Rail trails and tourism trails
About this page
Rail Trails are fantastic pathways built on old railway lines.
Rail trails are fantastic pathways built on old railway lines and are great places to ride with the family. They can be found all over Victoria and some offer longer touring possibilities.
The trails provide local recreation and travel, benefit local economies through the tourism they bring and provide green links and reserves for native plants and animals.
The longest rail trail in Victoria is 98km but you don't have to ride the entire trail all in one go.
Towns dotted along the trails offer accommodation and refreshments, and you can easily go for a day ride on a short section of trail.
We have rated them according to their suitability for cycling and length of open trail.
Ordinary bikes and complete trails
These trails have a good, fine gravel surface suitable for hybrid, touring and mountain bikes. A popular trail close to Melbourne is the Bellarine Rail Trail from Geelong to Queenscliff.
Also close to Melbourne, is the wonderful Lilydale - Warburton Rail Trail. It travels through a bushy corridor to come out into an open rural landscape with picturesque views of the Yarra Ranges in the distance.
Longer trails are the Murray to Mountains rail trail from Wangaratta to Bright, which has a sealed trail surface, and the East Gippsland Rail Trail from Bairnsdale to Newmerella near Orbost. There is also a connection just passed Bruthen with the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail which takes you to Lakes Entrance.
Trail maps are available for all trails.
Ordinary bikes and trails with gaps
These trails are suitable for hybrid, touring and mountain bikes, but not all sections of trail are complete. The Great Southern Rail Trail runs between Leongatha and Foster with a gap in the section between Koonwarra and Meeniyan.
The High Country Rail Trail runs for 32km between the Kiewa River and Old Tallangatta, with a gap between Huon Reserve and Murray Way where there is a bridge missing over Lake Hume. A free map is available for this trail.
Fat tyre bikes
These trails are suitable for mountain bikes and fat-tyre hybrids. They have a less formed surface and can be rough in places. The Mirboo Nth to Boolara rail trail is in Gippsland's Strzelecki Ranges. The Old Beechy Rail Trail is south of Colac in the Otway Ranges.
Shorter trails include the Horsham - Arapiles Experience Trail, which follows the Wimmera River, and the Moe - Yallourn Rail Trail.
Take a spin on the O'Keefe Trail from Bendigo to Axedale or the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail between Smythesdale and Skipton, which has recently had it's surface upgraded. The Bass Coast Rail Trail between Anderson and Wonthaggi is also due for a surface upgrade.
There are other trails dotted around Victoria and potential for more to be developed. Rail Trails Australia publishes a great guide to Rail Trails in Victoria and South Australia. See the Railtrails Australia website for details on rail trails and the guidebook.