Getting here and parking
Getting here
Located on the New South Wales Far North Coast, the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is in the heart of a thriving region that offers visitors a kaleidoscope of activities. The main start of the Rail Trail at Murwillumbah is 36 km from Gold Coast Airport and 74 km from Ballina airport, with daily flights from all capital cities.
We hope this guide helps you plan your visit to the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. We do suggest that anyone with a disability read the access for all information, plan your trip and consider travelling with a friend, family member, carer or supporter on your first visit.
Directions and car parking
We encourage users to start and end their journey at a Rail Trail station or rest stop, however there is also a wide range of safe public parking on the road reserve areas adjacent to the Rail Trail outside of these areas. We understand that visitors of varying abilities will start and finish their adventures at different parts of the Rail Trail, so we have provided the following guide to access and parking at different sites of the Tweed section.
Murwillumbah Railway Station
The Murwillumbah Railway Station, located at 284 Tweed Valley Way, South Murwillumbah, is the official start of the Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. Entry to the Rail Trail car park is via Railway Street off Tweed Valley Way. The car park provides ground level entry to the Rail Trail and ramp access to the platform. At the northern end of the station there is untimed parking for 48 vehicles, 2 dedicated accessible parking bays and 2 parents with prams parks next to the entrance. There is also a number of timed parks for shorter stays or visits to the commercial shops at the southern end of the station. Overflow parking available is available across the road in Budd Park. Please avoid parking in Railway Street and nearby residential areas to minimise impacts to people who live there.
The station is also the bus terminal for the town, with a dedicated set down/bus bay at the southern entry as well as ramp access to the platform.
Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre
The Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, 2 Mistral Road, Murwillumbah South offers an alternative access point to the Rail Trail, however it remains priority parking for those attending the Gallery. This is an alternative option for Rail Trail access and parking particularly on a Monday and Tuesday when the Gallery is closed. Please note that the pathway that connects the Rail Trail to the designated Gallery car park is not fully accessible, and features inclines and several sets of stairs.
Stokers Siding
If you plan to start your Rail Trail journey at Stokers Siding, the access point of Stokers Siding Station site is adjacent to the general store and post office on the corner of Stokers Road and Smiths Creek Road. There is ample general community parking on Stokers Road. Please avoid parking directly in front of store fronts on Stokers Road, to ensure their customers have continued easy access. Parking a little further along Stokers Road rather than at the station site will help to avoid congestion at this junction. North of the station site there is set down drop off area and other formal parking opposite the school. South of the station site before Tunnel Road there are other unformed public road reserves with direct trail access which is the best and safest choice for day parking.
For your own safety and the safety of others, please avoid parking near driveways and in the cul-de-sac off Smith Creek Road.
Burringbar
For those beginning their adventure on the Rail Trail at Burringbar, the Burringbar Station site is adjacent to Burringbar Memorial Reserve and Masterton Park on Broadway. There is plenty of public untimed parking available with two designated accessible parking bays adjacent to the Rail Trail.
Mooball
If you are accessing the Rail Trail from Mooball, you cannot miss the Mooball Station site which is on the corner of Tweed Valley Way and Pottsville Road. There is untimed general community parking available along Tweed Valley Way. Parking a little further along Tweed Valley Way will help to avoid congestion at this junction. There is also a public car park next to the Victory Hotel and other shops but we ask Rail Trail users to leave this for visitors to the retail shops where possible. Please be mindful of local traffic, residents and businesses in small villages and avoid parking on or near private property.
Crabbes Creek
If you are starting your Rail Trail adventure at Crabbes Creek, please note that there is limited parking available, without impacting the local village. To access the Rail Trail safely you must park at the Crabbes Creek Village accessed by Crabbes Creek Road and use the pathway that connects the village to the Rail Trail. Please note that there is no safe or designated parking on Tweed Valley Way in the vicinity.