You may have heard of John Lithgow, one of America’s most talented character actors, who starred in 3rd Rock from the Sun and lent his voice to the Shrek franchise.
However, have you been to or heard of, Lithgow, New South Wales? If not, you’re definitely missing out!
If you drive west for about two hours from our Sydney Airport car hire office, you will happen upon the city of Lithgow. Home to a wide variety of attractions, Lithgow is a must-visit destination for lovers of nature and history alike.
The city is situated on the slopes of the Blue Mountains, and is surrounded by scenic lookouts for you to enjoy. We strongly recommend visiting the Hassans Wall Lookout, which is located approximately 10 minutes away from the city centre.
Here you will find fantastic views of the Blue Mountains and the Hartley Valley. According to Destination NSW, this is the highest lookout in this entire region. It’s over 1,000 metres above sea level!
So, if you’re afraid of heights, you might want to give this one a miss. Otherwise, don’t forget to bring your camera!
You can also learn all about the history of Lithgow at the Eskbank House, which – according to this historic abode’s official website – is “one of the oldest residences in the Lithgow Valley”.
Eskbank House was built in the mid-nineteenth century by a local stonemason, and contains a range of historical artefacts for you to have a look at. It is also home to a large collection of Lithgow Pottery, which this area is famous for.
If you really love the Lithgow Pottery you gaze at here, you might want to head over to Old Lithgow Pottery, a store on Silcock Street. This has been located here and producing pottery since way back in 1833.
The city’s website reveals that “Australia’s oldest commercial pottery” can be found here. It’s absolutely free to come in and have a look around, and there are also barbecue facilities available. So, bring some meat and potato salad, and spend the day at Lithgow Pottery with your family.
If you’re keen to get back in your rental car from the Sydney airport and soak up some culture while you’re in there, you may want to try the Lithgow Sculpture Tour on for size.
The route for this can be found on the city’s website, and will take you past the beautiful works of Antony Symons. He has been sculpting for upwards of 50 years, and his pieces are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before – trust us!
You will see the beautiful Peace Statue at Endeavour Park and the International Friendship Culture as you drive around, taking in the sights and sounds of Lithgow.
One of Antony’s most famous creations is a sculpture of Marjorie Jackson – “The Lithgow Flash” – which can be found at Cook Street Plaza. This amazing athlete has two Olympic and seven Commonwealth Games gold medals for sprinting, as well as various other accolades under her belt.
Every year, the city holds a Lithgow Flash Carnival in her honour. So, if you’re going to be around Lithgow on November 30, you might want to go along and see what all the fuss is about!
This carnival attracts top athletes from all over Australia and gives them an opportunity to race against the best. The most popular event by far is the Lithgow Flash Gift female sprint race, which really keeps the spirit of Marjorie Jackson alive!
There is so much to see and do in Lithgow, so do yourself and your family a favour and drive on over!