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Trail Partially open

Murchison – Rushworth Rail Trail

Victoria - North

2.7 based on 7 reviews
Location: Northern Victoria
Length: 10 km
Surface: Fine gravel
Start / End: Murchison to Rushworth
Public Transport: Bus, Train
Suitable for:
  • Cycling – Mountain BikesCycling – Mountain Bikes
  • Cycling – Touring and Hybrid BikesCycling – Touring and Hybrid Bikes
  • WalkingWalking

  • Rail Trail
  • On Road
  • Potential RT
  • Other Trail
  • Former Railway
Trail Partially open
View Map
  •  The trail connects Murchison on the Goulburn River with the Waranga Basin along Channel Inlet Rd and includes the refurbished historically significant bridge over the Stuart Murray Canal
  • This almost level rail trail traverses former gold mining and cropping country, and the unique ecosystem of Doctors Swamp wetland, which has a Parks Victoria picnic ground on its western boundary.
  • The Stanhope Girgarre Rail Trail is on the same corridor and will hopefully link up in the future.

Nearby Attractions

  • A small park in Murchison is dedicated to the meteorite’s impact, which was heard, observed and smelt one quiet Sunday morning. The meteorite weighed more than 100 kg and the oldest material found on Earth, silicon carbide particles estimated to be 7 billion years old.
  • Waranga Basin – the fourth-largest inland waterway in Victoria and an important off-river storage supplying water to many irrigation areas as well as nearby towns – was the first major dam built in Australia. The first stage of construction began in 1905 using hand tools and horse-drawn scoops. At the time it was the largest project of its kind in the world.

Last updated: 6 March 2024

Note: This trail is partially open – it is still being developed.

Section A Murchison to Channel Inlet Road (8 km)

  • Starts near the end of Impey St in Murchison and ends at Channel Inlet Rd

Murchison is a small regional town with a bakery-cafe and picnic and toilet facilities beside the Goulburn River

Section B Rushworth (2 km)

  • The community of Rushworth bought the land and infrastructure around the station to retain it for posterity. There are plans for this short section of trail to be linked with the end of the Murchison section

Rushworth is a small regional town with a bakery-cafe, ice cream shop and other limited facilities

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.

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7 reviews of “Murchison – Rushworth Rail Trail”

Would be great if the two parts of this trial joined up. Despite being open since 2015, Rushworth and Murchison are both still missing out on cycle tourists who would love to be able to ride between the towns on an off road rail trail. The trail has good lake views and good interpretive signage. Also interesting history of the beginning of irrigation. Surface on sections completed is blue metal and very rideable. Other sections are rough, unformed but rideable.

Rode from Murchison to the end of the trail, then on the highway to Rushworth for coffee and the best banana bread I have ever had.
The trail at the Murchison end has a blue metal surface which is quite loose in sections.
It is disappointing to see that the trail has not been completed all the way to Rushworth. A sign at the end indicated that 3 million dollars had been funded and it is supposed to be completed by April 2024. Most of the corridor looks in good shape, including some intact concrete bridges. So it shouldn’t be too Hard to finish the job.
The Rushworth end is really great, albeit very short. It was especially good to see some railway infrastructure still in place, hopefully to be restored and treasured for future generations.

I rode this on the Easter Monday, 2023. From Murchinson East Railway Station you can ride the ~2km Murch township (and the start of this trail) using the segregated footpath/cycle path. There are some food options near the big pub. The ~8k trail is well maintained, even after the flooding with lots of information boards.

The trail surface is course blue gravel that you can maintain a reasonable speed on and feel comfortable on unless you are on fairly thin tyres. The Wallabies, Roos and birds kept me company along the route.

I rode on to Rushworth via the highway in places and found Easter traffic annoyingly close and constant. The road is not really ideal due to lack of shoulders and passing caravans.

The second part is paved and avoids the remaining rail infrastructure which is almost complete however do NOT ride through the railway area as mutant bindis (thorns) that appear to have been grown at Maralinga. I had about ten in the front tyre and about 12 in the rear. Not all penetrated but the IGA at Rushworth had a bike tube repair kit after I ran out of spare tubes and patches.

The big question is why? Why are there two parts of the trail separated by a gap of pristine bush with water views? Rushworth is calling out for a steady stream of riders to lift their retail area and motel and this would be a decent distance and a high calibre trail with easy rail access.

This is an excellent trail looking for some distance however, do try it if you are in the area.

The blue metal track is pretty loose in places but not hard to ride any moderately experienced cyclist on a bike with 30 mm or wider tyres. Quite flat. The track appears to have regular maintenance and is family friendly.

Nice crushed blue metal track, flat from Murchison heading towards Rushworth. Easily tackled with a hybrid bike.
I did the short 2km ride from Girgarre. Had an encounter with 2 large Irish Wolfhounds right at the end of the trail. They were friendly enough at first, but having that chase drive, they were a handfull, able to keep up with me going flat out with their noses right at my thighs… They chased me coming and going unfortunately.

We rode this new Rail Trail on 29/3/15; it was easy to ride with hybrid bikes. We rode to the current end (Channel Inlet Road) and back, had lunch at the Murchison Bakery – and a stroll around the nearby landscaped, river bank area. We are looking forward to being able to ride all the way to Rushworth on this trail and think it will be a fantastic experience to ride into what is a well preserved old country railway precinct. (Congratulations to the Rushworth community for preserving this area for posterity.)

I rode this trail on Saturday 13th December 2014 (along with the Dookie trail). First off – the section between Murchison and Waranga Bushland reserve is open – and much more interesting than the small section in Rushworth. The trail from Murchison is flat and good bridges across the canals. Once you come to the end of the trail at Waranga Bushland – the rail reserve continues on – and it is evident that others have continue to ride along the reserve, though Victrak have signs everywhere stating it is prohibited to ride on the rail easement. I saw no one the entire ride – so if you want to get away from the crowds, then this ride is for you.

Background Information

Traditional owners

We acknowledge the Ngurrai-illam-Wurrung and Taungurung people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail is built.

Development and future of the rail trail 

Greater Shepparton City Council opened the Murchison to Channel Inlet Rd section in 2015.

The Shire of Campaspe has obtained a lease from Victrack to develop the rest of the corridor from Waranga Basin to Rushworth. Funding for this section was obtained in February 2022 and completion is planned for mid 2023

Extending the trail to the Melbourne-Shepparton rail line at Murchison East would allow better access from public transport, but making the large bridge across the Goulburn River safe will be a significant undertaking.

The Girgarre community is planning to extend its section to Stanhope and in future back to Rushworth.

Campaspe Shire is seeking funding to build this as part of the Heathcote to Murchison Trail (outline brochure here) to link to the O’Keefe Rail Trail at Heathcote.

Rail line history 

A line from Murchison East on the Shepparton line was built to the gold mining town of Rushworth in 1890 and extended to Colbinabbin in 1914. Rushworth became a junction when a line was built to Girgarre in 1917. A diversion of the line was necessary when the Waranga Basin was built. All lines were closed by 1987.

Rushworth Rail Trail now heritage listed

Posted: 06/03/24

After detailed historical and site investigations, Heritage Victoria have placed the former Rushworth Railway Station ...

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Rushworth Rail Trail update

Posted: 23/11/23

Campaspe Shire Council have recently provided an update on the Rushworth Rail Trail project which ...

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Waranga Basin Fish Habitat Installation Project linked to Victorian Rail Trail

Posted: 06/10/23

A very interesting and environmentally important project has commenced at the Waranga Basin.  The Campaspe ...

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Rushworth Murchison Rail Trail Project Update

Posted: 02/07/23

Campaspe Shire Council, who are the project leads on the Rushworth Murchison Rail Trail in ...

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Paul Baker returns to Northern Victoria and rides three trails in one day

Posted: 18/06/23

We recently featured Paul Baker riding the O’Keefe Rail Trail which was his 29th ...

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Central Victorian Rail Trails feature in Paul Baker’s latest rides

Posted: 06/06/23

Paul Baker, an enthusiastic rider who is aiming to ride every rail trail in Victoria ...

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Rushworth to Murchison Rail Trail Project

Posted: 22/01/23

Rushworth to Murchison Rail Trail Project (Waranga Section) Update The exciting 11km extension to the ...

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Funding at last to complete the Murchison Rushworth Rail Trail

Posted: 13/03/22

Finally the funding ducks have aligned to enable completion of the Murchsion Rushworth Rail Trail ...

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Construction Starts on Murchison Rail Trail (Northern Victoria)

Posted: 25/05/14

Soon more than just kangaroos will be able to ...

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Murchison to Rushworth Rail Trail (Vic) Development Starts

Posted: 03/11/13

Greater Shepparton City Council has received funding of $150,000 towards the Murchison stage of the Box ...

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