Name: Coonawarra Rail Trail
Rating: 3.7

Rail Trail
On Road
Temporarily Closed
Potential Trail
Other Trail
Former Railway

The Coonawarra Rail Trail passes through a 15 km by 2 km strip of terra rossa soil that produces some of the world’s finest cabernet sauvignon. Bring a backpack.

Why visit the Coonawarra Rail Trail?

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The rail trail passes through a 15 km by 2 km strip of terra rossa soil that produces some of the world’s finest cabernet sauvignon. Bring a backpack.
Penola has a rich variety of early colonial buildings, including the Mary MacKillop Penola Centre
The trail will extend the Aussie Camino Trail that connects Portland (VIC) to Penola in recognition of Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods.
It is close to Naracoorte Caves (SA’s only UNESCO World Heritage site) and the Ramsar wetland sites of Bool and Hack Lagoons

Nearby Attractions

Coonawarra Wine Region
Historic Penola
Aussie Camino Trail
Mt Gambier Rail Trail
Bool and Hack Lagoons
Naracoorte Caves
Sheep’s Back Museum, Naracoorte

Trail Guide

Last updated: 28 May 2026

Coonawarra Rail Trail runs for 19 km through the Coonawarra Wine Region, past vineyards and wine cellars, some dating from 1890.

The sealed trail begins in Penola and follows the Wolseley to Mt Gambier railway corridor to Glenroy, near Father Woods Park. This is home to seven sculptures depicting the lives of Father Julian Tenison Woods and Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

Bike and e-bike hire is available in the area. There are good accommodation and dining options in the Coonawarra region.

Section Guides

Penola to Coonawarra Siding (10.5 km)

Access: Search 5 Riddoch St, Penola

The trail starts near the Riddoch Street rail crossing in the southwest part of Penola. There is a vehicle turning area and on-street parking.

It can also be accessed at the Robe Rd and Jessie St crossings.

The old station building is now a well-maintained private residence on the right.

After passing through the old rail yards and station precinct, the trail crosses the Riddoch Highway on the northern edge of town.

Penola to Coonawarra is dead straight, passing through a mix of vineyards and grazing properties.

There are no steep or dangerous sections but take care at road crossings.

Access: Search Coonawarra Siding, Giles Rd, Coonawarra

Coonawarra Siding to Glenroy – Bool Lagoon Rd (8.5km)

Access: Search Coonawarra Siding, Giles Rd, Coonawarra

Heading north from Coonawarra Siding, where there is ample parking, the trail is again almost dead straight through to its present end at the Glenroy to Bool Lagoon Road, passing through vineyards and grazing country.

Access: Search Coonawarra Rail Trail, Glenroy-Bool Lagoon Rd, Glenroy

CONNECTING PATHS

Coonawarra Siding to Coonawarra (1.3km)

Access: Search Coonawarra Siding, Giles Rd, Coonawarra

At Coonawarra Siding, turn right onto Memorial Drive. The small village of Coonawarra is an easy ride on the sealed road-side trail. There are several food options including the Coonawarra Store, as well as a number of wineries close by. There is a shady park with toilets and playground near the end of the road-side trail.

Access: Search 1 Memorial Dr, Coonawarra

Glenroy to Father Woods Park (7.0km)

Access: Search Coonawarra Rail Trail, Glenroy-Bool Lagoon Rd, Glenroy

At the trail end, turn right onto the sealed road and follow 3.3km to the Riddoch Hwy. Turn left onto the highway and proceed 3.7km north to Father Woods Park.

Exercise great caution on the Riddoch Hwy section due to traffic volumes and highway speeds. Not recommended for children or inexperienced riders.

Access: Search Father Woods Tree, Riddoch Hwy, Glenroy

Photo Gallery

Historic cottages hidden away in Petticoat Lane, Penola [2022]

Impressive reminders of Mary MacKillops legacy in Penola [2022]

The ornate railway station is now a private residence [2022]

Riding through the Penola railyard area [2022]

Road crossing in Penola still has the railway crossing lights [2022]

The rail trail takes a detour around the former Coonawarra Siding [2022]

Coonawarra Siding just had a passenger shelter and telephone box [2022]

Typical scenery in autumn with the surrounding vines changing colour [2024]

Typical scenery heading towards Glenroy and Father Woods Park [2022]

Rails visible through the asphalt are not fun to ride on in the wet [2022]

Get Around

Penola Coonawarra Ebikes

E-bike Hire information Coonawarra Discovery

Bike Hire information Must at Coonawarra

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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Reviews

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12 reviews of “Coonawarra Rail Trail”

I really loved this trail! Straight, flat, excellent surface, beautiful scenery, plenty to see, including wineries etc. Penola is a gorgeous historic township to start from and stay at and to also ride around. Beautiful historic cottages and plenty of information on the towns history.

Only thing I would suggest with this trail is there could be a few more stops, e.g seats, artwork, historic information. But in general, thoroughly enjoyed my day of riding. Great trail.

16 degrees 16knot NE wind. Maybe one day this trail will take you to Naracoorte which would be great. Flat easy ride.
Great can detour off onto quiet road to access wineries. Most roads very quiet and speaking with locals very respectful of riders on the road.
We seen a fox, bird of prey, sheep, blue tongue lizard and magpies who are protecting their babies, mild swooping no contact.
Vines dormant if that’s the correct terminology. Be extra beautiful when in leaf and and vibrant oranges.
Thanks Holiick great dessert wine.

I rode this trail in March 2025 on a electrified mountain bike and my wife on her electrified recumbent trike. It has a new black fine gravel surface (consistent but not ultra smooth) and is flat and straight. Great views of vineyards either side as you pass many cellar door areas (mostly off the trail a bit). Seats and reset stops were rather lacking. A pleasant if unspectacular ride in a low key area.

10/70 Coming up for 2.5 years old, the Coonawarra Rail Trail chip seal surface is holding up well. Compared with its southern neighbour at Mt Gambier, it’s all a bit unloved. No interpretive signs and it’s starting to need a road sweeper. The Patrick of Coonawarra winery has made trail users feel welcome so don’t forget your panniers or backpack for the odd bottle. The rest are banking on road traffic

Yes, it is dead straight. It was quite cool today and very windy when we rode from Penola. Made the ride back a little slower.
Small town of Penola is great with services at the southern end, but there is nothing at the northern end.
Passed through many vineyards but no signage or off ramps. Good surface and very straight.

The 19km long Coonawarra Rail Trail travels north of Penola, mostly in a very straight line, while passing vine yards. For most of the time the paved surface still has the rails visible, along with most other rail infrastructure, which adds to its charm.

However there is no signage or information boards along the trail. While the trail just randomly ends, among vine yards, with the abandoned rail line continuing north.

It feels like it's just a bike path which could be anywhere, rather than a rail trail which I presume has some history to this area.

Also in Spring, there are a few magpies to watch out for.

Hopefully one day it can be extended so it actually goes somewhere.

Very flat & absolutely straight! Great bitumen surface. A pleasant ride past the vineyards but a bit boring after a while. Well away from the highway so very quiet.
No cellar doors along the trail. – you need to get across to the main road to find these.
Can be pretty windy & trail is quite exposed.

Really wonderful scenery, riding through vineyards and paddocks, and very interesting to see people at work tending the vines. The trail is well sealed albeit a bit bumpy at the Penola end once you have crossed the Riddoch highway. We took the side trail off to Coonawarra and enjoyed some great food and wine. Just check the wind before you go we had a great tail wind on the way out but oh goodness it was a shocker on the way back!!

Lovely ride with the wife and Dog. The section between Coonawarra and the end is fantastic and smooth. The section between Penola and Coonawarra is a little bumpy and the rails are sticking through the surface, I think the surface has sunk a little and the rails are exposed and the sleepers cause a bumpy ride at times

Perfect trail through vineyards and farmland. Easily accessible. Hopefully the trail will be extended towards Naracoorte or Mount Gambier in the future.

We rode on October 22 long weekend. What at great trail (even with a few magpies :). A massive shout out to those involved in its construction – well sealed, fenced and signposted. 10m of climbing end to end and yes, dead straight.
Will be back next time to include some of the amazing wineries there!

Best wineries in Australia right next to a cycle path. What could possibly go wrong? Cant wait!

Further Information

Information and Links

The rail trail is managed by the Wattle Range Council

Coonawarra Tourist Information click HERE

Penola Tourist Information click HERE

Penola Coonawarra Ebike Hire Penola Ebikes

E-bike Hire information Coonawarra Discovery

Bike Hire information Must at Coonawarra

Coonawarra Wineries Walking Trail brochure click HERE

Coonawarra Store click HERE

Camino Walking Trail Aussie Camino

Penola Coonawarra Caravan Park Penola Caravan Park

Bus from Adelaide Stateliner

Contact Rail Trails Australia

To contact us about this rail trail, email sa@railtrails.org.au

Background Information

Traditional owners

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

Development and future of the rail trail

The Coonawarra Rail Trail was constructed during 2021/22, opening in November 2022. It is 50 km from the Mt Gambier Rail Trail, which runs in the same railway corridor.

It is intended to eventually connect with a proposed Naracoorte Caves trail, creating a 50 km trail between Penola and Naracoorte and providing a mix of wine tourism and bush trail along back roads, around wetlands and through conservation parks.

Rail line history

The railway line from Wolseley to Mount Gambier was originally part of South Australian Railways (SAR) narrow gauge network, converted later to broad gauge. Opened in stages from 1881, it reached Mount Gambier in 1887 and connected with the broad gauge Adelaide-Melbourne line at Wolseley.

Passenger services to Adelaide ended in December 1990, and the line officially closed in April 1995. Some of the line was used by the Limestone Coast Railway tourist service, but this ceased operations in June 2006.

News

Coonawarra Rail Trail in South Australia now Open

Posted: 05/11/22

November Update The rail trail opened with a well attended family event at Coonawarra on ...

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The Coonawarra Rail Trail is taking shape

Posted: 25/02/22

The Wattle Range Council is making good progress with the construction of the Coonawarra Rail ...

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Full steam ahead for the Coonawarra Rail Trail

Posted: 26/01/22

Construction on the 20km rail trail through the Coonawarra Wine Region in South Australia commenced ...

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