Quad biking is a fantastic family day out. Recently the author, Steve and another family went quad biking in the Glenworth Valley with Quad Bike King. All up there were 4 adults and 7 kids. Glenworth Valley is less tha an Hour from the north side of Sydney, an easy drive up the F3. Heading down into the valley provides a scenic vista over the 3,000 acres.
Imagine quad bike riding with your friends through 3,000 acres of the finest unspoilt wilderness, consisting of lush green valleys and rainforest areas located in the hinterland region of the NSW, Central Coast . There are over 50kms of trails to explore including a diverse and interesting range of terrain from scenic bushland, to open paddocks, rainforest areas and mountain trails.
Quad biking on a 4 wheel ATV is awesome fun and surprisingly easy. In fact, no experience is necessary and absolutely anyone 12 years and above can do it. All the bikes we used were fully automatic, with no gears to worry about, which makes them easy to ride and use. Upon arriving the friendly staff fitted us for helmets and spent the better part of 15 minutes giving us instructions and making sure the kids were comfortable handling the bikes.
The bikes were all 90cc bikes. Perfect for the kids but a little lite on for the adults. Nevertheless they were imense fun and fast enough for what we were trying to achieve for the day. To have some family fun and introduce quad biking to some of the group that had never been before. Mind you the authors rather large rear end was a tad sore at the end of the day and a bigger bike would have been more comfortable
As I mentioned all riders receive a safety briefing, followed by individual instruction on how to control and manage their bike. You then do some practical training and assessments on the confidence building course, before you hit the open trails. The convoy was guided by a staff member up front, which also discreetly kept the pace to a safe level for the beginners and there was a tail end charlie with a fully equipped AWD quad that was there to help if we got bogged or in trouble etc.
If you are so inclined why not pack a picnic or enjoy a BBQ lunch on the banks of Popran Creek and enjoy the day at Glenworth Valley . Alternatively they can provide a full range of refreshments or put you in contact with a list of caterers who can provide your group with a variety of catering options.
Frankly with only 1.5hrs for riding we were keen to get the most from the experience and decided to eat afterwards. We started following the farm roads which meander along the hillsides and creek. For the most part we were shaded and it was a pleasant ride. The terrain got a little trickier as we went along and it was interesting to see the kids build confidence as we went.
We headed to an open paddock which had a race track prepared complete with banked turns, a long straight and some tricky climbs etc. By the time we were close to finishing up at the track the kids were all buzzing around like little racers and having an absolute blast. By the way so were the adults, big boys just cant seem to help themselves and it must have been a hilarious sight seeing two grown men racing each other on 90cc quads. I think the kids could probably have run fatser but nevertheless we had a ball.
The return trip came all too suddenly, but by the time we got off the bikes at the end we were dirty, tired and had enormous grins on our faces.
Quad bike tours are fantastic fun for family and friends, group outings for social organisations and corporate team building activities. Quad Bike King also provide outdoor education programs for school and community groups.
Best of all they are located only 1 hour from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Newcastle or 15 minutes from Gosford. They also have tours of the sand dunes of Stockton beach. Having been quad biking and 4wdriving on the dunes for years i can vouch for the fun that is as well
For more information or to make a booking, please contact Quad Bike King on (02) 4375 1222
Ride Times
Quad bike rides depart at 10am, 11.30am, 2pm and 3.30pm, 7 days a week, subject to an advance booking. We booked a group session just for ourselves and that worked well. Get there early to get set up, no later than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time.
All rides last for 1.5 hours duration and you can expect to cover at least 15 kms of terrain during your ride.
Prices are reasonable at $80.00 per person, this includes full training and safety equipment. They suggest you book well in advance to secure your preferred date and time. All activities need to be paid for at the time of booking.
What to wear and bring
The folks at Quad Bike King suggest you wear enclosed shoes, sunglasses for eye protection and long pants. It’s a good idea to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirt on or bring a change of clothes with you just in case.
Alternatively they have safety glasses you can wear and optional coveralls you can hire if you wish. They also suggest you bring your wet weather gear if the weather is a bit uncertain and something warm to wear during the winter months.
Last but certainly not least bring your Camera (dont laugh we forgot ours!)