Northern Rivers Rail Trail Explained

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail is a multi-use rail trail in Northern Rivers region of New South Wales which is a walking and cycling trail.^[1] It runs through the Tweed and Richmond River Shires and, as at June 2024, is undergoing further extension into areas of Byron Bay and Lismore.^[2] When completed, the trail will be 132 km long and it follows the Murwillumbah railway line which ceased train services in May 2004.^{[3] [4]}

Track details

Section 1: The Tweed section

This section opened in 2023 and is 23 km long and passes through the following towns and villages:

• Murwillumbah; where it starts at and incorporates the heritage listed Murwillumbah railway station.
• Dunbible
• Stokers Siding
• Burringbar
• Mooball
• Crabbes Creek

This section uses 18 railway bridges and passes through 2 railway tunnels; these are the Burringbar Range Tunnel and the Hulls Road Tunnel. These tunnels are a habitat for microbat and glowworms and are kept dark so as not to disturb them; visitors are asked to bring torches and dismount when passing through these tunnels.^{[5] [6] [7]}

Views of Mount Warning (Wollumbin) can be seen along long stretches of this track.

Section 2: The Casino and Bentley section

This section opened in March 2024 and is 13.4 km long and it passes through:^{[8] [9]}

• Casino; where it starts at the Old Casino railway station.
• Bentley; where it ends at the historic Bentley Bridge.

Section 3: Lismore

This section will run from Eltham to Bentley and is due to open in late 2024; it will be 31.8 km long.^[10]

Section 4: Byron

This section will run from Yelgun to Eltham and is currently in the planning and approval stage; it will be 62.8 km long.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2023-01-01 . Fact sheet: Northern Rivers Rail Trail . Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
2. Web site: Northern Rivers Rail Trail The must-do experience in the region . 2024-06-25 . Northern Rivers Rail Trail . en-US.
3. Web site: Northern Rivers Rail Trail . 2024-06-25 . www.tweed.nsw.gov.au . en-AU.
4. Web site: Closure of Casino to Murwillumbah Rail Services . 2024-06-25 . www.parliament.nsw.gov.au.
5. Web site: Bridges and tunnels . 2024-06-25 . Northern Rivers Rail Trail . en-US.
6. Web site: Top tips for exploring the new Rail Trail . 2024-06-25 . www.tweed.nsw.gov.au . en-AU.
7. Web site: Burringbar Range Tunnel . 2024-06-25 . www.nswrail.net.
8. Web site: 2024-04-23 . Northern Rivers Rail Trail – Rail Trails Australia . 2024-06-25 . en-AU.
9. Web site: Project and construction . 2024-06-25 . Northern Rivers Rail Trail . en-US.
10. Web site: Northern Rivers Rail Trail – Lismore to Bentley section . 2024-06-25 . Your Say Lismore . en.
11. Web site: Northern Rivers Rail Trail - Byron Shire . 2024-06-25 . www.byron.nsw.gov.au . en-AU.