Lithgow accommodation from AU$135

Lithgow is the centre of the political district known as the City of Lithgow, which totals 4551 square kilometres and also includes the nearby centres of Hartley, Portland and Wallerawang. Originally the home of the Wiradjuri people, Hamilton Hume named Lithgow after the colony Auditor-General William Lithgow, in 1827. It was declared a city in 1945 after being known for years for the local iron ore industry. These days, history lives on in Lithgow with attractions like the Zig Zag Railway, built between 1866 and 1869 to carry produce from the Blue Mountains to Sydney by steam train. Other historical sites include Esbank House and Museum, built in 1842, and Blast Furnace Park, the haunting ruins of Australia’s first commercial steel mill. The Small Arms Factory Museum features a vast collection of handguns and other relics from Australia’s past.

Looking to explore nature? Your biggest challenge in Lithgow is where to begin. Gardens of Stone National Park is 15,031 hectares and features some of the area’s most unusual rock formations as well as dramatically steep cliffs and canyons. Little Hartley Village in the very close by town of Hartley is a historical village with sandstone buildings amongst orchards and pastures. Those who love a good view will love Hassan’s Walls Lookout, located in Lithgow itself. It’s the highest lookout in the Blue Mountains and boasts a view that spans the entire Hartley Valley. In town, there’s a wide selection of classy restaurants, cafes and takeaway shops. There are also licenced clubs you can pop into for a drink after a hard day’s exploring.

Lithgow is off the Great Western Highway by car – though you can also catch the train or a Countrylink bus from Sydney. It’s close to the Blue Mountains, so once you’re here, it’s worth checking out Katoomba and the rest of one of NSW’s most photogenic areas. Book your Lithgow hotel with us to see the sights from the heights.