East Gippsland Rail Trail

The East Gippsland Rail Trail is one of Victoria’s great long-distance rail trails, stretching around 96km from Bairnsdale to Orbost through farmland, forests and the beautiful landscapes of East Gippsland. Following the former railway corridor, the trail passes through Nicholson, Bruthen and Nowa Nowa, crossing rivers, historic railway bridges and impressive cuttings before finishing near the Snowy River at Orbost. The first section from Bairnsdale to Nicholson is sealed, before the trail transitions predominantly to gravel for the journey east. Highlights include the historic Nicholson River bridge, the long forested stretch through Colquhoun State Forest, glimpses towards the Gippsland Lakes and the region’s impressive old timber trestle bridges. The trail can be tackled as one big adventure, split over multiple days or explored through shorter out-and-back sections from the towns along the way. RTS Tip: For an extra adventure, take the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail from the rail trail through Colquhoun State Forest towards Lakes Entrance. If riding the full Bairnsdale–Orbost route, plan your food, water and accommodation ahead — services become more spread out further east, and some bridge bypasses include steeper sections than you might expect from a traditional rail trail.