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The iconic Great Southern Rail Trail is being extended

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Australia’s most southern mainland rail line, the Great Southern Rail Trail is about to get a little longer.

If there was one trail to rule them all, we’d probably pick the Great Southern. Down in Prom Country, just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, it traverses through Gippsland’s most picturesque towns (Leongatha, Stony Creek, Buffalo, to name a few), showcasing some stunning natural scenery along the way.

And now, thanks to the Andrews Labour Government’s $1.3 million funding, works have begun to extend the trail by 36 kilometres, meaning there will be even more natural beauty to behold, more cardio to complete and more trail mix to eat along the way.

Popular among walkers, cyclists and horse riders, the trail will be extended from 72 kilometres to 108 kilometres in length, connecting Nyora with Welshpool with a shared gravel track and eight bridges.

Construction is expected to be finished by February 2023, and once completed will start at Nyora and pass through Loch, Bena, Korumburra, Kardella and Leongatha. It will then join an existing rail trail that runs through the towns of Koonwarra, Meeniyan, Fish Creek, Foster, Toora, Welshpool and finishes at the freshly minted Long Jetty at Port Welshpool.

The project is partly funded by the Regional Infrastructure Fund, alongside the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund and is estimated to create seven full-time jobs for the region, as well as attract an addition $4 million in tourism each year. Great news for a region hit hard by COVID-19.

If the lush rainforests, crystal blue waters and green pastures of the rail trail weren’t calling you before, then they certainly will when there’s even more to discover.

THE DETAILS

WHAT: Great Southern Rail Trail is being extended
WHEN: February 2023
MORE INFO: Great Southern Rail Trail

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