Melba Flats to Zeehan Rail Trail - Trail Description

Features

• This is a bit of an adventure trail for walkers and mountain bikers wanting to do some exploring.
• The trail is relatively isolated, not used extensively and poorly signed. Riders must be self supported.
• Sections of this trail are excellent and located in a beautiful environment, particularly in summer.
• Has links to Montezuma Falls and Williamsford thereby extending the cycling experience.

Description

Two different railways ran parallel and in close proximity to each other between Zeehan and Melba Flats. One was the 2 foot gauge government-owned North East Dundas Tramway which continued to Williamsford (believed to be to the north and west). The other was the 3ft 6in gauge railway to Burnie on the north coast, operated by the Emu Bay Railway Company (to the south and east). Today, the easements of these lines form an excellent walking and mountain bike trail which passes through open grasslands. Wildflowers are abundant in summer.

Trails were inspected from either end (not the middle) in December 2019. They appear to be passable with an element of exploration, and would be best suited to a mountain bike. The TassieTrails Mountainbiking in Tasmania website also describes use of these trails to get to Melba Flats and then beyond to Montezuma Falls and Williamsford – a great 56km return ride.

From Zeehan, trails are accessible from the east end of Robinson Street. The trail to the north and west is slightly easier to find and has a reasonable timber bridge crossing of Parting Creek (some planks were missing). There is a low level rocky causeway crossing beside it too (conditions unknown after heavy rain; use caution with either route). The track to the south and east can be found by heading SE over a mound near the end of Robinson Street. It then sets off in an easterly direction before turning NE parallel to the other. However, near the start this trail is overgrown with gorse, and there is no good crossing of Parting Creek. There is a good connection point between the two trails NE of Parting Creek. It is recommended to start on the NW trail and then pick one beyond that. From there both trails continue straight and in close proximity for several kms.

Near the middle of the trail, south of the Henty River, the lines turn north. This area was not inspected - however from Google Maps the western path appears overgrown, while the eastern path looks to be more easily passable.

From the Melba Flats end, the North East Dundas Tramway can be picked up on the western side of the Murchison Highway, about 500m south of the sign for the tramway to Montezuma Falls (refer to Montezuma Falls Rail Trail description). The trail heads SW then turns NW. After around 900m it passes under a railway bridge (assumed to be that of the Emu Bay Railway). On the western side of the bridge a path can be found that takes the rider across a creek and up onto the Emu Bay Railway easement. From the junction it appears that either trail could be followed in a westerly direction to the middle of the trails described above. (The mountainbiking site above supports this view.)

Links

West Coast Pioneers' Memorial Museum

February 2020

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Contact Us About This Trail

Email or click here: tas@railtrails.org.au.