Port Fairy – Warrnambool Rail Trail

The Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail is a scenic 37.5 km shared cycling and walking trail on Victoria’s spectacular South West Coast, linking the historic seaside town of Port Fairy with Koroit and Warrnambool. The route combines former railway corridor with coastal and riverside paths, passing through open farmland, native vegetation, wetlands, volcanic landscapes and coastal dunes before reaching the Southern Ocean at Warrnambool. With mostly gentle gradients and a mixture of compacted gravel and sealed surfaces, it’s well suited to gravel bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes, e-bikes, families and recreational cyclists. The Port Fairy to Koroit section is around 18 km, gradually climbing through farmland and native vegetation towards the beautifully restored Koroit Railway Station and goods shed. Along the way riders pass remnants of the original railway, including old station sites and sidings, while the trail skirts the northern side of Tower Hill, the enormous extinct volcano that now forms Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. This section is a great standalone ride, with plenty of food and facilities available in both Port Fairy and Koroit. From Koroit to Warrnambool, the trail covers around 20 km, descending towards Illowa before crossing the wetlands of Kellys Swamp on boardwalks and continuing towards the coast. The final kilometres follow the Merri River towards Warrnambool’s foreshore and Breakwater, creating a completely different riding experience from the rural section around Koroit. Warrnambool’s Lake Pertobe, foreshore and Breakwater precinct make an excellent finish to the journey. The trail also has a strong railway history. The railway linking Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy — then known as Belfast — was completed in 1890, helping farmers transport produce including wheat, barley, potatoes and other agricultural goods. Remnants of several former stations remain along the corridor, with Koroit Station one of the most impressive surviving pieces of railway infrastructure. RTS Tip: You don’t need to ride the full trail to enjoy it. Port Fairy to Koroit makes an excellent roughly 36 km return ride, while shorter rides around Warrnambool combine wetlands, the Merri River and the coast. If tackling the entire trail, allow time to stop at Koroit and Tower Hill rather than treating it as a race between towns. The trail is generally straightforward, but signage between Warrnambool and Illowa can be limited, and current access from Warrnambool Railway Station requires a detour via Pertobe Road or Harris Street, so download the latest route before setting out