Great Southern Rail Trail with disused track at Leongatha
Length
109 km
Location
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Established
2015; 9 years ago (2015)
Difficulty
Easy to medium
Hazards
Some crossings of major highways
Surface
Compacted gravel
Hills
Multiple gentle hills
Water
Available in most towns
Train(s)
No regular passenger service
Bus
Available at Leongatha
The Great Southern Rail Trail is a 109-kilometre rail trail from Nyora to Welshpool in South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.[1] Sections of the trail are flat or gently undulating trail through lush dairy farmland, areas of remnant bush and lowland scrub. There is a big climb on the section between Loch and Leongatha. The section between Fish Creek and Foster climbs past Mount Hoddle and goes through dense forest with occasional magnificent views of Wilsons Promontory and Corner Inlet.[2]
The trail is well maintained with a surface of compacted gravel. Koalas, Wombats, wallabies and Echidnas can often be seen from the trail particularly in the early mornings and evenings.
The 10km Toora to Welshpool section was opened on 7 February 2015. The section from Koonwarra to Minns road was opened in March 2016, incorporating what had been three very dilapidated wooden trestle bridges and replacing a three-kilometre diversion to the nearby South Gippsland Highway. That made the trail continuous from Leongatha to Welshpool, and users can link to the 6km pathway to Port Welshpool and its picturesque Long Jetty.
Two trestle bridges north of Loch were surfaced in late 2022. That completed the trail between Nyora and Loch, bringing the total trail length from Nyora to Welshpool to 107km.
The trail is being progressively extended and is planned to eventually reach Port Albert and Yarram.[3]
^"Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Maps". Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2007.
^"Great Southern Rail Trail, Attraction, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia". Tourism Victoria home. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
^"GSRT: 1 Great Southern Rail Trail - Updates - Bicycle Victoria". Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
and 28 Related for: Great Southern Rail Trail information
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