Top tips for a weekend drive to the Brisbane Valley
Crawling on a motorway headed west from Brisbane it's hard to imagine that the mayhem will shortly give way to rolling hills and quaint townships. Welcome to the Brisbane Valley.Brisbane Valley, Queensland
Close to: Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Reached via the Warrego and Brisbane Valley Highways or from Brisbane's northside via the D'Aguilar Highway and Esk-Kilcoy Road.
Day or weekend: The trip including a Transport Museum tour can be done easily in a day. However, those who want to indulge can plan a longer stay by visiting somersetqld.com.au
Hidden gems: the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Following the route of the old Brisbane Valley rail line, the Trail starts at Ipswich and continues for 162km. Three-day guided cycling tours are available for adventurers wanting to attempt the entire journey.
Everybody goes to: The Fernvale Bakery. A huge selection of pies and specialty pastries. Try the Yowie pie.
Take home: Fresh produce which can be found in abundance throughout the region. Watch for roadside signs and have some coins handy for the 'Honesty Box'
The sign to watch for reads 'Blacksoil'. At that point, the traveller must veer left and leave the Warrego Highway before turning onto a newly constructed overpass that funnels us onto the Brisbane Valley Highway.
Within minutes the town of Fernvale comes into view, with its specialty shops and an array of places to eat and relax.
You can unwind in a cafe but opting for a tray of takeaways is also worth considering as just 10 minutes up the road is Cormorant Bay with its well-appointed picnic areas and extensive views across Lake Wivenhoe; Brisbane's primary source of freshwater.
Fernvale to Esk
Head back to the Highway and just half an hour later you’ll arrive at the picturesque town of Esk. The town was established in the 1870s and features beautifully-preserved buildings that date back more than 120 years.
Antique and craft stores abound and there is, of course, a bakery. Sunday mornings see Esk's 'business district' far more populous than on weekdays as visitors crowd the town. Many come on motorcycles, having taken the 'scenic' route from Brisbane over Mt Glorious.
Staying a while in Esk is easy and inexpensive. Accommodation includes two budget-priced motels and a caravan park with on-site cabins plus powered sites.
Esk to Gatton
Grazing lands roll out on both sides as the highway winds its way towards Toogoolawah then heads north-west towards the headwaters of the Brisbane River. Camping and fishing spots abound, but only if you have plenty of time.
Taking 'the long way round' will send travellers with time on their hands through a string of picturesque rural villages before reaching Kingaroy to the north and returning via the wheat-growing region around Dalby.
Keeping the journey to an easy day's drive means making a u-turn at Toogoolawah and upon returning to Esk, swinging right towards the regional hub of Gatton. Look along the way for olive groves, an ostrich farm and one of the country's largest seedling nurseries.
Huge packing sheds dot Gatton's outskirts, underpinning an industry that supplies 110,000 tonnes of produce annually.
Head onwards down Gatton's main street with its mixture of small boutiques and historic buildings. A leisurely lunch at one of the pubs fronting the railway line is a must.
From there, take a short drive to Apex Park with its lake, picnic grounds and Cultural Centre, which incorporates an art gallery, performance spaces, a coffee shop and the Queensland Transport Museum.
The display, which includes many privately-owned exhibits changes regularly and is a must-see for commercial vehicle enthusiasts. It also documents the history of Queensland's reliance on the different forms of transport, which opened up isolated regions of the vast State.
All in a day
Heading for home means following the signposts back to the Warrego Highway and tapping 'Brisbane' into your GPS. Keep an eye open for bargains from the antique and used item shops that have cropped up along the way or in adjacent villages including Forest Hill and the picturesque Marburg.
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