It’s shaping up to be one of the nation’s leading destination rail trails, despite its glaring missing link.
But the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is a step closer to a continuous 132km overall length after Byron Shire Councillors voted to progress their section of the popular northern New South Wales trail.
The long‑awaited decision indicates the Byron Shire Council is now aligned with the New South Wales and Federal governments, who fully support the plan. Funding for ‘the missing link’ - a 54km section through the Byron Shire - remains pending.
Spanning four local government areas, the Northern Rivers Rail Trail has proven to be a major success since the Tweed Shire opened the first section from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek (24 km) in March 2023.
Sections 2,3 & 4
Richmond Valley Council followed in March 2024, opening the Casino to Bentley section (13.4 km). In December 2024, the Lismore City Council opened the Lismore to Bentley Bridge section (16.3 km), connecting to the existing Bentley to Casino section. This now provides a continuous 29.7 km journey from Casino to Lismore. Lismore City Council is actively working to secure funding for the next stage, Lismore to Booyong (20.9 km), which will extend the trail further north.
Byron Shire Council is responsible for the Booyong to Crabbes Creek section (54.2 km).
A phenomenally popular destination, the small NRRT team have used data from TRAFx counters, plus conducted numerous visitor surveys, to gauge public reaction to the trail. In December 2025, the Tweed section alone had welcomed more than 300,000 users since opening. The stats include -
- 315,505 users since opening (March 1, 2023)
- 9,280 monthly visitors | 2,130 weekly | 304 daily average
- 94% of visitors said they are likely to return
- 65% started their trip in Murwillumbah
- 90% rode a round trip (out and back)
- 51% bicycle riders
- 33% e-bike riders
- 15% walkers and runners
- Peak Time: 9 am
- Busiest Day: Saturday
- Satisfaction: 95% satisfied or very satisfied
- Accessibility Impact: 1,779 Cycling Without Age rides delivered since August 2024
For more on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail read our trip report in Ride On magazine.