Mary to Bay Rail Trail

The Mary to Bay Rail Trail is a developing cycling and shared-use trail on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, following the former railway corridor between Maryborough and Hervey Bay. When fully completed, the trail is planned to extend for approximately 48 km, ultimately creating an off-road connection between historic Maryborough and Urangan Pier on the Hervey Bay waterfront. Around 30 km is currently developed, although the trail is not yet continuous and riders need to plan around gaps between completed sections. The ride offers two very different experiences. Around Hervey Bay, the Urangan to Nikenbah section provides a wide, predominantly sealed and relatively flat pathway through Urangan, Pialba, Urraween and Nikenbah, with easy access to beaches, cafés, parks and the impressive 868 m Urangan Pier. Beyond the urban section, the trail becomes a more adventurous gravel ride through the Wallum bushland between Nikenbah, Takura and towards Colton, passing native vegetation, wetlands, bird habitat and remnants of the former railway. A separate approximately 3 km unsealed section has also been developed from Walker Street in Maryborough towards Quarry Road. The railway originally reached Pialba in 1896 and Urangan in 1913, carrying agricultural produce, freight from Urangan Pier and generations of holidaymakers travelling to the coast. The line eventually closed in 1993, and today its corridor is progressively being transformed into a recreational trail linking two of the Fraser Coast’s major centres. For an easy family or recreational ride, the sealed Urangan Pier to Nikenbah section is the standout, while riders wanting more adventure can continue on the rural gravel sections. The trail also connects beautifully with the Hervey Bay foreshore shared path, allowing riders to combine the historic railway corridor with a scenic coastal ride beside the Great Sandy Strait. RTS Tip: The Mary to Bay Rail Trail is not yet a continuous Maryborough-to-Hervey Bay ride. There is currently no formal trail crossing of the busy Maryborough–Hervey Bay Road between the urban and rural sections, and the Maryborough end does not yet connect through to the main trail. Check the latest trail map before setting out and choose your trailhead accordingly. For a brilliant introduction, start at Urangan Pier, follow the sealed rail trail through Hervey Bay and add the waterfront path for a longer Fraser Coast cycling adventure.