Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail facts for kids

The Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail is a cool path for bikes and walkers in the eastern part of Melbourne, Australia. It runs right next to the Belgrave and Lilydale train lines. This trail connects seven different train stations, making it super easy to get to. Just remember, a small part of the path between Blackburn and Laburnum isn't finished yet.

Building the Trail: How it Grew

The idea for this bike path started to become real in Mitcham back in 2013. This was when they were also doing big upgrades to the train line there. The very first part of the trail, from Walkers Road in Nunawading to Mitcham Station, was ready to use in 2014.

The Box Hill part of the trail was built in two main stages. The first stage, from Box Hill Station to Linsley Street, was finished in May 2015. The second stage, from Linsley Street to Middleborough Road, opened in August 2019.

In May 2017, the sections around Blackburn Station and Heatherdale Station were also completed. By 2018, the part of the trail in Ringwood was finished. The last big section to be completed was around Nunawading Station in August 2019. The section near Laburnum is still waiting to be built.

Exploring the Trail: Your Journey

The Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail takes you through different areas. Here's a quick guide to what you'll find along the way.

Box Hill to Laburnum: Starting Your Ride

Your adventure begins on Bank Street, right across from Box Hill Station. At first, you'll be on the road for a short bit. Soon, you'll move onto a special path just for bikes and walkers. This path goes for about 1.9 kilometres. You can even connect to Whitehorse Road and Box Hill High School from here.

When you get to Middleborough Road, the path goes underneath it using a cool ramp. You'll share the footpath with Middleborough Road for a short distance. Then, the path goes downhill towards Laburnum. There's a ramp to get to Laburnum Station, but the main path continues onto Laburnum Street.

Laburnum to Blackburn: The Missing Link

Right now, this part of the trail isn't built yet. Plans are in place for it to run along Laburnum Street. Then, it will turn onto Main Street and connect with Blackburn Station.

Blackburn to Nunawading: Along the Tracks

This section starts at the Blackburn Station concourse. It runs next to South Parade and then goes under Blackburn Road. The path follows the train line for 2 kilometres. You'll find connections to Oliver Avenue and Morton Park here. The trail goes past Nunawading Christian College and Laughlin Avenue. It runs next to Nunawading Station and ends at the traffic lights at Springvale Road.

Nunawading to Mitcham: Through the Station

This part of the trail winds through the Nunawading Station area towards Walkers Road. It briefly joins Walkers Road, where you can connect to HOME HQ Nunawading. Then, it becomes an off-road path again, continuing until Rooks Road. At Rooks Road, there are traffic lights that give priority to trail users. The path continues straight, past the Mitcham Station car parks. It goes into the Mitcham Station bus bays, turns right, and goes through the station area. It finishes at Mitcham Road.

Mitcham to Heatherdale: Downhill and Over a Bridge

After crossing Mitcham Road, the trail goes down a steep hill on Brunswick Road. This hill soon flattens out, and the path moves away from Brunswick Road. It then runs right next to the train line, often surrounded by trees. The trail crosses Cochrane Street on a special bridge. This bridge helps keep the path smooth without big ups and downs. It continues to Talbot Street, where it crosses over the train line. Then, it heads towards Heatherdale Station, with a slight downhill slope to Heatherdale Road. The intersection at Heatherdale Road also has traffic lights that help trail users cross safely.

Heatherdale to Ringwood: The Final Stretch

After crossing Heatherdale Road, the bike path continues along the southern side of the station. It goes down to Molan Street. You'll use the Molan Street bridge to cross over the Eastlink freeway. For a short distance, the trail joins the Eastlink trail. Then, it turns north and east, staying close to the train line. It continues until the Albert Street intersection, where there are special traffic lights for trail users. The path then goes up a gentle hill before moving away from Albert Street and running alongside the train line. It connects with Thanet Court and runs next to the station parking. It then meets Wantirna Road, where there are traffic lights (but without priority for trail users). Finally, it runs along Station Street until it reaches Ringwood Station. Here, it connects with the Ringwood-Belgrave Rail Trail. This is the end of your journey on the Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail!

Connections: What's Nearby?

The Box Hill to Ringwood Rail Trail connects you to many interesting places along its route.

Starting at Box Hill, the trail links up with the Box Hill Activity Precinct. Soon after, you'll find connections to the Box Hill Town Hall and the Linsley Street Reserve. The Box Hill section also connects to Box Hill High School, Box Hill Cemetery, and Whitehorse Road. After Middleborough Road, the trail goes through Laburnum Park. It also connects to Laburnum Station and the shops on Salisbury Avenue.

In the Blackburn to Nunawading section, you can connect to the Blackburn Station area on South Parade and Blackburn Road. You'll also find the Blackburn Library and Blackburn Tennis Club nearby. The trail connects to Morton Park. Towards Nunawading, it links to Oliver Avenue, which leads to Blackburn Lake Sanctuary. From there, you can even get to the Gardiners Creek Trail.

In the Nunawading to Mitcham section, the trail connects with the Nunawading Station area and HOME HQ Nunawading. It also connects with Rooks Road, which leads to another trail that goes through Mitcham to Burwood East and Mount Waverley. You'll also connect to the Mitcham Station area and the Britannia Mall.

In the Mitcham to Heatherdale section, the trail connects to the nearby Heatherdale pre-school and Heatherdale Station. In the final Heatherdale to Ringwood section, it links up with the Ringwood Retirement Village, Eastland Shopping Centre, and the Ringwood RSL.