Awaba MTB Park
Also known as: Awaba
Rainforest scenery within 200ha of Awaba State Forest; Monkey Face Lookout nearby.
Who in your group rides what
Whether everyone in your group gets a day at Awaba MTB Park - the grades on offer, the named zones, and how mixed abilities split up.
Green through black (AMBA grading); Olney easiest, Awaba Loop harder, Monkey downhill advanced.
Beginners ride Olney (~5km) or Watagans (~8km); advanced riders take Awaba Loop (~12km) or shuttle the >3km Monkey downhill (descent-only). Loops return to main car park.
National Champs venue with trails for all levels; good for clubs and mixed groups. Olney Loop suits beginners.
The riding
Dirt singletrack through eucalypt and rainforest sections; hardpack with roots, rock and built features.
Flowing XC singletrack with technical sections and small jump tracks; Monkey downhill is steep and technical. Exposure moderate on DH.
Well-signed club-maintained loops (Awaba/Watagans/Olney); Trailforks recommended.
Popular Hunter/Newcastle venue; busy weekends and event days, quieter midweek.
Season & conditions
Open year-round; no snow (Hunter region NSW).
Year-round; autumn-spring best, drier trails.
Race venue - hosts AusCycling/GWM National Championships (2024) and HMBA club rounds.
Summer heat/humidity, thunderstorms; rainforest sections greasy when wet; occasional wet-weather closures to protect trails.
Getting there & gear
No entry fee; donations to Hunter Mountain Bike Association welcomed. Park may close for events (e.g. National Champs).
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Off Mount Faulk Road, Awaba (near Cooranbong), Lake Macquarie; dirt road several hundred metres to main car park and XC trailhead. Monkey DH trailhead ~3.2km up Mt Faulk Rd opposite Monkey Face Lookout turnoff.
Self-shuttle the Monkey downhill via Mount Faulk Road (good shuttle from bottom to top); no commercial shuttle. Private vehicle needed.
Carry water and tools; patchy mobile coverage in forest - download Trailforks offline.
Main car park and XC trail head; limited on-site facilities (club-run). Services in Toronto/Cooranbong.
Hunter Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) develops/maintains the park; Newcastle/Lake Macquarie bike shops.
Hazards & rescue
Check HMBA for wet-weather and event closures; Monkey downhill is advanced; active state forest.
None required; self-guided.
Fire roads link loops to the main car park; note nearest exit as signal is patchy.
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand mountain-bike network report. Coordinates are approximate.