If you want to exchange Melbourne’s city streets for quiet rail corridors, vineyard country and towering forest, our two-day Warburton cycling escape is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the Yarra Valley and Upper Yarra.

We follow the 40-kilometre Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, combining easy-gradient cycling with local food and wine stops, a night in the valley and a second day among the famous Cement Creek Redwood Forest, La La Falls and the Ada Tree rainforest. Mountain bikers can also add the purpose-built Warburton Bike Park to the itinerary.

It is active without being extreme, scenic without feeling rushed and flexible enough for couples, families, small groups and private travellers.

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Why choose the Warburton Rail Trail right now?

The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail follows the former railway line through the Yarra Valley. The route is approximately 40 kilometres one way, with a mixture of sealed path and compacted gravel, gentle gradients and regular access to towns.

The railway once carried passengers and produce from the valley towards Melbourne. Today, the old corridor offers a relaxed way to move through orchards, vineyards, farmland and forest without sharing the entire journey with highway traffic.

There is also an important reason we are recommending this route for multi-day cycling trips from Melbourne. The Great Victorian Rail Trail, running between Tallarook and Mansfield, is still partially closed after the January 2026 bushfires. The central section through Molesworth, Yarck and Kanumbra is shut indefinitely, the Cathkin to Alexandra spur is closed, and the Cheviot Tunnel is currently accessible from the Yea side only. With no through-route available across the damaged section, the Warburton trail is currently the best fully open rail trail ride from Melbourne.

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Day 1: Melbourne to Lilydale, Seville, Woori Yallock and Yarra Junction

Morning: arrive at the trailhead

We leave Melbourne in the morning and travel to Lilydale, the official western trailhead. The Lilydale railway station provides a straightforward public transport connection from the city, while our private vehicle option lets you travel with luggage, bikes and equipment without coordinating several separate transfers.

For independent riders, bike hire is available near the western end of the trail, including Ride Time Bikes and other local providers. We usually recommend a hybrid, gravel or mountain bike rather than a narrow-tyred road bike because the trail surface changes between smooth sealed sections and compacted gravel.

Day 1 riding plan:

• Start: Lilydale
• Overnight base: Yarra Junction or nearby
• Distance: approximately 28–30 kilometres
• Surface: sealed path and compacted gravel
• Gradient: gentle, with some gradual climbing around the early section
• Riding time: approximately 3–4 hours, excluding stops

Midday: Seville and Woori Yallock

The first section leads through the eastern edge of the Yarra Valley wine region. Seville is an excellent early coffee or cellar-door stop, with the Carriage Café close to the trail and wineries such as Seville Hill nearby.

This is where we can add a relaxed tasting to the itinerary, creating a gentle blend of cycling and a Yarra Valley wine tour. We always plan tastings carefully around the ride: a short visit, a shared tasting or a food-focused stop works better than a long lunch when you still have kilometres ahead.

Continue through Woori Yallock, where the landscape opens into farmland and orchard country. The trail is generally easy to follow, although we encourage you to carry water, snacks and a charged phone because services become more spread out between townships.

Afternoon: Launching Place and Yarra Junction

At Launching Place, the trail passes close to the Home Hotel, making it a convenient place for lunch or an early afternoon drink. Depending on your group, we can also arrange a small side experience such as the Yarra Valley Archery Park.

From Launching Place, the trail continues towards Yarra Junction, a practical overnight base with cafés, local shops and bike services. Ride Time Bikes and Girt by Dirt can assist with hire, repairs and equipment, making Yarra Junction particularly useful for travellers who do not bring their own bikes.

We finish the day with a generous meal and a comfortable night in the valley. Accommodation can range from a simple motel or guesthouse to a private cottage or retreat. For a more relaxed version, we can transfer your overnight luggage separately so you ride with only a small day pack.

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Day 2: Yarra Junction to Warburton, then into the forest

Morning: the final rail-trail kilometres

After breakfast, we return to the trail and ride the final section towards Millgrove and Warburton. This is a shorter riding day, allowing time for forest walks and Upper Yarra sightseeing.

Millgrove is a useful stop for bakery supplies, coffee and snacks before the final stretch. The path becomes more noticeably sealed as you approach Warburton, and the surrounding hills begin to feel taller and more forested.

Day 2 rail-trail plan:

• Start: Yarra Junction
• Finish: Warburton
• Distance: approximately 10–12 kilometres
• Optional extension: begin farther west for a more even two-day split
• Finish time: usually late morning

If you prefer a balanced ride of around 20 kilometres per day, we can arrange a private charter transfer to begin Day 1 at Seville or Woori Yallock rather than Lilydale. This is one of the advantages of booking a private itinerary: we shape the ride around your fitness, interests and accommodation rather than forcing every traveller into the same timetable.

La La Falls: a short walk with a worthwhile climb

Once we reach Warburton, we trade bicycles for walking shoes and follow the La La Falls Trail from Irruka Road.

The walk is approximately 3.2 kilometres return, with a steady uphill gradient beside Four Mile Creek. Small bridges, dense forest and birdsong make the route feel much more remote than its short distance suggests. The waterfall is particularly impressive after rainfall, when water runs over the rocky slabs with greater force.

The walk has been attracting visitors since the 1880s, giving it a fascinating connection to Warburton’s early tourism history. Allow around 1.5–2 hours for the return walk, including time to enjoy the falls.

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The Cement Creek Redwood Forest

The spectacular Cement Creek Redwood Forest is around 15 minutes by vehicle from Warburton township. The trees were planted in the 1930s as part of a hydrology experiment, and the plantation now contains more than 1,470 Californian redwoods rising in remarkably straight rows.

They are not ancient trees by redwood standards, but their scale is already dramatic. The trunks create a cathedral-like corridor of filtered light, deep shade and cool forest air. It is a famous Upper Yarra photo stop, but the best experience is to put the camera down for a moment and listen to the wind moving high above the canopy.

We visit early or later in the afternoon whenever possible, as the car park can fill quickly on weekends and public holidays. Parks Victoria advises visitors to:

• Use only the designated car park
• Avoid parking on Cement Creek Road
• Carry all rubbish out
• Leave pets at home
• Check fire-danger ratings and current park alerts before travelling

The official Parks Victoria Redwood Forest information is the best place to confirm conditions before your visit.

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Ada Tree rainforest walk or Warburton Bike Park

For walkers who want to continue deeper into the Upper Yarra, the Ada Tree Rainforest Walk is a 3.6-kilometre loop, approximately 45 minutes east of Warburton. The route leads through cool temperate rainforest towards the enormous Ada Tree, a celebrated mountain ash with a powerful sense of place.

For mountain bikers, we can replace or complement the Ada Tree visit with the Warburton Bike Park. The park currently offers around 70 kilometres of purpose-built trails and up to 650 metres of elevation. Its network includes easy, intermediate and difficult trails, making it suitable for confident riders as well as experienced mountain bikers seeking technical descents.

The official Warburton Bike Park trail directory shows current trail grades and conditions. We only ride open trails, wear helmets and choose routes appropriate to each rider’s experience. Beginner-friendly options include easy flow and adventure trails, while advanced riders can select more technical gravity terrain.

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A note about the O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail

The historic O’Shannassy Aqueduct Trail is another beautiful Upper Yarra option, following an open water channel through fern gullies, plantations and elevated valley landscapes.

However, evening access restrictions associated with deer control remain in place through 20 October 2026. We do not recommend planning an evening ride or walk there without checking current signage and Parks Victoria alerts. Gates and access times may also vary by location, so our guides confirm the latest conditions before including the aqueduct in an itinerary.

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How we do this two-day escape

Our private charter tour from Melbourne can include:

• Melbourne hotel or airport collection
• Transport to Lilydale or a chosen mid-trail starting point
• Hybrid, gravel or mountain-bike hire arrangements
• Luggage transfers between overnight bases
• Accommodation in Yarra Junction, Warburton or a nearby retreat
• Local café, bakery, pub and winery recommendations
• La La Falls and Redwood Forest visits
• Ada Tree or Warburton Bike Park, depending on your interests
• Flexible return transport to Melbourne with bikes and luggage

For independent travellers, the 683 bus connects Warburton and Lilydale, where you can continue by train to Melbourne. Bike carriage and timetable conditions should be checked before departure. Our private charter option is simpler for groups because we can collect you directly from Warburton, load your bikes and return you to Melbourne without retracing the full rail trail.

The experience can be relaxed, active, food-focused or mountain-bike heavy. Whether you are travelling as a couple, a family, a group of friends or an international study group, we will shape the timing around you.

Contact us to plan your private Upper Yarra cycling escape or explore our private and group touring options.

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Practical planning checklist

• Best bike: hybrid, gravel or mountain bike
• Full rail-trail distance: approximately 40 kilometres one way
• Bike hire: available in Yarra Junction and Warburton
• Key trail towns: Seville, Woori Yallock, Launching Place, Yarra Junction and Millgrove
• La La Falls: 3.2 kilometres return
• Ada Tree: 3.6-kilometre loop
• Redwood Forest: approximately 15 minutes by vehicle from Warburton
• Warburton Bike Park: check live trail status before riding
• Bring: water, weatherproof layers, snacks, helmet, sunscreen and a charged phone
• Check before departure: fire danger ratings, park alerts, trail conditions and O’Shannassy Aqueduct access restrictions

This is more than a bike ride. It is a carefully paced multi city tour Victoria experience, linking Melbourne with the food, farmland, forests and adventure culture of the Yarra Valley and Upper Yarra.