The Riesling and Rattler Rail Trails are quite different in terms of scenery and topography. Many of the road approaches are chip sealed to make stopping easier and there are marker posts every kilometre, although some are faded.

Rattler Trail (20 km): Crosses open farming country from Riverton to Auburn

Riesling Trail south (25 km): Goes from Auburn to Clare through the Clare Valley, with its wine region and many historic towns.

Riesling Trail north (8 km): Essentially flat and an enjoyable ride through open farmland and vineyards from Clare to White Hut

Riverton to Rhynie (6.2 km)

• The Rattler Trail starts from the north-eastern corner of the Riverton Oval, opposite the holiday park and near the scoreboard (enter from Oxford Tce).
• Riverton’s magnificent railway station is now a private residence but there’s a bit of a view from public roads. There are some railcars and rolling stock in the former railyard. There are toilets, BBQ and picnic facilities near the budget holiday park.
• The first section has two gates to contain grazing stock. Please ensure you close them.
• After passing through the Riverton Golf Course, the trail enters a thick grove of swamp oaks; cool and shady on a hot day. The trail climbs gently through to Rhynie.
• At the Rhynie Station site shelter, you will find information boards with historical photos. A 650 m gravel track leads to the edge of town.
• There are no shops in Rhynie and even the historic hotel has closed, but there are toilets and picnic facilities in the park nearby.

Rhynie to Auburn (13.3 km)

• From Rhynie, the trail undulates through farming country with several steel bridges over creeks and low-level crossings for horses
• There is little evidence of Undalya siding, apart from an information board
• The entrance to Auburn is across a long steel bridge over Rice Creek, through a shady corridor of pines, then past the oval, Auburn Community Caravan Park and on to the former Auburn Railway Station, predictably now a wine cellar.
• The town centre, with a number of food and beverage outlets, is to the west of the trail, easily accessed via paths and quiet streets.
• There are no steep or dangerous sections, but take care at road crossings.

Auburn to Penwortham (15 km)

• The Riesling Trail starts at Auburn Station, where there is some parking, and is maintained to a very high standard. There are interpretive signs and wineries along the way.
• Head north from the station and cross the long bridge over the Wakefield River which opened in 2019 to enable the rail trail to be entirely on the railway corridor after 25 years of work.
• Cross the highway with care and enjoy the gentle climb to Penwortham, passing Leasingham and Watervale. There are several wine cellars and food outlets along the way.
• At Penwortham, the trail goes under Horrocks Hwy and then loosely follows the railway to Clare.
• Visit historic St Mark’s Church (visible from the trail and accessible from Pawelski Rd), where district pioneer John Horrocks was buried in 1846. Horrocks’ Cottage can also be viewed on the corner of Surrey La and Horrocks Hwy.

Penwortham to Clare (10 km)

• Penwortham is the highest point on the trail and it is downhill all the way from there.
• Sevenhill is 4km further on, with St Aloysius’ Church and Sevenhill Cellars a short distance up College Rd.
• The Clare Showgrounds siding has some artworks and is the start point of local ParkRuns. Passing along the eastern side of Clare, there is little evidence of the railway station and yards. There are a number of artworks and some relics in the station precinct and the old stationmaster’s house is now privately owned (the childhood home of internationally renowned author Monica McInerney).
• There is a carpark and shelter at the station site. A sculpture depicting Monica McInerney as a child reading books in the solitude of the roof top of the stationmaster’s house, was erected on the reserve adjacent to the station site in 2022.
• Follow the Clare town centre signs for numerous food and beverage options, toilets and shops.
• There are several options for cycle hire in Clare.
• There are no steep or dangerous sections, but take care at road crossings.

Clare to White Hut (8 km)

• This section extends north from the Clare Station precinct.
• It features a quality surface through shady cuttings and over bridges before coming out into beautiful farmland and vineyard areas.
• There are several artworks to view on the way.
• Take care crossing White Hut Rd as the gap in the pine log chicane is narrow and can be awkward.
• The trail ends at Barinia Rd, White Hut, the site of the Barinia siding. There’s a parking area and shady picnic table.

CONNECTING PATHS

• Melrose Park (500m): At the Drover and His Sheep sculpture (600 m north of the Clare Station precinct) take York Rd on the left and follow it north to Melrose Park. There are numerous trails within Melrose Park and an extensive model railway network, along with a lake, playground, toilets and picnic facilities. A further 500 m to the west are the Gleeson Wetlands with paths around an extensive planting of native shrubs and three water areas with a variety of bird species.
• Clare Valley Wine and Wilderness Trail (110km): A hiking and cycling trail designed to highlight the wine, food and natural landscapes of the Clare Valley. This trail intersects and occasionally follows the Riesling Trail. Stages 1, 2, 5 and 6 are complete and open for use. The remainder are under development.  A map can be downloaded from the official site here