If you are looking for a leisurely bike excursion in the Sunshine Coast hinterland , the new Mary Valley Rail Trail, which opened in July 2019, is a great scenic half-day trip from Eumarella Shores.

Just head back into Eumundi and onto the M1 heading north – and take the exit for Amamoor, and follow the signs to arrive at the beautiful country town of Imbil – around a 45 minute drive from Noosa.

The Rail Trail starts just outside Imbil ( at the end of William St) and is a re-purposing of the disused rail line between Imbil and Brooloo into a purpose-built outdoor recreation space – a shared-use unsealed trail (good,coarse gravel) through the remote rural area of around 4.7km each way. Originally the line was used for agriculture, timber and livestock freight. The line was also used to transport passengers on the Mary Valley Rattler as a tourist attraction between Gympie and Imbil after the line to Brooloo closed in the early 1990s.

At a leisurely pace, the ride from Imbil to Brooloo and back will take around an hour return, with a few self-closing, spring-loaded gates to open along the way.

The township of Imbil is quite charming – be sure to leave plenty of time for a picnic at one of the many scenic outlooks and riverside picnic spots you’ll find along the way. In the township itself, walk along the historic Timber Cutters’ Walk , which weaves between age-old jacaranda trees right down to Yabba Creek. Always stunning, it looks particularly spectacular in spring (Oct-Nov), when the trees flower to create a canopy of purple.

Also worth a look is the Railway Hotel in Imbil. Built in 1914, this historic watering hole is a favourite with locals and famous for its roast dinners and very generous serves.

Closeby, Borumba Dam offers over 480 hectares of waterways to explore making it a paradise for those who love swimming, fishing,kayaking and waterskiing. Early morning kayakers will be rewarded with an abundance of birdlife ,with the upper reaches of the dam offering many inlets to discover. The dam is host to a number of annual fishing events so fish stocks are full all-year-round to encourage everyone from families to keen sporting anglers to enjoy the beautiful surrounds as they toss in a line and wait in anticipation for that exciting first bite.