Great Southern Rail Trail

The Great Southern Rail Trail in South Gippsland is a 107-kilometre trail that follows the former South Gippsland Railway line from Nyora to Welshpool.

It offers a picturesque route for cycling, walking, and horse riding, passing through dairy farmland, bushland, and lowland scrub. Wildlife such as koalas, wombats, wallabies, and echidnas can often be spotted along the trail.

A highlight of the trail is the section between Fish Creek and Foster, which provides stunning views of Mount Hoddle, dense forest, and occasional glimpses of Wilsons Promontory and Corner Inlet. On the other hand, the section between Loch and Leongatha presents a more challenging portion with a significant climb.

The trail has a well-maintained surface of compacted gravel, and recent additions have improved its connectivity. In late 2022, two trestle bridges north of Loch were surfaced, further enhancing the trail between Nyora and Loch. These developments have brought the total trail length from Nyora to Welshpool to 107 km.

A relatively new addition to the trail is the 10 km section between Toora and Welshpool, which opened in 2015. From Welshpool, users can easily connect to a 6 km pathway to Port Welshpool and the Long Jetty.

The history of the trail dates back to the original South Gippsland railway, which opened in 1892. It played a vital role in the region's development, transporting forestry products and