Walking the Domino Trail: Quiet Steps, Big Dreams

Trentham Station - The start of the trail

It was just on 8:30 when we set out from the sleepy town of Trentham. Sneakers laced, layers snug, and that familiar mix of fresh air and anticipation settling around us—just like the morning fog that had clung to the backroads on our drive out from Ballarat.

The streets were still hushed. Only a few locals stirred, the scent of woodsmoke lingering in the crisp autumn air. This wasn’t just any Saturday stroll. It was a training walk—12 kilometres return along the Domino Trail—and another small but steady step toward the Cotswold Way this coming August.

A Station, A Start

The trail begins at the Trentham train station, a beautifully preserved slice of Victorian railway history. Its weathered timber and rust-red signage mark a gentler, slower time—perfectly fitting for the kind of walking we were here to do.

As soon as our feet touched the path, the world seemed to exhale. The old railway yard stretched wide before the trail narrowed, guiding us over a wooden bridge and out along the town’s quiet edge. Soon, the bitumen faded, and we were deep beneath the canopy. Autumn leaves and stringy bark littered the track. Towering gums arched overhead, their limbs swaying gently, whispering tales to the breeze.

A Trail Made for Thinking

There’s something quietly powerful about this trail. With only subtle undulations, it asks little of the legs—but offers plenty for the soul. It’s the kind of walk that lets your thoughts breathe.

Golden sunlight slanted between the trees, dappling the ground and casting shifting shadows across our path. We walked mostly in silence at first, falling into that rhythmic hush that only happens when the world isn’t asking anything of you. Gravel crunched underfoot. A magpie warbled. Our breath and footsteps became the morning’s slow, steady metronome.

We kept our eyes to the forest floor, scanning for movement. No wombats—but their presence was certain. Their square-shaped droppings lined the trail like little clues left behind, evidence of a secret, nocturnal life.

The Domino Rail Trail through the Wombat State Forrest

Rotten Bridges and Secret Turns

A little further along, we came to a rotting bridge, its timbers sunken and warped with age. A weathered sign warned us off, and we gladly obliged, detouring through the undergrowth.

There was something unexpectedly delightful in that moment. The leaves rustled beneath us, and low branches reached in as if to welcome us down a quieter path. It felt almost mischievous—like we’d stumbled into something secret, something known only to walkers willing to veer ever so slightly off course.

Lyonville and a Breath of Stillness

Soon enough, the forest opened, and we arrived in Lyonville—a tiny settlement tucked within the trees. We paused here, perched on a wooden bench beside the trail, rehydrating and fuelling up on protein bars and gels.

There’s a special kind of quiet in towns like this—an honest stillness that settles into your lungs. You breathe deeper in it. Time seems to hold its breath for just a moment.

The Return: Details Revealed, Community Awakened

Turning back toward Trentham, the trail revealed things we’d missed. A freshly dug wombat burrow. A home half-camouflaged by its surroundings. The forest had woken up alongside us.

More walkers appeared—some solo, some in pairs, a few joggers with quick nods of hello. The solitude began to shift, gently, into a feeling of community. That unspoken camaraderie of shared movement, even in silence, was welcome.

Trentham Station Railway Yard

As we neared town again, familiar sounds broke the stillness—a netball game whistling to life in the distance, cheers echoing across the trees. An unmistakably Aussie soundtrack. Trentham, which had been so still when we left, was now humming with life.

Crossing the final bridge and returning to the station yard, our 12-kilometre walk came to its close. No blisters. No injuries. Just a consistent pace and the quiet satisfaction of a good day’s walk. Now it’s time to build—toward double that distance, toward hills and high points, toward the 26 kms of day seven of the Cotswold Way.

A Bakery Reward

With the trail behind us, we headed into downtown Trentham, lured by the unmistakable smell of fresh pastry. There’s nothing quite like the magnetic pull of a country bakery after a long walk.

I chose a traditional mince pie—a flaky crust cradling rich, savoury warmth. It was more than a meal. It was a reward. A reset. A quiet ritual that marked the end of something small and satisfying.

We wandered through a couple of shops “just because.” That’s the charm of small-town travel. There’s no rush, no itinerary. You pause. You browse. You chat with the woman behind the counter about the weather, about our morning walk, about anything and everything in between.

Preparing for Bigger Things

This walk may have been only 12 kilometres—but it meant more than numbers. It was training, yes, for the Cotswold Way. But it was also a lesson in stillness. In observation. In remembering how to slow down.

Sometimes the most profound travel moments aren’t the iconic ones—they’re the quiet, local ones. The hush of a forest trail. The nod from a fellow walker. The warmth of a good pie in a country town.

The Domino Trail isn’t famous. It won’t appear on your “top hikes” list. But that’s exactly why it matters. It’s local. It’s grounded. It’s honest. It invites you to walk not just with your feet, but with your full attention.

Come August, when I’m walking through the wildflower-speckled hills of the Cotswolds, I’ll carry this trail with me. The smell of gum leaves. The crunch of gravel. The echo of a netball game drifting on the wind.

Because it’s not just about the big journeys—it’s about the little ones that prepare us to notice them.

If you’re a fellow wanderer craving travel that invites you to pause, breathe, and notice—put the Domino Trail on your map. And don’t forget the pie.

Post Journey at Trentham Station - Taking time to reflect on the journey just completed.

Trail Info
Start/End: Trentham Train Station
Distance: ~12km return
Trail Type: Shared walking and cycling path (former railway line)
Highlights: Wombat country, old rail remnants, peaceful forest walk, easy gradients
Best For: Slow travellers, nature lovers, and long-distance hike prep