The original Brisbane Valley railway line ran from Wulkuraka station in Ipswich in the south to Yarraman in the north, making Wulkuraka Station the true start or end point for every Brisbane Valley Rail Trail End-to-End adventure.
Wulkuraka station opened as Brisbane Valley Junction in the 1880s, being the junction station for the Brisbane Valley railway line from 1884 until 1989.
For BVRT purists, Wulkuraka Station is the true start of Australia’s longest continuous rail trail and is a convenient access point for anyone travelling by public transport. However, there is now a more convenient BVRT Trailhead with parking, toilet and drinking fountain facilities at 163 Grace St, Wulkuraka, Ipswich 4305.
The BVRT starts with a concrete bikeway that provides a cycling route from Wulkuraka station/trailhead to the outskirts of Ipswich, before becoming a mostly roadbase surfaced track to Fernvale..
There are no food or accommodation options directly in the area around Wulkuraka Station, but plenty of options if you venture towards the CBD via the mapped connecting route.
The first food and accommodation options on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail heading northwards are in Fernvale.
Horse riders seeking to start in Ipswich are permitted to use the concrete Brassall Bikeway section of the BVRT, but should use the grassed shoulder only, with the exception of the bridge and road crossings.
(The carpark at Borallon Station Rd is a better starting point for horse riders.)
As Queensland’s oldest provincial city, Ipswich has a rich history and renowned for its architectural, natural and cultural heritage. Ipswich proudly preserves and still operates from many of its historical buildings and homes, with more than 6000 heritage-listed sites.
Attractions include the Ipswich Art Gallery, the Workshops Rail Museum, steam trains, more than 500 parks, wineries, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and shopping centres. There are also for good bike shops in Ipswich. Check out the Discover Ipswich website for more tourism information,
