Mary2Bay Rail Trail

Glide from beach to bush on an evolving rail trail that threads Hervey Bay's foreshore into tranquil country landscapes. **A 30 km, multi-use path connects Hervey Bay's seaside precincts with wallum heath near Takura, linking directly to the 868 m Urangan Pier and the scenic foreshore shared path.** Why ride the Mary to Bay Rail Trail? This trail is one of the Fraser Coast's most accessible outdoor adventures, offering a largely off-road corridor between Hervey Bay's key coastal precincts. The urban stretch puts you within easy reach of beaches and a thriving café scene, while the rural section reveals a distinctive wallum ecosystem where banksias, melaleuca and honeyeaters thrive. Horse riders are welcome on the rural section. Where does the trail go today? The trail currently extends from Hervey Bay through to Takura, with a separate 3 km segment in Maryborough between Walker St and Quarry Rd. Community volunteers have cleared and prepared around 11 km from Takura out to Churchill Mine Rd, and work is ongoing to close the remaining gaps. How the trail will cross the Maryborough–Hervey Bay Rd is still being worked through. What's the surface and feel? Urban sections are well-finished and accessible, with a handy underpass linking Nikenbah and Urraween. Further out, you'll transition through gravel, loose sand and some original railway ballast — satisfying but worth preparing for. Note that the Stockyard Creek crossing between Takura and Walligan is suitable in dry conditions only. How do I get to the trail? The most popular starting point is the Urangan Pier, where you can connect straight to the foreshore shared path and follow it around to Pialba. Alternatively, join the trail at Nikenbah. Out west, the Takura trailhead is located on Torbanlea–Pialba Rd close to Leos Rd, while the Maryborough segment picks up along Walker St. Regional coach services provide public transport links. Are there facilities on the route? Cafés are easy to find along the urban section. Head into the rural stretch and you'll come across a shelter at Walligan and a shelter with a picnic table at Takura, with a rest area at Churchill Mine Rd rounding out the options — carry your own water beyond town. Volunteers have also installed directional signage and all-weather bypasses at several heritage bridge sites. What else can you do nearby? Spend time at Hervey Bay's beaches and wander the length of the Urangan Pier, browse the Botanic Gardens and Orchid House, join a whale watching cruise from Urangan Marina between July and September, or head out to K'gari (formerly Fraser Island). In Maryborough, the Portside Precinct, Story Bank, the heritage 'Mary Ann' steam train and the Cistern Chapel are all worth your time. Check conditions after rain before heading out on rural sections, and take the trail at whatever pace suits you best. We pay our respects to the Badtjala people, the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which this trail travels, and acknowledge their deep and ongoing connection to land and waterways.

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Sport & Recreation

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