A growing number of grey nomads are discovering that rail trails have the potential to add an exciting new element to their Big Laps.
And, there are plenty more of these scenic, historic, vehicle-free routes on their way.
For the uninitiated, rail trails are basically shared-use paths created in abandoned railway corridors. They can be used for walking and cycling.
There are currently 146 rail trails across the country, covering a combined length of around 2,990 kilometres.
And there are potentially another 50 or so rail trails in the pipeline that would add around 10,000 kilometres to the growing network.
Bushwalkers enjoy the Ovens to Eurobin trail. PIC: Rail Trails Australia
A rail trail leads waskers past the historic Murwillumbah station. PIC: Rail Trails Australia
One of the Rail Trails currently under construction is the Northen Rivers Rail Trail in NSW. When complete, it will connect numerous rural centres from Murwillumbah to Byron Bay and Bangalow to Lismore and Casino.
The 132-kilometre rail trail is expected to draw thousands of visitors each year to explore and discover the natural beauty of the area.
Damian McCrohan, the President of Rail Trails Australia, said railway corridors made ideal pathways for walking and cycling as the grades were typically gentle, and they were always separated from motor vehicles.
“There are rail trails all over Australia … rail trails link large and small communities and meander through scenic countryside just as railways did in the past,” he said. “Almost all rail trails have heritage value, as they were built to serve industry and agriculture in times gone by … examples include The Fernleigh Track in Newcastle NSW (coal mine to port), and the Northern Rivers Rail Trail (originally built for timber haulage).”
Mr McCrohan said many lines were built to haul farm produce and livestock, and were closed as roads improved and truck transport replaced them.
“Rail Trails are as varied as the regions they traverse,” he said. “They range from urban to rural remote, sea level to alpine, and desert to rainforest.”
And Mr McCrohan says rail trails are perfect for grey nomads as they are spread across the country, and offer a great opportunity for exercise and cultural enrichment.
“Trails are a great way to view the natural environment, because they make access so easy,” he said. “These corridors are often a reserve for rare and endangered fauna and flora because they are separated from roads and highways.”
For more information on Rail Trails, click here.
We don’t look for rail trails but if we find one we like to take our dog for an early morning walk along it before the rampaging mountain bikers arrive. LOL.