The delightful vacation centre of Lithgow is established at an elevation of 915 m above sea-level on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains about 130 km north-west of Sydney. Lithgow has a gentle and relaxing climate with moderately hot summer days, cool spring and autumn and occasional snowfalls in the cool to cold Winter months. There are numerous scenic, heritage, arts and craft and natural habitat and entertainment attractions in the area. There are wonderful amenities and facilities for recreational and tourist activities in Lithgow and the surrounding towns and vallages. Lithgow City includes a district of over 3000 square kilometres and includes the small vallages of Lithgow, Capertee. Ben Bullen, Cullen Bullen, Lidsdale, Tarana, Sodwalls, Rydal, Clarence, Hampton, Hartley, Portland
and Wallerawang. Lithgow developed after the discovery of large coal deposits and the establishment of the well renowned ZigZag railway over the mountains that was finished in 1869, and which has become a major tourist attraction. Tourists can travel via steam train along the Zig Zag Railway enjoying magnificent scenery, crossing over sandstone viaducts. The railway is an historic engineering marvel for the times providing a very innovative way of allowing trains to get through the steep mountainous slopes and opening up transport to the western slopes over the Blue Mountains. Lithgow has several magnificent heritage structures and museums. Some of the main attractions the area are: # Archvale Trout Farm # The State Mine Heritage Park # Glow Worm Tunnel at Newnes Plateau # Belgrave Park Alpaca
Stud # Weekly Markets at Bowenfels Station # Go-Karting and many other sports. There are many entertainment options in the Lithgow district including many pubs and clubs.