Five Days Along the Rail Trail

Want an idea of what a five-day trip along the Great Southern Rail Trail can look like?

Check out our sample itinerary below.

Experience the rolling green hills of South Gippsland. Starting in Nyora, you enjoy some relatively flat, easy travelling, but those hills are never far from sight. Before you know it, the tranquil scenery you were enjoying is now surrounding you and will stick around for the whole day. Observe the change in agriculture exploits as you complete this 35-kilometre day.

While you do this section, make sure you:

• Stroll over the Loch Suspension Bridge.
• Wander through Loch Village.
• Check out the public art and murals in Korumburra and Leongatha.
• Stock up on local produce.
• Find a cosy place to treat your tastebuds.

Today’s journey is a mix of open farmlands, scenic gullies, bridge crossings and bushland. Keep an eye out for cows grazing near Leongatha, and wallabies, echidnas and wedge-tailed eagles as you travel towards Fish Creek. Between Fish Creek and Foster you will cross over the second-highest point on the Great Southern Rail Trail.

While you do this section, make sure you:

• Pick either Leongatha, Meeniyan or Foster to partake in some retail therapy.
• Discover the Meeniyan Bird Hide – an oasis for water birds amongst the revegetated wetlands.
• Check out the Fish Creek Sculpture Park.
• An art lover? Make sure you spend some extra time in Fish Creek.
• Keen to adventure? Take a little detour between Fish Creek and Foster to the Hoddle Lookout and soak up the amazing views of Wilsons Promontory, the coastline and the rolling hills.
• Still feeling energetic? Walk through the Foster Flora Reserve.

Your journey today begins in the lush farmland of Foster. As you travel along the Rail Trail, you’ll be met with river crossings, tall gums, rolling hills and a distant view of the Corner Inlet coastline.

Today is a day where the familiar farmland scenery merges with the coast, capturing the beauty of the region with a neat bow on top.

To get to Port Welshpool, you will follow what was once known as a spur line. This line was an important connection to the coast and the industry that flourishes there. It is well worth the detour.

While you do this section, make sure you:

• Start your day with a warm-up walk in the Foster Flora Reserve or through the township of Foster.
• Enjoy country hospitality when you fuel up in Toora.
• Take in the streetscape on the Toora Heritage Walk, or just browse the shops for your latest treasure.
• Soak in the maritime air as you walk along the historic Port Welshpool Long Jetty.
• If you’re here on the weekend, check out the Port Welshpool Maritime Museum.

Today you can travel port-to-port!

Travel past low-lying farmland and tea tree scrub as you wander in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges.

When you arrive in Alberton, you are once again given the choice of a blissful detour along the spur line to Port Albert. It is well worthwhile, with Norfolk Pines lining the water’s edge in this tranquil seaside town.

While you do this section, make sure you:

• Check out the mural on the north-facing wall of the Alberton Hotel.
• Stop by the Alberton Cemetery, located 2 kilometres south of Alberton (particularly if you’re a history buff!) Tours are available by clicking here.
• Stroll along the esplanade in Port Albert and enjoy fish and chips by the waterfront.
• Visit the Port Albert Maritime Museum.
• Stretch your legs and walk the Christopher Robinson Walk / Old Port Trail (6 kilometres one-way).

This short flat section makes for easy riding. After several highway crossings, the wide gravel path cuts through a patchwork of fields, where the landscape opens up to reveal wide horizons and big skies.

As you reach Yarram, you’ll pass tranquil wetlands, a pump track and the scenic landscaped gardens of the Tarra Trail Reserve.

While you do this section, make sure you:

• Stop by the Alberton Cemetery, located 2 kilometres south of Alberton (particularly if you’re a history buff!) Tours are available by clicking here.
• Visit the Port Albert Maritime Museum.
• Have lunch at the historic Alberton Hotel.
• Discover the murals scattered throughout Yarram by world-renowned street artists, Heesco.