The North East Tasmanian Rail Trail is a very scenic 26 kilometre rail trail from Scottsdale through a beautiful rainforest to Tulendeena.
With the eastern end only 16 kilometres from the internationally famous Blue Derby mountain bike tracks, it’s a must-do if you visit Tasmania.
In November 2024, Rhonda and I loaded our eBikes onto the back of my car, crossed Bass Strait aboard the Spirit of Tasmania and began a two-week cycling holiday in Tasmania.
Our day on the North East Tasmanian Rail Trail was definitely one of the highlights of our tour.
We were staying at Bridport and drove to Scottsdale to begin our ride. Our plan was to ride from Scottsdale at the western end of the trail up to the eastern end of the rail trail at Tulendeena and then (mostly) roll back to Scottsdale for a coffee.
Scottsdale to Don’s Dunny – 9Km
As we left Scottsdale, we were rolling down through very scenic dairy farmland.
After a couple of crossings of the Tasman Highway and a short section near an industrial area, we headed into peaceful countryside. Not another car until we returned to Scottsdale at the end of our ride!
Soon we came to a bridge that crossed the very pretty Great Forester River.
Only a short way on was Don’s Dunny at Tonganah.
Apart from the convenience of a clean and attractive toilet almost half way along the trail, this dunny is worth mentioning because it gives me an opportunity to talk about the outstanding work done by the local Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club of Scottsdale has been a major player in the development of the North East Tasmanian Rail Trail since 2012. They are also very active in maintaining the trail and it is truly one of the best cared for forest rail trails that I have seen in Australia.
The toilet at Tonganah is named after local Rotarian Don Dickenson, who served the community as a Rotarian for 45 years and was actively involved in the development of the rail trail and this public toilet.
Don’s Dunny to Kamona Station – 12Km
After Don’s Dunny, we began the sixteen-kilometre low-gradient climb towards the eastern end of the trail.
There were several beautiful, deep granite cuttings. This one just east of Trewalla Station was the most outstanding.
The beautiful tree-fern lined track continued gently upward. From time to time the cuttings opened up and we were riding along huge steep-sided embankments. Tall eucalypts soared out of the gullies below.
Occasional signage referred to “Billycock” as the eastern end of the NE Tasmanian Rail Trail.
After six kilometres we arrived at Trewalla Station. There was an attractive shelter, a place to sit, and an interesting information board describing the history of the place.
After Trewalla Station, the verdant rainforest beauty continued. In patches of sunlight, cream-coloured wildflowers bordered the track.
Some parts of the trail were less lush and we rode through equally attractive dry schlerophyll forest.
When we reached Kamona Station, we knew we had completed the majority of the climb.
We stopped to enjoy our packed lunch.
Kamona Station to Tulendeena 5 Km
After all the beautiful forest we had ridden through, it gave us a bit of a shock to see the logging beside the next section of the North East Tasmanian Rail Trail.
The climb was easier now and after five kilometres, we came to the current end of the North East Tasmanian Rail Trail at Tulendeena, also known as “Billycock”.
Summary of the NE Tasmanian Rail Trail
- Length: 26 kilometres one way, 52 kilometres return. If you need a shorter return ride, you could start your ride at Don’s Dunny (Tonganah Road not far from the Tasman Highway) and head twelve kilometres towards Kamona (26 kilometres return). This is the most beautiful forest section of the NE Tasmanian Rail Trail.
- Difficulty: Easy, with a long, low-gradient climb – 272 metres over the 26 kilometres.
- Surface: Gravel and very manageable but with a short sandy section near Tonganah.
- Suitable for gravel or mountain bikes.
- Signage: Limited, but the route is not difficult to follow.
- Best Times: Suitable for most times of the year, taking care of course on hot or wet days.
- Water and toilets: No potable water after you leave Scottsdale, toilet at Don’s Dunny, Tonganah.
- Coffee and Food: Several options at Scottsdale. We tried the House Paddock coffee shop (formerly the Scottsdale Art Gallery and Cafe), which was excellent.
Map of the North East Tasmanian Rail Trail
Bicycle Network Tasmania provides an excellent map of this rail trail on their website. Their concept is that you could park at the eastern end at Tulendeena and then have coffee/lunch in Scottsdale before riding back.
However, because we preferred to get the majority of the climbing out of the way in the first half, we chose to start at the western end in Scottsdale. We took our lunch with us (Kamona Station is a great rest stop) and had coffee afterwards at Scottsdale. Here is a map of the North East Tasmanian Rail Trail starting at Scottsdale.
The NE Tasmanian Rail Trail reminded me of the High Country Rail trail in Victoria between Shelley and Tallangatta.
For more detailed information about this rail trail see the Rail Trails Australia website.
For a great guided tour of Tasmania that includes a day on the NE Tasmanian Rail Trail, see Tour de Vines tour from Launceston to Hobart.
