Book This Tour →
Northern Rivers Rail Trail e-bike tour — cycling through rainforest and heritage railway tunnel Northern NSW
🚴 Guided Day Tour · Updated 2026

Brisbane →
Rail Trail
Adventure

Transport, e-bikes and expert guidance through tunnels, rainforest and heritage countryside on Australia's most scenic new rail trail — the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, Northern NSW.

🚐 Return Transport Included 🚴 E-Bikes for All Fitness Levels 🌿 524m Glow-Worm Tunnel 🍽️ Café Lunch Included

Escape Brisbane for a World-Class Rail Trail Experience

Depart Brisbane in comfort and journey south into Northern NSW for a fully guided cycling adventure along one of Australia's most exciting new rail trails. The Northern Rivers Rail Trail — opened in 2023 and already attracting nearly 80,000 riders in its first six months — threads 24 kilometres through the lush Tweed Valley along the historic Murwillumbah–Casino railway corridor, decommissioned in 2004 and now reborn as a world-class recreational trail.

This all-inclusive, expert-guided day tour from Brisbane is perfectly designed for adventure travellers, couples, groups, and active seniors. Our e-bikes make every gradient effortless, allowing you to focus completely on the extraordinary scenery — rainforest canopy, rolling farmland, the dramatic cone of Wollumbin (Mt Warning) dominating the horizon, heritage railway bridges, and the atmospheric highlight of the journey: the 524-metre Burringbar Range Tunnel, home to glow-worms and microbats.

🚴 2026 Trail Update: Full 132km Route Confirmed

In February 2026, Byron Council voted to complete the Northern Rivers Rail Trail — dropping their policy to consider reinstating rail services and committing to the full 132km car-free cycling corridor from Murwillumbah to Casino. When complete, this will be one of the longest dedicated rail trails in Australia. Our tour currently covers the flagship Tweed section: Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek.

Everything Included — Zero Planning Required

All logistics organised so you can simply show up and enjoy.

🚐

Return Transport from Brisbane

Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle pickup and return from Brisbane CBD. Approximately 2.5-hour drive to Murwillumbah trailhead — the Tweed Valley scenery starts before you even get on a bike.

🚴

Premium E-Bike Hire

Quality pedal-assist e-bikes fitted to your height before departure. Battery-assisted cycling means the gentle undulations of the Tweed Valley are effortless — even for complete beginners. Helmet included.

🌿

Expert Local Guide

Your guide knows every story along the corridor — the railway history, the villages, the glow-worm ecology of the Burringbar Tunnel, local Aboriginal connections to Wollumbin, and the best spots for wildlife.

🍽️

Café or Pub Lunch

A relaxed lunch stop at one of the charming local venues along the trail — The Platform Café in Murwillumbah, the Pour Café in Burringbar, or the Hosanna Farm Stay. Locally sourced where possible.

🔦

Tunnel Torches & Safety Briefing

Everything needed for the Burringbar Range Tunnel — lights for your bike and personal torch. A full safety and gear briefing is given before departure to ensure confidence on trail.

🐾

Small Group Experience

Maximum small-group size ensures a personal, relaxed pace. Dogs welcome on-lead on the trail — let us know at booking if you're bringing your four-legged adventure companion.

Trail Highlights — What Makes This Tour Unforgettable

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail packs an extraordinary range of experiences into a single 24km corridor.

Railway tunnel cycling — Burringbar Range Tunnel glow-worm and microbat habitat Northern Rivers Rail Trail
★ Star Attraction

Burringbar Range Tunnel — 524 Metres of Magic

The undisputed highlight of the trail — a 524-metre former railway tunnel that is home to glow-worms and microbats. Cool (a welcome contrast to Queensland heat), atmospheric, and completely unique. Your guide will explain the tunnel's ecology and you'll ride (or walk) through in hushed wonder. Bring a torch — the tunnel is kept deliberately dark to protect the glow-worm colony.

Heritage railway bridge cycling — Northern Rivers Rail Trail Tweed Valley bridges and rainforest
Heritage

26 Heritage Railway Bridges

The Tweed section features 26 bridges — 16 restored heritage railway structures and 10 modern bypasses — crossing the Tweed River and its tributaries through lush valley farmland. Each bridge offers a different perspective of the landscape: river reflections, rainforest canopy, or open views to the volcanic hills beyond.

Wollumbin Mount Warning volcanic cone view from Northern Rivers Rail Trail Tweed Valley Queensland
Iconic Views

Wollumbin (Mt Warning) Views Throughout

The distinctive volcanic cone of Wollumbin (Mt Warning) — the first place to receive sunlight each morning in mainland Australia — dominates the horizon along long stretches of the trail. This World Heritage landscape of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia is the backdrop to your entire ride through the Tweed Valley.

Murwillumbah heritage railway station Northern Rivers Rail Trail starting point Tweed Valley NSW
Heritage

Murwillumbah Railway Station Trailhead

Your journey begins at the heritage-listed Murwillumbah Railway Station — a beautifully restored 1920s station with a distinctive concave platform. Adjacent to the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre, the station is a destination in its own right before the trail even begins. The Platform Café is here for your pre-ride coffee.

Northern Rivers Rail Trail wildlife — wallabies koalas kingfishers bellbirds Tweed Valley cycling
Wildlife

Wildlife All Along the Trail

Ride with your eyes open — the Tweed Valley is a wildlife sanctuary. Expect curious wallabies grazing trail-side, kingfishers darting between river trees, occasional koalas high in the eucalyptus canopy, and the constant soundtrack of bellbirds and whipbirds. Your guide will know exactly where to look and when to stop.

Village café stop on Northern Rivers Rail Trail — Burringbar Pour Café and Hosanna Farm Stay
Food & Culture

Charming Village Stops

The trail threads through four beautiful villages: Stokers Siding, Burringbar, Mooball, and Crabbes Creek. Each has its own character. Burringbar's Pour Café (a local legend, hidden behind the wine shop) and Hosanna Farm Stay are beloved stops. The Teakwood Café in Murwillumbah is famous for its coffee and mind-blowing chocolate brownies.

Full Day Itinerary

A seamlessly organised day from Brisbane departure to return — every detail handled.

🏙️
Morning Departure

Depart Brisbane CBD

Comfortable pickup from a central Brisbane location in our air-conditioned vehicle. The 2.5-hour drive south via the M1 Pacific Motorway crosses the NSW border at Tweed Heads and winds into the lush Northern Rivers hinterland — already a scenic journey worth the early start.

🚉
Mid Morning

Murwillumbah Railway Station — Arrival & Bike Fitting

Arrive at the heritage-listed Murwillumbah Railway Station — your trailhead. E-bike fitting and safety briefing followed by a pre-ride coffee at The Platform Café. Visit the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre if time allows — both are exceptional.

🚴
Mid Morning → Midday

Ride Through the Tweed Valley

Begin your ride north-west from Murwillumbah. The first section is sealed path through town before opening into compacted gravel trail through farmland and rainforest. Cross the first of 26 heritage bridges, with Wollumbin (Mt Warning) watching over your progress. Wallabies graze trail-side. Bellbirds call from the trees. Kingfishers dart across the river crossings.

🔦
Morning Highlight

The Burringbar Range Tunnel — 524 Metres of Wonder

The climax of the trail. Switch on your lights as you enter the 524-metre Burringbar Range Tunnel — a perfectly dark, cool passage through the range. Your eyes adjust and the glow-worms begin to appear on the ceiling — tiny constellations of bioluminescent light. Microbats rustle above. Your guide shares the ecology and history of this extraordinary habitat. No experience can quite prepare you for this moment.

Late Morning

Burringbar Village Stop

Emerge from the tunnel into the village of Burringbar. The legendary Pour Café — hidden behind the wine shop with a toilet entrance that must be seen to be believed — serves exceptional coffee. The Hosanna Farm Stay nearby is popular for animal interactions and a farm-fresh break. Both are worth the pause.

🍽️
Midday

Lunch Stop — Included

A relaxed café or pub lunch at a local venue, included in your tour. The Tweed Valley has some surprisingly excellent dining — locally sourced produce, craft beverages, and the kind of hospitality only small communities deliver. Your guide will share recommendations based on the day's group.

🌿
Afternoon

Continue to Mooball & Crabbes Creek

The final section through Mooball to Crabbes Creek passes two more bridges and the Hulls Road Tunnel before reaching the current end of the Tweed section. Optional return ride to Murwillumbah for those who want more kilometres, or regroup with the vehicle for the journey back north.

🏙️
Evening Return

Return to Brisbane

Comfortable return journey to Brisbane CBD, arriving early evening. The drive north through the Gold Coast hinterland provides a different perspective on the afternoon light. You'll return with extraordinary memories, a completed world-class rail trail, and a very good appetite for dinner.

⏱ Trail note: The 24km Murwillumbah–Crabbes Creek section takes approximately 1.5–2 hours at a leisurely cycling pace with e-bikes, not including stops. The full day includes ample stop time at villages, the tunnel, and lunch. It can also be ridden as a 48km return journey for those wanting more saddle time.

Why This Tour Is So Popular

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail is already one of the most talked-about new cycling experiences in Australia — and our guided tour from Brisbane makes it completely accessible.

Zero Planning Required

Transport, e-bikes, guide, lunch, tunnel equipment — everything is organised. Show up, get on, and enjoy.

🚴

E-Bikes Make It for Everyone

No cycling experience or fitness required. The pedal-assist e-bikes flatten any gradient and turn a 24km ride into a relaxed, achievable adventure for all ages and abilities.

🌿

Completely Unique Experience

A 524m glow-worm tunnel, 26 heritage railway bridges, World Heritage landscape views, and rainforest cycling — you simply cannot do this anywhere else in Australia.

📅

Perfect Day Trip Distance

Just 140km from Brisbane, this is an ideal full-day escape — far enough to feel like a genuine adventure, close enough to return comfortably the same evening.

🐕

Dog Friendly

Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail on-lead. Let us know when booking and we'll accommodate your four-legged adventurer.

📸

Instagram-Worthy at Every Turn

Wollumbin silhouettes, tunnel glow-worm constellations, heritage bridge reflections, and rainforest light — every kilometre delivers a photograph worth sharing.

Ready for the Rail Trail Adventure?

All transport, e-bikes, guide and lunch included. Limited spots per departure — book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Reserve Your Spot Today

Frequently Asked Questions

The Murwillumbah trailhead is approximately 140km south of Brisbane — around 2.5 hours by road via the M1 Pacific Motorway. On our guided day tour, comfortable air-conditioned transport is provided from Brisbane CBD and return. The trailhead is also only 36km (less than 30 minutes) from Gold Coast Airport, making it accessible for visitors based on the Gold Coast.
Absolutely. The Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek section is generally flat with only gentle undulations, and our premium e-bikes make those gradients effortless. The 24km trail typically takes 1.5–2 hours at a leisurely pace with e-bikes. No cycling experience, fitness level, or age group is excluded — we have had riders from 8 to 80 on this tour.
The Burringbar Range Tunnel is the 524-metre highlight of the Tweed Rail Trail section — a former railway tunnel that is now home to a colony of glow-worms and a population of microbats. Riding (or walking) through this cool, atmospheric passage is unlike anything else in Australia. The tunnel is kept deliberately dark to protect the glow-worm colony. We provide bike lights and personal torches for all guests as part of the tour inclusions.
In 2026, two major sections are open: the Tweed section (24km Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek, opened March 2023 — our tour section) and the Casino-to-Lismore section (29.7km, opened in two stages through 2024). Byron Council voted in February 2026 to commit to completing the full 132km trail from Murwillumbah to Casino, dropping their consideration of reinstating rail services. When complete, this will be one of Australia's longest dedicated rail trail corridors.
The trail is open year-round and beautiful in all seasons. Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) offer the most comfortable temperatures with lower humidity. Winter (June–August) is excellent — crisp and clear with stunning visibility of Wollumbin (Mt Warning). Summer (December–February) brings lush green but also higher humidity and occasional rain. The tunnel is cool and atmospheric in any season — a welcome relief in summer.
The trail is open to personal bikes (we recommend gravel or hybrid tyres, not road tyres, as the gravel sections require grip). However, our premium e-bikes are included in the tour price and are strongly recommended — the pedal-assist makes the trail accessible to all fitness levels and allows you to focus on the scenery rather than the effort. Contact us to discuss personal bike arrangements for your group.