Five of the best rail trails in Australia
Rail trails worth a long drive or, better, a train ride. These five give you gentle grades, a decent surface, towns with food and beds, and someone to hire you a bike or run you back to the start. Here's why we chose each, how to get there, and who it suits.
- The five together
- 501 km
- by Rail Trails Australia's figures
- States
- 4
- Qld, NSW, Victoria and SA
- Longest pick
- 161 km
- Brisbane Valley, Australia's longest rail trail
- Trails to choose from
- 195
- listed by Rail Trails Australia
Suits: families and e-bike riders on the easy sections, cycle tourers and bikepackers end to end, and gravel riders on the Brisbane Valley and East Gippsland trails. Every pick has an easy stretch for kids.
The five at a glance
For a first rail trail trip, the Murray to Mountains (sealed, with a train to the start) or the Riesling Trail (short, gentle and full of wineries). For a long tour, the 161 km Brisbane Valley. For tunnels and rainforest, the Northern Rivers. For quiet bush and big trestle bridges, East Gippsland.
| Trail | State | Length | Surface | Train with your bike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Valley | Qld | 161 km | Mostly compacted gravel | Yes, to Wulkuraka |
| Northern Rivers | NSW | 24 + 30 km | Gravel, some sealed | Awkward: coach, booked and boxed |
| Murray to Mountains | Vic | 100+ km | Sealed | Yes, to Wangaratta |
| East Gippsland | Vic | 96 km | Sealed, then gravel | Yes, to Bairnsdale |
| Riesling and Rattler | SA | 33 + 19 km | Fine gravel | To Gawler only |
They're not ranked. We've listed them north to south, then west. Lengths are one way.
How we chose them
We checked the best-known trails against eight things that make a trip easy, then dropped any that aren't fully open right now.
- Length: at least a full day's riding, ideally two or more, with shorter sections for families.
- Surface: sealed or well-compacted gravel that a hybrid bike can handle.
- Gradient: the gentle grades that make rail trails easy, with any steep exceptions made clear.
- Towns and services: food, water, toilets and beds along the way, not just at each end.
- Scenery: things worth stopping for, such as bridges, tunnels, rivers, wineries and old stations.
- Transport: a train, or a coach that takes bikes, to the trail.
- Hire and shuttles: more than one operator, so you don't need your own bike or a second car.
- Open and looked after: a named manager, maintained, and not closed in long sections when we checked.
That last test ruled out two favourites for now. The Great Victorian and High Country rail trails were both damaged in the January 2026 bushfires and have long sections closed. See also worth it.
1. Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
Why we chose it: it's the longest rail trail in Australia, a train runs to one end, and there's camping along the way. It's the pick for a proper multi-day tour.
- Length
- 161 km in eleven sections, from 5 to 24 km long (the Department of Transport and Main Roads, 2024). Its 2015 brochure gave 148 km, before the trail reached Yarraman.
- Surface
- Mostly well-compacted gravel, with concrete in the towns and some rocky patches. It's rougher from Linville to Benarkin and Blackbutt to Yarraman. Ride a hybrid, gravel or mountain bike, not a road bike.
- Gradient
- The trail climbs more than 400 m from Wulkuraka to Yarraman, gradually. Expect steep concrete dips at creek crossings where the old bridges are gone, especially between Linville and Benarkin, the hardest section.
- Towns
- Wulkuraka (Ipswich), Fernvale, Lowood, Coominya, Esk, Toogoolawah, Moore, Linville, Benarkin, Blackbutt and Yarraman. Campgrounds include Stanley Gates Park, Moore, Benarkin and Yarraman Weir Park.
- Getting there
- Queensland Rail to Wulkuraka, about 1 km from the trailhead. Ipswich to Rosewood trains take two bikes at most, in the first carriage. Buses don't take full-size bikes, and there's no public transport with a bike from the Yarraman end, so plan a shuttle or an out-and-back.
- Hire and shuttles
- Rail Trails Australia lists Bikeline Ipswich, Out There Cycling, Australian Cycle Tours and The Bike Hire Company (Blackbutt). Somerset tourism lists Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Cycles in Esk.
- Best season
- Somerset tourism promotes autumn. In summer, start at sunrise and finish by late morning. Magpies swoop in spring, and creek crossings flood quickly after rain.
- Who it suits
- Tourers and bikepackers end to end, and gravel riders. Families: Fernvale to Lowood, 8 km and flat. Linville to Benarkin is for fit, confident riders.
- Status
- Open (Rail Trails Australia, 21 September 2026). The bridge over Chasewater Creek south of Esk was being refurbished, with completion expected in May 2026; check before you go. Ranger: 0467 729 409.
- Don't miss
- The heritage-listed Yimbun Tunnel and the timber Lockyer Creek railway bridge.
2. Northern Rivers Rail Trail
Why we chose it: it's new and wide, with a 500 m tunnel full of glow worms. The Tweed section is one of the most polished family rail trails in the country.
- Length
- Two separate sections are open: Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek (24 km; 23.7 km station to station on the official distance table) and Casino to Lismore (29.7 km officially, 30 km per Rail Trails Australia). The 75 km between Lismore and Crabbes Creek isn't built or funded yet.
- Surface
- On the Tweed section, 6 km is sealed (Murwillumbah station to the Tweed Regional Gallery, and Burringbar to Mooball) and 18 km is heavily compacted gravel, mostly 3 m wide. Rail Trails Australia says road tyres aren't a good idea.
- Gradient
- 4.5% at most on the trail, but the bypass paths around some bridges are as steep as 15% (official site). Less confident riders may need to walk the steepest.
- Towns
- Murwillumbah, Stokers Siding, Burringbar, Mooball and Crabbes Creek. Water at Murwillumbah, Burringbar and Mooball, and a free e-bike charger at Murwillumbah station.
- Getting there
- Murwillumbah is 36 km from Gold Coast Airport. NSW TrainLink coaches run from Brisbane and Tweed Heads to Murwillumbah, but bikes must be booked ahead and packed, so hiring is easier. For the Casino section, the XPT train stops at Casino.
- Hire and shuttles
- Better By Bike (at Murwillumbah station, with shuttles), Valley E-Bikes and Northern Rivers Bike Hire (Mooball). Rail Trails Australia also lists Australian Cycle Tours and Freedom Cycles (Byron Bay).
- Best season
- Open all year, sunrise to sunset (official FAQ). Check the alerts after heavy rain or flooding.
- Who it suits
- Families, leisure riders and e-bikes (up to 250 W). It's accessibility-accredited and suits mobility devices. Not yet a multi-day tour.
- Status
- Open, with inspections and safety works across the trail in October and November 2026 (official alerts, 29 September 2026).
- Don't miss
- The Burringbar Range Tunnel: about 500 m, unlit, with glow worms and microbats. Bring a torch and walk your bike through.
- Official site
- Northern Rivers Rail Trail (and its current alerts)
3. Murray to Mountains Rail Trail
Why we chose it: sealed all the way, a train to the start, coaches that carry full-size bikes back, the longest list of hire operators of our five, and wineries along the way.
- Length
- Sources count it differently. Visit Victoria and the Rural City of Wangaratta say more than 100 km; Rail Trails Australia counts 137 km including every branch. The main ride is Wangaratta to Bright, 82 km, with branches from Everton to Beechworth and Yackandandah and from Rutherglen to Wahgunyah. Indigo Shire calls Beechworth to Yackandandah 31 km; Rail Trails Australia says 22 km.
- Surface
- Sealed, off-road path.
- Gradient
- Gentle on the main line, with a climb over Taylors Gap between Everton and Myrtleford. The Everton to Beechworth branch climbs on one of the steepest grades a broad-gauge railway was allowed, and Beechworth to Yackandandah drops 240 m, so the ride back is hard work.
- Towns
- Wangaratta, Everton, Myrtleford, Porepunkah and Bright on the main line; Beechworth, Yackandandah, Rutherglen and Wahgunyah on the branches. Paths carry on from Bright to Wandiligong and Harrietville.
- Getting there
- V/Line trains from Melbourne to Wangaratta take bikes free, first come, first served, but space is limited on Albury trains. V/Line's Bright, Beechworth and Rutherglen coaches to Wangaratta carry full-size bikes free if there's room, which makes a one-way ride easy.
- Hire and shuttles
- Rail Trails Australia lists Myrtleford Cycle Centre, Bespoke Cycle Tours, Rutherglen E-Bike Hire, AV Cycling Tours, Australian Cycle Tours, Tour de Vines, The Bike Hire Company (Beechworth) and Cyclepath.
- Best season
- Open all year with no seasonal closures (Visit Victoria). Indigo Shire suggests autumn for the colours and spring for wildflowers. Riders warn that summers are hot.
- Who it suits
- Families of all ages (Rutherglen to Wahgunyah is flat; Bright to Porepunkah is wheelchair accessible), e-bikes, prams, and tourers linking the towns over two or three days.
- Status
- Open, run by Indigo, Wangaratta and Alpine councils. An $8.5 million upgrade (trail art and the Rutherglen and Beechworth precincts) finished in September 2025. Kibell Lane is shared with residents' cars.
- Don't miss
- Mount Buffalo views, the Ovens River, the wineries of Milawa and Rutherglen, and the Rutherglen silo art.
4. East Gippsland Rail Trail
Why we chose it: a train to the start, a newly finished surface the whole way, quiet bush, and a 276 m timber trestle bridge.
- Length
- 96 km (Rail Trails Australia and Visit East Gippsland). The trail's own site says nearly 100 km, and the regional rider's guide says 96 to 100 km depending on where you join and leave it.
- Surface
- Sealed for the first 10 km to Nicholson, then chip seal and hard-packed gravel. The last 11.5 km were resurfaced in late 2025, which completed the trail. It can be sandy between Bruthen and Nowa Nowa after rain.
- Gradient
- Easy to moderate. Long, gradual climbs from Bruthen to Nowa Nowa through Colquhoun Forest, and three short, steep diversions around old trestle bridges east of Bruthen.
- Towns
- Bairnsdale, Nicholson, Bruthen, Nowa Nowa and Orbost. There's nothing for the 38 km from Nowa Nowa to Orbost, so carry food and water.
- Getting there
- V/Line trains run from Melbourne to Bairnsdale, where the trail starts, and take bikes free if there's room (space is limited on this line). No coach back from Orbost takes full-size bikes, so book a shuttle or ride back.
- Hire and shuttles
- Australian Cycle Tours, Venture Out (Lakes Entrance) and Snowy River Cycling (Orbost).
- Best season
- There's no official advice. We'd go in spring or autumn, and in summer check the fire danger rating before you set out.
- Who it suits
- Families on the sealed Bairnsdale to Nicholson stretch. Tourers, e-bikes and gravel riders over one or two days. Horse riders share the trail.
- Status
- Open (Rail Trails Australia, 25 June 2026), run by a committee of management. The 770 m Snowy River rail bridge near Orbost is still being restored, so use the path beside it.
- Don't miss
- The Stony Creek trestle bridge, 276 m long and 19 m high, about 5 km before Nowa Nowa.
- Official site
- East Gippsland Rail Trail and the Visit East Gippsland rider's guide
5. Riesling Trail and Rattler Trail
Why we chose it: gentle, well-surfaced and lined with cellar doors, with three bike hire businesses in Clare. It's the best short rail trail weekend on this list.
- Length
- The Riesling Trail is 33 km from Auburn through Clare to Barinia (trail committee and Clare Valley tourism); South Australian Tourism and Walking SA say 35 km. The Rattler Trail adds 19 km from Riverton to Auburn (20 km per Rail Trails Australia), so together they're about 52 km.
- Surface
- Fine, well-compacted gravel, suitable for wheelchairs and prams.
- Gradient
- Gentle. The high point is Penwortham, and it runs downhill from there to Clare. North of Clare is almost flat, and the Rattler climbs gently from Riverton to Rhynie. The signed road loops off the trail are steeper and meant for experienced riders.
- Towns
- Riverton, Rhynie (toilets, no shops), Auburn, Leasingham, Watervale, Penwortham, Sevenhill and Clare. Drinking fountains at Auburn, Watervale and Clare Showgrounds.
- Getting there
- Clare is about 90 minutes' drive from Adelaide. Adelaide Metro trains to Gawler take bikes free off-peak and at weekends. A coach runs from Adelaide to Auburn and Clare, but we couldn't confirm that it carries bikes, so ask Peninsula Coaches before you rely on it, or hire in Clare.
- Hire and shuttles
- Clare Valley tourism lists Riesling Trail Bike Hire, Clare Valley Cycle Hire, Scoot the Valley and Bike About Cycling Tours and Hire. Rail Trails Australia adds Discovery Holiday Park Cycle Hire, Tour de Vines and Australian Cycle Tours.
- Best season
- Autumn and spring (the trail's brochure). Vintage runs from late February to early April. Carry plenty of water in summer, and watch for snakes in warm weather.
- Who it suits
- Families, e-bikes, wine lovers and first-timers. Wheelchairs and prams on the trail itself. Helmets and a bell are compulsory.
- Status
- Open, looked after by the volunteer Riesling Trail Management Committee, which has replaced five of its seven bridges with steel. Auburn to Clare opened in 1995, South Australia's first rail trail.
- Don't miss
- Mount Horrocks Wines in the old Auburn station, Sevenhill's Jesuit winery and St Aloysius Church, and John Horrocks' cottage at Penwortham.
- Official site
- Riesling Trail and Clare Valley cycling
We're based in WA's South West and haven't ridden these five yet. When we do, we'll add what the sources can't tell you: real riding times, the rough bits, the best coffee stop, and our own photos.
Also worth it
Two classics are partly closed after the 2026 fires, one Tasmanian gem is short but lovely, and Western Australia has its own rail trails, closer to home for us.
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Wadandi Track, WA
Families, e-bikes and hybrids, in two separate sections for now. It should run about 110 km from Busselton Jetty to Augusta by 2028. Our home trail, with our full guide.
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Railway Reserves Heritage Trail, WA
A 41 km loop plus an 18 km spur, a train ride from Perth. You'll need to walk your bike past the Falls Road bridge works until late 2026.
-
More WA rail trails
The Collie–Darkan, Sidings and Denmark–Nornalup trails and more, on one map, filtered by who they suit.
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Great Victorian Rail Trail, Vic
The Cheviot Tunnel and a 385 m bridge over Lake Eildon. After the January 2026 fires and later storms, Merton to the Cheviot Tunnel and Cathkin to Fawcett are closed until further notice (Murrindindi Shire, 22 September 2026). Tallarook to the tunnel and Merton to Mansfield were open at last report.
Partly closed
-
High Country Rail Trail, Vic
Lake Hume's foreshore and a long climb to Shelley. Fire destroyed most of its trestle bridges in January 2026. Wodonga to Bullioh wasn't affected; check with Parklands Albury Wodonga before riding further east.
Partly closed
-
North East Rail Trail, Tas
Tree-fern cuttings and a 3% maximum grade, so it suits families. It's short, hire isn't easy to find, and there's no practical public transport with a bike. An extension to Lilydale is planned but not funded.
Open
Thank the volunteers
Many rail trails lean on volunteers. The Riesling Trail is run by a volunteer committee, and Rail Trails Australia is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit group that keeps the national list of trails, with maps and updates. If you ride these trails, think about joining or donating. Local trail committees and friends groups do the work on the ground, and they welcome help too.
Questions people ask
What is the best rail trail in Australia?
It depends on how you ride. For a family weekend, the Riesling Trail or the Murray to Mountains. For a long tour, the Brisbane Valley. For a short, polished day out, the Northern Rivers' Tweed section.
What is the longest rail trail in Australia?
The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, 161 km from Wulkuraka to Yarraman. Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads calls it the longest in Australia.
Which rail trails are sealed?
The Murray to Mountains is sealed throughout. East Gippsland is sealed for its first 10 km, and the Northern Rivers' Tweed section for 6 km. The rest of our picks are compacted gravel, fine on a hybrid.
Can I take my bike on the train to a rail trail?
Yes, for three of our five. V/Line takes bikes free to Wangaratta and Bairnsdale, subject to space, and Queensland Rail takes two per train to Wulkuraka. Converted e-bikes aren't allowed on V/Line or NSW TrainLink trains and coaches.
Are rail trails good for e-bikes?
Yes. Gentle grades and long distances suit them. The Northern Rivers allows e-bikes up to 250 W and has a free charger at Murwillumbah station.
What's the best rail trail in WA?
For families, the Wadandi Track; for a big day near Perth, the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail. See all of them on our WA rides map.
Is the Great Victorian Rail Trail open?
Only in part. As of 22 September 2026, Merton to the Cheviot Tunnel and Cathkin to Fawcett are closed until further notice. Check the official site.
Sources
How we made this guide. We're based in WA's South West and haven't ridden these eastern-states trails ourselves yet. This guide is desk research: every fact comes from the trail managers, state agencies, tourism bodies and Rail Trails Australia, checked on 9 October 2026. Where sources disagree on length, we say so. We'll add our own ride notes as we ride each trail. If something's wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
No commissions. Nothing on this page earns us money, and the hire and shuttle businesses are named only so you know who's there. If we ever add booking links that pay us, we'll say so next to them.
- Rail Trails Australia: trail finder (195 trails, 9 October 2026), about us, and trail pages for Brisbane Valley (updated 21 September 2026), Northern Rivers (24 September 2026), Murray to Mountains (21 August 2026), East Gippsland (25 June 2026), Riesling and Rattler (11 March 2026), Great Victorian (17 April 2026), High Country (29 August 2026) and North East (17 August 2026).
- Queensland: Department of Transport and Main Roads, Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and its brochure (October 2024); Experience Somerset; Queensland Rail, travelling with your bike; Translink, cycling and walking.
- New South Wales: Northern Rivers Rail Trail: Tweed surface, distances, bridges and tunnels, FAQ, getting here, construction timelines and alerts (read 9 October 2026); Byron Shire Council, federal funding (20 May 2026); Transport for NSW, travelling with bikes.
- Victoria: Visit Victoria, Murray to Mountains; Rural City of Wangaratta; Indigo Shire, Beechworth to Yackandandah and enhancements project; East Gippsland Rail Trail; Visit East Gippsland, trail page and rider's guide (20 February 2026); Tim Bull MP, trail completed (1 December 2025); V/Line, bikes, luggage and pets (read 9 October 2026); Murrindindi Shire, rail trail recovery (22 September 2026); Great Victorian Rail Trail FAQs; Parklands Albury Wodonga, High Country Rail Trail closure (February 2026).
- South Australia: Riesling Trail (location page and the 2015 trail brochure); Clare Valley, cycling and getting here; South Australian Tourism; Walking SA; Adelaide Metro, bikes; Peninsula Coaches.
- Tasmania: Dorset Council, North East Rail Trail and Stage 3 (updated March 2026).
- Western Australia: our WA rides hub and Wadandi Track guide, with their own sources (checked 8 October 2026).