Go Back To Trail Finder
Trail Open

Woodend to Daylesford (incl Domino) Rail Trail

Victoria - West

3.9 based on 11 reviews
Location: 85 km north west of Melbourne
Length: 6 km
Surface: Coarse gravel, Compacted earth
Start / End: Trentham to Lyonville
Public Transport: Coach, Train
Suitable for:
  • Cycling – Mountain BikesCycling – Mountain Bikes
  • Cycling – Touring and Hybrid BikesCycling – Touring and Hybrid Bikes
  • Horse RidingHorse Riding
  • WalkingWalking

  • Rail Trail
  • On Road
  • Potential RT
  • Other Trail
  • Former Railway
View Map

Part of the former Woodend to Daylesford Line has been turned into the short but sweet Domino Trail, which goes from the picturesque town of Trentham through peaceful bushland to Lyonville.

  • Signs along the trail provide you with plenty of history of the area
  • Trentham still has an impressive railway station
  • Lyonville’s station is now a private residence, but the kitsch local hotel makes up for that
  • You might see the odd swamp wallaby or grey kangaroo
  • Bullarto Railway Station is the highest operational one in Victoria

Nearby Attractions

  • Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa
  • Trentham Falls
  • Daylesford Spa Country Railway
  • Goldfields Track
  • Mt Macedon
  • Hanging Rock

Last updated: 27 September 2024

Access Points

  • The Trentham trailhead is at the former railway station on Victoria St, now the tourist information centre
  • At Lyonville, the trail starts at the southern end of Main St, south of the Radio Springs Hotel. The trail sign is missing, so look for the yellow “Fire Access Only” post in the gravel area nearby

 

Section Guides

Trentham to Lyonville (6km)

  • Trentham is a small town with many accommodation options and cafes for you to try before you hit the trail
  • For the first 500m from the railway station in Victoria St, the tracks are still in place and the grass-covered trail runs between them
  • On the left, the remains of the Sunnyside Foundry become visible
  • After Falls Rd, the trail enters bushland featuring manna gum, peppermint and mountain gum trees. Watch for swamp wallabies and grey kangaroos
  • There is a short detour around the heritage Coliban River Railway Bridge, where a low-level bypass bridge is planned
  • Take care on this loop. It is clearly marked but the surface can be slippery
  • The trail ends near Main St, Lyonville, south of the Radio Springs Hotel and north of Railway Ave
  • Lyonville has a few accommodation options and the quaint pub, which sometimes shows films
  • A possible 3km extension of the trail to Bullarto would allow users to catch the tourist train to Daylesford, when it is running

CONNECTING TRAIL

A sign about 4km along the rail trail from Trentham indicates a short loop to take you down to Domino Creek. Here you will see a brick-lined culvert that carries the creek under the railway embankment. The loop continues along Miller Cutting Tk before returning to the rail corridor

 

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.

Advertise your business here

Leave a Review

You must be logged in to post a review.

11 reviews of “Woodend to Daylesford (incl Domino) Rail Trail”

Rode this trail in both directions this week. The trail was boggy in a few places, as expected at this time of year. One section (detouring around the broken Coliban River rail bridge) urgently needs work. It involves a low-level bridge over a water course which has been pushed out of place (probably by water) and branches thrown down to walk on. Difficult to get across. Also, came across two trees down over the trail but both were easy to get over or around. The start at Lyonville is also a little difficult to find (see comment below) as it also is at Trentham (walk to the left between the station and a residential property and then onto the trail).

Rode the Domino Trail from Lyonville to Trentham and enjoyed the forest views.  Track was slightly muddy in places and the bridge detour was a little wet to cross (I have reported it via Snap Send Solve).  The track itself is a little rough but clear.  Lots of markers to tell you where the trail is.The sign to the start at Lyonville is faded and hidden behind bushes so look for the yellow "Fire Access Only' post in the gravel area nearby.The Trentham Railway Station was fun to look around, and there is plenty of parking.

Last weekend we walked the Domino Rail Trail starting from the old Trentham railway station. This short track is really easy to follow and it is quite scenic, especially during Autumn. There are several quaint places to see and visit in Trentham.

Great to see the old train station still here. Track still very wet and muddy. Recommend wearing boots, need them for the mud. At the end of the section toward Lyonville, track is underwater. Need to takeoff boots to get across. Trail is flat all the way, easy trail to complete. Hotel In Lyonsville for lunch if needed. Trail was semi busy for weekend. Passed a tour with llamas which was quite cool.

Rode the Domino Trail from Lyonville to Trentham on hybrid bikes with loaded panniers today…bit rough but fun! Well done to the team clearing it up after the massive storm. Signposts faded both ends, in Lyonville the trail starts behind the Radio Springs Hotel.

This trail is not rideable following the wild storm that knocked many trees down in mid June 2021. We attempted to ride it today from Trentham, and left the bikes after 1km, attempted then to walk the trail to Lyonville. There were many large trees across the trail and we gave up at 4.5km along the trail, after struggling under, over and around so many fallen trees….and walked back.

Beautiful scenery. Started in Lyonville with two hybrid bikes and 4yo on a tag-a-long. Very rocky and bumpy. Agree with previous comment, trail is best suited to walking to appreciate surroundings.

9/27 Next Railtrail on my journey to ride every trail in Victoria in my 60th year to promote organ donation. This one ends in the pretty town of Trentham. Starting at Lyonsville was a little problematic as the Railtrails booklet let us to the wrong side of the track and we couldn’t gain access. Signage is there but very faded – I cannot understand why these regions don’t look after the assets at their disposal. It was quite warm but the trail is very shady, so it was a pleasant ride. The surface was a little rough so it’s not a great cycling track. At the Trentham end, the sleepers are still in place, which looks cool but hard to ride on – it would be better for walkers. Also, as you ride on the track through Trentham it is very overgrown with blackberries and other weeds, it really needs to be cleaned up.as it spoiled the end. It is an interesting ride through beautiful forest, but probably better tackled on foot. 6.5km.

You can follow all my railtrail rides on FB Warwick Duncan – The 2nd Chance Man or Insta @warwick_rides

I rode the 6km Domino rail trail on Sat 18/8/18, with 7 others on a rainy cold winters day (6.5 deg at 2pm). We rode 22km from Woodend to Trentham on-road, and lunched at Red Beard Bakery Trentham. Nice warm food and coffee after a cold and sometimes uphill ride. I had 32mm tyres on a rigid flatbar and managed to travel quite quickly on the rail trail. One lass on a road bike with 23mm tyres was struggling a bit with a layer of wet leaves and occasional mud patches, and rode back on-road. One lass on a hybrid said she absolutely loved the trail, and it was fun for me too. Sawn logs indicated that the trail was being maintained. A highlight was spending an hour at the Radio Springs Hotel (west end of trail), which had fireplaces lit in 3 rooms, live acoustic country/blues music, movie memorabilia (it has a small cinema) and generally convivial atmosphere. After chillin with an apple cider, we rode back to Trentham and then on-road to Woodend. Despite snow and hail mixed in with intermitant rain at Trentham (800m alt), it was a terrific day out in the saddle. A 4pm coffee in Woodend finished a good ride, which was faster returning with downhill and tailwind conditions. Trail is well sheltered in amongst forest for its length, and has the easy 2-3% max gradient of a rail route.

Completed this walk yesterday. It was lovely and a very easy walk, though we did find signage at the Lyonville end a little scarce, but found our way out and around to the pub and back in the official connection point. Nice and easy walk, little or no gradient.

I’m very impressed with this trail, which I rode today (29th December 2014) – the trail is in excellent condition (hybrid bikes would be fine), and passes through outstanding regrowth forest. There is plenty of signage about the trail and markers to follow – the only deviation is around the old bridge near Lyonville – which is clearly marked. I thought the best part was the creaking of the tall pines in the wind. Will definitely be back – especially if they extend the track. The only problem is the end in Lyonville is a bit anticlimactic – though the train station in Trentham is well restored – that appears to be a thing with towns that have rail trails – they all have beautifully restored their historic train stations. Well done to the management team of this rail trail.

Background Information

Traditional owners

We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail is built.

Development and future of the rail trail 

There is interest in extending the trail in both directions, possibly from Daylesford to Woodend (44km). The Trentham to Lyonville section of the proposed Daylesford-Macedon Ranges Rail Trail has now been developed, and a feasibility study is being conducted with a view to developing more of the trail.

The Daylesford Spa Country Railway runs tourist trains from Daylesford to Bullarto. These trains carry bikes.

Daylesford had the distinction of being served by two railways, one from Woodend and one from Creswick.

The railway from Carlsruhe to Daylesford via Trentham was opened in 1880.

By the 1970s, traffic on the line had reduced considerably, and despite local lobbying, it was closed in 1978.

The Crossing Borders Tracks and Trails Feasibility Report for the proposed Daylesford Rail Trail can be viewed here.

Local community pitches in to deliver Domino Rail Trail improvements

Posted: 14/08/24

In 2021 a severe storm impacted the Trentham area, including the much loved Domino Rail Trail ...

More...

Daylesford to Hanging Rock Rail Trail Revived

Posted: 06/11/18

Bicycle Network reports that the Hepburn and Daylesford Shire Councils are again pushing for completion ...

More...

Opening of Domino Rail Trail

Posted: 23/04/13

Trentham is holding the annual Spudfest on Saturday May 18th and the rail trail committee ...

More...

Daylesford-Woodend Rail Trail (Vic) one step closer

Posted: 04/04/12

The Daylesford-Woodend Rail Trail, in the central highlands north of Melbourne, is today one step ...

More...
Trail descriptions are maintained by volunteers. Please consider a donation to help improve this website. Rail Trails Australia gets no government funding.
Share

Nearby Trails

Castlemaine to Maryborough Rail Trail

Castlemaine to Maryborough Rail Trail

Central Victoria, 124 km from Melbourne

 
Castlemaine to Maldon Railside Trail

Castlemaine to Maldon Railside Trail

120 km north west of Melbourne

18 km
Bunny Trail

Bunny Trail

110 km west of Melbourne

1.2 km
O’Keefe Rail Trail

O’Keefe Rail Trail

East of Bendigo, 150 km from Melbourne

50 km
Meadowlink Linear Park

Meadowlink Linear Park

Broadmeadows, 20 km north of CBD

1.2 km
Ballarat – Skipton Rail Trail

Ballarat – Skipton Rail Trail

110 km north west of Melbourne

57 km
Inner Circle Rail Trail

Inner Circle Rail Trail

Inner suburbs, 5 km from the CBD

4.8 km
Sandridge Railside Trail

Sandridge Railside Trail

Melbourne city, 1 km from GPO

4 km
Webb Dock Bridge

Webb Dock Bridge

Docklands, 1 km from Melbourne CBD

0.2 km
Hawthorn to Kew Rail Trail

Hawthorn to Kew Rail Trail

Inner suburbs, 9 km east of Melbourne CBD

1 km
Fyansford Rail Trail

Fyansford Rail Trail

North Geelong, 5 km from town centre

4.4 km
Outer Circle Rail Trail

Outer Circle Rail Trail

Eastern suburbs, 6 km from Melbourne CBD

17 km
Rosstown Rail Trail

Rosstown Rail Trail

Southern suburbs, 9 km from the CBD

8.8 km
Bellarine Rail Trail

Bellarine Rail Trail

Bellarine Peninsula, 75 km southwest of Melbourne's CBD

35 km
Ringwood to Belgrave Trail

Ringwood to Belgrave Trail

Eastern suburbs, 40 km from the CBD

17 km
Warburton Rail Trail/Yarra Valley Trail

Warburton Rail Trail/Yarra Valley Trail

Yarra Valley, 50 km east of Melbourne CBD

48 km
Great Victorian Rail Trail

Great Victorian Rail Trail

90 km north of Melbourne

134 km
Girgarre – Stanhope Rail Trail

Girgarre – Stanhope Rail Trail

200km north of Melbourne

5.5 km
Mornington Railside Trail

Mornington Railside Trail

Mornington Peninsula, 60 km south of CBD

4 km

Nearby Trails