Cougal Spiral

The Cougal Spiral is a tunnel complex along the North Coast railway line in the Border Ranges. It consists of three concrete tunnels of varying lengths that allow trains to navigate steeply rising mountainous terrain.

The railway line opened in 1930 and connected New South Wales with Queensland through a complex series of tunnels and spiral formations. This infrastructure represented a significant engineering advance for crossing challenging mountainous terrain.

This engineering structure represents a milestone in Australian railway development, enabling transport connections between northern New South Wales and Brisbane.

You can best see the spiral formation from certain viewpoints that let you understand how the tracks wind through the landscape. Preparing for uneven terrain makes the visit more enjoyable.

Trains pass directly over the lower tunnel section while climbing the spiral, creating a double-level railway configuration in the mountainous area. This two-level arrangement was an innovative solution for the steeply rising terrain.

Location: New South Wales

Official opening: August 29, 1930

GPS coordinates: -28.35440,152.96400

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:08