Rail Trails Australia

06/06/2026

Don’t let the weather stop you this weekend! The rail trails are waiting 😊

05/06/2026

EOFY is almost here and Rail Trails Australia is fundraising to support rail trails around Australia!

We’re aiming to raise $100,000 to help to improve and promote Australia’s rail trails. Thanks to generous donors, we have reached $64,995.27 since launching this campaign via Australian Sports Foundation (ASF).

These funds help us:

continue important council and government advocacy – currently focussed on New South Wales and Tasmania
organise and conduct our bi-annual conference – to be held in Canberra/Queanbeyan Friday 6 November 2026, and
deliver our community grants program – an annual program helping rail trail-related community groups improve their rail trails to attract more users.
If you’ve ever thought about supporting Rail Trails Australia, now is a great time to give! Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible via ASF. Please note ASF retains 5% of the tax-deductible donation. If you’d like to support before June 30, you can donate here:

https://asf.org.au/campaigns/rail-trails-australia/improving-and-promoting-australias-rail-trails

01/06/2026

🤭

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact A local old codger has confirmed he is willing to die to prevent the old Port of Betoota Rail Line be transformed into a "rail trail". Bruce Hall, a retired school teacher from the Port of Betoota, told The Advocate that it was a dark day

29/05/2026

Horse riders! The Great Victorian Rail Trail has top-tier scenery — an idyllic and peaceful way to experience the region. If you’re planning a longer stretch (Yea to Trawool or even Seymour), Wood Duck Cottage is a horse-friendly stopover where you can accommodate your horses and enjoy a comfortable country rest after a day on the trail.
Based near Yea, Victoria, it’s a relaxed base to explore the region.

29/05/2026

Tourism WA has released the Wadandi Track Tourism Opportunities Analysis, highlighting the tourism potential the completed Wadandi Track could bring to the South West.

Join a free interactive workshop on 10 June with Dr Lenore Lyons from Concept2Strategy to explore the report findings, connect with local operators and discover opportunities for trail tourism businesses.

Details here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/wadandi-track-tourism-opportunities-workshop-tickets-1989445130941?aff=oddtdtcreator

28/05/2026

Volunteers are integral to everything Rail Trails Australia does: from keeping its website up-to-date, to providing interesting articles for readers in Rail Trail Connections magazine, to putting their hands up to be RTA regional representatives and represent RTA in their local area.

RTA's volunteers come from all over the country and from a wide variety of backgrounds, but they have one thing in common: they want more people to be able to enjoy better quality rail trails! RTA thanks all of its regional reps and other volunteers for all the hard work they continue to do.

RTA works alongside many other volunteer organisations including the various committees of management and friends groups that essentially look after their local rail trails and offers congratulations to all the volunteers who put their hand up to do the hard work.

As National Volunteers Week rolls through again, we’d like to recognise all those who have volunteered their precious time 🙏

20/05/2026

Help Make NSW’s New England Rail Trail (NERT) a reality!

RTA and the Friends of NERT are asking for your help to make a final push for New England Rail Trail in NSW.

Please email Armidale Regional Council [email protected] by 31 May 2026 and use the subject line “Proposed New England Rail Trail''. Include your name and address in the body of the email, and let the council know that you will come and ride, walk or run this rail trail when it’s completed!

The 210km Great Northern Rail Line opened in 1888 and once extended to the Queensland border, but has been disused for more than 3 decades. Chief Officer Planning and Activation of Armidale Regional Council, Daniel Boyce, said preliminary study work is currently underway along the rail corridor as part of the Rail Trail Framework required in New South Wales.

Some of the many reasons to visit NERT when it’s completed:
-It passes through Ben Lomond, the highest railway station in Australia! (1363m)
-Armidale, Guyra, Glen Innes and Tenterfield offer accommodation and dining options
-Wallangarra Station on the NSW-Qld border was the change-of-gauge station. All buildings and tracks remain in place.

Read more about the rail trail here: https://yoursay.armidale.nsw.gov.au/new-england-rail-trail and RTA’s page here: https://www.railtrails.org.au/trails/new-england-rail-trail/

20/05/2026

The Eudunda Hampden Rail Trail was recently opened in South Australia! The trail climbs 5 km into the base of the Southern Flinders Ranges and is an integral part of the 300km Lavender Federation Cycling Trail 😙👌

14/05/2026

More riding, less lifting! Check out the Lift Caddy from Bike Lifters...

14/05/2026

Well looky here! Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) has a brand new bridge on 24km trail section between Esk and Coominya. That's four bridges in four years!