Brisbane Valley Rail Trail — Attraction in Blackbutt

I have a particular soft spot for the BVRT. I was on the planning team that constructed the whole trail, as well as being a participant who has ridden most of the trail. Rail trails are one of the most popular visitor experiences around Australia. They attract large numbers of people who ride the trails, enjoy the hospitality of towns along the trails and provide economic benefits for those communities. I loved riding the BVRT, from up at the high end in Yarraman right down to Ipswich. We did a great job (even if I do say so myself) of protecting all the old rail infrastructure along the route, including some amazing trestle bridges. There are some rail trails in Australia where the infrastructure has not been kept. The BVRT can be used as a long distance trail that you do in one hit or you can drop in and out of it at the towns along the way. This is a must...

A fun day out :)

We did the Esk - Toogoolawah stretch 19km each way.

Some tips/things to note:

Good track mostly flat easy riding though surface varies (see pics) so puncture risk may be worth considering as there are no stops / service stations etc and it may be a long walk!

We rode e-bikes with a dog trailer, fence passes were all wide enough for the trailer.

There are a few tank water stops though they note “not for drinking” so suggest taking some with.

Esk pub is a great option for food and vibe. Dog friendly and put fans out which was much appreciated. Also a couple of good coffee options in Esk. Coffee options in toogoolawah were minimal. Pub looked ok however didn’t try as we were there pre lunch.

Keen to do more of the trail however may need to stretch my comfort zone and buy some padded bike pants… may be a few days before...

Great cycling and hiking adventure with a total of 180 Km which goes through multiple cities. Parts of trail can be done at any time and all the parts that I have visited are well marked and equipped with numbered SOS beacons in regular intervals in the event of emergency. Parts of the track is fairly remote and others track a highway or a road. Mostly gravel and at times bridges or rock gardens. Beautiful cities and amazing small bakeries in those cities to stop by and enjoy your time. I would recommend Fernvale bakery specifically as I had one of the best pies there. The website is very informative and there are Facebook events arranged regularly which are guided, supported and shuttled at time depending on the length and type...