Moore to Blackbutt

Location

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT), when completed, will be a 148 kilometre recreation trail from Wulkuraka to Blackbutt. The trail follows the old Brisbane Valley railway line and provides walkers, touring cyclists and horse riders with an opportunity to experience the history and landscape of the Brisbane Valley.

The top end of the trail is located on top of Australia's Great Dividing Range just two hours drive north-west of Brisbane and directly west of the Sunshine Coast. The Moore to Blackbutt (Nukku Road) section of the trail includes Linville and Benarkin and is located in the scenic upper reaches of the Brisbane River valley and crosses the rugged and picturesque Blackbutt Range. The trail head at Moore is located opposite the Moore Memorial Hall in Stanley Gates Park and is approximately 51 kilometres north of Esk.

Moore is just under two hours drive from Brisbane (via the Bruce and D'Aguilar Highways or the Warrego, Brisbane Valley and D'Aguilar Highways). Benarkin and Blackbutt can be reached on the D'Aguilar Highway and the drive from Brisbane is approximately two hours.

Use

The trail is for walking, cycling and horse riding only. The surface is not suitable for road/racing bicycles, personal mobility vehicles or horse drawn vehicles. Motorised vehicles of any type are prohibited.

The trail surface between Moore and Linville is compact gravel with concrete causeways. The section from Linville to Benarkin is rough gravel with some rocky sections. Walkers and cyclists need to be reasonably fit to enjoy the trail between Linville and Blackbutt. Horses must be shod. It takes around 2-3 hours to ride a bike from Blackbutt to Linville, slightly longer travelling up the range from Linville to Blackbutt.

The trail from Benarkin to Blackbutt features a compact gravel road suited to people with a low to moderate fitness level; this particular section is especially suited to families.

There are a number of crossings at Boundary, Greenhide and Blackbutt creeks that are moderately steep (up to 30 per cent) with slopes up to 40 metres in length. There are gradually rising grades up the range to Blackbutt.

The trail is excellent for experienced horse riders and boasts good horse facilities including horse float parking and yards at Benarkin, Linville Station and Blackbutt showgrounds. Horse riders can access Benarkin State Forest, unless otherwise signed, and the Bicentennial National Trail (BNT) at Benarkin and Blackbutt.

Large groups of trail users are required to obtain a permit from South Burnett Regional Council, phone (07) 4171 6800.

Distance

Mobile phone coverage

Limited, public phones available at Linville, Benarkin and Blackbutt.

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