Great Southern Rail Trail
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39km of well surfaced trail makes for very pleasant cycling in south Gippsland. The trail offers magnificent cycling through lush farmland and leafy fore...
This well surfaced 39km of trail makes for very pleasant cycling in South Gippsland. The trail offers magnificent cycling through lush farmland and leafy forests with coastal views. The surface is hard-packed gravel that is suitable for ordinary bikes.
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Currently, the trail is in two sections:
The section between Koonwarra and Meeniyan is closed due to dangerous wooden trestle bridges that need replacing, but sections of the trail can still be used (see description below). Alternatively, cyclists can use the South Gippsland Hwy to get through this section. Eventually, the trail will be extended an additional 44km along the old rail line to Yarram. The Committee of Management has to wait until 2008 before a moratorium on the section between Foster and Yarram is lifted (see link below for trail history and development). |
Trail description
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Leongatha to Koonwarra (8km): a gentle descent to Koonwarra through open farmland. Koonwarra has craft and coffee shops.
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Koonwarra to Minns Rd (3km): on-road highway cycling is required. Past Koonwarra the trail goes through an underpass of the South Gippsland Highway. The high-quality trail finishes in 200m oposite the Koonwarrra Recreation Reserve, but you can go another 500m pararell to the highway on the old cleared ballast stretch to another side gate that takes you on to the highway (and avoids the unsafe trestle bridges that are closed to the public). Once on the highway it's a 1.5km ride to Minns Rd.
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Minns Rd to Meeniyan (6km): on-road highway cycling required. When you reach Minns Rd you can get back on the trail through a gate and along a short track. This is not sign posted yet. Continue along the rail trail and across the new bridge over the Tarwin River and ride into Meeniyan. Meeniyan has restaurants, craft, picnic and free BBQ facilities.
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Meeniyan to Buffalo (11.5km). This is a fairly flat section of trail that starts from behind the petrol station and passes through lowland forest and swamp scrub.
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Buffalo to Fish Creek (8km). The trail enters the foothills of the Hoddle Range and rises 40m in elevation through this section. There are a number of cuttings and embankments and the scenery ranges from blue gum forests to open farmland. Fish Creek has toilets, accommodation and cafes.
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Fish Creek to Foster (13.5km). The trail climbs a valley on the west side of the Hoddle Range and passes Mt Hoddle (visible to your right). At the road bridge, 0.5km from Lowry's Rd, the trail takes a sharp bend to the north and starts the descent to Foster along the steep eastern side of the Hoddle Range, via a series of cuttings and embankments. The trail emerges from dense forest to offer views of Wilsons Prom and Corner Inlet. Foster has accommodation, cafes and toilets.
For more, including a map, visit the official Great Southern Rail Trail website.