Red Hill Rail Trail

The Red Hill Rail Trail, also known locally as the Merricks–Red Hill Trail, is a scenic 6.3 km cycling, walking and horse-riding trail on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, connecting Merricks with Red Hill. Around 90 km south of Melbourne, the route travels through rolling rural countryside, vineyards, orchards, pine trees and native vegetation, with excellent views across Western Port towards Phillip Island. The surface is predominantly compacted earth and fine gravel, making it best suited to mountain bikes, gravel bikes, hybrids and capable e-bikes rather than narrow-tyred road bikes. Starting at Merricks Station Ground, the first 2.7 km towards Tonkins Road is actually steeper than many riders expect from a rail trail. This lower section does not follow the original railway formation for its entire length, and riders face a steady climb for roughly 2 km before being rewarded with expansive views across the Mornington Peninsula countryside and Western Port. The trail is narrow in places and is regularly used by horse riders, so cyclists need to approach blind corners and passing situations carefully. From Tonkins Road to Red Hill, the character changes as the trail returns to the original railway easement. This approximately 3.6 km section climbs much more gently, passing through pine trees and two old railway cuttings before reaching Red Hill Station Reserve. Interpretive signage and a commemorative plaque mark the former Red Hill railway station, while the nearby Red Hill village provides cafés, a bakery and other places to stop before the return ride. The trail follows part of the former Bittern to Red Hill railway, which opened in 1921 after decades of campaigning by local residents. The railway was particularly important for transporting the district’s fruit — including apples, pears and strawberries — towards Melbourne markets. Despite the effort involved in building the steep branch line, improving roads reduced demand and the railway closed in 1953 after only 32 years of operation. Much of the former corridor between Bittern and Merricks later passed into private ownership, leaving the Merricks–Red Hill section as today's rail trail. There are plans to make the trail considerably more significant in the future. Mornington Peninsula Shire has identified the Red Hill Rail Trail extension towards Balnarring and Bittern as an opportunity within the broader Peninsula Trails network. Almost 7 km of the potential 14 km corridor is currently established, with future connections intended to make better use of surviving railway land and road reserves. RTS Tip: If you're riding return, start at Merricks and get the harder climbing out of the way first — then enjoy Red Hill's cafés before a generally easier trip back. Allow roughly 13 km for the out-and-back ride. The trail can become muddy and slippery during winter or after significant rain, and the lower section is steeper and rougher than you might expect from the words “rail trail”, so wider tyres are a good choice. Remember this is a shared trail with walkers and horse riders, slow down when passing and give horses plenty of room.