Exploring Queensland’s Gravel Paradise

For many riders in South East Queensland, the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) has become the gateway to gravel riding. It’s well signposted, largely separated from traffic, easy to access by train, and supported by accommodation, cafés and bike-friendly towns along the way. In short, it’s beginner’s gravel riding done exceptionally well. But what about when you’re ready to graduate and ride in some new areas?

According to Hugh Wilson from Southern Queensland Cycle Trails Inc. more variety in gravel riding and multi-day bikepacking opportunities are closer than people think.

“Everyone’s familiar with the BVRT because it’s such a good route, and it’s really well organised and done,” Hugh says. But along with other locals, Hugh has developed a range of resources to help riders discover the riding around Crows Nest and beyond.

Southern Queensland Cycle Trails Inc. is the umbrella organisation working to introduce more riders to the riding potential atop the Great Dividing Range. Bringing together projects like High Country Gravel South Queensland and the Downs Burnett Cycle Trail, the group exists to promote the full spectrum of riding opportunities across the wider region. They aim to make it easier for riders to graduate from the rail trail and into genuine gravel adventure. To that end, that have a new website with a wide range of mapped routes, and maps are being delivered to a range of bike shops in South East Queensland, so riders can get a greater understanding of the extent of gravel riding in the south east of the state.

Mapping what already exists

A key part of that work has been relatively simple: mapping and wayfinding.

Working with local clubs and volunteers, including Jason Wyeth from the South Burnett Mountain Bike Club, Southern Queensland Cycle Trails helped develop the complete map for the whole region. At the heart is the Downs Burnett Cycle Trail (DBCT), a long-distance route that links towns, quiet country roads and gravel backroads across the region. But the mapping shows you can connect to the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail either from Esk, or up at Yarraman. And how you can ride on to Kingaroy, through Wondai and to Kilkivan. The result is a resource that provides well over a week’s worth of riding, enough for a few visits to the area.

“We went out, produced stickers and arrows, and just put them on some existing posts,” Hugh explains. “They’re really just there as reassurance to go with the digital mapping. To act as a reminder that yes, you’re on the right way, even if it feels like you’ve been going a long way through nowhere.”

It was a low-cost, high-return approach. A small council grant funded the initial work, while downloadable maps do most of the heavy lifting. The signage simply provides confidence for riders, something Hugh believes is critical for riders exploring unfamiliar territory – even with digital mapping on hand.

“A small sign for route confirmation makes a big difference for riders,” he says. “It’s low investment for quite a great return.”

Quiet roads, real riding

The Downs Burnett Cycle Trail isn’t a rail trail. It’s a mix of public roads made up of roughly 60 per cent sealed and 40 per cent gravel. It has been deliberately designed to avoid truck routes and heavy traffic.

“There’s very few cars on it,” Hugh says. “The ones that are tend to be people who live there, and they give you plenty of room. There’s no battle on the road at all.”

The riding around places like Crows Nest and Goombungee often surprises people. Smooth rolling gravel, wide-open country and long stretches where the loudest sound is your tyres on dirt.

“It’s exactly what people describe when they talk about wanting gravel riding,” Hugh says. “And a lot of riders don’t realise it’s there.”

Ride from the train – or the rail trail

Southern Queensland Cycle Trails sees the BVRT and other rail trails like the Northern Rivers Rail Trail and South Burnett Rail Trail as the perfect starting point for many riders, especially for riders building confidence.

“The BVRT is gravel for beginners,” Hugh says. “But the true adventure starts once you get up on top of the range.” And Hugh reckons that could be an ideal launching point for a multi-day ride.

With Wulkuraka station providing direct rail access from Brisbane, riders can load bikes onto a train, roll onto the BVRT, and then branch out into multi-day loops from Esk that take in Crows Nest, Yarraman, Kingaroy and beyond.

“It’s well within Brisbane people’s ability to catch a train to Wulkuraka, ride up to Esk, head up to Crows Nest, loop around, and come back down via Yarraman,” Hugh says. “That’s a three-day bikepacking weekend that probably wasn’t on people’s horizons before.” That’s just one of many options, as with a range of interconnecting routes, riders can easily tailor the rides they want to do.

Visiting the towns

Accommodation across the region is a mix of pubs, campgrounds, showgrounds, cabins and a growing number of short stay accommodation providers. In many cases, flexibility and local goodwill make the difference.

“There’s a pub at Kulpi where the publican will let you put your tent up out the back,” Hugh says. “You can use the public toilets once the pub’s closed, have a meal there, and move on in the morning.”

Bell, Kingaroy, Wondai and Crows Nest all offer multiple accommodation options, while smaller towns provide the kind of quiet overnight stops that suit bikepackers. Depending on where you want to stop on a multi-day ride, you may need to take a tent. But your adventure may involve visiting the area for day rides from centrally located accommodation – the choice is yours.

The work behind these routes was backed by an economic development grant, and Hugh is upfront about why.

“We looked at how much money people on bicycles spend,” he says. “We can’t control how many people ride, but the people who do ride spend money.”

He points to events and group rides as tangible examples: accommodation bookings, pub meals, café visits and local services all benefiting from visiting riders.

Sometimes the impact is even more personal. “We had someone come on one of our rides a couple of years ago,” Hugh says. “She enjoyed it so much she sold up and moved to Crows Nest. She’s now a member of Southern Queensland Cycle Trails and one of our ride leaders.”

More than just riding

Part of the appeal of riding through regional Queensland is what happens off the bike.

“There are little country museums, art galleries, men’s sheds and Indigenous cultural centres” says Hugh. Every country town has a story – and sometimes travelling at the speed of a bicycle is the perfect way to make sure the story is told.

That slower pace is, in many ways, the point. Gravel riding allows people to move through landscapes and communities at a speed that invites connection.

Southern Queensland Cycle Trails Inc. exists to connect the dots, inspire riders to look further, and make cycling a more legitimate and visible leisure activity across South East Queensland.

For riders ready to step into a new world of quiet roads and gravel lanes, look towards Crows Nest and beyond – there’s a wide network of rides to discover!

Visit: High Country Gravel SQ