The Gawler Rail Trail is a Rail Side Trail which follows the rail line from Adelaide to Gawler. The trail is a shared use path with some on road sections (sharrows). There is a 350m section of compacted rubble path, indicating that the Gawler Rail Trail is, and will be, a work in progress for some time to come.

The rail trail is not a scenic ride; however it serves an important task in that it links the Adelaide CBD to many trails to the north of Adelaide.

The Gawler Rail Trail, which will ultimately be 45km long, is a State Government long term project. The trail section between the Adelaide CBD and Dry Creek is substantially complete (approximately 25% of the total trail length) and several smaller sections along the remainder of the trail are being progressively completed. The Gawler rail trail is a rail-side trail which follows the operational Adelaide to Gawler railway line and comprises a mixture of shared use paths and bike lanes on quiet minor roads. The trail moves through a variety of landscapes such as inner urban residential areas, industrial factories, rail yards and wetlands.

Adelaide CBD to Islington Rail Yards – 9km

Like many rail-side trails in inner city suburbs, space is limited and trails tend to follow unusual routes and signage is often not as good as it could be. To assist with navigation along the trail the following information is provided.

• The trail commences from the Adelaide CBD on the banks of the River Torrens and adjacent to the Adelaide Railway Station.
• Proceed west along the River Torrens, past the Torrens Lake Weir and turn left into the pedestrian/cyclist railway underpass.
• Continue along the edge of the Torrens River, cross the high level bridge of the River, just before Port Road.
• On the other side of the river continue straight on, using the bridge to cross over the Outer Harbor railway line. Follow the path to the left and then turn right, and then turn right again when the path gets to Park Terrace.
• Follow the trail as it slowly curves to the right through the parklands until it reaches the railway line. Use the crossing to cross the line and follow the trail to the left which passes the former North Adelaide Railway station. Just past the station car park, take the trail to the left and follow the rail line.
• Follow the quiet Park Terrace until it returns back to the rail line where you can cross Hawker Street. The streets are marked with sharrows which indicate the direction to be followed.
• Once over Hawker Street turn left into Gilbert Street and then left into Albert St / Gutherie Street which can be followed right through to Torrens Road.
• Turn left at Torrens Road and use the footpath to travel a short distance down to the rail line where the trail travels under the Torrens Road overpass. The overpass is a good place to stop for a rest. There is a bike repair station under the overpass.
• The trail continues on northward along Davenport Terrace for 2km, where a rubble track on the edge of a future property development can be used for a small distance. This section of trail will be upgraded once the property development and stormwater drainage works have been completed. When nearing the Regency Road railway bridge, take the railway pedestrian crossing on your left. Once over the railway line, cross the road and use the underpass to get to the other side of the Regency Road. There is often broken glass in the underpass so take care when riding through.
• Turn left coming out of the underpass, cross Pedder Crescent and follow the cycle trail, until you reach the traffic lights at Naweena Road. Cross Naweena Road, turn right, and follow the on-road bike lane for 2.7km. When the road veers left, take the shared use path on the right. There are good blue and white directional signs along this section.
• The shared use path will take you over the intersection where you can continue to follow the path to an underpass which will take you under Grand Junction Road. The trail has taken a slight detour as the Islington Rail yards and associated industrial precinct prevent the trail from following the Gawler railway line.

Islington Rail Yards to Dry Creek – 5km

• Once through the Grand Junction Road underpass, cross the road and, slightly to your right, you will see the trail recommence.
• Follow the trail through the industrial estate (not the most scenic or fragrant ride) for 1.2km and cross Cormack Road using the pedestrian crossing. The Gawler Railway line is now adjacent to the trail on the right.
• Once over Cormack Road, follow the trail to the left and then across Magazine Road and turn right and follow Magazine Road northward for a distance of 450m and turn right into Henschke Street. Follow Henschke Street to the end and you will see the trail commence on the left. The Gawler Line is now on the right.
• Follow the trail for 1.75km until it reaches Salisbury Highway.

The trail ends at Salisbury Highway and does not continue on to Mawson Lakes at this stage.

Side Trails

Magazine Rail Trail – 500m

Henschke Street, which is part of the Gawler Rail Trail, also forms part of the Magazine Rail Trail. The area slightly to the west of Magazine Road was originally a 600mm gauge railway, which ran a horse drawn train, from the Dry Creek rail yards, along Henschke Street and Magazine Road, to the explosives storage area at the northern end of Magazine Road. As residential and industrial development moved closer to the explosives storage huts, the risk became too great and the storage facility was relocated.

Magazine Road is therefore a rail-side trail. This trail is important as it connects the Gawler Rail Trail to the Port River Bikeway and Tapa Martinthi Yala shared use path (follows the Northern Connector Freeway M2).

Wetlands Trail – 2km

There is a scenic alternative to the section of the Gawler Rail Trail, from Henschke Street to Salisbury Highway, that can be used to get to the end of the trail at Salisbury Highway.

Follow Magazine Road until you reach the Port Expressway. Turn right and follow the rubble path for 200m where the path heads into the wetland area. The trail continues on through the wetland with occasional narrow and low bridge crossings before it arrives back near Salisbury Highway.

Please note that this is not a formal path or trail and it can be described in some sections as being a goat track. Cyclists need to assess the risk associated with travelling on an unmade track through a wetland.

Other Trails that connect with the Gawler Rail Trail and Magazine Rail Trail

• Port Expressway Connection.

At northern end of Magazine Road, a shared use path veers to the left and follows the expressway, and the Barker Inlet Wetlands for 900m before passing under the expressway in what can only be described as a modified stormwater drain (it’s better than crossing the expressway but often a little damper).

Follow the shared use path and turn left onto a wider path/road which can be followed to a junction, known as Salt Pan Junction. At this point you have two options – turn left and follow the Port River Bikeway toward Port Adelaide (7.6km) or travel onward (north) on the Tapa Martinthi Yala (Kaurna term meaning “pathway to embrace today”) shared use path which follows the freeway (16.7km). Tapa Martinthi Yala connects with the Stuart O’Grady Bikeway which leads to Gawler (22.6km)