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Rail Trails Australia

Australia's 194 converted-railway shared-use paths — gentle gradients, country towns, historic stations, no traffic. The friendliest way to ride a bike in Australia.

194
rail trails
3,374km
total trail length
7
states covered

What is a rail trail?

A rail trail is a former railway corridor — usually a regional branch line that lost its commercial viability — converted into a shared-use path for cycling, walking and (often) horse riding. Tracks and sleepers are pulled up, the corridor is resurfaced with compacted gravel or sealed bitumen, and the route opens to the public.

What makes rail trails special is their gradient. Steam and diesel locomotives couldn't climb steep grades, so railway engineers kept the maximum gradient under 2-3% for the entire length of the line. The result, today, is the gentlest long-distance cycling network in the country — accessible to families, beginner riders, retirees, and anyone with a hybrid or gravel bike.

Rail trails also follow a distinctive linear, point-to-point format through old country towns. Most pass through restored heritage stations, trestle bridges and tunnels, with country pubs, bakeries and B&Bs catering specifically to riders. Marquee trails like the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (161km), Murray to Mountains Rail Trail (137km), and Riesling Trail (35km, through Clare Valley wine country) have become bucket-list rides for cycle tourists.

Rail trails by state

All rail trails

TrailStateDistance
Murray to Mountains Rail Trail
North
VIC137km
Gippsland Plains Rail Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC62km
O’Keefe Rail Trail
North
VIC49km
North-East Tasmania Rail Trail
North
TAS26km
North-West Tasmanian Coastal Cycleway
North
TAS20km
Perth – Fremantle Principal Shared PathWA20km
Wolgan Valley Rail Trail
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW11km
Torbay to Elleker Rail TrailWA8km
Fyansford Rail Trail
Melbourne region
VIC4.4km
Manjimup Linear PathWA4km
Bethania to Beaudesert Rail Trail
South East
QLD3.5km
Tracker Riley Cycleway rail trail
Country and ACT
NSW3km
Boolboonda Tunnel Heritage Trail
Central
QLD3km
Parnkalla Rail Trail (Port Lincoln to Coffin Bay)
Regional
SA
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
South East
QLD161km
Encounter Bikeway railside trail
Regional
SA28km
O-Bahn Bikeway trail
Adelaide region
SA16km
Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail
West
VIC57km
Northern Rivers Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW54km
Riesling and Rattler Trails
Regional
SA53km
Barossa Rail Trail
Regional
SA43km
Outer Harbor Greenway railside trail
Adelaide region
SA23km
Bass Coast Rail Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC23km
Rokeby to Neerim Railside Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC17km
Melba Flats to Zeehan Rail Trail
West Coast
TAS9km
Erica to Thomson Rail Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC7.3km
Kapunda Rail Trail
Regional
SA1km
Southern Flinders Rail Trail
Regional
SA80km
Coast to Vines Rail Trail
Adelaide region
SA37km
Mary to Bay Rail Trail
Central
QLD30km
Copper Coast Rail Trail
Regional
SA25km
Amy Gillett Bikeway Rail Trail
Adelaide region
SA23km
Marino Rocks Greenway rail trail
Adelaide region
SA16km
Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail
Melbourne region
VIC15km
Gawler Greenway railside trail
Adelaide region
SA14km
Moe – Yallourn Rail Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC7.2km
Pioneer Valley Rail Trail
Central
QLD7km
Red Hill Rail Trail
Melbourne region
VIC6.3km
Liffey Falls Rail Trail
North
TAS5km
Stanhope to Girgarre Rail Trail
North
VIC5km
Mornington Rail Trail
Melbourne region
VIC4km
Hawthorn to Kew Rail Trail
Melbourne region
VIC1km
Lavender Bay “High Line”
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW
Hamilton-Coleraine Rail Trail
West
VIC37km
Coast Park Path Rail Trail
Adelaide region
SA25km
Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC23km
Ringwood to Belgrave Trail
Melbourne region
VIC17km
Railton to Sheffield Rail Trail
North
TAS12km
Mike Turtur Bikeway railside trail
Adelaide region
SA9km
Rosstown Rail Trail
Melbourne region
VIC9km
Tyers Junction Rail Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC7km
Cooks to Cove Greenway
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW6km
Pioneer Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW6km
Stockade Rail Trail
Adelaide region
SA2.6km
South Coast Rail Trail and Ernest Junction Tunnel
South East
QLD0.75km
Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail
Central
QLD67km
Collie – Darkan Rail TrailWA63km
Warburton Rail Trail/Yarra Valley Trail
Melbourne region
VIC48km
Old Beechy Rail Trail
West
VIC40km
Bellarine Rail Trail
Melbourne region
VIC35km
Mary Valley Rail Trail
South East
QLD5km
Tiger Rail Trail
West
VIC4.4km
Sandridge Rail Trail
Melbourne region
VIC4km
Wagga Wagga to Ladysmith (Riverina Highlands) Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW2km
Buderim Heritage Tramway Trail
South East
QLD2km
Bunny Trail
West
VIC1.2km
Meadowbank Railway Bridge
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW0.5km
Boorowa Galong Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Goulburn Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Kilkivan – Kingaroy Rail Trail
South East
QLD89km
Powelltown Tramway Trails
East (Gippsland)
VIC39km
Port Fairy Rail Trail
West
VIC38km
Hobart Intercity Cycleway
South East
TAS15km
Grand Ridge Rail Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC13km
Ferny Grove Rail Trail
South East
QLD11km
Inner Circle Rail Trail
Melbourne region
VIC5km
Bundaberg to Gin Gin Rail Trail
Central
QLD4.4km
Box Vale Tk rail trail
Country and ACT
NSW4km
Brassall Bikeway rail trail
South East
QLD3.5km
Webb Dock railside trail
Melbourne region
VIC2.7km
Como Bridge
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW2km
Goods Line
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW1km
Awaba – Wangi Wangi Rail Trail
Newcastle region
NSW
Batlow – Tumut Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Great Southern Rail Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC136km
Railway Reserves Heritage TrailWA59km
Darwin to Adelaide River Rail TrailNT28km
Don to Devonport Cycleway
North
TAS11km
Mount Gambier Rail Trail
Regional
SA10.5km
Penfield railside trail
Adelaide region
SA7km
Woodend to Daylesford (incl Domino) Rail Trail
West
VIC6km
Rosehill to Carlingford rail trail
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW5km
Mount Barker Rail Trail
Regional
SA5km
Semaphore Rail Trail
Adelaide region
SA4.2km
Smithfield Magazine Rail Trail
Adelaide region
SA3.5km
Dularcha National Park Rail Trail
South East
QLD3km
Carnarvon TramwayWA3km
Monaro Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Atherton Tablelands Rail Trail
North
QLD38km
Outer Circle Rail Trail
Melbourne region
VIC17km
Fernleigh Track rail trail
Newcastle region
NSW16km
Spray Tunnel and Comstock Tramways
West Coast
TAS6km
Parafield railside trail
Adelaide region
SA3km
Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail
West
VIC
East Gippsland Rail Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC96km
Hopetoun – Ravensthorpe Railway Heritage WalkWA41km
Riverina Highlands (Tumbarumba) Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW21km
Sandy Hollow to Merriwa
Country and ACT
NSW
Great Victorian Rail Trail
North
VIC135km
Mt Garnet to Lappa Junction Trail
North
QLD55km
Irvinebank to Boonmoo Rail Trail
North
QLD43km
North Mount Lyell Rail Trail
West Coast
TAS12km
Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail
Regional
SA11km
Dookie Rail Trail
North
VIC8km
Mundaring Weir Rail TrailWA7km
Katherine Rail TrailNT6km
Manjimup to Deanmill Heritage TrailWA6km
Eudunda Hampden Rail Trail
Regional
SA5km
Strahan to Regatta Point Rail Trail
West Coast
TAS3km
Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail
East (Gippsland)
VIC3km
Mt Kembla Memorial Pathway rail trail
Country and ACT
NSW2km
Lapstone Zig Zag rail trail
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW1.5km
Molong to Dubbo Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Molonglo (Bungendore to Captains Flat) Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Murrumbidgee Valley Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Derwent Valley Rail Trail
South East
TAS
High Country Rail Trail
North
VIC81km
Capricorn Coast Pineapple Rail Trail
Central
QLD4.5km
Wadandi TrackWA53km
Caboolture – Wamuran & Loop Rail Trail
South East
QLD10.5km
Castlemaine to Maldon Trail
West
VIC18km
Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail
West
VIC41km
Coonawarra Rail Trail
Regional
SA19km
Canungra Tramway Tunnel
South East
QLD1km
Denmark – Nornalup Heritage Rail TrailWA61km
Meadowlink Linear Park
Melbourne region
VIC1.2km
Waranga (Rushworth) Rail Trail
North
VIC19km
Grampians Rail Trail
West
VIC10km
Dartmoor Rail Trail
West
VIC1.3km
New England Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Fassifern to Toronto Greenway rail trail
Newcastle region
NSW4km
Culcairn – Corowa Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW2km
Montezuma Falls Rail Trail
West Coast
TAS19km
Parramatta to Liverpool rail trail
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW16km
Wielangta Tramway Trail
South East
TAS6.5km
Fassifern Valley Rail Trail
South East
QLD2.6km
Pine Creek Rail TrailNT1km
Greenethorpe to Grenfell Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Wallsend tramway rail trail
Newcastle region
NSW9km
Richmond Vale Rail Trail
Newcastle region
NSW
Broken Hill to Silverton Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW10km
Westside Bikeway rail trail
Adelaide region
SA9km
Old Timberline TrailWA20km
Nurragi Conservation Reserve rail trail
Regional
SA13km
Copper Rail Trail
Regional
SA39km
Kep TrackWA75km
Strahan to Zeehan Road
West Coast
TAS41.8km
Perth – Armadale Principal Shared PathWA38km
Djerring Rail Trail
Melbourne region
VIC26km
Sidings Rail TrailWA26km
Perth – Midland Principal Shared PathWA17km
Kalamunda Railway Heritage TrailWA16km
Jarrahdale Balmoral Rail TrailWA11km
Jarrahdale 1872 Timber TramwayWA10km
Tullis Bridge Walk TrailWA9km
Lake Dulverton Rail Trail
South East
TAS7km
Ten Mile Brook TrailWA7km
Kaoota Tramway Track
South East
TAS6km
Renmark – Paringa Rail Trail
Regional
SA4km
Thompson Pfitzner Rail Trail
Regional
SA4km
Rocherlea Rail Trail
North
TAS4km
Darch TrailWA3km
Wool Rail Trail
Regional
SA2.2km
Mystery Creek Cave Trail
South East
TAS2km
Ranford Pool Walk TrailWA2km
Wee Georgie Wood and the Tullah Tramway Trail
West Coast
TAS1.5km
Muntapa Tunnel
South East
QLD0.6km
Cowra to Eugowra Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Tallowood Mountain Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Moree – Inverell Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
MetroWay
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW
Pippita Rail Trail
Sydney and Blue Mountains
NSW
Gulgong to Rylstone Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Yass Rail Trail
Country and ACT
NSW
Injune Gunnewin Rail Trail
Central
QLD
Mount Morgan Rail Trail
Central
QLD
Westbrook to Wyreema Rail Trail
South East
QLD
Fingal Valley Rail Trail
North
TAS
Branxholme to Casterton Rail Trail
West
VIC
Kerang to Koondrook Rail Trail
North
VIC
Lockington to Kotta Rail Trail
North
VIC
Narrogin – Williams Rail TrailWA
Wheatbelt Way Rail TrailWA
Irwin Track Rail Trail
North
QLD

Frequently asked questions

What is a rail trail?

A rail trail is a converted railway corridor turned into a shared-use path for cycling, walking and (often) horse riding. Because trains can't climb steep hills, rail corridors were engineered to a maximum gradient of around 2-3%, which makes rail trails gentle, family-friendly and accessible to riders of all abilities.

How many rail trails are there in Australia?

Rail Trails Australia catalogues 194 rail trails across seven states and territories. Victoria has the most (49), followed by New South Wales (40), South Australia (31), Queensland (26), Western Australia (25), Tasmania (20) and Northern Territory (3).

What is the longest rail trail in Australia?

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail in Queensland is Australia's longest at 161 kilometres, running from Wulkuraka (near Ipswich) to Yarraman through the towns of Fernvale, Lowood, Coominya, Esk, Toogoolawah, Moore, Linville and Blackbutt.

Are Australian rail trails sealed or gravel?

Most rail trails are compacted gravel or fine crushed rock — comfortable on hybrid, gravel, mountain or touring bikes but not road bikes. Some sections in metropolitan areas (parts of the Murray to Mountains, Lilydale-Warburton, and shorter urban trails) are fully sealed.

Can I take my dog on a rail trail?

Most rail trails allow dogs on leash, though rules vary by trail and section. Some heritage rail trails or sections that pass through national parks may have restrictions. Always check the specific rail trail's rules before bringing your dog.

Are rail trails free to use?

Yes — all Australian rail trails are free to use. They're funded by state and local governments and supported by volunteer trail associations. Some operators offer paid bike hire, shuttle services, accommodation and guided tours, but the trails themselves are free.

Are rail trails suitable for families?

Rail trails are widely considered the most family-friendly cycling option in Australia. Their flat gradient, lack of car traffic, frequent rest points (old stations, picnic areas, country pubs) and shorter ride distances make them ideal for kids and beginner riders.

What's the difference between a rail trail and a cycling path?

A rail trail is built on a former railway corridor — meaning it has a near-flat gradient, often passes through historic country towns, and follows a long linear route between two terminal stations. A general cycling path may be in any location and have steeper grades. Rail trails are the gold standard for long-distance, no-traffic, gentle-gradient riding.