Wool Rail Trail

The Wool Rail Trail, near Blyth in South Australia’s Mid North, is an exciting new rail-trail project following the former railway corridor north of the town. The first completed section, known as the Dean Nicolle Eucalypt Walk, opened in August 2025 and currently provides 2.2 km of fine-gravel shared trail between Blyth and Poysden Road. Mostly flat and easy to ride, it’s ideal for families, beginner riders, gravel bikes, mountain bikes and hybrids. What makes this short section particularly special is the revegetation along the old railway corridor. More than 2,000 trees representing almost 300 species of eucalypts have been planted, with around 200 species identified by signs. Interpretive boards along the trail also tell the story of the former railway yards, surrounding farming country and the development of the Eucalypt Walk. The ride begins beside the Blyth BMX track, near the former Blyth railway station precinct. After around 200 m it joins the old railway embankment and continues north to Poysden Road. A seat around halfway provides views towards the Hummocks and Barunga Ranges, making this a pleasant little out-and-back of approximately 4.4 km. The corridor has a long railway history. The line reached Blyth in 1876 as part of South Australia’s narrow-gauge Port Wakefield railway system and was extended north to Gladstone in 1894. It was converted to broad gauge in 1927 before eventually closing in 1989, with the tracks removed soon afterwards. The exciting part is what could come next. The Wool Rail Trail is planned to eventually utilise the former railway corridor from Hoyleton through Blyth and Brinkworth to Yacka, potentially creating a trail of around 57 km. There are also longer-term possibilities of connecting south towards the Copper Rail Trail and into South Australia’s wider rail-trail network. Further development is already receiving funding, including works on the corridor between Alm Road and Klemm Road in the Brinkworth–Blyth area. RTS Tip: For now, treat the Wool Rail Trail as an easy 4.4 km return ride from Blyth, perfect for families or as a relaxed addition to a Clare Valley cycling trip. Take time to read the eucalypt and railway-history signs rather than rushing through — the revegetated corridor is really what makes this section unique. There are no facilities along the trail itself, but Blyth has a café and other services near the start. Keep an eye on this one too: if the proposed extensions are completed, the Wool Rail Trail could eventually become a significant 57 km Mid North cycling route.