Torbay to Elleker Rail Trail

The Torbay to Elleker Rail Trail, around 15 km west of Albany in Western Australia’s Great Southern, is an 8 km one-way cycling and walking trail following the former railway corridor between Torbay Community Hall and Elleker. The compacted-earth trail is mostly flat and easy-going, travelling through a surprisingly varied landscape of farmland, wetlands, karri forest and she-oak woodland. It’s particularly well suited to mountain bikes, gravel bikes and hybrids, and makes an approachable 16 km return ride. Starting at the historic Torbay Community Hall, built in 1912, the trail initially passes through low forest before opening into rolling agricultural country. One of the more unusual sights along the way is Wilsons Wrecking Yard, where hundreds of old cars, trucks, buses and pieces of farm machinery are scattered across the property beside the railway corridor. From here, the scenery changes again as the trail enters wetlands and increasingly lush forest on the approach to Elleker. The final section crosses Marbellup Brook before reaching parkland at Hassell Road in Elleker. The route is especially attractive during spring wildflower season, when the surrounding bush and wetlands put on plenty of colour. Elleker provides a convenient turnaround point, with toilets and refreshments available nearby. The trail is also significant for bikepackers because it forms part of the Munda Biddi Trail, Western Australia’s epic long-distance off-road cycling route. This makes the Torbay–Elleker section useful both as an easy standalone ride and as part of a much larger cycling adventure through the Great Southern. The railway corridor continues the story of the line that eventually connected Elleker, Torbay, Denmark and Nornalup. The first Elleker–Torbay section was constructed in the 1880s to support the region’s timber industry, with the railway later extended west. Today, another section of the same former corridor forms the Denmark–Nornalup Heritage Rail Trail. RTS Tip: For an easy ride, start at Torbay Hall and ride the full 8 km to Elleker, grab a drink or snack, then retrace your route for around 16 km total. The compacted-earth surface is generally straightforward, but sections are more like narrow natural singletrack than a wide manicured rail trail, so a gravel bike or MTB is ideal. If you’re visiting in September or spring, keep an eye out for the wildflowers — recent riders report this as one of the highlights of the trail.