Length:

145 km

Termini:

Northern: New England Hwy (A3), Yarraman

Southern: Warrego Hwy (A2) and Wulkaraka Connection Rd, Blacksoil

Route includes:

Brisbane Valley Highway, Forest Hill-Fernvale Road, Railway Street, Main Street, Clarendon Road, Patrick Estate Road, Mahons Road, Coominya Connection Road, Railway Street, Rocky Gully Road, Wills Road, Larsens Road, Willaura Drive, Gatton-Esk Road and D&Aguilar Highway

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Blacksoil, Ironback, Pine Mountain, Wanora, Fairney View, Fernvale, Vernor, Lowood, Patrick Estate, Coominya, Mount Hallen, Esk, Coal Creek, Biarra, Ottaba, Toogoolawah, Braemore, Yimbun, Harlin, Colinton, Moore, Linville, Benarkin, Blackbutt, Nukku and Yarraman

Current:

Multiplexed with: A17 17 85

Road Authority Internal Classification:

40B (Harlin to Yarraman) ^{1 2}

42A (Blacksoil to Fernvale, and Esk to Harlin) ^{1 3}

412 (Fernvale to Lowood) ³

411 (Coominya) ³

4144 (Mount Hallen to Esk) ³

General Information:

Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive is a rural route that is situated west of the Brisbane metropolitan area, and features charming country towns, heritage sites and landscapes that shift from open plains to cool forests and mountain views. ⁴

The route passes by several man-made lakes which are part of water storage facilities for the region, including Lake Wivenhoe, Somerset Dam and Atkinsons Dam, all of which are a short distance by local roads from the route. The route also parellels the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail for a significant distance, which follows the former Brisbane Valley railway line from Wulkuraka to Yarraman, and traces a route built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. ⁴

A17 / National Route 17, for 16 km, between Blacksoil and Fernvale.

National Route 17, for 81 km, between Esk and Yarraman.

State Route 85, for 36 km, between Esk and Harlin.

29 February 2008: Wallaby Creek Crossing No 3 Bridge, west of the town of Moore, named after Gorrie family, a farming and business family active in the area from the late 19th century into the 20th century. ⁵

April 2009: Widening of a 1 km section of Brisbane Valley Hwy between Blacksoil and Fernbank at Fairney Brook. ⁶

November 2013: Commencement of pavement repairs, slope stabilisation and reconstruction of drainage along Forest Hill-Fernvale Road. ⁷

2014: National Route 17 replaced by A17 on signs at around the Warrego Hwy (A2) interchange at Blacksoil.

February 2019: Resurfacing works on 2 sections of Brisbane Valley Hwy south of Fernvale. ⁸

2023: Completion of upgrade works in the Fernvale town centre. Works included: Installation of dedicated right-turn lanes on Main Street at Banks Creek Road, Fernvale Futures Centre access, and Simpson Street intersections, and south of Fernvale Hotel Motel, installation of pedestrian kerb build-outs and pedestrian refuges at 2 locations, relocation of an existing pedestrian crossing, construction of dedicated motorcycle parking area, resurfacing of Main Street (Brisbane Valley Highway) between Clive Street and Banks Creek Road, provision of on-road bicycle lanes, township entry treatments on both sides of Fernvale town centre and changes to speed limits through town. ⁹

December 2024: Completion of upgrades along a 14 km section of Brisbane Valley Highway, between Blacksoil and Fernvale. Works included: Wide centre line treatment to provide additional separation between northbound and southbound traffic, guardrail to provide better protection from roadside hazards, installation of dedicated right-turn and left-turn lanes at Ironbark Road intersection, a dedicated right-turn and left-turn at the Borallon Station Road intersection, plus minor bus stop improvements at James Street, construction of a police enforcement bay south of Glamorgan Vale Road and a dedicated left-turn at the Glamorgan Vale Road. ¹⁰

Yarraman to Blacksoil

NEW South Street:

AD style sign peforming ID sign duties at the corner of Gatton-Esk Rd (Brisane Valley Tourist Drive) and South St, Esk, June 2025. Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive turns left at this location.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Esk, June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Gatton-Esk Rd (Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive), approaching Willaura Rd (Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive), Mount Hallon, June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Intersection Directional Sign & Trailblazer:

ID sign and trailblazer on the corner of Gatton-Esk Rd (Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive) and Willaura Rd (Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive), Mount Hallon, June 2025. Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive turns left at this location.

Image © Rob Tilley