Category: less than 5 km

We Explored the Grillenberg Show Mine – A Real Adventure for All Ages!

We finally explored the Grillenberg Show Mine – a true adventure for both young and old!

Although we had seen it from the outside many times beforetimes before, we now had the chance to experience the impressive tunnels and chambers from the inside. The Grillenberg mine features a fascinating network of long passageways, stalactites, and striking rock and ore formations. The nearly 90-minute guided tour is child-friendly and was a great experience even for the youngest members of the group.

Just before we left, the rain started again – but with our bikes, we reached the parking lot below the mine in just 10 minutes, and parking was easy. The entrance was about a 10-minute walk from there, and once inside, the rain didn’t bother us anymore. Thick sweaters turned out to be a good idea though: the temperature inside the mine was around 8 °C 🥶.

So what did we experience? Long tunnels, stalactites, ores, and a real cave-like atmosphere. We didn’t see any bats or native cave crickets (Höhlenheuschrecken), but we did spot many tiny (not yet spotted) fire salamanders. 🦎

The mine is open to visitors from May to October with guided tours only. Admission (as of 2025): €12 for adults, €7 for children (ages 4–15); children under 4 are not admitted. The German-language tour lasts about 1–1.5 hours. Regular group tours start every Saturday at 2:30 PM; additional dates are available upon prior request (Phone: +432666/52423-12, weekends and holidays: +43676/4027078). Helmets and flashlights are provided.

Autumn Magic on the Schneeberg – a Tuesday Afternoon That Turned into Something Special

Ever since we’ve had two kids, we’ve been getting the NÖ-Card (Lower Austria Card – more info here:Schneeberg with kids) every year. And since we’re already invested, we try to make the most of it – even on regular weekdays. So, one Tuesday morning in late October, I checked the weather forecast: ✅. Then the availability on the Salamander train: ✅. And just like that, our plan for the day was set.

This time, we headed up the Schneeberg on the Salamander cog railway. At noon, I picked up Leno from kindergarten, he had a quick nap in the car, and 50 minutes later, we were already having a snack on the train. After a short stop at the playground near the train’s summit station, we set off on a smaller hike – not to Klosterwappen (Lower Austria’s highest point at 2076 m), but up to the Waxriegel. I figured that this route was just the right length to manage in the afternoon with two small kids, but still with a bit of a challenge.

To me, the Waxriegel (1888 m) is a perfect destination with young children: it offers beautiful panoramic views, and the summit area isn’t steep or exposed on any side. The kids could run around freely, and I enjoyed the golden autumn light. From there, we continued to the Damböckhaus hut, with Leno already running ahead. The trail is gentle enough that he could jog down safely. We visited on the very last day the hut was open and even shared a gluten-free lentil stew together.

After the hike, we walked back to the train station, stopping by the Sisi Chapel to watch the sunset. There’s something truly magical about these evenings when the sun sets before dinner – and we can share that golden light together, surrounded by the silence of the mountains, broken only (or rather constantly 😉) by the sounds of our two kids.

Route: Schneeberg cog railway summit – Waxriegel – Damböckhaus – back to the railway

Distance: 3.5 km

Elevation gain: 140 m

Time: It took us about an hour for the loop, and we spent another 1.5 hours taking breaks

📷 We also captured the mood on Instagram – check out the video https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBt_FKUsXSZ/?igsh=MTcwM3Zta3FsZDZqMg==

Sometimes all it takes is a spontaneous idea and a bit of determination – and an ordinary Tuesday afternoon can turn into a memorable adventure.

Talhof Loop – Perfect for a Short Run or a Relaxed Walk

Perfect for anyone training for the Vienna Business Run (😋) or just looking for a relaxed, relatively flat 4.2 km route nearby – or even a peaceful nature walk. The Talhof Loop is a great choice in (almost) any weather and can even be tackled with a sturdy, off-road stroller.

Route: Waldschlössl – Scheiterplatz – Talhof – Talhofstraße – Rudolfvilla – Schneedörflstraße – Waldschlössl

Distance: 4.2 km

⏳ Depending on who you’re with, we’ve finished it in anything from 30 minutes to 2 hours

Elevation gain: 120 m

A Day on Schneeberg with the Salamander Railway – Lessons Learned

When the wind is strong, we only recommend this trip if…

  • your Lower Austria Card (NÖ-Card) is about to expire and you want to make the most of your last chance (that was our situation – the cog railway stops running from the middle of November until spring),
  • you happen to be in the area and there’s no other day that works (some of our guests went under these exact conditions),
  • or you’re up for a bit of a challenge (like my friend Évi) – though ideally without kids… unless you want the full challenge. 😉

A quick heads-up: the Rax cable car tends to be shut down about twice a year due to bad weather. And yes, we somehow picked one of those days for our little adventure.

From Waldschlössl to Puchberg, you can either take the train (with a change in Wiener Neustadt, so it takes a bit longer), or drive – it’s about 40 minutes by car through charming little villages. This time, we (Zita, L1 and L2) opted for the car.

By the way, from Puchberg (and from Waldschlössl), it’s also possible to hike up to Schneeberg on foot and simply meet up with your kids or other family members at the top.

A note on prices (as of 2025):
You can buy a regular ticket for the cog railway:
– €43.50 for a round trip
– €30.50 for a one-way ride
Children under six travel free, although officially only one child is allowed per adult.
There’s also a combined Rax–Schneeberg ticket, which is valid for two years and costs €64 for adults (2025).
Or, you can get a Lower Austria Card, which covers both mountain railways (and much more). The card is valid for a year starting April 1 until the end of March (€83 for adults).

Back to the trip:
The cog railway takes you up to 1,800 meters in about 40 minutes. From the top station, if it’s not too windy, you can walk with young children to the 1,888-meter-high Waxriegel and enjoy lunch at the Damböckhaus.

From Damböckhaus, there are two ways up to the 2,076-meter summit:
A steeper and trickier path from the left, or a more gradual (but longer) route that leads toward Fischerhütte.

In this “pleasant breeze” we managed to reach the Damböckhaus, and after about 15 minutes the kids had fully adjusted and weren’t fazed by the storm anymore.
Near the top station, the wind gusts were truly wild – but after that, let’s just say it was “only mildly unpleasant.”
The upside of hiking with two kids of the perfect age and weight: one in front, one on the back – and you don’t get blown away. 😉

Conclusion:
Check the weather forecast carefully before you go.
The views are stunning even in stormy conditions.
By the time we got back down, the summit was completely hidden in fog – and snow had started to fall.

We explored the Hermannshöhle – a weatherproof family adventure

When the weather isn’t suitable for outdoor activities, the Hermannshöhle in Kirchberg am Wechsel is a great alternative: It’s about a 25-minute drive from here. From the parking area, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the entrance.

The Hermannshöhle is the largest dripstone cave in Lower Austria. The passages extend for about 4 km over several levels, with a height difference of 73 meters. The cave is one of the most important winter shelters for bats in the region – up to 17 species are known to hibernate there. In spring and autumn, there are also special bat-themed tours.

The guided tours last about one hour, are only offered in German, and usually start at 9:30, 11:00, 13:30, 15:00, and 16:30. Visiting the cave is only possible as part of a guided tour.

On a rainy day, the Hermannshöhle is a lovely option for an outing. For families with small children, it can be a bit of a challenge, as the tour is more geared towards adults and not specifically designed with kids in mind. However, with a little patience and preparation, the visit can still be enjoyable. With the NÖ-Card, the classic tour is free.