The complete trail is a mixture of cycle paths, roads and rail trails.

Please read each section carefully so you are fully aware of the route.

Please take care on the roadways.

Access Points

• Latrobe
• Devonport
• Don
• Turners Beach
• Ulverstone
• Penguin
• Burnie
• Wynyard

Latrobe to Devonport (10km)

• Mostly dedicated separate cycle/walking path. Short on-road section (vehicle speed limit 60 km/hr) with marked cycle way.
• There are public toilets at the beginning and end of this section as well as at Bells Parade park.
• From Station Square in Latrobe (site of the old Railway Station), cross Gilbert St and follow the Sheean Walk on the formation of the old rail line heading west towards Bells Parade and the Mersey River. This walk commemorates the bravery of local lad Ordinary Seaman “Teddy” Sheean who died defending his mates on the sinking HMAS Armidale when under attack by Japanese aircraft in 1942. 68 years later he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Side trip: From Latrobe, follow the eastern side of the Mersey River 3 km upstream on Shale Rd to the newly opened Wild Mersey Mountain Bike park and to see platypuses in the wild at Warrawee reserve.

• From the Sheean walk, follow the path through Bells Parade park to the start of the beautiful new path that runs along the eastern side of the Mersey River and adjacent to River Rd all the way to Devonport. The last kilometre through the suburb of Ambleside is on a marked cycle lane on the edge of River Rd. Beware of parked cars obstructing the bike lane. It may be safer to ride on the footpath (legal in Tasmania unless signed otherwise).
• When you get to the highway bridge over the river turn left up the slip path onto the bridge and cross the river via the pedestrian footpath which then joins the Devonport – Don cycleway into the CBD on the western side of the river.

Side trip: After crossing the Mersey river, turn left on to the link path to Spreyton. This path follows the west bank of the Mersey River a further 3 km adjacent to the working freight railway to a lovely picnic spot at the Horsehead Creek park.

Devonport to Don (8 km)

• Separate dedicated cycle/walking path.
• Public toilets at the beginning and end of this section as well as at Coles Beach.
• Follow the Devonport to Don cycleway along the parklands on the Mersey River bank and Bass Strait coast then through the Don reserve as far as the Devonport Aquatic centre. (See elsewhere in this publication for a full description of this section).

Spirit of Tasmania to Turners Beach (18km)

• On disembarking from the Spirit of Tasmania (2 or 3) ferry follow the signs to Devonport City Centre. There is a painted bike lane on the left side of the road. Pass under the bridge and onto the bridge following the signs to “City Centre”.
• After crossing the river take the first exit off the bridge Continue in a counter- clockwise loop to pass under the bridge. Immediately before the freight railway line turn left onto the sealed cycleway, there is a signpost “Wenvoe Station”. Follow the signs on the new concrete path running parallel with the operational railway track to “Mersey Bluff”. The cycleway passes the “Harbourmaster café” on the right of the path and “Maccas” on the left.
• It’s a gentle flat ride on a good wide path all the way to Coles Beach.
• From the river side park area, continue north along the banks of the Mersey taking care when crossing the railway line and extra care around the boat ramp area.  This section is also very popular with walkers, dogs and people on mobility scooters.
• Where the Mersey River enters the sea (at the controversial “Spirit of the Seas” statue) the path heads west along the beautiful coast line at the edge of Bass Strait.  The path continues to wind through the park until you get to Bluff Beach where there is safe swimming (patrolled beach), café and public toilets
• The path now re-joins the main rail line winding through lovely tea trees and coastal vegetation to Coles Beach. There are public toilets at Coles Beach. Coles Beach is also the terminus of the heritage Don River Railway.
• Where the cycleway crosses the railway line signage is confusing or missing. There are two alternative paths to the NEW Don River cycleway bridge.

Option #1 is DO NOT cross the railway line but follow the Coles Beach Road West until you turn left to follow the Don River upstream to the bridge.

• • In about 500m following the trail parallel to the Don River, you will reach the NEW Don River cycleway bridge.

Option #2 is you follow the path, cross the railway line

• • From Coles Beach the trail shares much of the corridor with the Don River railway. Tourist trains run on this section all year round so take care when crossing this line.
  • The trail now passes through areas of open forest and some dense tea trees with glimpses of the Don River through the trees. The track surface is bitumen and rough in parts
  • About 700m from the railway crossing there is a T-junction without any signage, take the path to the right. In about 200m you will reach the NEW Don River cycleway bridge.

• Cross the Don River follow the path until you reach Don Heads Road. Turn Left on Don Heads Road which is marked with Sharrows (sharrows are pavement markings that indicate that a road or lane is shared by cyclists and motorists)
• Don Heads Road ends in a T-Junction with Waverley Road
• Immediately before the T-junction, there is a large commercial plant nursery on the right.
• The trail is now a new wide concrete pathway.
• The trail is a new, wide sealed construction that follows the Bass Hwy crossing under the highway to Short Street.
• Follow the new, wide concrete pathway via Clarke St and Allport St to the Leith bridge over the River Forth to Turner’s Beach.
• The pathway through Tuner’s Beach is under construction at the time of this review.  However if you continue on The Esplanade or Turners Av and turn South onto Turners Beach Road you can rejoin the new wide trail at the train level crossing.

Don to Turners Beach (11 km)

The following description describes an alternative route on existing roads. Highway speed limit 110/km/hr. Other roads 60 – 80 km/hr.

• There are public toilets at the beginning and end of this section and in the park at Forth Village.
• Turn right off the Devonport – Don cycleway just past the Devonport Aquatic Centre and descend steeply on the track marked to the Sawdust Bridge. Cross the railway line (look out for trains – this line is used regularly by rail motor and steam trains of the heritage Don River Railway) and then cross the Don River on the new “Sawdust Bridge”
• Turn right after crossing the Sawdust bridge on to the old tramway formation which continues as Waverly Rd up the Don Hill to where it meets the new pathway.
• On the way you will pass the Penguin viewing area on your right at the start of the Lillico straight. This is a good place to come on a summer evening and watch the fairy penguins come ashore.
• Shortly before the turn off to Turners Beach you will cross the Forth River. On your right you will see the old rail bridge over the Forth River which is a rare swing bridge that could rotate to allow small ships to travel up the river. The bridge has been preserved as part of the Coastal Pathway development connecting Turners Beach and Leith.
• Take the Turners Beach turn off, then cross the highway and the level crossing of the working freight railway line.  The Berry Patch is a great place to go for an ice cream and pick your own strawberries in summer.

Alternative route from Don to Turners Beach: This is a slightly longer but much quieter route on Forth Rd (B19). Ignore the turn off to the Sawdust Bridge at the Devonport Aquatic centre and instead continue on to the Don River Railway complex. Cross the Don River at this point and continue under the highway along Forth Rd. This goes through rolling farmlands with lovely views to the coast. At about the 6 km mark, you can turn right onto Braddons Lookout Rd for an even better view of the northwest coast. At about 8 km from Don, the route descends to the small village of Forth and crosses the river at this point. There is a general store, coffee shop and a great pub here. A further 3 km along B19 takes you to Turners Beach crossing the highway via an overpass and re-join the Coastal pathway.

Turners Beach to Ulverstone (6 km)

• Mostly separate dedicated cycle/walking paths.
• There are public toilets at the beginning and end of this section as well as at the Ulverstone Surf Club
• Bike hire is available at the Beach Shack café.
• From the rail crossing on the road into Turners Beach, turn west onto the new concrete path that runs parallel with the working freight railway line.
• At the 3.5 km mark, cross the rail line and onto Beach Rd which continues to parallel the railway line. This is a “No through Road” to vehicles and has numerous speed bumps. The few vehicles you might encounter will be traveling very slowly.
• At the Beach Shack cafe, leave Beach Rd and continue along the path through Bicentennial Park. This is an older rather narrow bitumen path and very popular with dog walkers, young children and people with mobility aids. Please take care.
• This path turns into a new wide concrete path for the last part of the ride, finishing at the Wharf Precinct on the Leven River. There is a Farmers Market here on Sundays.
• Ulverstone is a large town with a range of accommodation, food and coffee options. There is a cycle shop at the southern end of King Edward St and helpful folk at the Information Centre in Alexandra Rd next to the railway line.

Ulverstone to Penguin (12 km)

• Partly separate dedicated cycle/walking path. Partly on-road section with speed limit 60-70 km/hr.
• There are public toilets at the beginning and end of this section
• Continue from the Ulverstone Wharf Precinct on the new wide concrete path over the Leven River. Take care here as there is no barrier between the raised Pedestrian/Cycle path and the roadway.
• Turn right after coming off the bridge and follow the concrete path along the west bank of the Leven River towards the river mouth.
• You will go past the tennis courts on your left, continue on to the railway crossing.
• After crossing the railway line, the path follows Queen St, that then becomes Penguin Rd.
• Stay on the new path until you reach Rockliffs Road, where the new cycleway currently ends.
• You will need to use Penguin Road from here to get to Penguin.
• At about the 5km mark, there is a short, winding hill section around the Three Sisters – Goat Island reserve. The road and railway are squeezed into a tight space between the hillside and the coast line. Take care especially on weekends as this very scenic route is very popular with tourists and serious road cyclists.
• Follow Penguin Road which becomes Main Road near Penguin
• Just on the outskirts of Penguin at Seaside Cres, you can cross Main Road to access another section of new concrete cycleway.
• Finish at the “Big Penguin” overlooking the beach in the charming little town of Penguin. There are six cafes here and some seriously good coffee. A very popular place with the local cyclists. Opposite the Big Penguin is a small Information Centre staffed by friendly volunteers.

Side trip: Follow Ironcliffe Rd for a short distance south out of Penguin, over the highway overpass and just past the school to the awesome Penguin Mountain Bike park. There are numerous trails in and around the Dial Range reserve that cater for all levels of MTB riders.

Penguin to Burnie (16 km)

• Partly on-road section with speed limit of 70 km/hr, a short section of highway with speed limit 110 km/hr, and partly on separate dedicated cycle/walking path. Funding has been allocated and construction is due to start soon on a high quality cycle/walking path on the section from Penguin to Sulphur Creek.
• There are public toilets at the beginning and end of this section and also at the Penguin Surf Club at Preservation Bay.
• From the “Big Penguin”, head west following the newly constructed cycle path adjacent to Main Road. This is a popular tourist and cycle route.
• When you get to Penguin Beach, the cycleway turns sharp left to go under Johnson Beach Road and the railway line.  Turn right and follow the new cyclepath.
• The working rail line and coast line will be on your right almost all the way to Burnie.
• At the 6km mark at Sulphur Creek, turn left onto Hogarth Road (Zig Zag Rd), go under the highway overpass,. and immediately turn right onto the dedicated cycle/walking path which runs adjacent to the highway. This is an older bitumen path and a bit narrow.
• Follow this path all the way to the Heybridge roundabout at the 9km mark.
• The route from Heybridge around Round Hill to Wivenhoe on the outskirts of Burnie is yet to be confirmed. At the time of writing, the most direct route is to continue on the reasonably wide shoulder of the highway. Note: this section of highway is 4 lane with a speed limit of 100 km/hr.

Alternative route: A longer and somewhat hilly route through farmland will avoid the highway. Leave the highway just after crossing the Blythe River and head south on Minna Rd (C113) for 7km. Turn right on to Stowport Rd (C102) for about 6 km heading north rejoining the main road at Wivenhoe.

• At Wivenhoe, cross the Emu River then cross the highway at the traffic lights and onto the wide concrete cycle/walking path which will take you into the Burnie CBD avoiding any further road traffic.
• Finish this section at the Burnie Surf Life Saving Club on Main Beach. Burnie is a major regional centre with a large range of accommodation, eating and coffee options.

 Side trip: At the Wivenhoe traffic lights, turn left into Old Surrey Rd, then left again on a new dedicated cycle/walking path beside the Emu River for about 1 km to the beautiful Fernglade Reserve where platypuses can be seen in the wild.

Burnie to Wynyard (18 km)

• Dedicated walking/cycle path as far as Cooee. On road cycle lanes as far as Somerset then on road sections with varying speed limits up to 100km/hr.
• There are public toilets at the beginning and end of this section and also at the Cam River reserve at Somerset.
• From the Surf Club, continue west on the Beach boardwalk adjacent to the (disused) rail line and around the headland past the Penguin Viewing Centre next to the pathway. The little fairy penguins can be seen here from the burrow cams or at dusk in summer returning to their nests amongst the rocks.
• The wide concrete pathway continues next to the rail line as far as Cooee near the Brickport Rd intersection, where it then enters the old railway corridor to become a true rail trail.
• From this point follow the newly constructed rail trail towards Wynyard.
• The trail crosses the Old Bass Highway just before coming to Wynyard, and continues along the railway corridor to the Wynyard Station Site at Goldie St
• There is also a footpath that starts on the southern side of the road as you get into town, then, at Nurses Retreat crosses over to the ocean side, past the Sunday Markets site, then turns into a boardwalk before going around the yacht club building to become a River Walk that ends at Gutteridge Gardens at the bottom of town.
• Wynyard is a sizable town with a good range of accommodation, eating and coffee options. It is the home of the annual Tulip Festival in October. The disused rail line actually passes through the regional airport grounds and crosses the actual aircraft runway for many years until the runway was realigned to avoid a possible train – plane collision!
• Finish your trip in the lovely Gutteridge Gardens on the banks of the Inglis River.

Side trip: There is a lovely riverbank loop walk/ride starting in Gutteridge gardens and follows the Inglis river up stream to a new bridge crossing adjacent to the highway bridge. You then return to Wynyard on the opposite bank. About 12 km in total if you extend the walk/ride to the Fossil Cliffs.