The Best Rail Trails and Bike Paths in Australia - UPDATED Feb 2020

UPDATED IN FEB 2020

Have you ever imagined yourself on a cycling holiday, but not sure you can keep up the pace day after day, and absolutely certain you don't want to dodge trucks and other traffic while rediscovering your childhood bicycle skills.  Have I got the solution for you!

Lots of old and disused railways which once ran through the countryside are steadily being re-purposed as 'rail trails'. With tracks removed, bridges repaired, or diverted around, and tunnels made safe they make perfect corridors for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Since trains never handled anything other than gentle gradients they are generally flat and easy to cycle. Their routes are dotted with small towns whose populations are welcoming and, as rail trailers arrive so do small businesses like trail side cafes, boutique accommodation, and bicycle support services giving country Australia a tourism boost.

Cycling the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail - How adventurous are you?

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) follows an old rail corridor from Yarraman to Ipswich in south-east Queensland. At 161 km, it is Australia's longest rail trail beating the Great Victorian Rail Trail and the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail by almost 30 and 50 kms respectively. Queenslanders like to do things differently however so if you head up to the BVRT for a bit of spring cycling with the idea that the trail will be just like its easy-riding Victorian counterparts only longer, you are in for a shock.

Swooping Magpies: Surviving the Mad Magpie of Toogoolawah!

Talk to an American or a Brit or almost anyone else about Australia and the conversation inevitably comes around to animals. Not the cute ones, like koalas and wombats and baby kangaroos, but the ones out to get you - the deadly ones.  There is no denying this country has its fair share of dangerous creatures. Google 'the most venomous snakes in the world' and there are bound to be a few Australian natives on the list. Then there is the world's most deadly bird, the beautiful but very cranky cassowary; one of the world's most dangerous spiders, the Sydney funnel web; the lovely to look at but deadly to touch blue ringed octopus and the infamous Irukandji jellyfish. The funny thing though is that nobody ever mentions the animal Australia is most afraid of, the creature which sends grown adults into paroxysms of dread with a single flap of its wings, the springtime terror of southern skies - the Australian swooping magpie.

Cycling the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail - Moore to Linville and Blackbutt

Location - Sth-east Queensland, Australia
Ride - Moore through Linville and then toward Blackbutt
Distance - 34.2 km
Terrain - Combined cycling, hiking, horse riding track
Difficulty - Mostly flat and fairly easy.
Highlights - The 'off the beaten track' charm of Linville

Cycling the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail - Pt 2

Location - Sth-east Queensland, Australia
Ride - Lowood.
Distance - 25 km
Terrain - Quiet country back roads
Difficulty - Flat and easy.
Highlights - The wonderful winter weather

Cycling at Surfers Paradise

Location - Sth-east Queensland, Australia
Ride - Surfers Paradise going north
Distance - 32.5 km
Terrain - Flat, bike path separated from the roadway.
Difficulty - Easy.
Highlights - Oysters for afternoon tea looking out over the Pacific

Cycling at Manly, Qld

Location - Brisbane, Queensland Australia
Ride - Wynnum to Lota
Distance - 21 km
Terrain - Flat, bike path separated from the roadway.
Difficulty - Dead easy.
Highlights - A cafe lunch at Manly looking out over the marina.

Cycling on Bribie Island, Qld

Location - Sth-east Queensland, Australia
Ride - Along the seaside at Bribie Island.
Distance - 27.3 km
Terrain - Flat, bike path separated from the roadway.
Difficulty - Dead easy.
Highlights - The view out across the Pumicestone Passage

Cycling in Redcliffe, Qld

Location - Brisbane, Queensland Australia
Ride - Scarborough to Shorncliffe
Distance - 40.8 km round trip
Terrain - Flat, bike path separated from the roadway.
Difficulty - Dead easy but don't forget the wind - a tailwind out and a headwind home just isn't fun.
Highlights - The picturesque Scarborough boat harbour, a stop for lunch at Woody Point and the chance you just might see a whale.

Cycling the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail - Fernvale to Lowood

Location - Sth-east Queensland, Australia
Ride: Fernvale to Lowood, QLD
Distance: 29.9 km
Terrain: Compacted dirt.
Difficulty: Tough - recent rain turned much of the trail to mud.
Highlights: Just being out in the countryside.