Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Cycling Tour – Self Guided
Duration:
3Â Days
Difficulty: Medium
From
$699
At 161kms in length the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is the longest rail trail in Australia. This self-guided cycling tour will have you riding the best sections of this fantastic Queensland getaway, whilst taking care of those pesky logistics for you.
There are some stunning bridges, some we cross and some we go under. Being elevated at the northern end, there are terrific views. It’s undeniably outback Queensland but we have found a couple of gourmet secrets so we do get to enjoy quality meals.
Cycling the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is a little bit of an adventure. It’s still on the easy side in terms of distances and there are no major uphill sections. The distances are achievable for most riders, and we start this tour at the northern end so it’s largely downhill. Although short sections near the towns are paved, the majority of the trail is either hard-packed gravel or a wide dirt track, so this is the element that some beginner riders find slightly more challenging. There are also a number of very short but step river bed crossings. Some riders walk these, or go slowly on your brakes, which will mean most likely walking up the other side. But these are very short and can be great fun for riders above beginner level. For these reasons we recommend well-equipped mountain bikes (you can BYO bike or ask about our renting).
It wouldn’t be Queensland without some great pubs and iconic outback buildings to visit. It all makes for a wonderful getaway on this Brisbane Valley Rail Trail cycling tour.
What We Love About this Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Cycling Tour
- Enjoy the downhill cycling from Yarraman on the safe, fun Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
- Experience the charming outback towns of Esk, Yarraman & Fernvale
- Wildlife spotting, including koala, emu and echidna
- Revisit the past at the old restored train stations
- Savour the friendly Queensland regional hospitality
What’s Included In Your Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Cycling Tour
- 2 x Nights accommodation (3/3.5 star)
- 2 x Breakfasts with coffee/tea/drinks as required
- 1 x Café Lunch
- 1 x Dinner
- Transfers to Yarraman on Day 1
- Transfer from Fernvale back to Esk on Day 2
- On-call support throughout
- Printed itinerary and maps for reference*
- An environmentally friendly water bottle AND a lightweight cycling t-shirt*
*A tour kit is posted before your arrival so we do require a minimum of 30 days' notice for this to be sent.
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Cycling Tour Dates & Prices
As a self-guided tour, you have the freedom to choose any date/s that suit you, subject only to accommodation availability.
Prices do vary depending on your dates (note there is a supplement for public holidays) and start at $699 per person on a double/twin share basis for groups.
Bike hire is additional and is as follows:
- Mountain Bike (Trek hardtail) $150 per tour
- E-Mountain Bike (Trek or similar) $250 per tour
Please ensure you view the updated and live pricing and availability in the calendar section of this page.
Self Guided Cycling Tours
Self-guided cycling tours do require participants to be adaptable and able to solve issues whilst on tour. On-call support is included in your tour, but it is expected that you will know how to repair punctures and make minor adjustments to gears, handlebars and seats if required, and if bringing your own bike, then this is expected. For anything more serious, we will be able to assist with a call to our 1300 665 330 number at any time during your trip. You should be able to read a map and follow directions, either on a device or a printed map (supplied), and you have a good sense of direction. Getting a little bit lost or having to ask locals for directions is all part of choosing to travel on a self-guided basis. The maps and directions provided to you are updated regularly and tailored to your specific trip (hotels, restaurants are noted and marked). If this is something that makes you nervous or uncertain, or if you know for sure that you can’t fix a puncture or aren’t confident reading a map, then we do recommend our extensive range of small group fully guided tours where all the stress of navigation, bike maintenance and logistics is all done for you. However, if comfortable with this, then the freedom of a self-guided cycling trip is wonderful, and once confident, can be the preferred choice across our range of cycling tours.
Trusted Operator
Tour de Vines has been running tours in since 2002 and has been awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 and is now a Hall of Fame inductee. You can be assured we are a quality operator and want nothing more than for you to have an amazing travel experience.
Are bikes available?
You are welcome to BYO your bike (recommend mountain bike style as some sections of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail are hard-packed gravel with loose dirt and stones).
Or you are welcome to hire from our quality fleet of mountain bikes, and we have e-mountain bikes too!
See Dates & Prices above for the latest rates.
What accommodation is used?
The accommodation is in Esk for 2 nights and will depend on your specific dates and how many are in your group, but our regular property is the Wivenhoe Motor Inn (or equivalent depending on availability).
How hard is the riding & what is the distance?
The cycling on this Brisbane Valley Rail Trail tour is graded as easy. The only element that might challenge beginner riders is the occasional bumpy surface (and a sore touche!).
Day 1 of riding from Yarraman is largely downhill and flat and covers approximately 40+kms, with the option to ride the full length from Yarraman to Esk, making it a 94 km ride.
Day 2 from Esk to Fernvale is almost all flat and is 40 km.
We have a fleet of e-bikes available to hire if you have any doubts about cycling. They are such great fun and will make life very enjoyable on this ride!
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