accessibility statement
As at December 2024
At the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, we are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy our beautiful trail. We aim to provide an accessible and inclusive experience for all visitors, including those with disabilities. Our goal is for everyone to explore and connect with the natural beauty of the Rail Trail in a safe and enjoyable way. We encourage visitors with disabilities to review the information provided, plan their visit, and consider traveling with a friend, family member, carer, or supporter on their first visit to ensure the best experience possible. As we continue to enhance the accessibility of the Rail Trail, we are dedicated to updating our facilities and services. This statement will be revised as improvements are made to further accommodate the needs of all visitors.
Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek Section
At Murwillumbah Railway Station there is ground level access directly to the trail and 2 access ramps to the platform – each located at the northern and southern ends of the platform. There are 2 designated accessible parking bays adjacent to the trail entry at ground level. Direct access to the trail from the platform is via the access ramps and ground level trail entry point.
As a former Railway Station, there is a drop between the platform and the track below. The platform edge is clearly signposted, has tactile ground surface indicators and high contrast colour as a precaution. The helpful staff at the Visitor Information Centre at the Murwillumbah Railway Station can assist with trail related enquiries and information about amenities and access.
Casino to Lismore section
Old Casino Station – 48 untimed parking spaces, two of which are accessible spaces; Spring Grove car park – Spring Grove has a bus turn around bay, along with 122 untimed spaces, two of which are accessible spaces; Naughtons Gap car park has six untimed car and trailer spaces to allow easier access to the bridle trail, as well as three untimed car spaces; Bentley Road car park has 32 untimed car spaces, two accessible spaces, and eight car and trailer spaces.
At the car park adjacent to the Lismore Railway Station there is ground level access directly to the Rail Trail. There are also two designated accessible parking bays.
Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek Section
At Murwillumbah Railway Station, there are 2 dedicated accessible parking bays at the northern end of the Station adjacent to the ground level entry for the trail and ramp access to the platform. There is also a dedicated set down/bus bay at the southern entry of the Station with an access ramp available to the platform.
At Burringbar, there is a designed accessible parking bay located at Burringbar Memorial Reserve and Masterson Park for users to travel along the sealed asphalt section that connects to Mooball. The remainder of the trail has lots of general parking within the public road network.
Casino to Lismore section
There is ground level access directly to the trail head and there are two designated accessible parking bays adjacent to the trail entry at ground level.
At the car park adjacent to the Lismore Railway Station, there are two dedicated accessible parking spots adjacent to the ground level entry for the Rail Trail.
Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek Section
There are existing public toilets located at Stokers, Burringbar, Mooball and Crabbes Creek townships. All are heritage or older facilities, which are not compliant with current Australian Standards for disabled access and mobility, and may not be accessible for people with disability. We understand this presents a challenge for some people in community to access and enjoy the trail, and we are committed to make access improvements as funding becomes available.
A current priority is to construct an accessible toilet at the Murwillumbah Railway Station and this will be completed and opened as soon as possible pending the heritage approvals to do so. Council’s Rail Trail and Parks and Active Communities teams will actively seek funding to deliver improved village connections and public infrastructure along the trail.
Casino to Lismore section
Toilets are located at Bentley Road car park. There are also public toilets located at the Old Casino Station, which are older facilities and not compliant with Australian Standards for disabled access and mobility and may not be accessible for people with disability. Planning is underway to construct an accessible toilet at the Spring Grove Road car park.
Along Union Street, Lismore in front of the Rail Trail car parking there are male and female public toilets (some features are non-compliant with current Australian Standards for disabled access and mobility.) Options to build an accessible toilet are being pursued.
Tweed Shire Council has formed a new collaboration with Cycling Without Age to bring an innovative and inclusive service exclusively to the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. The collaboration provides free trishaw rides for elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and those with reduced mobility, fostering community connections and enhancing access to the award-winning trail. Cycling Without Age is an independently operated, not-for-profit organisation with a mission to reconnect vulnerable individuals with their communities and environment through free trishaw rides. It has 37 chapters across Australia.
For all bookings please contact burringbartrishawbookings@gmail.com and provide your name and phone number, preferred time and date, and how many seats you require. Please note that each trishaw can accommodate 2 people. If you require a carer to accompany you, please book 2 seats.
Open Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30 am – 12.30 pm. Bookings are encouraged.
Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek Section
The rail trail surface is a combination of sealed asphalt and compact gravel that is accessible and suitable for a wide range of users and mobility devices. This 24 kilometre section features 6 kilometres of sealed asphalt in 2 high traffic sections. One section is between the Murwillumbah Railway Station to the Tweed Regional Gallery and the second section is between Burringbar and Mooball townships. The remaining 18 kilometres is a solid compacted gravel, suitable for mobility scooters and devices.
Casino to Lismore section
The rail trail surface is a combination of sealed asphalt and compact gravel which is accessible, durable and suitable for a wide range of users and mobility devices. There is a sealed asphalt section at the Naughtons Gap tunnel and additional concrete sections at key entry points for improved accessibility. The whole path is suitable for mobility scooters and devices.
Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek Section
There are 7 rest stop areas along the trail including the trailhead at Murwillumbah Railway Station, Tweed Regional Gallery, Stokes Siding, Upper Burringbar, Burringbar, Mooball and Crabbes Creek. The majority feature a shade structure, bike racks and a picnic table and bench style seating. Water is available at Murwillumbah Railway Station, Burringbar and Mooball.
Casino to Lismore section
There are eleven rest stop areas along the Casino to Lismore section including the Old Casino Station, Spring Grove car park, Naughtons Gap car park, Naughtons Gap Tunnel and the Bentley Road car park. The majority feature a shade structure, bike racks and a picnic table and bench style seating. Water is available at Old Casino Station.
There are six new rest stops on the Lismore side of the Back Creek Bridge, Bentley including Lismore Railway Station, Rifle Range Road, Kyogle Road/Cubawee, Leycester Station (Lilly Pond), Back Creek Bridge, Leycester, and Oakey Creek/Bungabbee Road. All feature a shelter, a picnic table, and bench-style seating. Drinking water is available at the Lismore Railway Station and at the first rest stop at Rifle Range Road (approximately 5 km from Lismore Railway Station).
Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek Section
There is a ramp at Murwillumbvah Railways Station that is fully accessible and connect the platform to ground level access of the trail. There are concrete pathways connecting the trail to the existing public toilets at Burringbar and Mooball townships. The pathway that connects the rail trail to the Tweed Regional Gallery is not accessible and features steep inclines and several sets of stairs. There are no other stairs on the Rail Trail.
Casino to Lismore section
There is a pathway connecting the trail to the public toilets at the Bentley Road car park.
The Northern Rivers Rail Trail welcomes assistance animals on all areas of the open sections. In line with the existing trail rules, all dogs must be on a short lead at all times. Owners must pick up after their dogs.
The Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek section offers a 24 kilometre continuous path of travel through rural and urban townships and stunning natural environment, however some sections of the Rail Trail are more accessible for people with disability than others, in terms of accessible amenities, toilets and parking nearby. This is because the rail trail project and construction budget was only tasked to deliver the shared-user path and related signage.
During the course of construction, Council conducted 2 audits on the Rail Trail and the Murwillumbah Railway Station to identify existing access features available and where improvements were needed. We are committed to continue to improve the access of the rail trail for everyone to enjoy, and as funding becomes available, we will work hard to make those improvements over time.
For future plans and projects please visit: Future plans and projects | Northern Rivers Rail Trail
We are committed to providing equal access to our community, including via our website and customer services. Our vision for the website is to significantly enhance the online customer experience and make it easy for residents, businesses and visitors to find exactly what they’re looking for regardless of location, age, ability or technology. If you have any difficulties using this website or finding what you’re looking for, contact us.
Web content accessibility
We are committed to making our website as accessible as possible and aim for ‘AA’ standard with the international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Using this website
Our website has been designed to work on all devices and browsers, however you may experience some limitations on older technologies, such as Internet Explorer browser.
If possible, try to use a modern browser such as Chrome or Safari.
Navigation
For keyboard only users we have a ‘skip to content’ link at the top of each page, hidden from standard view, that appears as the first item when tabbing through the page.
The site allows keyboard users to tab through all menus and content. You can use arrow keys to move through options within a container such as a drop-down. Pressing the Escape key dismisses a menu or container.
Reading text aloud
Most modern computers and devices such as phone and tablets have in-built software that can automatically read the text aloud for you on this website.
Microsoft Windows 10 and 11
Windows Narrator is a screen-reading app that’s built into Windows, so there’s nothing you need to download or install.
iPhone and iPad
Both iPhones and iPads include the VoiceOver feature – find out more about how it works:
- Hear iPhone speak the screen, selected text, and typing feedback
- Hear iPad speak the screen, selected text, and typing feedback
Apple Mac
You can have your Mac speak text that’s on the screen.
You can also customise the keyboard shortcut and set other options.
Font size and zooming
The website has been optimised for you to zoom in and out, which also increases or decreases the font size.
Use the in-built controls of your browser, we’ve included some guidance and links below.
Google Chrome
- For keyboards, hold down the Ctrl key and press the or – keys to zoom in or out.
- Holding Ctrl and pressing zero (0) resets the zoom back to 100%.
Read more about how to change text, image and video sizes in Chrome.
Apple Safari
- For iPhone and iPad, use your fingers to pinch open or closed to zoom in or out.
- For Mac, hold down the Command (Cmd) key and press the or – keys to zoom in or out.
Read more about how to zoom on web pages in Safari on Mac or for iPhone or iPad.
Mozilla Firefox
- For keyboards, hold down the Ctrl key and press the or – keys to zoom in or out.
- Holding Ctrl and pressing zero (0) resets the zoom back to 100%.
Read more about how to change font size and zoom in Firefox.
Microsoft Edge
- For keyboards, hold down the Ctrl key and press the or – keys to zoom in or out.
- Holding Ctrl and pressing zero (0) resets the zoom back to 100%.
Read more about the accessibility features in Microsoft Edge, including making text larger.
Photos and videos
All images have a meaningful description, known as ‘alt text’, which means it is read aloud when using a screen reader, for example.
Most of our videos are uploaded to our YouTube channel and include subtitles or captions. The videos are often embedded within a web page and can be played directly without needing to leave the website.
Documents and downloads
We generally try to provide information as content on the page for the best accessibility, however documentation and downloads are mainly available in Adobe’s Portable Document Format (PDF).
To view or print PDF documents you will need the free software Adobe Acrobat Reader. Read more about Adobe’s commitment to accessibility.
Printing
Pages on this website are optimised for printing.
If you’re using a keyboard, you can usually hold down Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and press P. This should open your browser’s print window to select where you’d like to print to.
For all access enquiries to best plan ahead for your trip please call 02 6673 0404, email hello@northernriversrailtrail.com.au. We also encourage you to share your feedback so we can continuously improve the trail.
