24 km of Easy Adventure

Ride the Northern Rivers Rail Trail: Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek

If you’re looking for a relaxed, family-friendly gravel ride with plenty of places to stop, snack and explore, the northern end of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail delivers. Starting in Murwillumbah and rolling south toward Crabbes Creek, this stretch serves up sealed paths to warm up, gentle gradients, heritage bridges, a tunnel adventure, and farm-gate fun along the way.

Distance: 24 km one way (48 km return)
Style: shared rail trail (great for gravel, MTB and hybrids)
Best for: cruisy weekend rides, kids/new riders, and picnic-paced adventurers
Don’t forget: lights for the tunnel, swimmers for the farmstay, and a sense of curiosity

Start in Murwillumbah: coffee first, pedals second

Two children balancing on old railway tracks along the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, walking with arms outstretched while surrounded by lush green bushland and dappled sunlight, highlighting a playful, family-friendly trail experience.

Murwillumbah makes an ideal trailhead: park up, grab a takeaway coffee at the Platform cafe before starting your ride. Bring your own bike, or organise hire from one of the commercial operators nearby so you can travel light and still enjoy the trail at your own pace.

A smooth start: 2.2 km of sealed path

Adult adjusting a child’s helmet while seated in a rear bike seat on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, beside a smooth concrete path and lush green bushland, highlighting safe and family-friendly cycling facilities.

The first 2.2 km out of Murwillumbah is sealed, which is a big win for families, little legs, and riders who are new to gravel. It’s the perfect warm-up stretch before the trail returns to compacted surface. Around the 2 km mark you can choose to detour to the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre (accessed via a set of stairs) for a culture stop mid-ride. Meander past Dunbible and a string of scenic bridges

From here the ride settles into a satisfying rail-trail rhythm: gentle turns, old rail formation under your tyres, and regular little moments that make you stop and look around. Keep rolling south toward the historic site of Dunbible, crossing a series of scenic bridges that break up the kilometres with perfect photo pauses.

Make it a day out: lunch, a swim and farmyard friends

Adult and child riding together on a bicycle along the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, travelling beside a calm waterway and lush green vegetation. The smooth gravel surface and open scenery highlight a family-friendly and accessible trail experience.

If you’ve got time, plan a longer stop at Hosanna Farmstay. It’s an easy place to turn a ride into a full day: refuel with lunch, cool off with a swim, and let the kids say hello to the farm animals before you hop back on the bikes.

Tunnel time: Burringbar Range (500 m of darkness)

One of the most memorable moments on this section is heading through the Burringbar Range tunnel: around 500 metres of cool, echoing darkness. Bring lights (front and rear), take it steady, and keep your eyes peeled. If conditions are right you may spot glow worms along the walls and microbats flitting through the beam of your headlight.

Keep rolling (or turn back): villages, a pub stop and the Crabbes Creek finish

Adult and young child standing beside a metal railing on a bridge along the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, looking out over the surrounding greenery, highlighting a safe and engaging stop for families exploring the trail. Provide your feedback

After the tunnel, keep meandering south if everyone’s feeling good. You’ll pass through the laid-back villages of Burringbar and Mooball. Great places to pause, stretch, and decide whether you’re riding the full length or making this an out-and-back adventure. If it’s a hot day and you’re happy to add a side mission, Mooball has a historic pub with a pool. It’s ideal for a refreshing drink while the kids cool off with a dip. The full one-way journey to Crabbes Creek is 24 km, making it a satisfying 48 km return ride back to Murwillumbah.

Tips for a great day on the northern section

Bring lights for the Burringbar Range tunnel (ideally a steady front light plus a rear blinky).
Pack swimmers and a towel if you’re planning a farmstay stop or a pool-side detour.
Ride politely: it’s a shared trail with walkers, kids and dogs (slow down when passing).
Carry water and snacks. Even an “easy” rail trail feels long without fuel.
Download a map before you go as mobile reception can be patchy in sections.

Two adults and two children riding bicycles together across a metal bridge on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, with children seated on bikes including a front-mounted child seat, surrounded by lush green trees and a wide, smooth shared path suitable for family-friendly cycling.

This blog post was written in partnership with Bicycle Queensland.

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