NSW Family Sunday Drive: We're Off To Glenworth Valley
Outdoorsy families will just love the adventures that await them in beautiful Glenworth Valley - Australia's largest horse riding and outdoor adventure centre. An easy one hour drive from Sydney, the Valley will provide you with a real escape from city life, boasting 3,000 acres of unspoilt great outdoors to explore.
It's so amazing that it was even visited by the other British royal family, The Beckhams. That's right - David and Victoria took some time out on their visit to Australia for the Invictus Games to enjoy a day of quad biking and abseiling at Glenworth Valley with three of their children.
So, if you want to follow in the trail of the world's most famous football-meets-pop family pack a sense of adventure, leave the screens at home, and read our handy guide before you hop in the car!
Horse Riding
The best way to immerse yourself in the beautiful natural scenery of the Valley is on horseback. There are a heap of horse riding options available, including school holiday camps for kids, lead pony rides for 3-10-year-olds, guided rides, free-range horse riding for the more experienced, lessons to brush up on those skills, gourmet picnic rides if you're looking for a sans-kids romantic day trip, and even cattle drive experiences where you can release your inner Jack or Jillaroo and commandeer a herd of cattle!
Quad Biking
Best suited for older families (the minimum riding age is 12 years) and adrenaline-junkies, quad-biking is one of the Valley's most popular - and most fun- experiences. Thrill-seekers will love the feeling of fresh air whipping their faces as you have a four-wheel driving adventure zipping around the Valley's private bush trails. You can literally follow in David Beckham's tracks!
Kayaking
There are a number of kayaking experiences to be had to explore the Valley's stunning waterways, including a gentle 2.5-hour eco-tour where you'll learn about the region's natural environment (minimum age is 7 yrs) and an indulgent wine and seafood tour (minimum age is 12 years) which will see ALL your senses pleasantly indulged. Stand-up paddleboard hire at just $50 for the whole day, as well as double and single kayak hire (minimum age 7 years) to explore Popran Creek at your leisure.
Abseiling
Families (minimum age 7 years) will experience the thrill of a lifetime descending rock faces that overlook the Valley on an abseiling adventure. Fully qualified guides will help you belay down descents suitable for beginners and the more experienced, with all gear and a digital photo included in the package.
Laser Skirmish
Families just love this one! The Valley makes an incredible backdrop for the most epic game of skirmish you've ever played. Form teams to immerse yourself in this combat simulation game complete with toy guns with harmless infrared beams and sensors to let you know whether or not you've been hit. Let the games begin!
Camping
With so many adventures to be had, you might want to turn this day trip into a sneaky weekender! Glenworth Valley has a range of accommodation options available (that are super easy on the budget) including secluded eco-cabins with a deck overlooking the valley, tents that sleep up to 4 people, spacious tipis for a super fun sleeping experience, and camping on the Valley's secluded 200-acre riverfront campgrounds, campfires included!
Images via Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures.
Nearby Attractions
Australian Reptile Park
Just over an hours drive from Sydney, Australian Reptile Park is well worth a stopover before, during or after your Glenworth Valley adventures. With a natural bush setting, this reptile park is all about getting hands-on. You'll see native Aussie animals as well as some more exotic species, as well as a heap of cool shows on the daily calendar including funnel-web spider-milking, reptile shows, Galapagos tortoise walks, koala feeding, spider talks, alligator photo sessions and heaps more.
Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park
About an hour drive from Sydney, Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park is the perfect road-trip pit-stop for animal-loving families on the journey to the Valley. This wildlife park houses the friendliest Aussie animals around, in this zoo where cages are kept to a minimum! You'll walk around a part of the bush where the animals roam free so prepare to come up close and personal to the likes of koalas, dingoes, wombats, Tassie devils, snakes, owls, and farm animals at the petting zoo!
More NSW Family Sunday Drives
NSW Family Sunday Drive: We're Off To Bowral
NSW Family Sunday Drive: We're Off To Kiama
NSW Family Sunday Drive: Minnamurra Rainforest
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