Waranga Rail Trail

The Waranga Rail Trail is a 19 km shared cycling and walking trail connecting Murchison and Rushworth in northern Victoria. Fully completed in 2025, it follows the former railway corridor through Box-Ironbark country, farmland, wetlands and the Waranga Basin landscape. With an almost level gradient and a combination of fine gravel and asphalt, it’s an excellent option for families, gravel bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids and recreational riders. The trail begins at Impey Street in Murchison and heads west towards Rushworth. Along the way it passes Doctors Swamp Wildlife Reserve, an important wetland habitat, and crosses numerous irrigation channels associated with the enormous Waranga Basin. One of the highlights is the restored historic bridge across the Stuart Murray Canal, along with several other former railway bridges incorporated into the route. Most of the trail has a fine-gravel surface, while the final kilometre approaching Rushworth is smooth asphalt through the former railway yard. The route is generally easy, although riders need to take care at two crossings of the Murchison–Rushworth Road. Both Murchison and Rushworth have toilets, picnic facilities and plenty of options for a post-ride bakery or café stop. The railway originally opened between Murchison East and Rushworth in 1890, later extending to Colbinabbin, with Rushworth becoming a junction when the branch towards Girgarre opened in 1917. Part of the railway had to be diverted when Waranga Basin was constructed in 1905, and the various lines eventually closed by 1987. The first 8 km between Murchison and Channel Inlet Road opened in 2015, before the remaining 11 km to Rushworth was completed a decade later. The finished Waranga Rail Trail opened to riders on 1 April 2025 and was officially opened on 17 May 2025, finally creating the continuous 19 km route. There are also exciting possibilities for future connections. Plans have been discussed to extend the Stanhope–Girgarre Rail Trail south towards Rushworth, while a future Murchison–Heathcote connection could eventually link Waranga with the O’Keefe Rail Trail. RTS Tip: The full Murchison–Rushworth return ride is around 38 km, but the flat railway gradient makes it a very achievable longer recreational ride. For something shorter, ride from either town towards Waranga Basin and return. Gravel or wider hybrid tyres are ideal for the mostly fine-gravel surface. If you're arriving by train at Murchison East, be aware that the connection into Murchison isn't entirely traffic-free and includes a busy road crossing and the Goulburn River bridge, where riders need to dismount.