Go Back To Trail Finder
Trail Open

Hawthorn to Kew Rail Trail

Victoria - Melbourne region

4 based on 1 reviews
Location: Inner suburbs, 9 km east Melbourne CBD
Length: 1 km
Surface: Asphalt, Crushed granite
Start / End: Hawthorn to Kew
Public Transport: Bus, Train, Tram
Suitable for:
  • Cycling – Mountain BikesCycling – Mountain Bikes
  • Cycling – Touring and Hybrid BikesCycling – Touring and Hybrid Bikes
  • PramsPrams
  • Scooters and Inline SkatesScooters and Inline Skates
  • WalkingWalking
  • WheelchairsWheelchairs

  • Rail Trail
  • On Road
  • Potential RT
  • Other Trail
  • Former Railway
View Map
  • A great area for picnics and birthday gatherings
  • You can see some of Melbourne’s earliest stately homes in Hawthorn
  • The busy shopping strip along Glenferrie Rd has everything
  • The former home of the Hawthorn Football Club is just metres from the trail

Nearby Attractions

  • Grace Park playground
  • Glenferrie St shopping and cafes, via Hawthorn Grove
  • Main Yarra Trail, via Denham St
  • Melbourne Tram Museum, Wallen Rd

 

Last updated: 18 January 2024

This short trail follows the route of a branch line from Hawthorn to Kew. The area where the two lines met is now a beautiful park

For public transport options go to ‘GET AROUND’ below and click on ‘SHOW MORE’ if necessary

Section Guides

  • From Power St, the trail runs through Grace Park along a tree-lined path. At Hilda Cres it becomes a wide, concrete shared path that takes you past tennis courts and Glenferrie Oval, former home of the Hawthorn Football Club. At Chrystobel Cres the path becomes narrow and the surface deteriorates markedly through L.E. Bray Park, suggesting the asphalt may pre-date the closure of the line in 1957.
  • Play equipment and trees now fill the rest of the railway corridor. The trail culminates in a service lane near Hawthorn Grove, with the rail easement across the road is a long-dormant housing development site. VicRoads towers on Denmark St now occupy the site of the Kew station

Public Transport

Metro operates three train services (Lilydale, Alamein and Belgrave) that stop frequently at Hawthorn Station, near the start of this trail. If you are walking, you can use the #609 PTV bus from the VicRoads stop in Denmark St to get you back to the same station. As always, bicycle carrying restrictions apply.

Refer to the PTV web page for map and timetables, or the navigation app of your choice.

Do you know of a bike hire or transportation service on this rail trail that should appear here? If so, let us know at admin@railtrails.org.au.

Advertise your business here

Leave a Review

You must be logged in to post a review.

2 reviews of “Hawthorn to Kew Rail Trail”

The difference between the first half of this trail (wide and smooth) and the northern part (narrow and bumpy) is amazing. It would be great if they could extend it through the California Hotel site when that is finally redeveloped.

I walked this trail this morning with my mother (Saturday 14th March 2015) – it is too short to ride it. The trail passes through a lovely part of Melbourne’s inner eastern suburbs, with a mixture of old grand houses and modern apartments on the sides of the parklands/trail. The trail is in good condition, especially through Grace Park – and the LE Bray Reserve is a great park. We took a detour and walked through Glenferrie oval – good to see the old football ground is in a reasonable state. The trail is in a great location, nearby to cafe and restaurant strips along Glenferrie Rd, Burwood Rd and Powers St. Lucky for the locals that live nearby.

Background Information

Traditional owners

We acknowledge the Woiworung people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail is built.

Rail line history 

This short trail follows a branch line from Hawthorn to Kew that opened in 1887 and closed in 1957.

Trail descriptions are maintained by volunteers. Please consider a donation to help improve this website. Rail Trails Australia gets no government funding.
Share

Nearby Trails

Outer Circle Rail Trail

Outer Circle Rail Trail

Eastern suburbs, 6 km from Melbourne CBD

17 km
Inner Circle Rail Trail

Inner Circle Rail Trail

Inner suburbs, 5 km from the CBD

4.8 km
Sandridge Railside Trail

Sandridge Railside Trail

Melbourne city, 1 km from GPO

4 km
Webb Dock Bridge

Webb Dock Bridge

Docklands, 1 km from Melbourne CBD

0.2 km
Rosstown Rail Trail

Rosstown Rail Trail

Southern suburbs, 9 km from the CBD

8.8 km
Meadowlink Rail Trail

Meadowlink Rail Trail

Broadmeadows, 20 km north of CBD

1.2 km
Heathmont to Belgrave Trail

Heathmont to Belgrave Trail

Eastern suburbs, 40 km from the CBD

16 km
Warburton Rail Trail/Yarra Valley Trail

Warburton Rail Trail/Yarra Valley Trail

Yarra Valley, 50 km east of Melbourne CBD

48 km
Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail

Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail

Dandenongs, 50 km southeast of CBD

15 km
Mornington Railside Trail

Mornington Railside Trail

Mornington Peninsula, 60 km south of CBD

4 km
Bellarine Rail Trail

Bellarine Rail Trail

Bellarine Peninsula, 75 km southwest of Melbourne's CBD

35 km
Red Hill Rail Trail

Red Hill Rail Trail

Mornington Peninsula, 90 km south of CBD

6.3 km
Powelltown Tramways

Powelltown Tramways

Yarra Ranges, 80 km east of Melbourne

31 km
Fyansford Rail Trail

Fyansford Rail Trail

North Geelong, 5 km from town centre

4.4 km
Rokeby to Crossover Rail Trail

Rokeby to Crossover Rail Trail

North of Warragul, 103km from Melbourne

5 km
Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail

Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail

100km east of Melbourne

3 km
Woodend to Daylesford (incl Domino) Rail Trail

Woodend to Daylesford (incl Domino) Rail Trail

85km north west of Melbourne

5 km
Bass Coast Rail Trail

Bass Coast Rail Trail

130km south-east of Melbourne

23 km
Great Victorian Rail Trail

Great Victorian Rail Trail

90 km north of Melbourne

134 km
O’Keefe Rail Trail

O’Keefe Rail Trail

East of Bendigo, 150km from Melbourne

50 km
The Bunny Trail

The Bunny Trail

110km west of Melbourne

1.00 km
Tyers Junction Rail Trail

Tyers Junction Rail Trail

Gippsland, 30km north of Moe, 160km from Melbourne

7 km
Great Southern Rail Trail & Tarra Trail

Great Southern Rail Trail & Tarra Trail

South Gippsland, 130 km southeast of Melbourne

109 km
Moe – Yallourn Rail Trail

Moe – Yallourn Rail Trail

Latrobe Valley 130km east of Melbourne

7 km
Castlemaine to Maldon Railside Trail

Castlemaine to Maldon Railside Trail

120km north west of Melbourne

18 km
Castlemaine to Maryborough Rail Trail

Castlemaine to Maryborough Rail Trail

Central Victoria, 124 km from Melbourne

 

Nearby Trails