Name: Kapunda Rail Trail
Rating: 4

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

The Kapunda Rail Trail runs through the center of town using the old rail corridor, commencing from the storage dam that provided water for the steam trains and concluding at the northern edge of town.

Why visit the Kapunda Rail Trail?

View Map

Pleasant path along a linear park on the old rail reserve It has easy grades, ideal for children and novice riders
Davidson Reserve features a large duck pond, picnic facilities and toilets
Historic copper mines nearby

Nearby Attractions

Mining history
Rural scenery
Access to Mawson, Heysen and Kidman Trails

Trail Guide

Last updated: 30 March 2026

The Kapunda Rail Trail features a smooth hot-mix surface of good width. It is SA’s second shortest rail trail but is well used by cyclists, walkers and runners, especially before and after school. All three of SA’s major long distance trails, Mawson (cycling), Heysen (hiking) and Kidman (horse riding/multi-use) pass along or cross this trail.

There are coffee shops, bakery and restaurants in the nearby main street, and toilets and picnic facilities at Davidson Reserve.

Section Guides

Coghill Street to Mildred Street (1.0km)

Access: The trail starts on the western side of the Davidson Reserve duck pond on Coghill Street (Search 25 Coghill St, Kapunda).

Some rail remnants are visible adjacent to the path, and the level crossing on Coghill St is intact. An old pumphouse building alongside the trail was used to pump water from the dam for use by steam trains.

Head north along the linear park, taking care at the three road crossings.

A short diversion to Hill St reveals the Lions Playground Park, complete with an old Rx Class steam locomotive. Kapunda swimming pool is nearby in Beck St.

The trail currently ends at Mildred Street (Search 44 Mildred St, Kapunda).

Side Trails

Old Station

To the south of the duck pond, an unsealed road leads to the old station, which is quite grand by country standards and has been kept in good condition and is used as a luxury B&B. Much of the rail and yard infrastructure is still in place.

Silo Art

300m further south of the old station, on Hancock Rd, is the Kapunda grain silo which features spectacular silo artwork. Best viewed in the morning sun.

Rattler and Reisling Rail Trails

The southern end of the Rattler and Reisling Rail Trails can be accessed at Riverton, approximately 30 km northwest of Kapunda, by road or via the Mawson Trail.

Barossa Rail Trail

The Barossa Rail Trail can be accessed at Nuriootpa, approximately 22 km southeast of Kapunda, by road or via the Mawson Trail.

Photo Gallery

Near High Street 2020

Kapunda Station 2020

Steam train pump house next to Davidson Reserve pond 2020

Davidson Reserve pond with pump house in the Background 2020

Road crossing with sign showing the local name for the trail Swann Path 2020

Baker Street road crossing 2020

Davidson Reserve 2020

Kapunda railway station The Station B&B 2026-03

Kapunda railway station silo art 2026-03

Kapunda Cyclist with Dog 2026-03

Get Around

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Reviews

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4 reviews of “Kapunda Rail Trail”

Nice easy ride. time to watch the ducks or wander out on the road and explore the history or coffee at the bakery. Tie this one in with the Eudunda – Hampton Rail Trail only 26km away

I rode this trail again this week. It has now been extended a short distance to Mildred St. The new Silo Art is well worth viewing. As it faces east, best light is during the morning.

Only a short trail but a lovely walk or ride nonetheless. Perfect for children and the substantial playground near the Hill Street crossing has an Rx steam locomotive to play on, shade and picnic facilities. The grand old station building is now a B&B. Great Bakery at the northern end of the main street.

It's a short paved trail through the middle of town, so useful for locals or if you want to go for a short explore in Kapunda but not long enough to justify specifically visiting it.

I didn't notice any rail history along the trail but I wasn't looking for it.

Further Information

Information and Links

The trail is managed by Light Regional Council. To report problems contact li***@**********ov.au or phone (08) 8525 3200.

For more information:

Light Regional Council

Adelaide Metro

Link SA

Contact Rail Trails Australia

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

Background Information

Traditional Owners

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

Development and Future of the Rail Trail

Whilst informal trails have existed within the railway reserve for decades, it is only since the line closure and removal of the tracks that the opportunity has existed for the establishment of an attractive linear path and sealed rail trail. The Swann Path Kapunda Rail Trail was opened in 2015.

Plans exist to extend the rail trail south 1.5km to Bethel Road. It is hoped that the Kapunda Rail Trail will eventually form part of a future Wine Capital Trail which will run from the Clare Valley to McLaren Vale via the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills wine regions.

Rail Line History

Kapunda became the first established mining town in South Australia soon after copper was discovered in 1842. Mining began in 1844 and continued until 1879 when world copper prices fell. Although copper was mined for only a brief period, revenue from its sales saved South Australia from bankruptcy. When the railway was opened in 1860, Kapunda became the rural centre for the Mid-North of the State.

The first section of the line from Gawler to Kapunda was built to service the copper mines and opened on 13 August 1860. It was extended to Morgan in 1878 to provide a more efficient freight and passenger connection between the Murray paddle steamers and both the city of Adelaide and Port Adelaide for ocean transport.

The Eudunda to Morgan section closed in 1969 with the line being removed not long after. The Kapunda to Eudunda section was closed in 1994, with the deterioration of the River Light bridge at Hansborough being cited as a reason for closure. This section was pulled up the following year. The remaining Gawler to Kapunda section was leased by the South Australian Government to Australian Southern Railroad in 1997 as part of AN’s SA freight asset sale to Genesee and Wyoming (now Aurizon) and theoretically remains open but has not been used for many years.

News

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