Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesThe Great Southern Rail Trail gets even Greater
The Great Southern Rail Trail‘s extension to Yarram is now officially open! The new 21-kilometre section brings the length of the trail (from Nyora to Yarram) to 131 kilometres.
Until this year, the rail trail ended at Welshpool, with users able to turn right to Port Welshpool (a highlight of which is its 800m long jetty). However the trail now extends on to Alberton, with users able to then head north to Yarram or south for Port Albert.
A highlight of the new stretch are bridges and underpasses, which replace the need for gates and have added interest to a flat and straight trail.
Rail Trails Australia’s President Damian explains: “There’s a lot of farming in the area, so as a result of the consultation, they built bridges, which means the cows go straight under the trail, and there are little roller-coasters, which you ride up and over. It makes it a more interesting ride: you’re like: ‘oh we’re going over a bit of a rise!’ This allows farming activities to go on underneath without interruption, and keeps everyone happy. That’s great stuff by the council.”
The rail trail covers two councils: Wellington Shire and South Gippsland Shire, and features sections of rainforest, farmland, wind turbines and now culminates in Heesco Town – (aka Yarram) where artist Heesco has painted dozens of buildings in, and out of, the town, creating a unique tourist attraction. Check out all the details here.
More News
South Australia’s Barossa Council has received an additional $100,000 grant through the Government of South Austra...
Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) has done it again – winning gold at the 2026 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards...
Rail Trail Australia’s (RTA) Community Grants program 2026-2027 is open and taking applications now. The scope and fun...
Grand Ridge Rail Trail Committee of Management (CoM) has installed brand new information signs along the 13km rail trail...
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) trail manager Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads has just completed a 10km sur...
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) is asking for public support to reopen Lapstone Tunnel in the lower Blue Mountains. R...
Show your support for Rail Trails Australia by purchasing from our range of branded Rail Trails Australia clothing inclu...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) has opened early-bird registration for the 2026 Rail Trails Conference to be held in Canberr...
The Barossa Council in South Australia has installed 2 new bench seats along the Barossa Trail near Angaston. An inclusi...
Rail Trails Australia’s (RTA) Eastern Victoria representative John Birrell attended the July launch of the Great S...
The clearing of part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT), from Barrimoon to Barrimoon Rd, towards Kalpowar, h...
Public consultation conducted by Armidale Regional Council in June 2026 resulted in 85% of formal submissions supporting...
Rail Trails Australia Community Grants Program has funded Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail to purchase 3 storyboard-style...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) is delighted to announce that South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association Inc. were successfu...
Bass Coast Shire Council has completed important upgrade works on a bridge along the Bass Coast Rail Trail near Dalyston...
Nominations close 31 July for the 2026 Victorian Landcare Awards! Celebrate the people and groups who are restoring and ...
Calendar of Events
See upcoming eventsNews Archives
Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesFeatured Articles
Celebrating RTA’s Volunteers
26/05/25
More News
South Australia’s Barossa Council has received an additional $100,000 grant through the Government of South Austra...
Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) has done it again – winning gold at the 2026 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards...
Rail Trail Australia’s (RTA) Community Grants program 2026-2027 is open and taking applications now. The scope and fun...
Grand Ridge Rail Trail Committee of Management (CoM) has installed brand new information signs along the 13km rail trail...
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) trail manager Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads has just completed a 10km sur...
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) is asking for public support to reopen Lapstone Tunnel in the lower Blue Mountains. R...
Show your support for Rail Trails Australia by purchasing from our range of branded Rail Trails Australia clothing inclu...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) has opened early-bird registration for the 2026 Rail Trails Conference to be held in Canberr...
The Barossa Council in South Australia has installed 2 new bench seats along the Barossa Trail near Angaston. An inclusi...
Rail Trails Australia’s (RTA) Eastern Victoria representative John Birrell attended the July launch of the Great S...
The clearing of part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT), from Barrimoon to Barrimoon Rd, towards Kalpowar, h...
Public consultation conducted by Armidale Regional Council in June 2026 resulted in 85% of formal submissions supporting...
Rail Trails Australia Community Grants Program has funded Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail to purchase 3 storyboard-style...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) is delighted to announce that South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association Inc. were successfu...
Bass Coast Shire Council has completed important upgrade works on a bridge along the Bass Coast Rail Trail near Dalyston...
Nominations close 31 July for the 2026 Victorian Landcare Awards! Celebrate the people and groups who are restoring and ...
3 comments on “The Great Southern Rail Trail gets even Greater”
A map with information on accommodation along the track and public transport options to return to start of the trip (with bikes!!) would be very handy, and also might create sponsoring options for the accommodation providers!
Hi, We love reading about the Rail trails but don't always know exactly where you are describing.
Would you please include a map of the trail.
thanks
Ron
Hi Ron and Alfred
There is a (green) link in all the News items to the relevant rail trail which includes a detailed map.
The descriptions also note the public transport options under Get Around. Unfortunately most are buses that don't carry normal bikes but an article in our upcoming spring magazine discusses using the bus for a driver shuttle.
It is not practical for RTA to list all accommodation along rail trails, many other sites are dedicated to this.