The trail runs east-west through Mount Gambier, with its focal point being the former railyards and station, which have been transformed into parklands and play areas while retaining  railway memorabilia. The railway reserve is a wide linear park, so housing is some distance from the shared path. At most road crossings, shops, cafes and hotels are easily accessible.

After leaving the city, it splits into two at a junction, the southern section following the Adelaide Line for 3 km, while the other follows the Millicent branch line for 3 km. The Coonawarra Rail Trail has been built on another section of the Adelaide Line, but that is 50 km away at Penola.

Telford St to White Av (4.5 km)

• The rail trail starts at the eastern end of Telford St, where there is a turning area and on-street parking.
• Almost immediately as it heads west it passes the Mount Gambier Showgrounds, where there is camping.
• At the Pick Av crossing, a shared path heads north past a bakery to join the Princes Hwy path.
• At the Riddoch Hwy (Bay Rd) crossing, you can turn right and travel 300 m to Cave Garden
• Between Riddoch Hwy and Wehl St are the Mount Gambier Railway Lands, a wide, landscaped public facility with artworks and restored railway buildings. A shopping mall with food court is to the north. There are picnic facilities and toilets in the park
• You can detour about 1 km to Engelbrecht Cave via Bertha St, Commercial St and Victoria Tce.
• After crossing Bertha St, the trail passes through the railyards with the remains of a turntable, sidings and buildings on its southern side. West of the turntable is the footprint of an old locomotive roundhouse.
• South and west of the turntable and roundhouse is a large park with BMX and pump tracks.
• Mount Gambier is a major town with a strong plantation forestry industry. It has all major facilities and a visitor centre on the Jubilee Hwy.

White Av to Wandilo Rd (3 km)

• After crossing White Av and passing the old signal box, the trail curves to the north following the old Adelaide Line towards Penola and passing through an area of mainly light industry before stopping at Wandilo Rd in a semi-rural area that’s filling up with housing estates.
• Exercise caution at road crossings, particularly the busy Princes Hwy.

Beachport Branch Line (3 km)

• From the old signal box, the trail along the branch line goes straight ahead, passing through a light industrial area and some new suburban developments, then rural country before terminating at Cafpirco Rd near the site of the Compton siding. The line once continued to Millicent and Beachport

CONNECTING PATH

• Umpherston Sinkhole Park (1.2 km): From the eastern end of the trail on Telford St, turn left on the shared path that runs next to the Jubilee Hwy Timber Mill. At the Princes Hwy, turn right on the roadside path and proceed east for about 400 m to the dramatic sinkhole. A kiosk, picnic facilities and toilets are located in the park.