Go Back To Trail Finder
Trail Open

The Bunny Trail

Victoria - West

2.3 based on 4 reviews
Location: 110km west of Melbourne
Length: 1.00 km
Surface: Fine gravel, Sealed
Start / End: Ballarat East to Eureka Centre
Public Transport: Coach, Train
Suitable for:
  • Cycling – Touring and Hybrid BikesCycling – Touring and Hybrid Bikes
  • PramsPrams
  • WalkingWalking

  • Rail Trail
  • On Road
  • Potential RT
  • Other Trail
  • Former Railway
View Map

This trail follows a short section of the former East Ballarat – Buninyong railway (Bunny). Using the map below prepared by the Friends of the Canadian Corridor, walkers and riders can follow the original alignment of the railway through quiet suburban streets and the Woowookarung Regional Park, to meet a new section of trail leading to Recreation Rd, Mt Clear. F A 13.5km loop back to Ballarat can be completed on the Canadian Creek Trail.

Bunny Loop Trail map October 2023

Nearby Attractions

  • The Eureka Centre, Woowookarung Regional Park and its sensory trail can be visited on this trail.

Last updated: 26 October 2023

This trail follows a short section of the former East Ballarat – Buninyong railway (Bunny). Using the map below prepared by the Friends of the Canadian Corridor, walkers and riders can follow the original alignment of the railway through quiet suburban streets and the Woowookarung Regional Park, to meet a new section of trail leading to Recreation Rd, Mt Clear. A 13.5km loop back to Ballarat can be completed on the Canadian Creek Trail.

Five hundred metres east of the old Ballarat East station site (the platform is still there), there is evidence of the line diverging from the main line to head south towards Buninyong. A gravel path wends its way from the station site to the start of the trail. The trail passes under Victoria St, and there is an historic sign board at street level on the south side of the main street.

The trail continues through a cutting, across a road (with rails still in the road), alongside a caravan park to the trail end. Here there is another historic sign board at  the north edge of the  Eureka Centre car park.

Bunny Loop Trail map October 2023

More information on the loop, describing historical features of the former railway. is available at the following two PDF documents provided by the Friends of the Canadian Creek Corridor.

Download Part 1 here.

Download Part 2 here.

 

 

Do you know of a bike hire or transportation service on this rail trail that should appear here? If so, let us know at admin@railtrails.org.au.

Advertise your business here

Leave a Review

You must be logged in to post a review.

4 reviews of “The Bunny Trail”

Had a lovely ride through Ballarat but not sure if I followed the map. Found provided map hard to follow as did not include all street names. Couldn’t find numbered items in google maps either. A signposted trail would be great but, if not possible due to funding constraints etc, simply walking or cycling the trail with google maps and adding the numbered features into google maps would be a great help for visitors.

I quickly rode this trail today (29th December 2014), on the way home from doing the Domino Trail – so I could tick it off the list. This is a very short trail that basically goes from the rail reserve on the main train line of Ballarat to the Eureka Centre. The trail surface is good compact dirt most of the way, and easy handle hybrid (and even road bikes if needed). The most interesting part is when the trail goes under the rail lines and the main road. However, with no plans to extend it – I can’t see this trail being used by anyone apart from the locals, and those attempting to do all of the rail trails.

Background Information

This trail was a branch line from East Ballarat to Buninyong and ran for 11km. It opened in 1889 and closed in 1986.

The section from Eureka to Buninyong closed much earlier on 2 February 1947. ]The line had previously closed to passenger services in 1930. In addition to passenger traffic, the “Bunny” also brought the goods trucks to the many local Buninyong industries of that time. The main ones were the butter factory, tannery, brewery, box factory and market gardens.

At the Buninyong end the platform can still be seen in Forest Rd, where there is a board commemorating the history of the railway line.

Buninyong Rail Trail makes progress

Posted: 23/05/23

The Bunny Rail Trail is a new trail under development between Ballarat and Buninyong in ...

More...

Friends group receives grant to construct new rail trail section in Ballarat

Posted: 08/07/22

The Friends of Canadian Creek situated in Ballarat, has received a $33,000 community bank grant. The ...

More...
Trail descriptions are maintained by volunteers. Please consider a donation to help improve this website. Rail Trails Australia gets no government funding.
Share

Nearby Trails

Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail

Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail

110km north west of Melbourne

57 km
Woodend to Daylesford (incl Domino) Rail Trail

Woodend to Daylesford (incl Domino) Rail Trail

85km north west of Melbourne

5 km
Castlemaine to Maryborough Rail Trail

Castlemaine to Maryborough Rail Trail

Central Victoria, 124 km from Melbourne

 
Castlemaine to Maldon Railside Trail

Castlemaine to Maldon Railside Trail

120km north west of Melbourne

18 km
Fyansford Rail Trail

Fyansford Rail Trail

North Geelong, 5 km from town centre

4.4 km
Bellarine Rail Trail

Bellarine Rail Trail

Bellarine Peninsula, 75 km southwest of Melbourne's CBD

35 km
Meadowlink Rail Trail

Meadowlink Rail Trail

Broadmeadows, 20 km north of CBD

1.2 km
O’Keefe Rail Trail

O’Keefe Rail Trail

East of Bendigo, 150km from Melbourne

50 km
Sandridge Railside Trail

Sandridge Railside Trail

Melbourne city, 1 km from GPO

4 km
Webb Dock Bridge

Webb Dock Bridge

Docklands, 1 km from Melbourne CBD

0.2 km
Inner Circle Rail Trail

Inner Circle Rail Trail

Inner suburbs, 5 km from the CBD

4.8 km
Hawthorn to Kew Rail Trail

Hawthorn to Kew Rail Trail

Inner suburbs, 9 km east Melbourne CBD

1 km
Tiger Rail Trail

Tiger Rail Trail

136km south west of Melbourne

4.4 km
Rosstown Rail Trail

Rosstown Rail Trail

Southern suburbs, 9 km from the CBD

8.8 km
Outer Circle Rail Trail

Outer Circle Rail Trail

Eastern suburbs, 6 km from Melbourne CBD

17 km
Old Beechy Rail Trail

Old Beechy Rail Trail

Otway Ranges, 152 km south west of Melbourne

45 km
Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail

Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail

160km south west of Melbourne

41 km

Nearby Trails