Northern Rivers Rail Trail With a Dog: A Slow Adventure With Sunny
The Northern Rivers Rail Trail is one of those adventures that works best when you stop treating it like something to complete. Running through Bundjalung Country in northern New South Wales, the trail follows former railway corridors through green countryside, old stations, bridges, tunnels and small towns.
For this trip I explored the Tweed section with Sunny. The open route between Murwillumbah and Crabbes Creek is 24 km, but you do not need to ride or walk the whole thing to enjoy it. Shorter stretches around Stokers Siding, Burringbar and Mooball make it easy to slow the day down and let the landscape set the pace.
Travelling with a dog changes how you move through a place. There are more stops, more smells, more moments spent noticing shade, water and whatever is happening at the side of the trail. What might otherwise become a distance to tick off turns into a series of small discoveries — which is probably why the Northern Rivers Rail Trail felt so naturally suited to an Eden Quest kind of day.
Dogs are allowed on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, but they need to stay under control on a short lead and owners are expected to clean up after them. Because the trail is shared with cyclists, walkers and runners, keeping Sunny close made the whole day easier — especially when bikes approached from behind or another dog appeared around a bend.
If you are planning the Northern Rivers Rail Trail with a dog, bring plenty of water, watch the heat on exposed sections and choose a distance that suits both of you. The Tweed route can be broken into smaller out-and-back walks or rides, so there is no pressure to tackle all 24 km. It is worth checking the official Northern Rivers Rail Trail planning guide before you go for current maps, trail conditions and access information.
What stayed with me was not a finish line. It was Sunny trotting beside me, the old railway disappearing into green country and the feeling of having somewhere to go without needing to hurry there. Sometimes that is enough: a path, a good companion and a few quiet hours to see where it leads.
Planning information checked against the Northern Rivers Rail Trail official website in September 2026.
Follow the Quest
@edenquest Let’s explore The Northern Rivers Rail Trail (with my golden boy Sunny) #travel #northernrivers #railtrail #goldenretriever