ON THE TRACK

TWELVE days, 12 hikers, 12 months in the planning. Our Great Queensland Rail Trail Adventure began in Kilkivan (100km north-west of Noosa) and ended at Ipswich (45km south-west of Brisbane). The 305km we walked consisted of the 161km Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT), the 89km Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail (KKRT) and the 55km Link Trail (LT) which connects them.

The original rail lines that make up the BVRT and KKRT were developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to carry passengers, timber, meat, and crops such as peanuts. By the late 20th century the rail lines were decommissioned as road transport became more widespread and economical.

Now in the early 21st century, rail trails across the country are gaining popularity as local and state government funding is used to create publicly accessible, shared-use recreation trails for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. As the emphasis on health and fitness in modern times