Bellarine Rail Trail (32.5km)

Summary

From South Geelong the trail climbs gently to Leopold

A great day or weekend destination close to Melbourne and Geelong with scenery ranging from suburban to rolling farmland to the picturesque Swan Bay.
The Bellarine Peninsula has fine wineries, beaches and landscapes, and a wealth of other recreation opportunities.
From Drysdale to Queenscliff the trail is beside the Bellarine Peninsula Tourist Railway. The tourist railway is happy to take bicycles on their trains if you don’t want to ride in one (or both!) directions of this section.

For more information on this trail see the book Rail Trails of Victoria and South Australia.

The line was opened from Geelong to Queenscliff in 1879 to carry soldiers and materials to assist in the defence of Port Phillip Bay from possible attack by the Russians.  It also carried holiday makers to the popular seaside resort of Queenscliff.  The line was closed in 1976, but the section from Drysdale to Queenscliff was reopened as a tourist railway in 1981.  It officially became a rail trail in 2000.

Notes

• South Geelong to Queenscliff
• Bellarine Peninsula, 75km from Melbourne
• Surface – Fine gravel, Sealed
• Terrain – Hilly

For more information and a location map please visit RailTrails Australia.