Lismore Station was the scene on Saturday morning for the official opening of the next section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, providing a safe off-road route for cyclists, walkers and horse-riders to travel from Lismore to Bentley.
The newly completed trail carries travellers 16 km in one direction, linking up with the Casino-Bentley rail trail which opened earlier this year. Together, these sections provide almost 30 km of what will eventually be the southern leg of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
After wending its way out of Lismore, the views from the new trail open up to farmland, creeks and forested hills.
When this section connects through to Eltham, Byron Bay and then Crabbes Creek (don’t hold your breath), it will be possible to ride all the way from Lismore to Murwillumbah, 132 km off road through rural land and forest, creating a major tourist drawcard for the region.
So what’s it like to ride?
The new trail has a slightly rougher surface than the already opened sections (a few people had to stop and tighten bolts after riding in both directions), with numerous creek crossings, good facilities for horses and some clever use of recycled railway timber and metalwork.
It’s a fascinating perspective on Bentley to see the other side of the hill where history was made (no plaque though), and the spots where there are established trees provide a welcome respite on a hot day (it would be great to see more trees planted along the route).
There were lots of happy faces from near and far enjoying the trail on day one, including cyclists of all shapes and sizes, walkers with dogs, scooters, horse-riders and a couple of tandems.
Unlike what happens at the Murwillumbah end, there’s no integration of the rail trail with Lismore Station (not even a ramp to explore the heritage building), which seems like a missed opportunity. Businesses adjoining the trail on the day of opening, such as Two Mates Brewing, were clearly enjoying a strong trade.
Funding for the Rail Trail project comes from the federal government’s Building Better Regions Fund.
Check out the photo gallery below to see more of the new trail:
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