Handlebar Haven / Kilkivan Loop

Firstly, please contact Annie and Jock before dropping into Handlebar Haven, to arrange either accommodation, meals or both.

Starting at Kilcoy, ride west out of town on the D’Aguilar Hwy to Moore.  Turn right at Moore onto Linville Road and head north.  Linville Road is a great ride that follows the Brisbane River north to the sleepy hollow of Linville. Linville Pub is an absolute must if you are there at the right time of day.  Although the atmosphere is so laid back, it is very hard to leave – so be warned!

Continuing north, the road becomes Mount Stanley Road, which crosses the Brisbane River many times via concrete causeways. North of the Mount Stanley area, the road turns into Western Branch Road.  The valley begins to narrow dramatically as the road takes you to the very upper reaches of the Brisbane River.  At the top of the valley, the road becomes Linville-Forestry Road, which then meets Manumbar Road that will soon turn east and pass Elgin Vale Station.

The bitumen soon starts and you cross Kilcoy-Murgon Road and continue east until Kinbombi Road and turn left (north). Kinbombi Road is an enjoyable bitumen road that runs alongside a deep gorge before passing Kinbombi Falls and intersecting Wide Bay Hwy, where you turn right.

Continue through to Kilkivan and out the other side until you get to the pink tyres on your left - about 2-3 kms out of town. They signify the entrance to Handlebar Haven.

You have never been made as welcome as you are about to be.  If you have organised a time and lunch at Handlebar Haven, Jock and Annie are the hosts you dream of.  Their combined wealth of knowledge will be sure to keep you entertained as they help you with lunch and anything you need as the rustic and quirky charm of Handlebar Haven draws you in.

Part 2 of this ride can be done clockwise or counter-clockwise … your choice!

Leaving Handlebar Haven, head back into Kilkivan to the golf course and veer right onto Tansey Road.  When Tansey Road meets the Burnett Hwy, turn right again and head north until you reach Booubyjan Road and turn right.  Booubyjan Road heads north-west across some great hilly forestry.  The road is well used and generally in good condition, but dirt all the way to Brooweena Woolooga Road, where you turn south (right again).

Not far down it’s worth a stop at Bridge Creek Memorial Bridge. Continue south down Brooweena Woolooga to Running Creek Road and turn right. Running Creek Road is a great ride that eventually takes you back down to Kilkivan. You can backtrack from here down the Wide Bay Highway, turn left into Kinbombi Road and follow it until you intersect with Kilcoy-Murgon Road and turn left.

Continue south for 80kms to Kilcoy. Kilcoy-Murgon Road is quite wide but it can often get large stones peppered across its surface, especially at the northern end.  Not far south at the Jimna Fire Tower, the road turns to bitumen and winds down to Kilcoy through some great twisties. This is a great ride that can be quite remote in places – I would advise that you do it with at least 1 other rider.  Enjoy!

Click here for Route Map.