In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new trail in town.
Since its opening in March 2023, over 70,000 people have visited the new Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, smashing the expected annual visitor numbers of 27,000 in just four months.
The trail follows the old railway line as it meanders 24 km from Murwillumbah Train Station through the fields and farms and the country villages of Dunbible, Stokers Siding, Burringbar, Mooball and Crabbes Creek.
Along the way, you will find plenty of things to see and do, coffee at the general store, Hosanna Farm Stay and the Tweed Regional Gallery, to name but a few.
From Crabbes Creek it continues south through Byron, Lismore and Casino, with work starting on the Bentley section. It is a mixed-use trail with walkers, runners, dog walkers, cyclists (and even horses in some sections!) all sharing the path.
If you aren’t a confident cyclist or are building up your fitness, Pedals and Picnics have the solution. Their Californian-made Murf e-bikes are imported by a local Tweed company and have an easy step-through design, fat tyres perfect for the gravel, and a wide comfy seat, which make these bikes ideal to explore the trail.
Even cycling enthusiasts may wish to try out these zippy bikes, which make it possible to stop several times to look around and still make it to Crabbes Creek and back. Along with the bike hire, they can provide everything you need for the perfect picnic including pre-prepared hampers full of delicious local food. They can even go ahead of you and organise your picnic so you can arrive at a fully-set-up location and just enjoy your lunch without having to cart it with you on the bike.
Mick and Britt are Gold Coast locals from Currumbin who recently relocated to Murwillumbah and set up Valley E-bikes and Pedals and Picnics from their house on Railway Street. They are well acquainted with the new trail and can give you advice on how to plan your day. A few tips from me would be to take coins for the farmgate fruit stalls and top up on local fruit and veg, also take a jumper or jacket even on a warm day because the Murf bikes’ electric motor zips along with very minimal peddling so you might get chilly as you cruise the shady sections of the trail.
When I heard about the new trail, I thought it sounded good, but I was not prepared for how much I loved it. It felt as if you were on a trail in New Zealand’s Queenstown, or the wine trails of the Clare Valley in South Australia. It really is beautifully done and will only get better as it grows organically with local businesses popping up and offering new experiences along the trail.
I can’t help thinking this is exactly the type of infrastructure that is going to catapult the Tweed to its rightful place at the top of interstate and international travel bucket lists.
To book your bikes and picnic visit pedalsandpicnics.com.au.
Photos by Sarah Tayler.
