Hewn out of the living rock in the 1860s using hand tools and blasting powder, Big Hill Cutting was at one time the deepest railway cutting in the southern hemisphere. Taken as it was near the eastern end of the cutting, even this pic doesn't properly illustrate the depth.

The cutting has a long and macabre history, with several workers killed during its construction due to a blasting accident and several drivers later perishing after crashing their automobiles through the old timber bridge's guardrails and down onto the rails below. Despite the history, it's a peaceful and beautiful place.

The old railway line was abandoned in the 1970s and runs for around 50km between the towns of Thirlmere and Mittagong. Although not a proper rail trail, there are service trails parallelling the railway for much of its length. I've walked it a few times, including the trip pictured which was undertaken 2-Boot-Drive Swagman style ;-)

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AED 512 total

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Top Mittagong Hotel Reviews

Poplars at Mittagong

Poplars at Mittagong

10/10 Excellent

"Comfortable and clean room. Easy access. Good place to stay. "

Berida Hotel

Berida Hotel

10/10 Excellent

"Comfortable and charming place to stay, with friendly staff and a great location. While the bathroom in our room was a little dated and in need of renovation, we still enjoyed our visit. A special thank you to the manager for providing a bottle of bubbly for our anniversary - it made our stay extra memorable! We'll definitely be back!"

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