Comments on: O’Keefe Rail Trail

By: Kathy F.

Kathy F. — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 05:57:28 +0000

A good surface from Axedale to Bendigo. A new addition to the trail is a shelter and toilets at Longlea. Lots of flowering bushes at this time of year. Bit hard finding your way at the Bendigo end, but great to see so many riders, runners and walkers using the trail. Awell maintained trail.

By: John O.

John O. — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 05:40:33 +0000

It has been a few years since we were last here, and we have seen many improvements to this trail since then. We decided to stay at Axedale on order to ride to Bendigo and return on day one, and then to Heathcote and return day 2. The rainy weather stopped us doing day 2,but we had a great ride to Bendigo and back. The trail surface has been improved greatly, and there is a nice new toilet and rest area at Longlea station site. It is great to be able to ride all the way without any bridge bypasses.

By: Disne P.

Disne P. — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 20:21:02 +0000

The return from Bendigo to Heathcote was a bit too much for us so we parked our caravan out the back of the Axedale pub. Publican was very welcoming and we had a great ride out to Heathcote and back. Followed by a cold beer and a hot meal. Enjoyed the ride very much

By: Daryl H.

Daryl H. — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 04:02:06 +0000

In reply to Daryl H..

Two days later, I contacted Organ's coaches who operate the Bendigo-Heathcote service and I spoke with Ash (Depot Manager). It appears that the driver may have misinterpreted the rules; permitted is:
an e-bike with battery on the front bike rack,
or e-bike on the bike rack with battery removed,
or in my case a (Tern/Bosch) folding e-bike can be carried inside the bus. In the latter two cases the battery could carried inside the bus as in the situation with folding e-scooter. I'll happily return to the Bendigo Heathcote region to ride the regions trails and give the O'Keefe trail the 4 stars it deserves.

By: Andrew W.

Andrew W. — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 23:29:54 +0000

Two of us rode from Heathcote to Bendigo and back in August. What a great ride – a perfect sunny day on an amazing trail. Creeks, forests, lakes, wildlife, bridges, underpasses and a halfway stop at the lake in Bendigo. Well done to the Trail Fairies, you do an awesome job maintaining the trail to the high standard it is :). 5 stars.

After 100ks, we were glad to finish though!

By: Daryl H.

Daryl H. — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:29:57 +0000

I have taken bus to Heathcote with my ebike many times
Today my colleague and I were refused travel on rack equipped bus because we have ebikes
Driver said internal rules only permit folding e-scooters in bus
We offered to remove battery from e-bike put bike on rack and battery in bus
REFUSED

I'll comment more at a later date

By: Simon G.

Simon G. — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 07:34:47 +0000

Rode the trail today and have to say the smoothest trail yet for me, some nice forest sections were a plus but the wind over the top, last 20km into Heathcote was a slog, could just have been windy today but if you are doing it one way check out wind direction. Still a long but easy ride, one steep hill in and out of axedale to give that heart a workout. A Good day. Seriously well laid and maintained track.

By: Garry L.

Garry L. — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 10:45:48 +0000

In reply to Ewen H.. Ewen H, FYI, all PTV buses both within the Bendigo urban area and the Bendigo-Heathcote service are fitted with a 2 bike rack on the front. See details on this RTA page, as well as the 'Services' page at https://bendigokilmorerailtrail.com/services/. PS: The Friends community group were and still are the "trail fairies" that you are referring to!

By: Ewen H.

Ewen H. — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:34:26 +0000

Last ridden on a hot April 2024 day – Heathcote to Bendigo

This wasn't the trail I intended to do but I was denied access to board the Albury train due to too many bikes in Melbourne. It was a hot 30 degree April day and I was not looking forward to doing 100km plus to Tallarook or return and a late train home.

As I left Bendigo Station at about 10am, I spotted a bus to Heathcote. Not only was it about to leave, it had a bike rack on the front for two bikes. An hour later I was at the Heathcote Bakery where the bus terminates refuelling. I am not certain that all buses have the rack but the driver was very accommodating and this may be an excellent option.

The section from Heathcote to Axedale is dry and lacks water points so please take more water than you would normally. Axedale is worth an hour or so. I had a wade at the Platypus Compass on the river to cool down and a feed at the Tavern.

The trail fairies have been hard at work explaining the history and the route is well maintained. On return was a well timed beer at the Handle Bar and then the train back.

As Anton M said – getting to the trail head in Bendigo could be improved however the trail is well worth the effort but the 100km return makes it a long day unless you start early.

https://youtu.be/XKRsQAlmpKM?si=H3E93PGvSZJOEdpA

By: Wolter K.

Wolter K. — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:55:20 +0000

1/70 Great weather on the O'Keefe today. It's been a long time since I last rode it, when it stopped at Axedale after numerous detours off the embankment, with the old swing bridge across Axe Creek for a little excitement to finish. Hard to believe it's the same trail, although the dogleg Midland Highway crossing is a shocker, despite the pedestrian refuges. Thanks, VicRoads. Much prefer starting from Bobs St or Pratts Park Rd. 100 km there and back. Nice lunch at Fodder in Heathcote