Rail trail users
Cycling Walking / Running Families Horse riding Access for all
For more detailed information please refer to our frequently asked questions.
Cycling
The 24 km Tweed section is an easy and smooth ride for leisure and enthusiasts alike and features sealed asphalt (from Murwillumbah Railway Station to the Tweed Regional Gallery and between Burringbar and Mooball Stations). The rest of the Trail is a very solid compacted gravel suitable for all riders and mobility devices.
With a gradual incline and gradient slope at a maximum of 4.5%, it is a suitable trail for all rides. Some shorter and steeper sections where pathways bypass bridges have a slope up to 15%.
Along the Trail are 6 nodes to rest at, each with bike racks. For cyclists, the Murwillumbah Railway Station precinct features a free bike repair station and pump as well as being home to Murwillumbah Cycles (and their hire shop in Mooball) to assist with any bike needs. There are bike air pumps (suitable for dual valves) at Murwilumbah Railway Station, Stoker Siding Station, Burringbar Station and Mooball Station.
The connection to the Tweed Regional Gallery is steep and may not be suitable some riders to carry their bikes up if a trip to the Gallery is part of your plans. Your bike security is your responsibility when on the Trail, please secure your bike if you decide to leave it unattended.
If you need a shower, cool down or some hydrotherapy after your ride, try the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre.
Walking / running
The Rail Trail is ideal for a safe walk or jog. With the ability to join the Trail at a range of points, your journey can be as long or as short as you like.
The Trail surface is ideal with a combination of sealed and compact gravel with low slopes and inclines making it ideal for all types of ages, abilities and fitness levels.
A number of sections have a natural shade canopy. Please remember to save your skin and slip, slop, slap, seek and slide when out in our beautiful environment.
There will be water stations at the Murwillumbah Railway Station, Burringbar and Mooball as these locations are on town water.
If you are walking your dog, remember they must remain on short leads at all times on the Rail Trail. Pet Poo bags will be installed at Murwillumbah Railway Station, Burringbar and Mooball.
Families
The Trail is a fantastic way for the family to get out and enjoy our amazing backyard in a safe way. The Trail surface is a combination of sealed asphalt and compact gravel making it ideal for all types of bikes and prams.
For families, there are many things to do right along the Trail, and you can start and finish your journey at several different points. There are some fantastic partner experiences also that kids will love including the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre. For now though, here is the low down on some family friendly facilities.
The Murwillumbah Railway Station has public toilets with change facilities and will soon have an accessible bathroom and parents’ room. The station has ample general parking, however there are also a small number of parents with pram parks and two easy access ramps at the northern and southern ends of the platform, as well as ground level access to the Trail directly.
There are water bubblers at the Murwillumbah Railway Station and being installed at Burringbar and Mooball.
We’re in the process of developing a KM for Kids and a Young Explorers program in the next 6 months so stay tuned for that – the kids will love learning about nature, aboriginal culture and rail history!
There are 2 other family friendly facilities nearby to consider as part of your Trail days. A big shout out to our other Council services:
- The Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre in Murwillumbah is just around the corner and a great way for the family to cool off as they dip, slide or play.
- The Tweed Regional Museum is air conditioned and a fabulous way to take your exploring into town for free and educational activities for the kids.
Horse riding
On the Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, horses are allowed as part of a permit only trial in a 2.2 km designated horse-riding area north of Burringbar, heading towards Upper Burringbar.
The 2.2 km section is half compacted gravel and half sealed asphalt Signs along the Trail indicate where this section starts and ends and advises all users to take caution and give way to horses.
To ride a horse in the designated horse-riding trial area you must first obtain a horse-riding permit from Council.
Read more about horse riding.
Access for all
Our aim is for the rail trail to be accessible and inclusive of everyone and all abilities. The trail offers a 24 kilometre continuous path of travel through rural and urban townships and stunning natural environment, however some sections of the rail trail are more accessible for people with disability than others, in terms of accessible amenities, toilets and parking nearby. This is because the rail trail project and construction budget was only tasked to deliver the shared-user path and related signage.
During the course of construction, Council conducted 2 audits on the rail trail and the Murwillumbah Railway Station to identify existing access features available and where improvements were needed. We are committed to continue to improve the access of the rail trail for everyone to enjoy, and as funding becomes available, we will work hard to make those improvements over time.
We suggest that anyone with a disability read the information below, plan your trip and consider travelling with a friend, family member, carer or supporter on your first visit.
Trail surface: The rail trail surface is a combination of sealed asphalt and compact gravel that is accessible and suitable for a wide range of users and mobility devices. The Tweed section is 24 kilometres and features 6 kilometres of sealed asphalt in 2 high traffic sections. One section is between the Murwillumbah Railway Station to the Tweed Regional Gallery and the second section is between Burringbar and Mooball townships. The remaining 18 kilometres is a solid compacted gravel, suitable for mobility scooters and devices.
Murwillumbah Railway Station: There is ground level access directly to the trail and 2 access ramps to the platform – each located at the northern and southern ends of the platform. There are 2 designated accessible parking bays adjacent to the trail entry at ground level. Direct access to the trail from the platform is via the access ramps and ground level trail entry point.
As a former Railway Station, there is a drop between the platform and the track below. The platform edge is clearly signposted, has tactile ground surface indicators and high contrast colour as a precaution. The helpful staff at the Visitor Information Centre at the Murwillumbah Railway Station can assist with trail related enquiries and information about amenities and access.
Rest stops and seating: There are 7 rest stop areas along the trail including the trailhead at Murwillumbah Railway Station, Tweed Regional Gallery, Stokes Siding, Upper Burringbar, Burringbar, Mooball and Crabbes Creek.
The majority feature a shade structure, bike racks and a picnic table and bench style seating. Water is available at Murwillumbah Railway Station, Burringbar and Mooball.
Parking: At Murwillumbah Railway Station, there are 2 dedicated accessible parking bays at the northern end of the Station adjacent to the ground level entry for the trail and ramp access to the platform. There is also a dedicated set down/bus bay at the southern entry of the Station with an access ramp available to the platform.
At Burringbar, there is a designed accessible parking bay located at Burringbar Memorial Reserve and Masterson Park for users to travel along the sealed asphalt section that connects to Mooball. The remainder of the trail has lots of general parking within the public road network.
Public toilets: There are existing public toilets located at Stokers, Burringbar, Mooball and Crabbes Creek townships. All are heritage or older facilities, which are not compliant with current Australian Standards for disabled access and mobility, and may not be accessible for people with disability. We understand this presents a challenge for some people in community to access and enjoy the trail, and we are committed to make access improvements as funding becomes available.
A current priority is to construct an accessible toilet at the Murwillumbah Railway Station and this will be completed and opened as soon as possible pending the heritage approvals to do so. Council’s Rail Trail and Parks and Active Communities teams will actively seek funding to deliver improved village connections and public infrastructure along the trail.
Mobility and pathways: There are concrete pathways connecting the trail to the existing public toilets at Burringbar and Mooball townships. The pathway that connects the rail trail to the Tweed Regional Gallery is not accessible and features steep inclines and several sets of stairs. There are no other stairs on the rail trail.
Assistance animals: Are welcome on the rail trail within the existing trail rules that require all dogs on a short lead at all times. Owners must pick up after their dogs.
Signage: The Trail Safety and Rules Signage features braille and is installed no higher than 60 centimetres from the ground on the station nodes along the trail. It also features QR codes to listen to and watch the inclusive and animated safety and rules educational videos. There are 5 safety tip animation videos, and one trail rules video that are all closed captioned.
Website: The rail trail website aims to meet W3C accessibility standards and can be accessed on any device with an internet connection.
Northern Rivers Rail Trail brand and publications: The Rail Trail brand features accessible colour combinations for all print and online requirements with a dedicated brochure for trail access information.
For all access enquiries to best plan ahead for your trip please call 02 6673 0404, email hello@northernriversrailtrail.com.au. We also encourage you to share your feedback so we can continuously improve the trail.