Comments on: Gippsland Plains Rail Trail

By: David B.

David B. — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 01:21:48 +0000

We did a short section of the trail again (see my previous review) this time starting in Sale and found a good low-traffic access road through Airly. Coffee House 138 in Maffra has outdoor space at rear to enjoy spring sunshine.

By: Wolter K.

Wolter K. — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:21:23 +0000

RT65/70 Great trail that's easy to do in two up-and-back days. Must get around to doing it with the train ride back before they ban e-bikes.

By: Simon G.

Simon G. — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:29:14 +0000

Rode from Traralgon to Hayfield and back today, trail in great condition, I used my mountain bike but I think you could get away on a road bike without issues. A few bridge crossings and minor road crossings, some quite long straight nearly all flat sections let you appreciate some beautiful scenery and lets your mind float off to contemplate life. Stopped at the Top pub for a beer and schnitty before heading back. Another great day.

By: Caroline G.

Caroline G. — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 05:51:57 +0000

We've previously ridden this trail from Maffra to Heyfield so this time decided to stay I the RV Park at Heyfield (an excellent donation camp). We rode the trail to Tinamba return – pitybthe pub wasn't open, and then we rode to Toongabbie return. What a weel made and well maintained trail with a nice hard packed surface, a few bridges one of which is really quite pretty. The trail passes through a mix of farmland, cornfields and native scrub. The stop at Cowwar was worth it especially the grand looking Cricket Club Hotel.

By: greg h.

greg h. — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 07:10:46 +0000

What's not to like a day riding without cars. Nice towns to stop at I particularly liked the Tinamba post office stopping for coffee and a snack. With a train at each end great and for me a local coach to Yarram from Traralgon , very handy. Some of the small bridges are rough and need some Maintenace but on my 20" folding Bike Friday fully loaded with camping gear had no issues.

By: Mike S.

Mike S. — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 04:46:02 +0000

Nice scenery, surface reasonable. Lot of birdlife on the trail a bonus & 2 lots of Magpie swooping! Quite flat. Areas of good shade and some exposed areas . Heyfield had limited options at 1 pm Sat for lunch ( bakery just shut!)but the general store/ petrol station has nice fresh rolls etc. Quite hot & dry today & not as much shade as the Southern Gippsland Rail Trail.

By: Samantha R.

Samantha R. — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 22:57:33 +0000

We cycled this trail on hybrid bikes in near perfect conditions on a mild sunny spring day on Friday 27 September 2024 from Stratford to Traralgon via the Heyfield Wetlands one way (and caught the train back). We left around 10:00 AM and arrived just before 4:30 PM. Reading some of the reviews beforehand was very helpful in navigating sections, especially in towns (e.g. Maffra and Traralgon), where signage was poor. The trail was in good condition but the surface is best suited to mountain bikes. The vibrations and jarring were a bit much and detracted from the ride. Not withstanding views of the Great Dividing Range on our right for most of the trail, it wasn't the most picturesque of the trails we have done (the East Gippsland Rail Trail and the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail are both stunning). And given the time of year, we were swooped by maggies on at least 2 occasions including along the Princes Highway/Argyle Street Service Road in Traralgon). The trail management committee and volunteers are to be commended for the sterling job they do in maintaining the trail including providing seating along the way. The location of the trail on the V/Line service is a huge positive as we had planned to cycle back to Stratford the same day but were so sore that waiting 4 hours to catch a train was a welcome relief (and so cheap)! We made the most of our time in Traralgon and had dinner and went to the Reading Cinema to see the film 'The Wild Robot' which was excellent.

By: John H.

John H. — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 09:19:34 +0000

With 2 others I cycled this trail three days ago from Stratford to Traralgon, staying overnight in Maffra. Good accommodation at the Maffra Motor Inn and a good meal at the Community Sportsmen's Club. Good bakeries in Maffra and Heyfield for breakfast and lunch. A massive storm (strongest I have every experienced) the day before we rode had knocked down a couple of trees across the trail. But it was very easy getting around them. The trail is in excellent condition for all sorts of bikes, including a narrow tyre road bike ridden by one of us. The new bridge across the Thomson River is excellent and means the entire route can now be done off-road, unlike my previous ride along it which involved an on-road detour. The trail is well signed everywhere.

By: David B.

David B. — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 09:06:45 +0000

A big advantage of this trail is a train service at both ends (the only one in Vic?) 62km of flat terrain is not too demanding, plus two towns along the way with food and accommodation options allows for a relaxed ride. We overnighted in Heyford and loved the Stag & Doe cafe for the decor and the coffee. Maffco brewery and distillery in Maffra also good for beer lovers (nothing distilled is on sale yet despite the name). Ending in Traralgon, we took the option to do an extra 15km on new shared path to Morwell. It's a great initiative but half the trail is surfaced with loose gravel – not great unless you have a gravel bike. The rail trail surface was also a bit rough in places but generally OK. Signage lacking in places – we lost the trail heading west out of Heyford, also negotiating busy road bridges in Stratford and Maffra are both confusing if heading away from Stratford (the trail follows footpath on the right side of the road but not signed), both are no problem if heading towards Stratford.

By: john f.

john f. — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 23:57:47 +0000

loved the cows on everything in Cowwarr. Stayed in Mafra. Good ride for al.Good meal at the club.