Wagga Wagga to Ladysmith (Riverina Highlands) Rail Trail

Wagga Wagga to Ladysmith – Riverina Highlands Rail Trail The Wagga Wagga to Ladysmith Rail Trail is an exciting developing section of the proposed Riverina Highlands Rail Trail, following the former Tumbarumba railway corridor east from Wagga Wagga towards the rural village of Ladysmith. When completed, the dedicated rail trail is planned to cover approximately 20km, passing through Forest Hill and near Wagga Wagga Airport before continuing through open Riverina farmland to Ladysmith. Importantly, the full Wagga Wagga–Ladysmith rail trail is not yet open. A completed section of the old railway corridor can already be ridden between Bakers Lane and Elizabeth Avenue, with Rail Trails Australia reporting around 4km of sealed trail here. Existing cycleways around Forest Hill and the airport can also be used to extend the ride. The route forms the western end of a much bigger vision. Eventually, the Riverina Highlands Rail Trail is proposed to connect Wagga Wagga through Ladysmith, Tarcutta and Rosewood, where it would meet the already-open Tumbarumba–Rosewood Rail Trail. If completed in full, the Riverina Highlands network would extend for approximately 129km. There has been significant progress towards making the next section a reality. In February 2026, Wagga Wagga City Council established the Wagga to Ladysmith Rail Trail Steering Committee, which will guide planning and development of the proposed 20km trail. The broader Forest Hill Cycleway is now around 8.5km, incorporating part of the former railway corridor and providing an increasingly useful off-road cycling connection between Wagga Wagga and Forest Hill. Once completed, the rail trail is expected to finish at Ladysmith Railway Station, the only surviving station structure along this section of the former Tumbarumba branch line. The railway originally opened in stages from 1917, with passenger services beyond Ladysmith ending in 1974 and all operations ceasing in 1987. For riders searching for Wagga Wagga cycling, Wagga Rail Trail, Riverina Highlands Rail Trail, cycling in the Riverina or family-friendly bike trails around Wagga, the existing section is already worth knowing about — but the bigger story is what this route could eventually become. RTS Tip: ⚠️ Do not attempt to follow the old railway corridor all the way to Ladysmith yet. Only the completed sections are currently available for public riding, and the undeveloped railway corridor remains off-limits. For now, use the sealed rail-trail and existing Forest Hill cycleway network, and keep this one firmly on the watch list as the Wagga–Ladysmith project progresses.