We spent yesterday arvo bush-bashing down to the Zig Zag Railway viaducts above Lithgow, NSW and looking around the place for a few hours.

In this shot you can see the No. 1 Viaduct on the Top Road track. A little further down is the larger No. 2 Viaduct. And on the Bottom Road (which is the train line near the bottom of this pic) is the No. 3 Viaduct.

Comprising rock cuttings, classical sandstone viaducts and tunnels, the Lithgow Zig Zag was, and remains to this day, a magnificent piece of engineering. Construction of this part of the rail system began in 1866 and was completed by the late 1890s. The line was decommissioned in 1910 with the construction of the Ten Tunnels deviation which is still in use today by state rail.

Back in the early 1970s, volunteers worked to bring the line back into operation as an iconic tourist railway which ran for decades, bringing with it tourism dollars to the wider Lithgow area.

In 2013, a huge bushfire swept through the area and destroyed a lot of the infrastructure and equipment used by the Zig Zag Railway. Since that day work has proceeded to slowly bring the tourist train line back into operation It is hoped it'll be up and running again in the next year or so.

Follow @zigzagrailway on Insta and Facebook for updates.

For more pics of this awesome area, check out the 4WD Swagman facebook page.

#zigzagrailway
#lithgow
#stoneviaduct
#railway
#bluemountains
#djimavicpro

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"Good old fashion style motel."

"Location was good"

"Was very happy with our stay. Nice size room that accommodated a family of 4. It was very central to the three sisters blue mountains which saved us cost of parking since it’s walking distance. Easy check in. Would definitely go back. "

SAR 311 total

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29 Jul - 30 Jul

"Lovely staff very welcoming and friendly rooms spotless 💕"

SAR 438 total

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20 Jul - 21 Jul

"Great place"

SAR 493 total

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14 Jul - 15 Jul

2 bedrooms, individually decorated, individually furnished, desk

"comfterble and close to everything"

SAR 395 total

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9 Aug - 10 Aug

"great location, right in town."

SAR 311 total

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21 Jul - 22 Jul

Queen Spa Suite | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, desk, blackout drapes

"Property is safe, quiet, accessible to eating places, supermarket and transport and tourists spots."

SAR 266 total

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11 Aug - 12 Aug

"Good to stay for 1-2 nights. Staff was friendly. "

SAR 342 total

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17 Jul - 18 Jul

"Excellent restaurant & clean rooms."

"Nice, clean and cosy. Great value for the price. Good location and close to attractions in the area. "

SAR 378 total

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21 Jul - 22 Jul

Hotel Deluxe Large Family Room | 1 bedroom, premium bedding, bed sheets

"Historic area Scenic views Great old hotel atmosphere "

"so easy to check in, even before 1 PM we were allowed into the room on the day. Room was clean, just AC is not working at all. Athough there's heater, too dry for the room. Very convenient to scienic world, good place to stay with kids"

SAR 352 total

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16 Jul - 17 Jul

"A Great place to base your Blue Mountains holidays"

SAR 321 total

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15 Jul - 16 Jul

"Have stayed here many times. First time in room next to highway and train tracks. Definitely noisier than other rooms. "

SAR 330 total

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14 Jul - 15 Jul

"such a good location and i really love the blonde lady at reception,always so welcoming ❤"

SAR 321 total

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14 Jul - 15 Jul

"We stayed for 1 night and it was nice and warm even it was freezing outside. Very clean"

SAR 511 total

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15 Jul - 16 Jul

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Recent reviews of Clarence hotels

5/5 Excellent

"The property was perfect for our family weekend away. We booked 3 separate rooms which were grouped together. Deb at check in was a pure delight. Friendly and welcoming. The rooms are well maintained, spacious and comfortable. It was fabulous having the pool tables and large lounge area for a chilled relax after walking around the town after breakfast. Dining in the as also great with a large menu to choose from. Would definitely recommend. "

A verified traveler from Diamond Creek stayed at Lithgow Workies Club Motel

Posted 4 hours ago

5/5 Excellent

"It was great for a 4 night stay. Lovely welcome and staff were very happy to help. The bed was comfortable and as it was winter, good controllable heating. Having a fridge and microwave in the kitchenette was really helpful. The car park lights at night, and the really bright hallway lights were the only thing that was annoying, but I guess they keep them on for security. "

A verified traveler stayed at Blue Mountains Heritage Motel

Posted 7 days ago

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What can I expect from a motel trip to Clarence?

If you're having trouble locating a motel in Clarence, allow Expedia help you find a motel or something similar from more than 801 accommodations in the larger area. Just use our search tools to filter by nightly room rate or money-saving amenities such as free breakfast and free airport transportation.

What is a motel?

Motel properties often include free parking, and many also include an outdoor pool. Often one or two stories tall, motel properties usually have outdoor access to guestrooms from the parking lot. In the U.S., motels became more commonplace at the end of the 1940s with the appeal of road trip vacations, peaking in the 1960s with over 60,000 properties.

What are the best motels in Clarence?

Here are some of our customers' top motels to book in the larger area. Sky Rider Motor Inn is located 17.1 mi (27.5 km) from the heart of Clarence. Enjoy access to the seasonal outdoor pool, and freebies including WiFi and parking. Commercial Hotel Motel Lithgow: Free parking, a bar, and a restaurant are available during your stay. Central Clarence is 3.7 mi (6 km) away. Echo Point Discovery Motel: Enjoy access to the laundry facilities, and freebies including WiFi and parking. Located 18.7 mi (30.1 km) from the heart of Clarence. Blue Mountains Heritage Motel: Central Clarence is 17.9 mi (28.8 km) away. Free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities are available during your stay. Zig Zag Motel: 2.6 mi (4.1 km) from the heart of Clarence. Enjoy access to the laundry facilities, and freebies including WiFi and parking.

What can I do in Clarence?

Some outdoorsy places nearby include Wollemi National Park, Lake Lyell, and Campbell Rhododendron Gardens. You'll find these family-friendly sights in the area: Old Wallerawang Station, State Mine Heritage Park and Railway, and Mount Victoria Railway Museum. While you're checking out the area, consider visiting Zig Zag Railway, Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah, and Blackheath Golf Course.

What's the seasonal weather like in Clarence?

Weather can make or break a roadtrip, so we've gathered some data about year-round temperatures in Clarence to help you plan yours. The hottest months are usually January and December with an average temp of 64°F, while the coldest months are July and August with an average of 46°F. Average annual precipitation for Clarence is 37 inches.

What are my options for getting around Clarence when staying in a motel?

We've gathered some information about local transportation options in Clarence to help you navigate your stay: Fly into Bathurst, NSW (BHS), which is located 32.6 mi (52.5 km) from the heart of the city. To explore the surrounding area, ride one of the trains from Zig Zag Station or Top Points Station.

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Motels in Clarence

Sky Rider Motor Inn

Commercial Hotel Motel Lithgow

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The 3 Explorers Motel

Blue Mountains Heritage Motel

Katoomba Town Centre Motel

Alpine Motor Inn

Black Gold Motel

Bowen Inn Motel

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3 Sisters Motel

High Mountains Motor Inn

Blackheath Motor Inn

Lithgow Valley Motel

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Blue Mountains Highway Motel

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Lithgow Workies Club Motel

Parklands Country Gardens and Lodges

Falls Mountain Retreat

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Kyah Hotel

Sky Rider Motor Inn

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Blue Mountains Heritage Motel

Eagle View Escape

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