Riding the Lilydale to Warburton rail trail



I have been in Melbourne for a year. I never thought this city would be called home. But life is funny like that. Even though I have been here a year, I still feel like a tourist – and I like that.

In fact, my weekends thrive on it and gives me the incentive to always be on the lookout for interesting activities to do. Like last weekend, I decided to ride the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail. The trail is not technically in the heart of Melbourne, it is about an hour out of the city, and worth a visit.



I first discovered the trail when I hiked Mt. Donna Buang in Warburton. The trail is an old rail corridor that runs between Lilydale and Warburton. It used to be an old rail line. The trains have now ceased running, the tracks removed, and cyclists, walkers, horse enthusiasts can enjoy the trail at their leisure.



The trail stretches 38km. We decided to ride the trail and hired bikes from Yarra Valley Cycles in Lilydale. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. They gave us a map and suggested places for lunch.

The trail is wide and the surface is easy to manage, especially for someone that rides a bike only a handful times a year. We stopped for lunch at Rail Carriage Cafe. There are other cafes set up on the trail too. If you want somewhere with views over the Yarra Valley, Killara Estate is perfect. You will need to get off the trail. It is not far and there are some hills to conquer but the views and wine are the perfect reward for the hard work.



We only covered three quarters of the track. You could do the trail in a day (there and back) if you kept to the path and breaks to a minimum.

Interested in checking out other rail trails in Australia? Click here!

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