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The Derwent Valley Rail Trail will traverse picturesque Tasmanian farmland and forests from New Norfolk to National Park and the Maydena mountain bike park.
- The Derwent Valley Council’s Upper Derwent Valley Precinct Plan proposes a 49km rail trail abutting a national park, with picturesque bridges and agritourism opportunities
- Will connect the mountain-bike park centre Maydena east to New Norfolk.
- Will include National Park and Westerway, a small town with a primary school, corner shop and several tourist businesses including accommodation and cafes. A successful berry farm has a farmgate shop during summer hours.
Nearby Attractions
- Mt Field National Park
- Rail Track Riders at Maydena
- Maydena Mountain Bike Park
- Derwent Valley Railway at New Norfolk
Last updated: 1 February 2026
This is a potential rail trail, and is not developed or open
The rail trail would follow the spectacular Derwent River valley up to Westerway then beautiful Tyenna River valley up to National Park and onto Maydena as they wind through the corridor into the World Heritage Area.
Up to Westerway is bush and farmland and beyond is eucalypt and casurina forests.
![The corridor leaving New Norfolk dominated by the Mt Field National Park [2017]](jpg/t24-106-new-norfolk-2017-01-8342-1-300x169.jpg)
The corridor leaving New Norfolk dominated by the Mt Field National Park [2017]
![Typical scenery on the corridor. [David Renton 2013]](jpg/t24-205-glenora-to-westerway-derwent-valley-2013-107-imgp9881-001-199x300.jpg)
Typical scenery on the corridor. [David Renton 2013]
![Typical scenery between Glenora and Westerway [2017]](jpg/t24-206-glenora-to-westerway-2017-01-8331-300x169.jpg)
Typical scenery between Glenora and Westerway [2017]
![The rail trail follows the Tyenna River from Westerway to Maydena which allows many other activities [2017]](jpg/t24-256-westerway-business-2017-01-27_004-1-300x169.jpg)
The rail trail follows the Tyenna River from Westerway to Maydena which allows many other activities [2017]
![Crossing the Tyenna River between Westerway and National Park [Emma Pharo 2015]](jpg/t24-255-bridge-near-national-park-2015-09-300x201.jpg)
Crossing the Tyenna River between Westerway and National Park [Emma Pharo 2015]
![The rail corridor is close to road and river near National Park [Emma Pharo 2015]](jpg/t24-255-line-next-to-road-and-river-2015-09-300x201.jpg)
The rail corridor is close to road and river near National Park [Emma Pharo 2015]
![The Westerway railway station [2017]](jpg/t24-256-westerway-station-2017-01-27_009-300x169.jpg)
The Westerway railway station [2017]
National Park railway station in 2017 which is where the Rail Track Riders operate.
![Maydena Railtrack Riders [TasForests 2009]](jpg/maydena-railtrack-rider-2009-62a-300x185.jpg)
Maydena Railtrack Riders [TasForests 2009]
![National Park railway station is the access point to Mt Field National Park which has some of the largest trees in the world [2017]](jpg/t24-305-mt-field-national-park-tree-2017-01-27_15_18_42-169x300.jpg)
National Park railway station is the access point to Mt Field National Park which has some of the largest trees in the world [2017]
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.
Information and Links
Railtrack Riders in Maydena.
Derwent Valley Railway in New Norfolk
Bicycle Network’s campaign information for the rail trail
Contact Rail Trails Australia
To contact us about this rail trail, email tas@railtrails.org.au
Background Information
The branch line up the Derwent Valley reached National Park in 1916 and reached further into the valley at Florentine in 1936.
The line was closed back to New Norfolk in 1995. The Derwent Valley Railway organisation, based in New Norfolk, used the line further east to Boyer until 2005.
From 2009 Railtrack Riders, based in Maydena, began operating pedal powered rail vehicles in sections between National Park and Florentine
The Derwent Valley Railway organisation states on their website they eventually want to reopen the line from Boyer 40km to National Park.
The Derwent Valley Council released their draft Upper Derwent Valley Precinct Plan in January 2026, which considers this entire length is not viable for a railway and want to turn the section west of New Norfolk to near Maydena into a rail trail. This would connect with the Railtrack Riders and a future Derwent Valley Railway, and most importantly provide a safe off-road connection for all the communities along the route.
Rail Trails Australia supports this view and notes examples, particularly in Victoria, where rail trails and heritage railways coexist to the benefit of both.
For examples refer to the Bellarine Rail Trail and the proposed extension of the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail to Yarra Glen.
A Stunning New Rail Trail for Tasmania? Let’s Do It!
Posted: 29/01/26
A 49km rail trail west from New Norfolk to mountain bike park centre Maydena is ...
More...Derwent Valley Rail Trail Survey
Posted: 12/03/16
(This survey has closed) Tasmania has a very limited number of high standard rail trails. ...
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Nearby Trails
Hobart Intercity Cycleway
Hobart area, 1 km from Hobart
15 km
Kaoota Tramway Track
Kaoota, 28 km SW of Hobart.
6 km
Lake Dulverton Rail Trail
Oatlands 83km from Hobart
7 km
Mystery Creek Cave Trail
109km South of Hobart
2 km
Wielangta Tramway Trail
65km North East of Hobart
6.5 km
North Mount Lyell Rail Trail
South of Queenstown: through Lynchford and over Mt Jukes. , 290km from Hobart
12 km
Liffey Falls Rail Trail
Western Tiers, 25km south of Deloraine, 212km from Hobart
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One review of “Derwent Valley Rail Trail”
I thoroughly support this proposal, but rather than as an end in itself, I believe it should be pursued as stage 1 of a much more ambitious project to connect New Norfolk to National Park using the almost derelict rail corridor. I can see the appeal in reopening the lower section as a tourist train operation, but given the state of the track, I don’t believe this would be feasible. The initial costs would be much higher than converting it to a rail trail, and there would be significant ongoing costs maintaining it to meet safety standards. A rail trail, on the other hand, seems to offer greater benefits for lower cost. An opinion piece I wrote for TAS Times on this topic can be found here: https://tasmaniantimes.com/2021/11/derwent-valley-rail-trail-an-opportunity-overlooked/