Takura Trail Head, Mary2Bay Rail Trail

Takura Trail Head is the rural western access point to the Mary2Bay Rail Trail at Walligan, between the Mary River country and Hervey Bay. This is a working trailhead rather than a built attraction: gravel ground, open bush, minimal signage and no facilities, which suits walkers happy to bring everything their dog needs for the day.

Leash status

Dogs are welcome on the Mary2Bay Rail Trail under Fraser Coast Regional Council rules, but they must stay on a leash and under effective control the whole way. The trail is a shared multi-use route, and cyclists and horse riders use the same corridor, so a short lead at passing points keeps everyone comfortable. Carry bags and take waste out with you, because there are no bins at this end of the trail.

Water and terrain

There is no potable water at the Takura trailhead and no taps along the rural sections, so carry enough for you and your dog even in cooler months. Underfoot it is gravel and compacted earth with a gentle rail-trail grade, easy going for most dogs but hard on soft paws over distance. From here the trail runs roughly five to six kilometres to the Walligan siding area, enough for a solid out-and-back with a dog, and the corridor passes through open eucalypt country with little shade.

Max: bring more water than you think you need. The bush sections are exposed and there is nowhere to refill once you leave the car.

Worth knowing

The Stockyard Creek crossing between Takura and Walligan can hold water across the path after heavy rain, and sections of the trail have been affected by past flooding and ongoing works. Check the Fraser Coast Regional Council trail page or the Mary2Bay community group before heading out if the weather has been wet. Summer heat is the other real constraint, with temperatures regularly passing 30 degrees, so early mornings are the honest choice from October through March.

Getting there and parking

The trailhead sits off Piggford Lane and Churchill Mine Road at Walligan, reached from Hervey Bay via Nikenbah-Dundowran Road. The final stretch is unsealed local road, fine for any vehicle in dry conditions but worth taking slowly. Park on the gravel shoulder near the trail entry and leave valuables out of sight, as this is a quiet rural spot with no staffed facilities.

While you're out there

The paved eastern end of the same corridor is covered in our Mary2Bay Rail Trail guide if you want an easier, sealed option closer to town. On the drive back, The Depot Espresso Bar in Nikenbah is a straightforward coffee stop, and Pialba Foreshore off-leash beach gives the dog a proper swim in its evening off-leash window.

More routes are on the Queensland dog trails guide and the Walligan destination page.