Walk or ride the Mary Valley Rail Trail
It’s a great way to take in the picturesque countryside of the Mary Valley. But it’s much more than that – it’s about connecting our communities, stimulating our local economy, enhancing our local environment, and embracing history.
Mary Valley Rail Trail Association Inc acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land through which the Mary Valley Rail Trail traverses, the Gubbi Gubbi people of the Gubbi Gubbi nation, and pays its respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
About the trail
The Mary Valley Rail Trail is currently a shared use recreational trail between Brooloo and Imbil. It is loved by locals and visitors alike and is free to use every single day of the year.
Stage 1 is OPEN – Brooloo to Imbil, 4.7km one-way, (LINK TO THE MAP HERE)
This delightful section of trail between Brooloo and Imbil is open for use by walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users, and horse-riders. Dogs on leash are welcome. The trail surface is compacted gravel and is accessible to people of most abilities.
Carparking is available at both trailheads. Drinking water, toilets, and other facilities are located 400m from the Imbil trailhead in Imbil village (general store, bakery, pub, fuel etc). There is no public drinking water or toilet at Brooloo.
Following the old railway corridor, the trail is relatively flat despite the hilly terrain it carves its way through. There is an overall downhill trend from Brooloo to Imbil. You can start the trail at either end, and return via the same route. The landscape and environment are diverse, from open grassy woodland to hoop pine plantations to rainforest to farmland. One of the highlights of the trail is the bellbird colony that resides permanently in the middle section of the trail.
Come for a walk, run or ride by yourself or with the whole family!
PROPOSED Stage 2 – Imbil to Kandanga, 10km one-way
A Feasibility Study conducted by Gympie Regional Council has been completed. The results are very positive and detailed design work is to be carried out in 2025/2026.
Connection with the Mary Valley’s railway heritage is obvious on this section of trail, with the heritage-listed steel bridge spanning Yabba Creek, a 50m long tunnel, cream sheds, and the magnificent, curved timber bridge at Melawondi. Farmland is the dominant backdrop with pockets of eucalypt forest, and even another bellbird colony. When complete, this section of trail will connect the villages of Imbil and Kandanga, both of which boast country town facilities and hospitality.
PROPOSED Stage 3 – Kandanga to Amamoor, 6km one-way
When complete the trail will traverse beautiful undulating farmland to connect with Amamoor, which boasts a delightful village green, a general store and café, and is the terminus of the Mary Valley Rattler tourist steam train. Along the way trail users will appreciate Kandanga Creek’s unique ‘double bridge’ where the old rail bridge crosses the single lane road bridge.
About Us
Mary Valley Rail Trail Association Inc is the key community advocacy group for the Mary Valley Rail Trail (MVRT) project.
We are committed to advocating for the repurposing of the redundant Mary Valley branch railway corridor into a multi-use recreational trail. Our committee is in regular discussion with Gympie Regional Council, which is the authority responsible for the MVRT.
All committee members are Mary Valley locals, and include avid bushwalkers and hikers, and keen cyclists. All have the common goal of making our community a better place to live, work and play.
Membership is continually growing. Supporters of the trail are comprised of Mary Valley residents, Queenslanders, and even some from interstate.
Our objectives are listed below
To advocate for the conversion of the disused Mary Valley Branch Railway corridor into a multi-use recreational trail.
To encourage use of the Mary Valley Rail Trail by local residents and visitors thereby improving our community’s liveability, physical and mental health, and well-being.
To protect and preserve the native flora and fauna by ensuring effective environmental stewardship of the Mary Valley Rail Trail corridor and its Mary River catchment crossings.
To undertake educational and community engagement activities that promote the uniqueness of the flora and fauna and importance of preserving it.
To stimulate nature-based recreation that will boost economic opportunities linked to the uniqueness of the Mary Valley; its people, indigenous connections, heritage, and natural environment.
To engage and partner with other community and special interest groups to ensure the Mary Valley Rail Trail remains a valuable and well-utilised community asset.
To liaise with all levels of government, and other stakeholders, in order to ensure completion, maintenance, and enhancement of the Mary Valley Rail Trail.
How Can I Help?
Do you think the Mary Valley Rail Trail project is something worth supporting? We do!
There are lots of ways you can help – become a member (social membership is free!), join us for trail maintenance sessions, or wear our merchandise.
?
Ways to help:
WEAR OUR MERCHANDISE -
We would love to hear from you if you would like to offer your help!
Would you like to assist with raising awareness of the MVRT, promoting the MVRT, caring for new plantings of native trees, or generally spruiking the virtues of the trail?
Projects and Events
Tree Amigos
Weeding and tree care on the trail
MVRTA holds regular tree care sessions to care for the rail corridor habitat link plantings, including weeding around the new trees and removal of guards where appropriate.
These sessions are held on the first Saturday of each month at 8am, with a morning tea provided by MVRTA at the end of the working bee. Everyone is welcome – there are jobs for most abilities, and you can do as much or as little as you are able!
Please see the ‘MVRT Tree Amigos’ Facebook page for details of where to meet each time, or contact MVRTreeamigos@gmail.com for more information. We’d love you to join us in keeping the tree plantings and trail looking beautiful!
Full Moon Bike Ride
Every Full moon (regardless of day) at 7pm.
Meet at the Imbil trailhead.
Bring a torch/headlights.
10km ride all welcome - just turn up!
Aug 28: Sturgeon Moon
Sep 26: Corn Moon
Oct 26: Hunter's Moon
Nov 24: Beaver Moon
Dec 23: Cold Moon
Bellbird and Back...a taste of the trail
This very popular event was first held as part of Mary Valley GourMay Food Festival in May 2023 and has now become an annual event.
The 2026 event began at dusk at the Imbil trail head, where cheese and crackers and a glass of wine were enjoyed. After a sunset stroll along the trail to the Bellbird habitat, guests were greeted with lively music from local band ‘Leafy Greens’. A deluxe ‘soup kitchen’ style dinner using local Mary Valley produce was offered along with drinks and a sweet treat for dessert. Lots of dancing, and singing along with the very talented Leafy Greens. A return walk by moonlight rounded out a delightful evening.
A highly successful evening enjoyed by all – photos coming soon!
Kathleen Dennis Rest Area
Trail user feedback indicated another picnic shelter was needed, so with assistance from the Queensland Government Gambling Community Benefit Fund and a close connection with Gympie Regional Council, a new shade shelter was erected in April 2023. The site was chosen in conjunction with Gympie Regional Council, with the bellbird habitat area deemed the best site. With many volunteers assisting the registered builder, the shade shelter was immediately put to good use for the inaugural GourMay event, and since that time it has given rest and shade to many grateful trail users.
The committee decided to dedicate the shade structure to Kathleen Dennis, who was an early member of MVRTA, and who worked many hours in planting and weeding the site. Sadly, Kathleen was killed in a road traffic incident in 2022, but her legacy lives on, and MVRTA committee are proud to commemorate her contribution by naming the area the Kathleen Dennis Rest Area.
The sign was made and donated by local artist Keith Gall.
Mary Valley Rail Trail Habitat Link
This environmental project was led by Koala Action Gympie Region Inc, with the support and assistance from Gympie Landcare and Mary Valley Rail Trail Association Inc.
The aim is to establish a wildlife corridor along the length of the MVRT. It is a great example of how community groups can work together for the benefit of our local flora and fauna.
The Mary Valley Rail Trail habitat link project has been very successful with Koala Action Gympie Region planting 4000 koala habitat and food trees on the trail. Additionally, a WIRES grant allowed Gympie Landcare to add a further 2400 trees near the Brooloo end of the trail. These initial plantings occurred between 2021 and 2023. The volunteer turn-out was amazing across the thirteen planting sessions!
Regular tree care days prove very popular, with volunteers coming from throughout the region to help contribute to this wonderful environmental venture. Check out Tree Amigos for how you can be part of this wonderful group of volunteers.
Brooloo Trailhead Upgrade
In response to trail users’ suggestions for seating and shade along the trail, MVRTA Inc successfully applied for a Federal Government Stronger Communities Programme grant and installed a picnic shelter and table setting at Brooloo in December 2021. As well as providing a nice spot to have a rest and a snack, it functions as an obvious meeting place for users about to set off on the trail.
We aim to replicate this project in other locations along the trail in the future.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) Traineeship
in 2022, our organisation was delighted to secure a traineeship program providing an opportunity for unemployed residents to earn a qualification in conservation and ecosystem management. Participants gained skills working as part of a professional team, and the MVRT corridor benefitted from land regeneration activities – a ‘win-win’ for the trail and our community! The traineeships were provided through ‘Busy at Work’ and were funded by the Queensland Government.
Our Journey So Far
If you would like to share photos of the Mary Valley Rail Trail we would love to show them.
This a community led project and everyone is welcome to join the team and help.
What do you use the Mary Valley Rail Trail for?
Do you walk, run, skip, hop, ride a bike, get pushed in a wheelchair, ride your horse, dance, bird-watch, ride your mobility scooter, go spotlighting for possums, socialise with friends, teach your kid to ride their bike, geocache, do interval training, meditate, plant trees, cartwheel, walk your dog….?
Contact us
Email: mvrtsecretary@gmail.com
Call: 0407 951 287
Facebook Messenger: @maryvalleyrailtrail
Post: PO Box 109 Kandanga Qld 4570