Great Victorian Rail Trail

Victoria's longest rail trail, following the former Tallarook-Mansfield railway (opened 1891) through the Goulburn Valley and into the High Country, with a 14.78km spur branching off the main line at Cathkin south to Alexandra (former Alexandra branch line, opened 1909). From Tallarook the trail follows the heritage-listed Goulburn River through the Trawool Valley, climbs gently to Yea and through the historic 1889 Cheviot Tunnel, continues through Molesworth to Cathkin (junction for the Alexandra spur), over the trail's highest point at Merton Gap (397m), across Lake Eildon on the 385m Bonnie Doon Bridge, and on into Mansfield through the Mullum Wetlands. The Alexandra spur is a there-and-back branch, not a through-route - riders detour off the main corridor at Cathkin, visit Alexandra (Timber Tramway and Museum at the old Alexandra Station), and return the same way to continue on the main line. NOTE: as of this build, sections of the trail remain closed following extensive January 2026 bushfire damage - see errata for current status.

Main line, Tallarook-Mansfield (approx. 122km): Tallarook-Yea (approx. 38km) follows the Goulburn River through the Trawool Valley; Yea-Yarck (approx. 28km) passes through the Cheviot Tunnel and the Cathkin junction; Yarck-Bonnie Doon (approx. 33km) crosses the trail's highest point at Merton Gap; Bonnie Doon-Mansfield (approx. 23km) crosses Lake Eildon on the Bonnie Doon Bridge and finishes at the old Mansfield Railway Station. Spur, Cathkin-Alexandra (approx. 14.78km, there-and-back off the main line at Cathkin): easy grade for the first 6km to the old Koriella station, then a steadier climb towards Cathkin, with a notable climb out of Alexandra up to Eglinton Cutting for views of the Cathedral Range.