The South Burnett Rail Trail is a sealed, 44 kilometre rail trail in the South Burnett Region of Queensland. With coffee shops and other attractions available at Kingaroy, Wooroolin, Wondai and Murgon, it’s the ideal trail for some leisurely cycle tourism.
The South Burnett Rail Trail is the southern half of the Kilkivan Kingaroy Rail Trail. Unlike the unsealed and more adventurous northern half, the southern section is readily accessible to a wide range of users.
Kingaroy Railway Station
Derek and Kenji the dog dropped me off at the former Kingaroy Railway Station.
Before starting on the trail, I took a quick detour to get a photo of the peanut silos which are an iconic landmark of the town.
Kingaroy to Wooroolin 17 km
We were staying at Barambah Caravan Park near Murgon, so we had already had ample opportunity to drive along the Bunya Highway and research the towns along the rail trail. I planned to stop at Wooroolin for coffee/morning tea and Wondai for lunch.
The morning was crisp, and I quickly made headway, despite the slight incline on the first few kilometres of the South Burnett Rail Trail.
As I approached the first small town of Memerambi, I was impressed by these striking road barriers.
Wooroolin
When I arrived in Wooroolin, there were quite a few caravans parked next to the rail trail in the free camping area. I made my way to the Butchers Cafe.
While drinking coffee, I chatted to some local ladies and a couple of caravan owners. Everybody seemed very positive about the South Burnett Rail Trail, which had only been completed in 2017.
As I was leaving Wooroolin, I passed this beautiful historic pub.
Wooroolin to Wondai (16 km)
The South Burnett Rail Trail surface was excellent and I was really enjoying the ride. Now that I had passed Wooroolin, the trail was gradually descending.
Twenty-four kilometres from Kingaroy, I came to the Tingoora trestle bridge – great fun to roll across
and interesting to see from the side.
I wondered about the markers on the pylons.
Nine more kilometres and I arrived in Wondai.
Wondai
Wondai is a very attractive South Burnett town. The Information Centre doubles as a Timber Museum. One interesting display is a life-size diorama, which depicts life as timber-getter at the turn of the twentieth century.
I got my lunch at Dan’s Diner, opposite the museum and then continued on, passing in front of the historic Hotel Cecil.
As I proceeded out of town, I noticed there were lots of caravans parked beside the rail trail here too.
Wondai to Murgon (15 km)
By now I had come 30 kilometres, with 13 kilometres more to go to Murgon.
A highlight of this section of the trail is the crossing at Barambah Creek. Only the pylons remain of what must have been an impressive railway bridge across the gully.
While Barambah Creek is very pretty, the climb up from the crossing is quite steep.
For the last few kilometres before you arrive at Murgon, the South Burnett Rail Trail travels alongside Barambah Creek.
At this point, it is worth mentioning the excellent safety markers that are all along the Kilkivan Kingaroy Rail Trail (KKRT) (including the South Burnett Rail Trail).
These markers are placed at kilometre intervals and allow you to keep track of your progress. Importantly, they also provide a means of explaining your location should you need assistance in an emergency.
Two kilometres from Murgon, I phoned Derek and asked if he would meet me at the old Murgon Station.
When I arrived in Murgon, I was in much better shape than I had been after the more challenging northern half of the Kilkivan Kingaroy Rail Trail.
Summary
Despite the overall descent, I had cycled 46 kilometres and climbed 352 metres. (This includes my exploratory detours around the towns of Kingaroy and Wondai.)
Here is my 30-second video of my highlights of my ride on the South Burnett Rail Trail:
The northern half of the Kilkivan Kingaroy Rail Trail is completely different from the South Burnett Rail Trail, but is very beautiful in a different way.
The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail guide, which you can buy online for $9, includes lots of relevant information about the South Burnett Rail Trail. Of course, you can’t visit this area without trying out the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
I am very fortunate to have Derek as a support driver, but if a guided cycling tour would be more suitable for you, have a look at the lovely Tour de Queensland Rail Trails offered by Tour de Vines.
