Photo of Bathurst Rail Museum in New South Wales1 / 3
Trains & Railways

Bathurst Rail Museum

πŸ“ Bathurst, NSW

β˜…4.5(663 Google reviews)πŸ’°$0-$15πŸ‘ΆAll ages

Award-winning rail museum with Australia's largest public HO scale model railway depicting the Great Western Line, and a dedicated Kids Central space featuring one of the world's largest permanent Brio train layouts.

βœ“ Impressive model railwayβœ“ World-class Brio layoutβœ“ Knowledgeable staffβœ“ Great for toddlersβœ“ Accessible facilities

πŸ† Family Action Verdict

Best for families with toddlers and primary-aged children who love trains. The Brio layout in Kids Central is a genuine drawcard for under-5s, and the model railway impresses older kids and adults alike. Families expecting live steam engines or extensive artefact displays should know the experience centres on the model railway and play space.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

πŸ’‘Book Kids Central in advance only during weekends and school holidays β€” walk-ins fine on weekdays
⏰Arrive at opening time with toddlers to get the Brio layout before it gets busy
🎟️Parent room has an accessible toilet, change table, and stroller access
πŸš—Electric vehicle parking spots available in the car park

πŸ’¬ What Families Are Saying

View all reviews β†’
4.5
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663 Google reviews

5β˜…
454
4β˜…
139
3β˜…
31
2β˜…
17
1β˜…
22

G Reviews from Google

L

Loi Loi

7 months ago

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β€œWe had a great time visiting this museum yesterday morning. We got there before the opening time because we wanted our toddler to be able to play in their Kids Central area which we booked in advance. We were told though that you only need to book the Kids Central area in advance during peak times, which I can only assume means weekends and school holidays. It is a great area for kids of all ages, as the Brio tracks are set up. But there is also an area where the kids can build their own. There is seating for parents to sit and chill out, while watching their kids play and sipping on a coffee from the attached cafe. The museum part itself is small, but still top notch. There is some history to read through, but we loved - especially my toddler - the large model train display. The staff there were also more than happy to engage with visitors, sharing information and answering questions. The gift shop also had some great merch - I just think they should restock their popular designs in different sizes so visitors aren’t disappointed. For families, there is a parent room which has an accessible toilet and a changing table. There is plenty of room if you need to take a stroller in there. Parking is plentiful in front of the museum - I think I even saw electric vehicle parking. If it is full, I’m quite sure you can use the parking outside Bathurst train station, which is just next door. We really enjoyed our visit and would highly recommend if you’re visiting Bathurst!”

B

Bijen S.

11 months ago

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β€œOffers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the railway in the region through impressive displays, artifacts, and scale model railway. It's engaging for all ages and very informative. The Kids Central play area is a great addition, featuring a massive BRIO set that children will love. However, it's important to note that the museum does not have any real, full-size trains on display, which might disappoint some visitors.”

A

Allan Marks

a month ago

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β€œA visit here is a lovely, unique experience. Layout is easy to access and the biggest railway diorama room in Australia must be seen to be believed! Very nostalgic and tells a big story of the Bathurst region about its rail past. Big thanks to Tim and Sam for making our visit fantastic. Tim went the extra mile to show details of the big room and some of the hidden Easter eggs.”

πŸ“Š Commonly mentioned in Google reviews

Based on Google review tags

Model railway

152 reviews

Railway history

27 reviews

Model train set

26 reviews

Model railway layout

21 reviews

Kids play area

21 reviews

Overview

Bathurst Rail Museum houses Australia's largest public HO scale model railway β€” a sweeping recreation of the Great Western Line packed with operational detail. The dedicated Kids Central space features one of the world's largest permanent Brio layouts, purpose-built for hands-on creative play. Staff like Tim and Sam regularly receive named praise for guiding visitors through the historical context of Bathurst's rail past.

πŸ• Opening Hours

Monday09:00 – 16:30
Tuesday09:00 – 16:30
Wednesday09:00 – 16:30
ThursdayClosed
Friday09:00 – 16:30
Saturday09:00 – 16:30
Sunday09:00 – 16:30
Free to use

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