The East Gippsland Rail Trail starts at Howitt Park on the east bank of the Mitchell River at Bairnsdale, continues through farmland for 10 Kms to Nicholson (sealed surface) with its spectacular bridge over the river. Then 22 Kms on to Bruthen and across the Tambo River, up into the Colquhoun forest en route to Nowa Nowa and Lake Tyers at the 59 Km mark. The section east from Nowa Nowa opened on 28 January 2006 completing the trail to its the final destination at Orbost on the iconic Snowy River. There is nearly 100 Km of rail trail for access on foot, bicycle or horse.
The railway came to Bairnsdale in 1888, but didn't reach Orbost until 1916, which was almost the end of Victoria's railway building period. This railway was notable for it's many long trestle bridges. The Mundiac Creek trestle was destroyed by bushfires in 1980. The Stony Creek trestle was the site of a derailment in 1964, when 4 goods trucks fell into the creek. The line was finally closed in 1987.
*** Congrats to the greynomads for a FTF ***