Yarra Valley Trail - Yering Section

 

Stage 1A of the Yarra Valley Trail opened in December 2019 and provides 7.5 km of pedestrian/cycling  access (approx 15 km return) from Lilydale to MacIntyre Lane, Yering. Stage 1A of the trail begins as a fork at the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail on Beresford Road, Lilydale and runs through to Yering Station. The car park is on the cnr of Mcintyre Lane and Melba Highway  it was opened in 2020,

The Trail is gravel, and follows the corridor of the former Lilydale to Healesville railway.

The railway opened in 1888 - the last regular steam passenger service was hauled in August 1964. From that time until the closure of the line in 1980, passenger services were run using diesel-electric rail motors. As from 9 December 1980 all services were withdrawn, except for some goods services to Coldstream. The line was officially closed to all traffic on 10 March 1983.

There are no facilities (apart from a water tap at Lilydale)

Warning notices advise users to avoid the trail during days of excessive heat.

A Food Service stall tent has been erected in the Yering car park, selling cold drinks and hot salami!

Colorful information notices along the trail describe the history of the region and railway - these include many photos of the railway. 

The trail will eventually be extended to Yarra Glen, and planned for completion by December 2021,  subject to funding.

I visited the Trail on January 23, 2021 - the photos show the environment and features, on a 3 km (return)journey starting at the car park.