Castlemaine to Maryborough Bike Trip - March 2025
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A 2 day e-bike ride the trail from Castlemaine to Maldon and then on to Maryborough via Newstead.
I didn't take my e-bike charger with me. Previous experience has shown that I could do the whole trip on a single charge. The Skipton rail trail was about 120 km return so I felt confident I could do this trip without charging. The total distance of this trip was about 80km and I planned it to be mostly made up of downhill.
Day 1 - Castlemaine to Maldon
Castlemaine is on the Bendigo line and is a great place to start a bike trip. The train station is close to the town centre and there are plenty of places to eat and drink. There is an old English style botanic garden and a large park with a lake. I sat there and had lunch before heading off.
The trail isn't easy to find at first. It's not clearly marked. I found it by following the rail line through the back streets. Eventually, I found a track running beside the rail line.
The trail isn't rail trail in the traditional sense. It follows maintenance tracks and is a bit rough in places. There are some steep climbs and descents. The trail is mostly gravel and dirt, but there are some on road sections. There are few bumps and dips, but nothing too serious. You will have to dodge a few tree roots and rocks.
I wouldn't recommend taking your expensive road bike, but the trail is easily doable on a mountain bike, gravel bike or a sturdy hybrid.
The trail runs through some beautiful bushland and farmland. It takes you out of Castlemaine and into the Muckleford State Forest. It turns into nice compacted gravel just before Muckleford.
Muckleford station marks the halfway point and is a great place to stop for a break. There are toilets but they were locked up when I was there. There is a water tank, but no tap.
The trail continues on to Maldon. It's compacted gravel that follows the old railway line for a few more kilometres.
After a while, it turns off into the bush following forestry tracks. The trail is well marked and easy to follow. Follow the arrows.
Maldon is a small town with a population of about 1,500. It is a historic gold mining town and has a lot of old buildings. The main street has shops and cafes. There are a few pubs and restaurants. The town is very picturesque and has a lot of character.
Maldon station is a historic railway station on the Victorian Goldfields Railway. The station first began operations on 16 June 1884. Passenger services were discontinued on 6 January 1941, after which the railway continued to serve as a goods transport route until its ultimate closure on 3 December 1976. In March 1986, the Victorian Goldfields Railway (VGR) revived the station for tourism, initially operating along a short 1-kilometre section of track from Maldon. Since then, the line has been extended to its original junction point at Castlemaine.
Victorian Goldfields Railway runs a steam train from Maldon to Castlemaine. The train is a 2-8-0 locomotive built in 1940. It is a beautiful old steam engine. The train runs on weekends and public holidays.
Butts Reserve Campground in Maldon is a peaceful, free camping spot nestled beneath Mt Tarrengower. It offers a scenic bushland setting with plenty of space for tents, caravans, and RVs. The campground features picnic tables and basic amenities like toilets and water taps. It's just a short drive from Maldon's historic town center, making it an ideal base for exploring the region.
Day 2 - Maldon to Maryborough
The next day I set off for Maryborough. I followed the road down to Newstead. The road had a decent shoulder and was easy to ride. The road is mostly downhill and I made good time. I stopped at Newstead for a coffee and a snack.
Next stage was to follow the highway to Maryborough. The road was a bit busier, but it had a decent shoulder. I turned off the highway and followed the back roads to Maryborough. The back roads were quiet and easy to ride.
Maryborough is often called a railway station with a town attached. It's a quote often attributed to Mark Twain when he visited in 1895. That however is not the real quote.
"Don't you overlook that Maryborough station, if you take an interest in governmental curiosities. Why, you can put the whole population of Maryborough into it, and give them a sofa apiece, and have room for more."
There's a common theory that the station was meant to be built in Maryborough, Queensland but was somehow mistakenly plonked into Victoria.
It is a major railway junction and has a large railway yard. The station is a beautiful old building and is well worth a visit. The station was built in 1874 and is one of the largest railway stations in Victoria. It is a beautiful old building with a lot of character.
