Great Southern Rail Trail – Foster to Leongatha

The Great Southern Rail Trail is a popular and well-cared for rail trail in South Gippsland east of Melbourne. Extending for 72 kilometres from Port Welshpool to Leongatha, it covers a range of interesting scenery and passes through a number of attractive towns.

Today on the Great Southern Rail Trail, I planned to break my usual rule of “why go up when you can go down?” by starting at Foster and riding towards Leongatha. While there would be more climbing than rolling, the positive was that my husband and support driver, Derek, would only need to drop me at the start, enabling him to “get on with his man jobs” at our camp at Leongatha.

Foster to Fish Creek (12 km)

It was just after eight o’clock when Derek dropped me at the former Foster station.

I was a bit nervous about the first climb out of Foster. It was billed as a “gentle climb” but we had driven up the Hoddle Range between Foster and Leongatha in the car and the gradient appeared to be anything but gentle.

As it turned out, I need not have worried. The rail trail, by curving around to Fish Creek, climbed only 100 metres in seven kilometres at an average 1-2% gradient. The trail surface was packed gravel and in good condition.

Rainforest vegetation lined the track. It was a Saturday and a few cyclists rolled past me as I climbed.

Although it was a sultry day, when I reached the Hoddle Range lookout, the view towards Wilsons Promontory was beautiful.

I didn’t linger long though – a strong and chilly wind was blowing. Now for the rewards of my climb – a lovely roll through the rainforest all the way to Fish Creek.

Fish Creek, although small, is a creative centre. I liked the large teapot in the community garden at the former railway station.

I had a very welcome coffee with cake at the Gecko Studio Gallery. There are two other coffee shops in the small town, so you are spoilt for choice.

Fish Creek to Meeniyan (20 km)

Now feeling refreshed, I was ready to tackle the next hill on the Great Southern Rail Trail between Fish Creek and Buffalo. This time the climb lasted only four kilometres.

It was on this section that I encountered my second echidna in the wild. I had also seen one on the East Gippsland Rail Trail between Bruthen and Nicholson, but this time I was quicker with my phone and managed to get a short video and a photo.

As I cycled through the former station of Buffalo, I noted that it would be a good place to start a ride, with public toilets and plenty of space to park. Someone was learning to ride a horse in the clearing.

I continued on to Stony Creek. While using the facilities there, I learned that I was a “valued user” of the “Enviro Loo” and that my “contribution” would be reduced to 5% of its original mass by evaporating all liquids!

When I arrived in Meeniyan, I was a little early for lunch at  Moo’s at Meeniyan, so I settled for a coffee instead.

Meeniyan to Koonwarra (10 km)

The trail between Meeniyan and Koonwarra was scenic and in excellent condition

with three purpose-built bridges,

two of which that had been completed as recently as 2016 as part of the Black Spur Project.

Before long I arrived in Koonwarra and made my way to Milly and Romeo’s Artisan Bakery. Sitting on the balcony, I enjoyed cauliflower and leek soup with a delicious bread roll.

Koonwarra to Leongatha (10 km)

The lovely scenery continued even in the last section to Leongatha.

There was one more climb for the last five kilometres. When making my way back to the caravan park, I passed the former Leongatha railway station. Outside was a bus station and grass was growing through the railway tracks. I couldn’t help feeling a twinge of sadness.

Altogether I had cycled 52 kilometres and climbed 387 metres. I can thoroughly recommend this section of the Great Southern Rail Trail, both for its lovely scenery and for its excellent cafe options.

The official Great Southern Rail Trail website provides excellent detailed information if you are planning a ride. An easy, shorter and very enjoyable section of the trail is between Welshpool and Toora.

Other great rail trails in the Gippsland area are the East Gippsland Rail Trail, the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail and the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail.