15/06/2026
Weekend Adventure: Brisbane Valley Rail Trail to Lowood Pub
This past weekend, Urban Advisory Director Anthony Jones enjoyed a family bike riding adventure with his family.
The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail follows the route of the former Brisbane Valley railway line which began as a transport corridor in the 1880s to move timber, dairy products and passengers through the Brisbane Valley. The railway served local communities for more than a century before closing in the early 1990s, eventually being transformed into what is now Australia’s longest rail trail, stretching 161km.
This experience offers a unique way to enjoy the region’s rural landscape. It’s ideal for cyclists, walkers and horse riders and has become a tourism drawcard, helping support local businesses and encouraging visitors to slow down and explore the Brisbane Valley, less than an hour drive from the C*D.
The Jones family adventure was from Fernvale to Lowood. This is a family-friendly stretch through open countryside on a (mostly) smooth gravel surface, making it suitable for riders of all abilities. We enjoyed a good old fashioned country pub meal at the Lowood hotel (highly recommend the chicken parmi).
At Urban Advisory, we’re always interested in how infrastructure can evolve over time. The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is a great example of how a disused transport asset has been reimagined into a community and tourism destination that continues to connect people, places and local economies.
Here’s to our next bike riding adventure on this trail!