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MAPS, DOCUMENTS
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Trailflix: Glenrock, Newcastle - Trail Review |
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Glenrock is a great combination trail in a stunning location.
Glenrock State Recreation Area is on the coast between the Newcastle suburbs of Merewether and Dudley, just 7Km from the CBD. It’s pristine coastal temperate rainforest, the last in the Newcastle region. Combined with the adjacent Awabakal Nature Reserve, it’s over 700 hectares of coastal bushland; the calibre of the much smaller (and non-bikeable) Botany Bay National Park in Sydney’s south or the eminently more rideable Oxford Falls. There are over 20 different vegetation communities and 140 species of birds, plus a sugar glider (marsupial) colony and other local wildlife.
The most popular starting point for riders is from the two large Newcastle Water tanks and Telstra Tower along the Pacific Highway at the corner of Gun Club Road.
The Glenrock trails fan out left, right and centre from that starting point and you really do need a map or a local to show you the best route. My recommendation is to do the circuit around the perimeter. Firstly, it’s a great trail and secondly it gives you a feel for the place and also, many of the trails start and end off this one.
Across the road from your car park is a gate. Immediately beyond the gate (on Gun Club Road), the first trail to your left starts with a crest and you’re into downhill singletrack. None of the usual, “ride for 10 Km to reach the good stuff” bizzo, it’s here at the start.
This trail itself winds through forest, then open grassland, then dense bush, rocky downhill, tar seal gated roads, clay base fire trail and sandy gravel, so you get a real mix.
It’s about 25 Km around the perimeter of most of the park. It’s a good one to start with to get a good feel for the place. Just one of the highlights is a long section of trail that goes along the bush line looking out over a sandy beach with great views of the ocean… I find biking by the sea is great…must be that salty air!
In order, the main trails to go round the perimeter track are
Upper Kenny, Bailey’s Paddock, High Roller, Seuss Land, then down Yule Road or Shaft Track and then follow the coastal trail which is difficult to miss. On the second peninsula, it’s Underdog (or Top Dog, depending on how fit you’re feeling), Surfers Walk, Log On and finally Little Borneo – singletrack riding.
Take a look at the map for more details.
Three things of note:
1. The area is well-used. Take care when belting along and downhill that you don’t destroy the wildlife or wipe out a bunch of kids in your haste. We spotted about 5 groups the day we were using it. If you like riding fast, try Killingworth, just across the freeway. Or go really, really early or…
2. …try riding in the evening. It’s a great one to do at night. With the appropriate lighting gear and someone to show you the way, it’s spectacular. Maybe it was because I was a virgin night rider…but I had a blast. I did it with a great bunch of locals, without whom I’d have been missing for days.
3. The Glenrock area is under a POM (Plan of Management), as at July 2007) which means that it’s long term future is being evaluated by NSWPWS and a host of others to determine the best use for the area long term. I note that it’s variously termed on the web and in official documents a Recreation area and a Conservation area, which may give some insight into how the debate is being framed. In MTB terms, what’s rideable now may not be in future. |
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