A new rail Trail has opened only 1.5 hours drive north east from Castlemaine.
On Saturday, 17 May 2025, the Waranga Rail Trail was officially opened at Rushworth. The ceremony coincided with the town’s monthly market, and was attended by a large group of dignitaries, community members, and cycling enthusiasts.
The Waranga Rail Trail is a 19-kilometre shared-use path that traces the route of a decommissioned railway line from Rushworth to Murchison. The project was a collaborative effort between Campaspe Shire Council and Greater Shepparton City Council, with funding support from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant Program. The recently completed Campaspe Shire section (11 km) links up with the eastern (Murchison) segment of the Rail Trail developed by Greater Shepparton City Council in 2015.
The opening ceremony featured a community ride along the trail, organised by the Waranga Rail Trail Friends Group. Representatives from Rail Trails Australia, Cycling Without Age – Waranga, and the Rushworth Heritage Group, participated in the celebrations.
In conjunction with the trail’s development, Rushworth Field & Game members installed 25 wildlife nesting boxes along the trail, aiming to support local biodiversity and engage the community in conservation efforts.
The trail surface is hard packed and relative smooth but the loose gravel on top makes it a bit rough and only comfortable for bikes with larger gravel type tyres. The trail is bordered by various species of eucalyptus trees which means that there is limited variety to the scenery except for where is borders the Waranga Basin. The Basin is for irrigation water storage which, when full, comes right up to the edge of the Trail.
A variety of food/coffee shops are available at both Rushworth and Murchison and both towns have interesting historical information signposted.
Future possible development of the Trail includes extending it north from Rushworth to Stanhope and Girgarre and west to Colbinabbin along the old railway corridors. The 5 km Stanhope to Girgarre Trail Trail is open for use.
Girgarre has a large botanical garden in development called Gargarro Botanic Garden https://www.gargarrobotanicgarden.com.au/.
Colbinabbin (20 km west of Rushworth) has silo art and great historical signage at the old railway station which is well worth a visit. https://www.colbinabbinsiloarttrail.com.au/.