The Moore to Blackbutt, Esk to Toogoolawah, Lowood to Coominya and Fernvale to Lowood sections of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail have been re-opened. The remaining sections of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail are closed until further notice due to the January 2011 floods.

The section from Hardings Paddock to Flinders Peak in the Flinders Goolman Conservation Estate and the section in Mount Joyce Recreation Park of the Boonah to Ipswich Trail are open.

Trail description

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT), when completed, will be a 161 kilometre recreation trail from Wulkuraka to Yarraman providing walkers, touring cyclists and horse riders with an opportunity to experience the history and landscape of the Brisbane Valley and South Burnett regions. Download a copy of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Plan ( 5.73 MB).

The open sections of the trail will follow the old Brisbane Valley railway line along the western side of the Brisbane River and travel through farming landscapes, native and plantation forests, rural-residential and country towns.

Mountain bikers, walkers and horse riders are catered for by a range of services, accommodation and facilities in towns along the trail. Due for completion in 2012, it will be one of the longest rail trails in the Southern Hemisphere. Read the media release - Brisbane Valley Rail Trail now longest in Australia ( 31 KB).

Trail benefits

The trail delivers recreation, social and health benefits to its users. Families, mountain bike riders, outdoor education groups, horse riders and walkers are able to experience and appreciate a major part of South East Queensland's landscape. Like other recreation trails, the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail will provide economic opportunities for local businesses such as bed and breakfasts, tour guides, equipment hire and camping suppliers.

The following sections of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail are now open to the public:

• Fernvale to Lowood: 8.5 kilometres ( 306 KB)
• Esk to Toogoolawah: 19 kilometres ( 289 KB)
• Moore to Blackbutt: 33.5 kilometres ( 773 KB)
• Lowood to Coominya: 12 kilometres ( 259 KB)
• Yarraman to Harland Park: 7.5 kilometres ( 1.6 MB)

View a map of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail  ( 257 KB)

Background

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is one of three regional recreation trails funded by the Queensland Government. It is being delivered through a partnership between the department, Ipswich City, South Burnett, Toowoomba Scenic Rim and Somerset Regional Councils.

The trail is part of the state government’s investment in outdoor recreation and protection of our environment in South East Queensland to manage the impacts of growth. The implementation of the trail demonstrates how the state government through Growth Management Queensland is protecting more land for public recreation and is delivering sustainable outcomes for Queenslanders.

BVRT Ambassadors

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Ambassadors program was established by the department (formerly the Department of Infrastructure and Planning) in 2008. The ambassadors are respected members of the local community who provide on the ground support to ensure the sustainable development and usage of the trail. They also advocate for the safe and environmentally responsible use of the trail through events, promotions and monitoring of the trail.

Trail extension to Yarraman

The department, in partnership with the Toowoomba Regional Council, has provided assistance in the planning and community consultation needed for continuing the trail to the top of the old rail line to Yarraman. Yarraman was chosen as another base for a trails’ network because it meets a number of criteria including links to the traditional stock routes, the Bicentennial National Trail, the forest trails in Pidna State Forest and the BVRT.

The Yarraman Progress Association mapped a walking track network as a basis for developing the Active Trails of Yarraman and for recognising Yarraman as a Trails Town. Extending the BVRT to Yarraman also provides opportunities for future recreational links via the old stock route along Din Din Road to the proposed Kingaroy to Theebine Rail Trail.

On 8 October 2011, as part of the annual Colours of Yarraman Festival, Toowoomba Mayor, Cr Peter Taylor officially opened a 7.5 km section of the BVRT south of Yarraman to Harland Park at Cooyar Creek (old Pidna rail station site). Due to extensive damage to the trail in the January 2011 floods, the entire section from Yarraman to Blackbutt will not be officially open until 2012.

Further information

For further information on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, current weather and event updates, local heritage and facilities in the Brisbane Valley go to the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail website or visit the Visitor Information Centres in Blackbutt, Esk, Fernvale, Ipswich, Yarraman and Nanango.