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- This is a new high quality rail trail featuring a variety of landscapes from suburbia to dense bushland.
- The trail links to other cycleways that give mainly traffic-free access to Newcastle’s university, city and other suburbs.
- The rail trail is gently graded.
- Preserved railway memorabilia at Wallsend Station site
Nearby Attractions
- Newcastle City
- Beaches
- Fort Scratchley
Last updated: 26 August 2024
Major access points:
- Glendale – Frederick St North (Parking at TAFE)
- Wallsend – Cowper St car park
- Birmingham Gardens – Blue Gum Rd and Wilkinson Ave
- Jesmond – Illoura St and Newcastle Rd
- Lambton – Howe St West
Section Guides
Glendale to Wallsend (4.5 km)
The trail climbs on a slight gradient through bushland, then runs through grassland behind retirement villages.
- From the north end of Frederick St head north from Glendale TAFE car park to the trailhead, the trail winds over gentle hills and through the tunnel beneath Newcastle Link Rd.
Wallsend to Jesmond (3.5 km)
This section is basically flat and passes two suburban shopping centres. It follows the line of disused colliery rail lines and the tramway. It runs along a suburban street before crossing Newcastle Rd at traffic lights.
- Take care crossing roads at Wallsend and at Jesmond.
- Note the restored railway shed and old coal wagon at Wallsend.
Jesmond to Lambton (2 km)
After crossing a busy road you enter quiet Jesmond Park, following a long embankment before climbing over a low section of Lambton Hill at Howe St traffic lights.
- Take care crossing Robinson Ave, especially if approaching downhill.
- This ride can be extended picking up cycleways that pass through Broadmeadow parks and through Islington to Carrington then along the waterfront to the lighthouse at Nobbys. The line also connects to the University of Newcastle via a powerline easement and University Drive.
Start of the Trail at Glendale (2013)
One of the embankments (2012)
One of the cuttings (2013)
One of the rest areas (2013)
Behind housing between Glendale and Wallsend (2013)
Tunnel under the Link Road (2013)
Wallsend restored goods shed (2012)
Interpretive signage at Wallsend (2012)
Some railway memorabilia Wallsend (2012)
Behind the houses (2012)
Wallsend to Jesmond (2013)
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.
Information and Links
To report damage or problems contact Newcastle City Council:
For more information on walking and cycling trails in this area (including maps) click:
Tramway Track Visitor Information
City of Newcastle Walking and Cycling
Lake Macquarie Walking and Cycling
Contact Rail Trails Australia
To contact us about this rail trail, email nsw@railtrails.org.au
Background Information
Traditional Owners
We acknowledge the Awabakal people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail is built.
Railway history
This trail follows a tram route that went from Newcastle to Wallsend from 1910 to 1930.
The tramway opened in 1910 as part of the longest line of Newcastle’s extensive tramways, featuring steam-driven trams that ran down suburban streets and into bushland. The terminus was at West Wallsend, a coal-mining village 20 km from Newcastle. A branch line also reached Speers Point, Lake Macquarie, a popular picnic venue for Newcastle residents. The electrification of the Newcastle tram system reached Wallsend in 1926; steam trams were uneconomical and lines beyond Wallsend closed in 1930. Place names such as Plattsburg and Young Wallsend have disappeared along with most evidence of this line.
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130 km north of Sydney
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4 reviews of “Glendale to Wallsend Tramway Track”
Our local trail, great section from Wallsend to Edgeworth, nice semi rural outlook where we sometimes see Kangaroos. The section from Wallsend to Jesmond is more urban, but good all the same.
Nice ride with bushland one side all the way, and often both sides. A little more incline than anticipated for an old tramway, which was good, as its a quick ride. I wanted something longer so started at Lambton Park. Was 25km return via Jesmond cycle path, Brickworks Park, Wallsend Park & nearby Maccas, then along this old tramway track to Glendale TAFE and return. The Brickworks also definitely worth the visit with a bird hideout over the old pit now flooded, plus has BBQs & playground. I chose that way for the quiet backroads, rather than the recommended cycle lane on the very busy Newcastle Rd & Thomas St. The extended route I described crosses some busy roads, but traffic lights/pedestrian crossings are available. Start at TAFE end if driving and taking younger children (tramway section only), with close parking in quiet streets at that end.
I walked this trail on a Sunday afternoon in August 2019 and agree with March 2016 comments by cascho. Section from Glendale to Wallsend through nice bushland also passes a historic mine site. Several cyclists, walkers and joggers were also out. The section from Wallsend to Jesmond is flatter and provides links to Newcastle Uni, Wallsend and Jesmond shopping centres, Jesmond Park and beyond. It is likely a popular commuter route for some as the trail avoids a steep and busy section of Lake Road.
I rode this trail this morning (26/3/16) with my brother, as part of doing the three main rail trails around Newcastle. This is a really great trail with good sealed surface suitable for all types of bikes. Actually it’s a very busy trail, with a lot of local riders using it. The best section is between Glendale and Wallsend through the bushland and the new housing developments. While it is a climb either way, the gradient is not difficult and it’s easy to pick up a bit of speed on the downhill. I highly recommend this rail trail. Around the shopping centres there was a lot of traffic and it was hard to cross the roads, given that no drivers’ give way. So other riders please be careful.