Mary Valley Rail Trail

The Mary Valley Rail Trail is an easy and scenic 4.7 km rail trail between Imbil and Brooloo in Queensland’s Mary Valley, inland from the Sunshine Coast and south of Gympie. Following the former Mary Valley branch railway line, the unsealed shared-use trail provides a relaxed ride through open grassy woodland, hoop pine plantations, pockets of rainforest and farmland. The compacted gravel surface and gentle former railway gradient make it suitable for mountain bikes, gravel bikes, hybrids, families and recreational cyclists, with an out-and-back ride creating an achievable 9.4 km cycling route. Despite the surrounding hills, the railway alignment keeps the ride relatively flat, with an overall downhill trend travelling from Brooloo towards Imbil. Along the way riders pass old railway cuttings, water crossings and remnants of the line that once carried agricultural produce, timber, livestock and passengers through the Mary Valley. One of the highlights is a resident bellbird colony around the middle of the trail, adding a distinctive soundtrack to the ride through the forest. Both Imbil and Brooloo have trailheads and parking, although Imbil is the better-equipped starting point, with toilets, drinking water, cafés, a bakery, pub, fuel and other services available in the village. There are currently no public toilets or drinking water at Brooloo. The trail is shared with walkers, horse riders and wheelchair users, and dogs are permitted on leash. There are also plans to make the Mary Valley Rail Trail considerably longer. A proposed 10 km Stage 2 would extend from Imbil to Kandanga, followed by a 6 km Stage 3 from Kandanga to Amamoor, potentially creating a roughly 20 km trail linking four Mary Valley communities. The proposed extensions would add significant railway heritage features including the Yabba Creek steel bridge, a 50 m railway tunnel and the curved timber bridge at Melawondi. Detailed design work for the extensions is progressing in 2026, with construction dependent on future funding. RTS Tip: For the easiest option, start at Brooloo and ride towards Imbil, taking advantage of the trail’s overall downhill trend, before turning around for the return climb. If starting at Imbil, grab supplies before you leave as there’s no drinking water or toilets at Brooloo. Keep an eye out for gates and low-level water crossings, particularly after wet weather, and remember this is a shared trail — slow down around walkers and horses and leave gates as you find them.