Castlemaine – Maldon Trail

The Castlemaine–Maldon Trail is an 18km railside trail connecting two of Victoria’s most historic Goldfields towns. Rather than following the old railway formation itself, the trail runs alongside the heritage Victorian Goldfields Railway, winding through box-ironbark forest, open farmland and gold-mining country between Castlemaine, Muckleford and Maldon. If your timing is right, you may even have a steam train travelling alongside you. Don’t let the railway setting fool you into expecting a flat rail trail. The route includes loose gravel, rocky sections and some surprisingly steep climbs and descents as it dips around railway cuttings and embankments. It’s best suited to confident riders on gravel bikes with wider tyres or mountain bikes, with Muckleford Station providing a handy halfway rest point. RTS Tip: One of the best ways to ride this trail is one-way and return aboard the Victorian Goldfields Railway, which carries bikes on its heritage trains. Check the train timetable before setting out, as services don’t operate every day. There’s no drinking water along the trail, so carry enough for the ride, and be prepared for rougher conditions after wet weather.