From Ipswich, use the Brisbane to Mackay ride instructions, to get to Fernvale. From Fernvale, ride the highway to the Lowood turnoff and then ride to Lowood. It is reasonably bike friendly. Ipswich to Lowood is approximately 40 km. Fernvale has a bakery and a good cafe. Lowood is a small to mid-sized town and has a caravan park, hotel, good general store, butcher, bakery and other stores.
Coominya is a township with a small general store and a hotel. Esk is a small to mid-sized town and has hotels, caravan park, motel and most facilities except banks. Toogoolawah is a small to mid-sized town and has most facilities including a bank, but not a caravan park. Somerset Dam consists of a few houses and a very small store with an attached liquor store. It sells takeaway food. Closing time of the store is variable, and if a late arrival is anticipated, this should be checked. There is a camping area provided by the authority which administers Somerset and Wivenhoe Dams. These dams provide most of the water supply for Brisbane and Ipswich.
Mostly beef farms and cultivation on the river and creek flats. It is enjoyable ride down the Brisbane River valley into Somerset Dam.
This ride is also suitable for a testing imperial century. If the gravel road needs to be avoided, turn right instead of left at Fulham Rd (80 km). The Mt Beppo road can then be used. It is paved.
Hayes Point is a hilly 1.5 km off the route. The road is paved. Hayes Point is located on the shore of Wivenhoe Dam and is a pleasant picnic area. It has drinking water, covered picnic tables and toilets.