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Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail

Victoria - East (Gippsland)

4.1 based on 9 reviews
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Location: Gippsland Lakes, 315km east of Melbourne
Length: 23 km
Surface: Asphalt, Compacted earth, Fine gravel
Start / End: Colquhoun to Lakes Entrance
Public Transport: Coach
Suitable for:
  • Cycling – Mountain BikesCycling – Mountain Bikes
  • Cycling – Touring and Hybrid BikesCycling – Touring and Hybrid Bikes
  • WalkingWalking
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  • Rail Trail
  • On Road
  • Potential RT
  • Other Trail
  • Former Railway

The Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail is a pretty 23km shared path connecting the East Gippsland Rail Trail with Lakes Entrance, from a point near the small forest settlement of Colquhoun. Half of the trail follows an old tramway alongside Mississippi Creek.

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  • Lovely bush trail that follows an old tramway route alongside the Mississippi Creek
  • To watch goannas scuttling, see native wildflowers blooming in spring and hear bellbirds calling
  • Great way to justify luxury accommodation in Lakes Entrance
  • Remains of old cuttings, rails and sleepers
  • Site of pink granite quarry that supplied stone for fine Melbourne buildings

Nearby Attractions

  • Popular holiday town of Lakes Entrance
  • Colquhoun MTB Park (includes part of rail trail)
  • East Gippsland Rail Trail
  • Forestec forestry centre
  • Nyerimilang Heritage Park
  • Kalimna Jetty Walk

Last updated: 18 October 2025

Stuck between the East Gippsland Rail Trail and a road section to Lakes Entrance, this shared path deters some people, but the trip alongside Mississippi Creek is well worthwhile. The Log Crossing picnic area offers an easier way to get there. The surface is predominantly fine gravel.

There are two main sections:

Colquhoun to Log Crossing Picnic Area (13km): This takes you down past the quarry viewing area and along the creek.

Log Crossing to Lakes Entrance (10km): A little more of the tramway and then a steep climb up a shared path next to Scriveners Rd and then asphalt to Lakes Entrance.

Section Guides

Only 9km of this path is in a rail corridor and, as that was a tramway, it is rougher and windier than many. The linking sections at both ends include steep hills, while the limited access hampers trail maintenance.

Colquhoun to Log Crossing Picnic Area (13km)

  • Access: Heading east from Bruthen, you need to turn right on Bruce Rd and left on dirt Seaton Tk, after crossing the East Gippsland Rail Trail, to reach the trailhead. It’s easier to park at the trail crossing and ride or walk 2km along the EGRT to the start
  • From the trailhead, begin your journey of discovery southwards. This section is a bush track with some steep declines on its way down to the Mississippi Creek valley
  • After 4km you reach the site of a granite quarry. There is a viewing platform and signage about its role in the rebuilding of the channel at Lakes Entrance
  • From here, the trail follows the tramway route for 7km to Log Crossing, staying relatively close to the creek and crossing it several times. Watch for large granite blocks that did not make it to the waiting barge on Friday afternoons
  • Log Crossing is a camping spot with toilets and is a popular starting point for dog owners.

Log Crossing to Lakes Entrance (10km)

  • Access: The Log Crossing Picnic Area is off Uncle Rd and avoids the hills if you’re just on a quarry visit
  • The tramway section finishes after another 2km at Scriveners Rd. The granite was barged from North Arm, just south of here. Turn left and climb the shared path on the far side of Scriveners Rd until you reach Colquhoun Rd
  • Turn right at Colquhoun Rd, and follow it and then Palmers Rd for 8km to reach Main Beach. The surface is asphalt but the shoulders are minimal, so proceed with caution. There is 5km of singletrack on the left as far as Bunga Creek Rd if you are a mountain bike rider
  • Lakes Entrance is a popular holiday town with a wide range of accommodation and eateries. The route to the discovery trail is not well marked from here.

Do you know of a bike hire or transportation service on this rail trail that should appear here? If so, let us know at admin@railtrails.org.au.

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10 reviews of “Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail”

What a delightful trail. I was concerned after reading the reviews, but so pleased we gave it a go. The surface was good. The scenery was great with no shortage of birds. We heard a koala at one point but couldn't see it. I enjoyed the twists and turns, so much better than some of the long straight slogs typical of rail trails. And being amongst the vegetation meant there was no wind. Would have liked a sign warning of the steep climb after the quarry, but note there is one going the other way warning of the steep descent.

RT65/70 Love the ride along Mississippi Creek. Been a while since I've made it all the way down to Lakes Entrance but the e-bike made it easy getting back.

I rode this trail on the 5th October 2024 as part of the Great East Ride. Starting at Nowa Nowa, we rode on the East Gippsland Rail Trail in a westerly direction until we reached Colquhoun, then turned south off the main trail onto the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail. While not being as wide and well-surfaced as the main East Gippsland trail, the Discovery Trail was a delightful ride, with lots of tight twists and turns and undulations as it follows the Mississippi creek for much of its length (yes, and a little bike walking in some short, steeper pinches for me!). Riders had to be wary of the litter of twigs and branches, but these and the squadrons of bugs (they looked like mosquitoes but didn't bite..) constituted only a small distraction and didn't reduce the enjoyment of riding the trail. After riding onto Colquhoun Road, we followed the Great East Ride itinerary to Wyanga Park Winery for lunch instead of proceeding directly to Lakes Entrance. The bus ride and bike transfer from Wyanga Park back to Nowa Nowa, provided by Snowy River Cycling as part of the ride support, was greatly appreciated at this stage!

Started out at 5 from rail trail down to the log bridge. Awesome trail with some cool spots of history but the bugs on the day we rode were relentless. Hoping it was just that time of the year or day. Lost points also as on the last half it was was hard to find the track. A few trees down and boggy patches as we didn’t want to ride down the road with my 8 yr old son. Second half was best suited to MTB. Overall a great ride with the young bloke.

We cycled this trail on hybrid bikes in near perfect conditions on a mild sunny spring day on Saturday 28 September, 2024. Years before we had cycled the stunning East Gippsland Rail Trail over three days and noted this trail along the way and I vowed to return one day. The previous day we had cycled the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail from Stratford to Traralgon one way (and caught the train back). We started from the East Gippsland Rail Trail at Seatons Tk around midday and arrived in Lakes Entrance at 3pm. The trail traverses the Colquhoun State Forest which is beautiful and full of bird life. The first 3.8km is very hilly, with a few steep ascents and descents which prompted us to walk our bikes. We visited the Mississippi quarry before following the old tramway and Mississippi Creek to Scriveners Rd, which was a very pleasant ride. Then we followed the very hilly path up the road to the junction with Colquhoun Rd which again prompted us to walk our bikes. The final 8km on the paved Colquhoun Rd was a little unnerving with cars roaring past at 80kmh. On the final descent into Lakes Entrance, we got up to a top speed of 40kmh. We enjoyed dunch (or linner) in town and then headed back up the road. I pushed my bike up while my teenage son rode his (ahh, youth). We arrived back at our car by 7pm and used our bike lights for the last few kms. The trail was in very good condition but as it mostly traverses a forest, sticks and branches on the path are inevitable. It was one of the most picturesque trails we have ever done and highly recommend it, along with the East Gippsland Rail Trail.

Only did the northern section, from Scriveners Rd. Lovely bush section, an ex-tramway following the swampy creek from the quarry. Surface was very eroded and in need of grading and resurfacing, was a struggle at times on my three-speed Dutch upright with street tyres plus 10kg dog in the rear basket, but a mountain bike would handle it with ease.

Cycled the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail on 24 January, 2020. This has to be one of the finest cycle trails in Australia – immersed in gorgeous, lush forest, great historical signs along the way and a beautiful, exciting ride both ways. We did the Discovery Trail with the East Gippsland Rail Trail and it was the highlight of the trip. Many thanks to Snowy River Cycling for suggesting we include it in our East Gippsland adventure.

24/27. I rode this trail after driving from Melbourne to our caravan site in Bruthen, which is only 10 mins drive from the trailhead. It is a lovely trail, much narrower and heavily wooded than most RTs as it follows an old tram route. Being a bushy environment, there was a lot of debris on the track so you have to keep your eyes peeled, but it wasn’t too bad. I did it from north-south so it was mainly downhill, and pretty good fun. Even disturbed some wildlife along the way.
I had no need to go into Lakes Entrance so I didn’t continue once I got to the end. Instead I met my sag wagon at Forestech, about 3 kms to the right along Shiverners Rd.. That’s 24 RTs completed! You can follow all my railtrail rides on FB Warwick Duncan – The 2nd Chance Man or Insta @warwick_rides

I rode this trail yesterday (12th March 2015), and was very surprised – for an isolated trail the quality of the track is excellent. I rode between Schrivners Rd and the connection with East Gippsland Trail. The trail can be ridden with a hybrid, with the section between Schrivners and the Quarry essentially flat. Between the connection with East Gippsland and the Quarry there are are some hills – one of the signed steep descents has a fallen tree right across the track – which almost caught me out. The gradient on this climbs will be difficult to some riders – but you can always walk up. A lot of wildlife around and a huge wombat hole on the side of the track just before Schrivners Rd.

Great ride from Anderson’s Track (better parking than Schrivners Road) through to the quarry (8km) established to repair the Lakes Entrance break wall. Well signposted (history notes) with kangaroos, parrots and a red belly black snake seen along the track. Track was well maintained with grass slashed beside the track and no fallen trees or logs.

Information and Links

For East Gippsland Rail Trail brochure with RTA map showing the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail, click here

 

Contact Rail Trails Australia

To contact us about this rail trail, email vic@railtrails.org.au

Background Information

Traditional owners

We acknowledge the Gunaikurnai people, the traditional custodians of the land and waterways on which the rail trail is built.

Rail Line History

The Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail follows the route of a tramway that was constructed in the early 1900s to move pink granite from a quarry on Mississippi Creek, to the North Arm of the Gippsland Lakes. The granite was used to construct a permanent breakwater entrance to the Gippsland Lakes and also for some of Melbourne’s finest homes. The tramline was used until the 1940s.

 

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