TrailFlix - Awaba, Newcastle

I rode this with a mate who was familiar with it on the same day we rode Glenrock.

The dirt road leading in has been graded smooth and there is a good sized parking area at the trailhead. All of this was extra good for me after following the GPS to get there sent us the wrong way and I managed to get the ute bogged on a firetrail!

The Awaba course is very good. We rode the two longer loops. The first time we rode nearly all the way up 'Camel Humps' and the second lap we cut that section out.

It's a very well groomed track with a lot of switchbacks. I guess it has been set up as an XC/Enduro race venue because it's not overly technical. The climbing isn't too hard besides that one section, but every climb is rewarded with a flowing descent. There are a few bridges and they are all really solid, allowing you to hit them with speed and no fear of slipping.

The corners aren't quite as sweeping, bermed or flowing on the climbs as Glenrock but it was still easy to carry speed through them. They just don't give that sensation of accelerating around them like at Genrock. Everything on the way back down was awesome.

The track markings were excellent. Nice big coloured arrows to show us which way we needed to go to ride each loop. Considering the track recently held a big endurance event it was in fantastic condition as well. It really held up well to all of the use it had.

Overall, it's a great 10km XC track if you're trying to ride it fast (you don't have to actually be fast, just feel like you are, like me!) but if you are just cruising around it's not that exciting. I don't think it's a track I'd drive out to ride on it's own. But making a day of it and riding Ourimbah or Glenrock as well as Awaba is a good thing to be able to do because they are so close.