Tiger Rail Trail

The Tiger Rail Trail, at Forrest in Victoria’s Otway region, is a short 4.4 km shared cycling and walking trail following part of the former railway line that once connected Forrest with Birregurra. The trail runs north from Forrest towards Yaugher and the Barwon Downs direction, with a predominantly fine-gravel surface and gentle gradients. It’s suitable for mountain bikes, gravel bikes, hybrids and recreational riders, and is particularly useful as a link into Forrest’s extensive MTB network. Starting opposite the former railway precinct in Forrest, the route heads north towards the Barwon River. One of its most interesting features is the railway infrastructure along the way: riders pass the remains of an old trestle bridge before crossing the river on a rebuilt railway bridge incorporating the original piers. From there, the trail continues towards the former Yaugher Station site and into Yaugher State Forest. The trail becomes particularly useful for mountain bikers at Yaugher, where it connects with the Forrest MTB Trails – Yaugher network. From the former station area, riders can access the Yaugher trail hub and use MTB trails to create a much larger loop rather than simply returning along the rail trail. The Tiger Loop MTB trail also connects near the northern end, providing another way back towards the Yaugher trailhead. The railway has an interesting history. The Birregurra–Forrest branch line opened to Deans Marsh in 1889 and Forrest in 1891, carrying passengers, agricultural produce and tourists heading towards Lorne and Apollo Bay. The trail’s unusual name comes from a converted Dodge sedan railmotor painted with yellow and black stripes, nicknamed the “Tiger”, which operated on the line from 1937 until 1952. The railway finally closed in 1957. There were once plans for the Tiger Rail Trail to extend all the way between Forrest and Birregurra, potentially passing Barwon Downs and Deans Marsh. However, much of the former railway corridor is now privately owned, and investigations found significant difficulties establishing a continuous route. Colac Otway Shire currently describes the constructed trail as the section extending north from Forrest, with no current plans to complete the originally proposed route to Birregurra. RTS Tip: The Tiger Rail Trail is best used as part of a bigger Forrest riding day. Ride north from town to Yaugher, then jump onto the Forrest MTB network and use the Tiger Loop or other Yaugher trails to create a longer circuit. If you’re after something easier, simply ride the rail trail out and back for around 9 km. Don’t plan on continuing along the former railway corridor towards Birregurra — sections beyond the developed trail cross private land and are not a public through-route