Name: Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail
Rating: 4

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Rail Trail
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Former Railway

The Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail is an excellent ride from Balaklava to Halbury with a Devils Garden along the way

Why visit the Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail?

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You can pay tribute to elite junior local cyclist Shamus Liptrot who died in 2011, several years after suffering serious injuries in a cycling accident. Halbury was Shamus’s home town
It’s an excellent ride for all the family and can be extended to form a longer one across the Wakefield Plains and through Clare Valley
The history of the bullock tracks and rail trails comes alive in Devil’s Garden adjoining the trail, midway between Balaklava and Halbury

Nearby Attractions

Dunn’s Bridge, 1.5 km north of Balaklava, is a single span, bowstring-arch structure built in 1880 over the Wakefield River.
Devil’s Garden 7 km from Balaklava and east of the Roberts Rd crossing, is a small area of eucalypts that has a history of sand hills, bullock teams, corduroy roads and serious flooding. To find out more click here
Copper Rail Trail
Riesling and Rattler Trail

Trail Guide

Last updated: 11 May 2025

This trail is flat and runs through a well-vegetated rail corridor. At Roberts Rd, about halfway, take time to visit Devil’s Garden.

Section Guides

Balaklava to Halbury (11 km)

Parking in Balaklava is available in Edith Tce, which is close to shops and amenities and a short distance from the trail.
This begins on the northern side of the railway corridor, near the intersection of War Memorial Dr and Railway Tce (B84). Watch for well-worn ‘Lions Club Walking Trail’ sign
Follow the shared path east behind the Christopher St houses
The trail turns left on Bridge Rd after 1.5 km and crosses Dunn’s Bridge. This metal bowstring-arch bridge was built in 1880 and heritage listed in 1995
A further 3 km along the trail there is a small bridge over a creek. Dismount as this bridge is narrow and has an uneven surface
Use Roberts Rd 2 km along the trail to reach a roadside cairn that describes the Devil’s Garden, a fine example of mallee box woodland
The trail ends at Halbury, but a well-signed back-roads trail can be followed over the range to Leasingham on the Riesling and Rattler Trail

Photo Gallery

Confusing sign refers to local path that starts on rail trail [2025]

Official introduction to the rail trail a little further along

It crosses the Wakefield River by using Dunns Bridge, built in 1880

Typical path quality and vegetation along the trail

The Devil's Garden monument in a patch of mallee box woodland.

Watch out for this narrow bridge over a creek, east of Balaklava

Portable silos line the horizon between Balaklava and Halbury [2025]

Sign in bicycle frame explains the Shamus Liptrot story [2025]

Get Around

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Reviews

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4 reviews of “Shamus Liptrot Rail Trail”

Hard to believe this is part of the same shared path as the Copper Trail. Better surface, nice signs at major roads, distance markers and better surface the whole way

Lovely trail in really good condition. Well signposted.

Great ride from Clare on Riesling Trail to Leasingham……turn right onto back roads to Halbury then SL Rail Trail to Balaclava
Terrific fast downhill ride from the Clare hills onto the western plains
Recommend using a Mud Map for the dirt back roads

Great little trail between Balaklava and Halbury. Good surface and well signposted.

Further Information

Information and Links

For more information, or to report problems

Wakefield Regional Council 8862 1115

Contact Rail Trails Australia

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

Background Information

Traditional owners

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

Rail history

The line from Balaklava to Blyth opened in 1876 and closed in 1988. The rails and sleepers were removed shortly after, and the rail trail was built in 2012.

There is a memorial to Shamus Liptrot at the junction of the trail and Bridge Rd, 1 km from Balaklava.

Development and future of the rail trail

Wakefield Regional Council is planning to extend the trail beyond Halbury, following the unused rail corridor north. Ultimately, this shared path could connect with the Southern Flinders Rail Trail.

News

New Copper Rail Trail Opened in South Australia

Posted: 18/07/20

The Wakefield Regional Council, located in the mid north of South Australia, has constructed a 26...

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