Is Scenic World in Sydney?
Scenic World, home of the world’s steepest railway is in the Blue Mountains, not Sydney. The Sydney to Katoomba drive is 104km in distance – but you can get there by public transport or on a tour.
To skip the explanation and book a Blue Mountains day tour that includes entry to Scenic World, get instant confirmation tickets here.
Otherwise, read on…
Visiting the world’s steepest railway
Scenic World is one of the most popular tourist attractions in New South Wales, Australia. Or, rather, it is one of the most popular collections of attractions in Sydney. It offers what is claimed to be the world’s steepest railway, the steepest cable car in the southern hemisphere and another cable car crossing 270 metres above a dramatic valley floor.
The Scenic Railway and Scenic Skyway plunge deep into the Jamison Valley from a high plateau.
But despite it being a popular tourist attraction for visitors staying in Sydney, Scenic World is not in Sydney.
7 Blue Mountains experiences you should pre-book
- Scenic World tickets – combine dramatic train rides, cable cars & forest walks.
- The Blue Mountains hop-on, hop-off bus – get around Katoomba and Leura’s top sites hassle-free.
- Guided stargazing with an astrophysicist – learn how to read the clear night skies.
- Give canyoning a try – jumping, climbing and sliding through Empress Canyon.
- Take a half day abseiling adventure – in the Blue Mountains National Park.
- Indulge in a local produce tasting experience – with beers, wines & meats.
- Get adventurous – on a 4WD tour to the world’s second largest canyon.
Where is Scenic World?
If you want to go on the world’s steepest railway, you will have to go to the Blue Mountains. Specifically, Scenic World is in the Blue Mountains town of Katoomba.
On a map, the Blue Mountains looks like it is just on the edge of Sydney, but Sydney is a massive urban sprawl, with the city centre nowhere near the geographical centre.
By car, the distance from Sydney to Scenic World is 104km. If you get lucky with traffic, the Sydney to Scenic World driving time is about one hour and 26 minutes. If you don’t get lucky with traffic, that driving time could be considerably longer.
5 fab ways to explore: Which Blue Mountains tour should I book?
There are dozens of Blue Mountains day tours leaving Sydney every day. The best choice will come down to personal preference and what’s included. Almost all include Echo Point and the Three Sisters – it’s just the rest of the itinerary that varies. These tours are the best bets.
- Good value tour including Featherdale Wildlife Park, Scenic World & Parramatta River cruise.
- Similar itinerary, but with small group and lunch included.
- Wildlife-focused tour including Calmsley Hill City Farm, Govetts Leap lookout & Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
- Small group tour including bushwalks, Featherdale, Glenbrook lookouts and Govetts Leap.
- Crowd-avoiding sunset tour including Euroka campground kangaroos & Wentworth Falls bushwalk.
Visiting Scenic World by public transport
It is possible to get to Scenic World by public transport. First, take the train from Sydney Central Station to Katoomba. From Katoomba Station, it’s a 2.5km walk to Scenic World – which should take just over half an hour.
Otherwise, take the 686 bus service from Katoomba Station to Scenic World, which operates in a loop via Echo Point.
Depending on how much around Katoomba and Leura you’re planning to see, it may work out better to book a Blue Mountains hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
Scenic World is one of 29 stops on the route, and tickets cost $49. However, you can book tickets that include Scenic World as part of the package. Including Scenic World in the hop-on, hop-off bus package takes the price up to $107.61. Book online and you get instant confirmation.
6 top Katoomba experiences to book in advance
- Connect the key sights in Katoomba and Leura the easy way – on the hop-on, hop-off bus.
- Discover your adventurous side – while canyoning at Twister and Rocky Creek.
- Indulge in NSW-sourced wines, beers and tasting platters at Echo Point, while overlooking the Jamison Valley.
- Combine canyoning and abseiling on a full day adventure.
- Explore the Jamison Valley from all angles – with the trains and cable cars of Scenic World.
- See ancient Aboriginal rock art – and the views other people miss – on a 4WD adventure.
Scenic World tours from Sydney
The easier option, of course, is to take a Blue Mountains tour from Sydney that includes Scenic World as part of the day out. There are several tour options that include this, but a small group tour is likely to offer a better experience.
Again, bookings with instant confirmation can be made online.
Other attractions in the Blue Mountains include Empress Falls, the Evans Lookout, the kangaroo-frequented Euroka Campground and the Mount Portal Lookout.
All prices are correct at time of writing but subject to change in future.
13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book
- (💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
- Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
- Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
- Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
- See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
- (Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
- Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
- Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
- Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
- Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
- Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
- (🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.
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Stroll the steel silhouette-lined Newcastle Memorial Walk near Bar Beach, Newcastle.
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