Brisbane Valley Rail Trail

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) is a 161-kilometre (100 mi) recreation trail from Wulkuraka in the City of Ipswich, via the Somerset Region to Yarraman in the Toowoomba Region, all within Queensland, Australia. The trail follows the old Brisbane Valley railway line and is open to walkers, touring cyclists and horse riders.[1][2][3] The trail details the history and landscape of the Brisbane Valley. It is the longest rail trail in Queensland and in Australia.[2]

Route

The top end of the trail is located in Yarraman on Australia's Great Dividing Range – north-west of Brisbane and directly west of the Sunshine Coast. The Yarraman to Moore section of the trail includes Blackbutt, Benarkin and Linville and is located in the upper reaches of the Brisbane River valley and crosses the Blackbutt Range. The trail head at Moore is located opposite the Moore Memorial Hall in Stanley Gates Park and is approximately 51 kilometres (32 mi) north of Esk. Moore is 144 kilometres (89 mi) from Brisbane (via the Bruce and D'Aguilar Highways or the Warrego, Brisbane Valley and D’Aguilar Highways). Benarkin and Blackbutt are located on the D’Aguilar Highway, and are also convenient access points to the Bicentennial National Trail.[4]

Construction of the missing link between the trailheads at Moore and Toogoolawah began in late 2017, and was officially opened in August 2018. Prior to this, a deviation via local roads was used as a connecting route between the two former trailheads.[5]

The southern end of the trail is located at Wulkuraka Station in Ipswich.[6] The Wulkuraka Station to Toogoolawah section includes Fernvale, Lowood, Coominya and Esk.[7]

The new concrete pavement section from Wulkuraka Station to Diamantina Boulevard in Ipswich is Stage 4 of the Ipswich City Council Brassall Bikeway. It breaks into dirt and gravel after a few kilometres, and returns to concrete in towns.[8]

Conditions

The Department of Transport and Main Roads is the state agency responsible for the day-to-day management and maintenance of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail in conjunction with Ipswich City, Somerset, South Burnett and Toowoomba Regional Councils, and the Ambassadors of the BVRT.[6]

The trail is for walking, cycling and horse riding. The surface is not suitable for road/racing bicycles.[9][10][11]

The section from Fernvale to Lowood is home to the annual Rail Trail Fun Run and has an excellent degraded granite surface and is most suitable for families with children looking for a short excursion.[12]

History

The 20th anniversary of the construction of the first section of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail from Fernvale to Lowood was celebrated in July 2022.[13]

Prior to 2018, there remained one incomplete section from Toogoolawah to Moore, which was officially opened in August 2018.[14]

The Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge at Clarendon was opened to users in late 2018, after a restoration costing $4.5 million.[15]

Heritage listings

Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge at Clarendon was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[16]

Yimbun Railway Tunnel was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 November 2008.[17]

References

  1. ^ Department of Transport and Main Roads (3 June 2022). "Brisbane Valley Rail Trail". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Rail Trails Australia (21 October 2022). "Brisbane Valley Rail Trail". Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. ^ "It's hard to believe, but a lot of people didn't want this iconic trail to be created". ABC Southern Queensland. 11 July 2022. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  4. ^ HEYMANS, Paul (25 September 2015). "Blackbutt & Benarkin | Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Experience | Explore the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail". Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  5. ^ Bailey, Mark (7 August 2018). "Come and see the rail thing - adventure trail a reality". Media statements. Queensland Government. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b Department of Transport and Main Roads (17 October 2022). "About Brisbane Valley Rail Trail". Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  7. ^ Heymans, Paul (26 March 2016). "Map of the BVRT". Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Archived from the original on 8 December 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  8. ^ Council, Ipswich City. "Brassall Bikeway stage four officially open". www.ipswich.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Guide". 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 13 October 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Steaming ahead on the Brisbane Valley rail trail". 612 ABC Brisbane. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 July 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  11. ^ "About Brisbane Valley Rail Trail". Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Somerset Rail Trail Fun Run". Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Brisbane Valley Rail Trail section celebrates two decades". Somerset Regional Council. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Brisbane Valley Rail Trail". Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. 2 January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  15. ^ Heymans, Paul (December 2018). "Lockyer Creek Bridge is awesome". Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge (Clarendon) (entry 600495)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  17. ^ "Yimbun Railway Tunnel (entry 602637)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  18. ^ "Brisbane Valley Rail Trail". www.tmr.qld.gov.au. 14 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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