Address: JJ Melbourne Hills Memorial Reserve, Thompson Drive, Terrey Hills
(see map at end of article)
If you are a parent to toddlers or preschoolers and waiting patiently for the day you can say good bye to the swing set and soft fall bike track at the local park, believe me it will happen.
Unfortunately, once they graduate from there, you will only find yourself having to go further afield, to an all together more sophisticated and adventurous version of bike track.
If you’re looking for a BMX track Sydney, check out Terrey Hills
Recently, my son came home from an 11 year old’s birthday party, beside himself with the joys that are the Terrey Hills BMX track, in Sydney’s Northern Suburbs. I use the term ‘joys’ loosely and only in relation to the psyche of a tween or teenage boy. If you are anything like me as a parent, the same feelings you may have experienced from time to time at the toddler park, will apply here too. Read, “Can we go yet?”.
But as parents we know, as far as our kids are concerned anyway, we are basically put on this earth to delight and entertain them. So if you are the parent of tween/teen boys, they will think you are awesome for taking them here.
The Terrey Hills BMX Bike Track is firm, seems to be very well maintained and has a brand new tarred and covered starting gate, which for this novice to the world of BMX, seemed rather impressive.
The real benefit for you as a parent however, is all the raw energy expended by your kids organising their own race offs and riding over all the lumps and bumps in the circuit. One thing is certain, they will sleep well after a visit to the BMX bike track.
There was one draw back however, which cannot go unmentioned. I would advise against going to the Terrey Hills BMX Track on a hot summer afternoon after lunch, because that is when the brown snakes come out to play. Yes, you read that correctly, but for the sake of clarity, I’ll say it again….. ‘brown snakes.’
There is an asphalt track adjacent to the bush, running around the perimeter of the BMX track. It is on an incline, so when my son saw an unfurled brown snake sunning himself on the tarmac, he was going too fast and did not have the physical where with all to do a U turn and quietly retreat.
How big was it???
He made the only decision he could. To go past it, as fast as his legs could pedal. Trouble is, brown snakes are fast too. They cannot see, but definitely sense it when a threat enters their realm. He recounted that the snake moved away slightly from the bike on approach, but then launched itself full throttle at the bike there after.
Happily the snake did not get his leg, but rather the bike. My son almost went ass over tit with shock, but managed to regroup and return safely to recount the tale. Suffice to say, he came back as white as a sheet and with a big announcement.
This year, he would be more than happy to return to our local Chinese restaurant for his birthday gathering, just as we did last year, rather than have his party at the BMX track, as we had only recently agreed.
Do not let that put you off though. The Terrey Hills bike track is a great way to entertain the kids on cooler days, or before the day really heats up, on hotter ones.
Terrey Hills BMX Bike Track – Important info
There are several wooden picnic tables on site, but bring BYO chairs, if you want to get closer to the BMX circuit and sit down.
There is no shade apart from the shelter over the starting gate.
There appeared to be no public toilets. So if you intend on pointing Percy towards nature for a leak, look out for Joe Blake.
Entry and parking are free
BYO bikes, helmets, food and water and anything else you fancy.
I have also read that if there is a big pony club event next door at the Forest Hills Pony Club, they close the BMX circuit. On the 3 occasions we have been there, it was open.
PS Terrey Hills is not spelt Terry Hills, loads of people search for Terry Hills BMX or Terry Hills BMX Track, but it is definitely spelt with the ‘e’ in place.
I thought this could help some people if they are looking at using the track.
My eldest boys wants to have his birthday party at the BMX track, so I’ve just been chasing up access, I first contacted the BMX club, nice people there, quick on the email response(response here)
How do I book: As the Club is a public facility owned by Warringah Council, you would just need to book it in with them.
Any special rules: Yes, just for safety, helmets, long sleeved tops, long pants, socks & covered shoes at a minimum. Preferably gloves if the boys have them.
The only time you can’t book the track is on a Thursday evening from 6.30pm when we have official training.
So I just got off the phone with a nice lady at Parks and reserves 9942 2640 at Warringah Council, who advised me that the pony club at the same reserve, do hire out the whole facility some times on the weekend and I’d need to check availability for the day, as it turns out for BMX parties its easier on Saturdays as the Pony club makes bookings mostly on Sundays, for the month I was looking at there were only 2 days booked out (one of them was a public holiday).
I was advised that I could just show up and ride and if I made a booking they wouldn’t make any additional bookings for the time I was planning, but as council amenities I wouldn’t be getting exclusive access and that if other people want to use the track at the same time it was ok. Well that’s just fine with me the more the merrier, and how many kids does she think I’m throwing a party for anyway?
I was also advised that the council (public) toilets for the area are next to the pony club at the car park and are always open. (this is a bit away from the track)
Looks like we’ll all be riding bikes on the weekend.
Carolyn’s photos are great aren’t they? I feel as if I know what we’ll be seeing when we get there… which will be soon once we’re back. How was your holiday Simone??
I got a laugh out of re reading that. Thanks Seana. Ishowed my son and he couldn’t believe he was wearing crocs. Today he wears clip ons and races every weekend.
Bikes are such a growth industry.
It sure was a fun day out and frankly lets face it, could have been a whole lot worse.
Carolyn
I thought this could help some people if they are looking at using the track.
My eldest boys wants to have his birthday party at the BMX track, so I’ve just been chasing up access, I first contacted the BMX club, nice people there, quick on the email response(response here)
How do I book: As the Club is a public facility owned by Warringah Council, you would just need to book it in with them.
Any special rules: Yes, just for safety, helmets, long sleeved tops, long pants, socks & covered shoes at a minimum. Preferably gloves if the boys have them.
The only time you can’t book the track is on a Thursday evening from 6.30pm when we have official training.
So I just got off the phone with a nice lady at Parks and reserves 9942 2640 at Warringah Council, who advised me that the pony club at the same reserve, do hire out the whole facility some times on the weekend and I’d need to check availability for the day, as it turns out for BMX parties its easier on Saturdays as the Pony club makes bookings mostly on Sundays, for the month I was looking at there were only 2 days booked out (one of them was a public holiday).
I was advised that I could just show up and ride and if I made a booking they wouldn’t make any additional bookings for the time I was planning, but as council amenities I wouldn’t be getting exclusive access and that if other people want to use the track at the same time it was ok. Well that’s just fine with me the more the merrier, and how many kids does she think I’m throwing a party for anyway?
I was also advised that the council (public) toilets for the area are next to the pony club at the car park and are always open. (this is a bit away from the track)
Looks like we’ll all be riding bikes on the weekend.
Thank goodness that boy of yours is a fast mover. He comes out safe and sound, but with a very Aussie scary snake story to tell.
WOW!!!!
I’m so happy your son was fast!!! He’ll be telling his grand kids the day the brown
snake almost got him!!
Great review! I have friends with two boys 11 and 9 who are regulars up there – without snake incident as yet 🙂
Carolyn’s photos are great aren’t they? I feel as if I know what we’ll be seeing when we get there… which will be soon once we’re back. How was your holiday Simone??
I love her photos. Well taken and informative. We have ; more deleted till we are home from Phuket. Having an Awesome time. 🙂
I got a laugh out of re reading that. Thanks Seana. Ishowed my son and he couldn’t believe he was wearing crocs. Today he wears clip ons and races every weekend.
Bikes are such a growth industry.
Toilets are always open at the Pony Club, just meters from the track