A delightful trip down memory lane, the Bunny Trail is testament to the efforts of the Friends of Canadian Corridor volunteer group.

The true rail trail follows just a short section of the former Ballarat East-Buninyong (Bunny) Line, but you can continue following the alignment pretty closely along quiet suburban streets, through the Woowookarung Regional Park and Recreation Rd Bushland Reserve to Mt Clear. A loop can get you back to town using the Canadian Creek Trail for a total of 13.5km.
Nearby Attractions
- The Eureka Centre
- Woowookarung Regional Park. Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail
- Sovereign Hill heritage centre
- Ballarat Municipal Observatory and Museum
- Lake Wendouree
- Ballarat Tramway Museum
- Ballarat Wildlife Park
- Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail
Last updated: 2 February 2025
This trail follows a short section of the former Ballarat – Buninyong (Bunny) Line that served a bustling industrial area. The “Bunny” brought workers and raw materials to many Buninyong industries, with the main ones being a butter factory, tannery, brewery, box factory and market gardens.
Section Guides
East Ballarat to Mt Clear (7km)
- Look for the East Ballarat Station site on Dyte Pde, which is now partly occupied by a community garden. There is roadside parking and picnic tables here.
- Follow the shared path east and, after 500m, there is evidence of the line diverging from the main one to head south towards Buninyong.
- The trail uses the partially filled in railway cutting under Victoria St. There is an information board hidden at street level on the southern side.
- It continues through the long cutting, across Charlesworth Rd (with rails still in the surface) and alongside a holiday park to the rail trail’s end. There is another information board at the northern edge of the Eureka Centre car park.
- Using the map prepared by Friends of Canadian Corridor (link below), walkers and riders can follow more of the railway alignment through quiet suburban streets and the Woowookarung Regional Park, to get to another short section of rail trail
- The Bunny Trail stops at Recreation Rd, Mt Clear, after 7km. You can head back the way you came or complete a 13.5km loop back to Ballarat using the Canadian Creek Trail with the map here.
- It you’re passing through Buninyong, you can check out the station platform there and another information board, on Forest St
![Start of the rail trail near Dyte Pde, on the northern side of Victoria St [2024]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/V61-050-Walkers-head-towards-the-underpass-along-the-Bunny-Trail-next-to-Dyte-Pde-East-Ballarat-2024-300x187.jpg)
Start of the rail trail near Dyte Pde, on the northern side of Victoria St [2024]
![Walking under the southern of the two Victoria St pedestrian bridges [2024]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/V61-050-The-trail-goes-under-two-pedestrian-bridges-while-a-subway-has-replaced-the-Victoria-St-road-bridge-inbetween-2024-300x270.jpg)
Walking under the southern of the two Victoria St pedestrian bridges [2024]
![A subway (background) has replaced the former road bridge [2024]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2141605543842-300x225.jpg)
A subway (background) has replaced the former road bridge [2024]
![The cutting has been partly filled in to reduce drainage problems [2024]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/V61-050-Beyond-Victoria-St-East-Ballarat-the-cutting-has-been-partly-filled-in-to-improve-drainage-2024-300x200.jpg)
The cutting has been partly filled in to reduce drainage problems [2024]
![Eureka Centre marks start of a redeveloped section of the rail corridor [2024]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/V61-100-Eureka-Centre-marks-the-start-of-a-big-gap-in-the-rail-corridor-due-to-residential-development-2024-300x169.jpg)
Eureka Centre marks start of a redeveloped section of the rail corridor [2024]
![Narrow trail back on the alignment between Wilson and Spencer streets [2024]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/V61-150-The-trail-returns-to-the-railway-corridor-between-Wilson-and-Spencer-streets-where-Levy-Station-was-but-is-not-fully-developed-and-the-bridge-a-little-narrower-than-the-original-2024-300x225.jpg)
Narrow trail back on the alignment between Wilson and Spencer streets [2024]
![Modern public transport passes relics at Levy Station site [2024]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/V61-150-Modern-public-transport-passes-decorative-bogie-axles-at-Levy-Station-site-on-Spencer-St-as-houses-take-over-the-rail-corridor-again-to-the-south-2024-300x186.jpg)
Modern public transport passes relics at Levy Station site [2024]
![Rusty tank in Elsworth St is all that remains of the Canadian railyard [2024]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/V61-200-Rusting-fuel-tank-north-of-Elsworth-St-is-all-that-remains-of-the-Canadian-railyard-2024-300x169.jpg)
Rusty tank in Elsworth St is all that remains of the Canadian railyard [2024]
![Nice shade in Recreation Rd Bushland Reserve, Mount Clear [2023]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231024_100634-300x225.jpg)
Nice shade in Recreation Rd Bushland Reserve, Mount Clear [2023]
![New bridge and remains of the railway one (right) in that reserve [2023]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231024_101551-300x225.jpg)
New bridge and remains of the railway one (right) in that reserve [2023]
![Brick culvert near Bunny Station site, still doing sterling service [2024]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/V61-350-Brick-lined-culvert-near-Buninyong-Station-site-still-doing-stirling-service-2024-300x169.jpg)
Brick culvert near Bunny Station site, still doing sterling service [2024]
![The platform remains in Forest St, but only 600m of railway corridor [2024]](https://www.railtrails.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/V61-350-Buninyong-station-site-2024-06-The-platform-remains-in-Forest-St-but-only-600m-of-undeveloped-railway-corridor-as-the-road-bridge-at-Barkly-St-has-been-removed-and-the-cutting-filled-in-300x169.jpg)
The platform remains in Forest St, but only 600m of railway corridor [2024]
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
If you find any defects with this trail contact Ballarat City Council (03) 5320 5500
More information on the Bunny Loop, describing historical features of the former railway, is available by downloading the following two PDFs provided by the Friends of Canadian Corridor.
Bunny Trail Loop brochure here.
Buninyong branch line history here.
Contact Rail Trails Australia
To contact us about this rail trail, email vic@railtrails.org.au
Background Information
This trail was a branch line from East Ballarat to Buninyong and ran for 11km. It opened in 1889, with passenger services ending in 1930, the section from Eureka to Buninyong closed to goods trains on 2 February, 1947, and the tiny remainder to Eureka in 1986. In its heyday, the “Bunny” brought raw materials to the many Buninyong industries, with the main ones being a butter factory, tannery, brewery, box factory and market gardens. Much of the railway corridor has been sold but, in 2023, there was a major breakthrough when a short section of the rail easement near Woowookarung Regional Park was purchased by the City of Ballarat to bring the Bunny Trail through to Recreation Rd, Mt Clear. The Friends of Canadian Corridor group has been instrumental in opening this area up for public use.
At the Buninyong end of the line, the platform can still be seen in Forest Rd, where there is an information board and a bogie axle.
Buninyong Rail Trail makes progress
Posted: 23/05/23
The Bunny Rail Trail is a new trail under development between Ballarat and Buninyong in ...
More...Friends group receives grant to construct new rail trail section in Ballarat
Posted: 08/07/22
The Friends of Canadian Creek situated in Ballarat, has received a $33,000 community bank grant. The ...
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4 reviews of “Bunny Trail”
Had a lovely ride through Ballarat but not sure if I followed the Bunny Loop map. Found the FOCC map hard to follow as did not include all street names. Couldn’t find numbered items in Google Maps either. A signposted trail would be great but, if not possible due to funding constraints etc, simply walking or cycling the trail with Google Maps and adding the numbered features into Google Maps would be a great help for visitors.
Easy to follow path in Ballarat East. Easy walk, lots of people walking their dogs. Parking at Eureka Centre. Very convenient, being close to home
I agree with the last comment. The trail is still in good condition but way too short.
I quickly rode this trail today (29th December 2014), on the way home from doing the Domino Trail – so I could tick it off the list. This is a very short trail that basically goes from the rail reserve on the main train line of Ballarat to the Eureka Centre. The trail surface is good compact dirt most of the way, and easy handle hybrid (and even road bikes if needed). The most interesting part is when the trail goes under the rail lines and the main road. However, with no plans to extend it – I can’t see this trail being used by anyone apart from the locals, and those attempting to do all of the rail trails.