Northern Rivers Rail Trail
Driving from built up south east Queensland the allure of lush green countryside, sugarcane fields and vistas of old volcanic mountain peaks south of the Tweed river is always refreshing, especially when there is a new adventure to be had.
The northern Rivers rail trail had been on the radar for a while and we thought we would lock it in with booking a camping weekend at a nearby Hipcamp for the trail opening.
Upon finding out the official opening for the first section of 24 km rail trail from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek had been pushed back a couple of weeks we decided to still give it a crack. Besides we were in laissez-faire northern New South Wales where the rules are more grey than black and white and surely we could find a way to get on and explore the trail.
About the Northern Rivers Rail Trail
The Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is the first part of the track which opened in March 2023 as part of the larger development project. The section is 24 kilometers of hard compact gravel with a good portion of fully sealed asphalt track. It’s a fun and different ride to the off-the-track gravel adventure we’ve experienced before. With the number of newly built bridge crossings, a long tunnel (we went through unlit) and epic scenery it’s a really nice adventure to enjoy over a few hours or a day.
The ride is not super challenging with mostly flat tracks. There are a few sections with subtle climbs - although our Strava seemed to have recorded two massive spikes. Overall relatively easy to do so you could either have a fast ride or a chilled family ride. The gravel, mountain bike or even a road bike would work if you’re really desperate
There is plenty of scenery to keep you motivated with lush green Tweed geography and some nice small towns along the way. There are a few bridges and a long tunnel two thirds in which brings a different experience to the gravel ride. We went through the tunnel without any lights as we were riding before the official opening so it was wild.
The journey begins
We parked the car at Murwillumbah railway station on a warm and sunny Sunday, arriving just before lunch and were surprised at the number of cyclists there doing the same thing. After an enquiry or two from the locals we got the heads up that the trail was doable and there were a couple of sections adjacent to some of the bridges that weren’t quite finished and required a short bike carry. Perfect! That’s how we usually roll.
Leaving the town of Murwillumbah behind and setting off on an adventure of an unknown journey and destination felt liberating.
The initial paved section had given away to nicely packed gravel affording vistas of the surrounding undulating countryside. Much of the trail is shaded by trees which was a welcome relief riding in the midday sun. As the trail is built on the original disused rail line there is only a slight gradient that you hardly notice enabling families the opportunity to enjoy a weekend outing together.
Mihajlo had brought along his adventurous 6 year old son and was armed with a “slingshot” made from two inner tubes linked together joining one bike to the other affording a tow for the young adventurer when his kryptonite ran low.
The bridges and a tunnel
The gravel surface changed to paved asphalt through several villages, mixing up the scenery from the farmland, bush and pockets of rainforest. Some old sections of train track and bridges have been left as a reminder of a bygone era as to how these villages were once connected. One of the highlights of the trail has to be the impressive Burringbar tunnel which was a great place to pause and take in its cooler temperature and sense of stillness. Although fun to try to navigate the long tunnel span in the dark for as long as you can in honing one’s senses, a light does comes in handy even from your mobile phone.
Cute stop-over at Burringbar
We chose to have lunch before turning around at Burringbar, a cute little village that you could feel was on the cusp of embracing a small but steady influx of tourists, ready to explore the area by bicycle. We talked about next time to start from the other end of the rail trail and started to envisage riding all the way to Byron and beyond when other sections of the trail come onboard.
The Northern Rivers rail trail is a great piece of infrastructure that can only be commended providing a safe and pleasurable experience for both locals and tourists alike. I’m sure back in the day when the rail line was opened and trains connected this area there was much excitement. I feel a renaissance is also happening once again using the same transport corridor for connection this time via bicycle transport. A means to slow down, appreciate nature and connect with one another. Now who doesn’t love that?