National Park

Train station: Heathcote, Waterfall, Otford or Cronulla, if you don’t mind adding a ferry into your journey too
Train line: T4
Distance from Central station: 48 minutes to Heathcote; 53 minutes to Waterfall
Frequency of trains: Every 10-20 minutes to Cronulla, every 15-30 minutes for other stations
Accessible station? No. Heathcote, Waterfall and Otford are not wheelchair accessible. Cronulla is, but the ferry and getting to the park without transport will be very difficult.

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

✅ We’ve done this trip by train, stopping at various stations for different hikes in the park.

4. Hawkesbury/Brooklyn

Train station: Hawkesbury River Station
Train line: Central Coast and Newcastle Line
Distance from Central station: 1 hour to Hawkesbury River Station (Brooklyn)
Frequency of trains: Every hour
Accessible station? No.

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

✅ We’ve done this trip, but have done it by car.

5. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Train station: Mount Kuring-gai, Berowra or Cowan
Train line: T1
Distance from Central station: 58 minutes to Mount Kuring-gai Station or 1 hour to Berowra
Frequency of trains: Every 15-20 minutes to Berowra
Accessible station? Berowra and Cowan are, but Mount Kuring-gai is not. Getting into the national park from any of these stations will be very difficult without private transport.

Riddled with bays and inlets, Kuring-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 Kuring-gai or Berowra station, you’ll have easy access to our favourite walk in the entire park. The stunning, but very practically named, Mount Kuring-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 Kuring-gai Chase National Park: Mount Kuring-gai Track to Berowra Station, Jerusalem Bay Track, Apple Tree Bay (via Mount Kuring-gai track)

✅ We’ve done this trip by train, heading to both Mount Ku-ring-gai, Berowra and Cowan stations.

6. Wollongong

Station: Wollongong
Train line: South Coast Line
Distance from Central station: 1 hour, 30 minutes to Wollongong Station
Frequency of trains: Every hour
Accessible station? Yes

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.

There are a few stations in the area, including Towradgi, Fairy Meadow, North Wollongong and Wollongong. Wollongong will bring you right into the centre of town, while North Wollongong is best if you’re planning on heading straight for Stuart Park.

Must-sees in Wollongong: Stuart Park, Flagstaff Point Lighthouse, North Beach

✅ We’ve done this trip by train, and have gotten off the train at Fairy Meadow, North Wollongong and Wollongong.

7. Southern Highlands

Station: Bowral
Train line: Central to Canberra or T8 to Campbelltown, then Southern Highlands Line to Bowral
Distance from Central station: 2 hours, 30 minutes to Bowral
Frequency of trains: 3 times per day, or you can switch trains at Campbelltown station for more frequent service
Accessible station? Yes.

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)

✅ We’ve done this trip, but by car.

8. Newcastle

Station: Newcastle Interchange
Train line: Central Coast and Newcastle Line
Distance from Central station: 2 hours, 45 minutes to Newcastle Interchange
Frequency of trains: Every 30 minutes
Accessible station? Yes

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

✅ We’ve done this trip by train.

9. Sea Cliff Bridge

Station: Scarborough
Train line: South Coast Line
Distance from Central station: 1 hour, 15 minutes to Scarborough Station
Frequency of trains: 2 trains per day, or more if you switch at Waterfall, Thirroul or Helensburgh
Accessible station? No.

A 20-minute walk from Scarborough Station with unrivalled views of the Pacific, this iconic bridge has been in so many car commercials you’d think that’s the sole reason it was built. But, alas, it is actually part of the picturesque Grand Pacific Drive and connects Coalfcliff and Stanwell Park to nearby suburbs.

Must-sees near Sea Cliff Bridge: Scarborough Hotel, Scarborough Beach, Coalcliff Rock Pools and The Imperial at Clifton

✅ We’ve done this trip, but have stopped instead at Stanwell Park station where we were meeting a friend.

10. Heathcote National Park

Station: Heathcote
Train line: South Coast Line
Distance from Central station: 48 minutes
Frequency of trains: Every 30 minutes
Accessible station? No.

Often overlooked for the neighbouring Royal National Park, Heathcote is home to plenty of walking tracks, from wide-open fire trails to overgrown bush trails, and quite a few swimming holes. It’s quiet and feels much more remote than it actually is. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk from Heathcote station, so factor that in when you’re deciding which bushwalk to take. Alternatively, there are tracks that start closer to Waterfall Station, which is the next one down the line.

Must-sees near Heathcote National Park: Kingfisher Pool, Pipeline Trail

✅ We’ve done this trip by train.

Types of day trips from Sydney

• Coastal and beach: Kiama, Hawkesbury/Brooklyn, Newcastle, Royal National Park, Sea Cliff Bridge, Wollongong
• Mountain: Blue Mountains
• National parks: Blue Mountains National Park, Heathcote National Park, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Royal National Park
• Countryside: Southern Highlands

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

Which of these train journeys make good day trips from Sydney for families?

If you’re bringing the little ones along, some of these journeys may be a bit of a challenge – especially those involving longer walks or rough terrain. These ones are ideal for those of all ages, and are pram-friendly.

• Kiama: The station is accessible making it easy for those with prams, and it’s just a short walk to a few beaches.
• Blue Mountains: While there’s many not-so-family-friendly spots in the Blue Mountains, taking the train to Katoomba can make it easy to see the Three Sisters and nearby sites that don’t require big hikes.
• Wollongong: Like Kiama, Wollongong’s station is quite central and nearby you’ll find restaurants, cafes and beaches.

Looking for a day tour instead? Here’s a few guided options to these destinations that you can try:

Where can I go in less than two hours from Sydney?

If you don’t want to spend too much time on the train, or are a bit short on time, there’s a few options you can get to in less than an hour, even. Royal National Park, Heathcote National Park and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park are less than an hour’s journey, with a trip to the Hawkesbury/Brooklyn taking bang-on an hour.

Wollongong is 90 minutes away while the Blue Mountains just make the cut, depending on where you’re going. You can get to as far as Katoomba before you pass over the 120-minute mark.

Unique train trips from Sydney

For something a bit different, scenic rail journeys are a unique way to see the outskirts of Sydney and surrounds. Most of these are not only the views, but the trains themselves. Offering lunch aboard historic steam trains or high tea on the tracks, there’s a few options to choose from, with the Southern Highlands and the Blue Mountains being some of the destinations.

• The Picnic Train: Sydney to Kiama or Tempe to Kiama
• Transport Heritage NSW: Sydney to Newcastle Return

There is also the Zig Zag Railway in the Blue Mountains, but it doesn’t start in Sydney so unfortunately you will need to take a train to Mount Victoria and a bus or taxi to Zig Zag.

Cost of train trips from Sydney

Taking the train around Sydney and out of it can be quite cheap compared to driving, especially if you’re travelling solo.

Every destination mentioned on this page sits within the Sydney Rail network and you can just tap on and off the train with your Opal card (or credit card). Depending on where you’re going and when, there is a daily cap of how much the rail network can cost you (as long as you’re using the same method of payment). Here’s a breakdown:

• $19.30 a day from Monday to Thursday,
• $9.65 a day on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
• $50 a week

Taking a day trip to any of these places on a weekend means it’ll be just $9.65 return for your trip! This is one of the best aspects of these day trips from Sydney that you can make by train; they’re all cheap.

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