Quad-Biking at Glenworth Valley – Thoughts & Tips

After a few driving mishaps, I’ve grown to dislike driving so, on our quad-biking day some of that driving anxiety resurfaced. Nonetheless, all went well for me and I had a superb time at the tracks. In this article, I’ll share my experience and some tips to help you prepare for this mammoth bike.

Biker on queue at the briefing area

“Press the red button to move forward, then on my signal I want each one of you to move towards me,” said the instructor as we queued at the starting point. I was up soon and had a few hiccups getting the bike to advance but eventually made it. I realized quickly these bikes were tougher to handle than I thought. Surprisingly, children from 12 years are allowed to drive them.

Aside from recreational sports, quad-bikes are used for a variety of activities in farming, construction, security, and even hunting. The wide diameter and thickness of their tires allow them to traverse rugged and uneven landscapes and like any other vehicle quad bikes must be handled with diligence and caution.

During the briefing, a trainer told me to be mindful of the pressure I put on the accelerator as my bike kept jerking forward. There were three trainers who alternately gave us instructions. Later, the group was divided into three groups each led by a trainer.

If you have children in your group, you’ll be advised to keep them at the center of the convoy. I was ahead in our convoy and leisurely advanced at my own pace. However, I had to push hard on that little red button a few times to decrease the widening gap between myself and our lead.

Bikers taking a break at the race track.

We traveled on and soon the vastness of Glenworth Valley was before us. There were rain showers all morning and a layer of haze covered the landscape. Despite the grey skies and the cold and muddy path, the landscape was divine. It was energizing to be surrounded by nature.

A view of Glenworth Valley

We drove through a forest then finally arrived at a concourse. My attention was immediately drawn toward two boys who were already racing furiously around the track. You’ll be sharing the track with a group of people and there’s a chance a few of them may be thrill-seekers like these boys.  They were flagged a few times and given a final warning. Be mindful, if you go speeding and damage the bike, you are liable for damages which could be quite costly.

Unlike smaller bikes, quad-bikes require much more weight-shifting when turning on curves or driving through uneven paths. It is a heavy machine that requires skillful maneuvering. Hence, I was quite sore the next day.

For your get up, wear comfortable clothes, a jacket is a must during cold weather. For footwear, sneakers are ideal, but note that they will get very dirty so you’ll have to give them a good wash after. It’s crucial to bring a change of clothes too.

Helmets and goggles are provided at the site. Finally, pack plastic or synthetic covers to protect your car’s interior from mud and dirt.

The Quad-Biking race track at Glenworth Valley

Unless there’s a severe storm, the biking sessions are not cancelled. You’ll need to do your own weather forecasting and if you think it’s not a good day to go out biking, call the site and let them know your concerns, it may be possible to reschedule.

Pack some food! You won’t find a McDonalds or 7-11 anywhere near the quad-biking site. It’s way out in a mountain region and an hour’s drive from Sydney CBD.

The site is also a venue for camping, horse-back riding, kayaking, and mountaineering. The only food we could buy there was coffee and meat pies so we were super hunger by the time we got back to the city.

On the race track a set of rules must be observed: No overtaking, it’s a one-lane track. Bikers should keep a gap of at least 10 feet from the person ahead. For slower riders like me, there are detour lanes which you should enter if you are signaled to do so. This is necessary to prevent traffic from building up behind you. In the detour lane, you don’t have to stop, you just have to move aside to let others overtake.

The session lasts for 1.5 hours. We were a bit lucky as we got a bit of extra riding time than that until we were finally rounded up for the trip back to basecamp. Before leaving the tracks, our trainers gave a few reminders for the trip back and we had a group photo session. The photos are complimentary and will be sent by email (it can take a while though).

Overall, it was exhilarating to be able to be ride such a powerful bike. We went home thrilled, tired, and craving for more.

Check out these Sydney Travel Guides for more info on cool attractions and things to do in the city

Click here for more information about Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures.

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