Fernleigh Track rail trail

Fernleigh Track Rail Trail – Newcastle to Lake Macquarie The Fernleigh Track is one of the Hunter region’s most popular cycling trails, following a historic railway corridor for around 15km between Adamstown in Newcastle and Belmont at Lake Macquarie. The fully sealed shared path takes riders away from busy roads and through a surprisingly beautiful mix of bushland, wetlands and leafy suburban corridors. With gentle railway gradients and very few road crossings, it’s a fantastic option for families, recreational cyclists, e-bikes and riders looking for an easy traffic-free cycling adventure near Newcastle. One of the highlights is the historic Fernleigh Tunnel, a curved 181-metre former railway tunnel beneath the ridge between Adamstown and Glenrock. The old railway once carried coal from the Lake Macquarie mines towards Newcastle, and remnants of that history can still be spotted along the route, including former station sites, railway cuttings and other heritage features. Heading south, the trail passes through Kahibah, Whitebridge, Redhead and Jewells before reaching Belmont, with access points along the way making it easy to choose a shorter section rather than riding the entire trail. Mountain bikers can also use the Burwood Road connection to Glenrock State Conservation Area, opening up access to Glenrock’s MTB trails and making it possible to combine an easy rail trail ride with some singletrack. For riders wanting to keep exploring, the cycling network now continues south from Belmont via the Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track, extending the adventure towards Belmont South, Marks Point and Blacksmiths. Whether you're searching for Fernleigh Track cycling, Newcastle bike trails, Lake Macquarie cycling, family-friendly bike rides near Newcastle or rail trails in NSW, this is easily one of the region’s must-ride cycling paths. RTS Tip: Ride the Fernleigh Track as a roughly 30km return trip, choose one of the shorter sections, or use it as the backbone of a much bigger Newcastle and Lake Macquarie cycling adventure. Adamstown Station is close to the northern trailhead, making it particularly handy for riders arriving by train. The path is shared and extremely popular, so keep speeds appropriate around walkers, families and other riders.