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Dartmoor Rail Trail

Victoria - West

4.5 based on 2 reviews
Location: Western Victoria, 365 km from Melbourne
Length: 1.3 km
Surface: Asphalt
Start / End: Radiata Rd to Fort O'Hare, Dartmoor
Public Transport: Coach
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

The Dartmoor Rail Trail, near Hamilton, is a chance to stretch your legs, or spin your wheels, on the way to the rail-trail refinement of South Australia

View Map
  • Dartmoor’s a nice little town on the Glenelg River with a scenic lookout to prove it
  • There’s a hotel, general store and free camping right on the river
  • Scenic lookout on Korrey Smith Hill

Nearby Attractions

  • World War 1 Avenue of Honour Memorial and Wood Carvings
  • The Fort O’Hare Campground on the Glenelg River was a resting spot for the Major Mitchell expedition
  • The Great South West Walk is 25km south

Last updated: 4 February 2025

The asphalt trail runs through Dartmoor Rail Lands gently downhill from Radiata Rd to the Fort O’Hare campground on the Glenelg River, with sealed parking areas near both ends and a playground in-between.

Access Points

  • Car park off Railway Drive (wheelchair access)
  • Toilets and parking at general store on Greenham St (wheelchair access)
  • Car park in Fort O’Hare Campground (wheelchair access), Gambier Rd

Section Guides

  • Travelling south from the Radiata Rd end, you’ll come pretty quickly to the general store, public toilets and an EV charging station
  • The Dartmoor Hotel/Motel is to your left on Lindsay Rd
  • After the railway underpass at Greenham St and the camping area you’ll come to the end of the railway embankment and a steel and concrete railway bridge over the Glenelg River

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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2 reviews of “Dartmoor Rail Trail”

A very accessible, and short, trail for a driver’s break, that adjoins a good general store, so you can start or finish your step-out with a coffee and fresh snack.

Background Information

The rail trail was constructed in 2021 with funding under the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.  This followed seven years of lobbying by the Dartmoor community.  The trail was officially launched in December of that year. There are no plans to extend it to Mt Gambier.

Traditional owners

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

Railway history

The Mt Gambier-Heywood Line was mooted in 1900, and decided upon in 1912. Surveying and construction began from Heywood in 1913; a 300m wooden bridge over the Glenelg River at Dartmoor was completed in April, 1915, and the section to Dartmoor in June, 1916, with the remainder completed and opened in November, 1917. Passenger trains operated until 1942. In the mid-1980s the original bridge was demolished and replaced by the current concrete and steel one. The line was ‘suspended’ in April, 1995, due to gauge standardisation of the main line.  (Source: www.railpage.com.au)

New Rail Trail for Victoria

Posted: 14/02/22

Dartmoor Rail Trail before...... Dartmoor Rail Trail, situated ...

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