Directions:

Forrester Park:

As you are heading up the main road past the BMX track, there is a gravel track that starts on your left and goes around the outside of the soccer playing fields, the dog kennels, then up to the top playing field. From there, you head down a Beginner/Intermediate level track (mostly suitable for kids) in the pines with a few switch backs and corners, a couple of small jumps at the bottom, then a gradual climb to the top carpark above the BMX track.

Bethunes Gully:

There are three main (currently un-named) track areas in Bethunes Gully - the Left Hand Side, the Right Hand Side, and the new Right Hand side. These refer to the tracks in relation to where they are as you head up the road from the carpark at Bethunes Gully.

The left hand side track can be accessed by heading up the start of the Mt. Cargill Walking track. There are MTB signs for where to turn off if you want to ride/walk your bike up to the top, then turn around and come back down. Alternatively, you can keep climbing up the Walking track until to reach a skidder track on your left after the second footbridge. The Mt. Cargill Walking Track is strictly a walking track so don't climb up any further. When you reach the gravel road at the top, head down the road looking out for the entrance of the track on your left hand side. The gravel road is on private land so please respect the landowners. Head down the track which winds it's way down to the bottom again. Watch out for riders heading up and the boardwalks if they're wet.

The right-hand side track begins before the footbridge in the clearing. Head up a relatively technical climb, then come down a relatively technical descent with drops and tight corners. Fun!

When you're heading back to the carpark from finishing the first RHS track, the new RHS track is now on your left hand side and starts by heading up into the pines. A few corners to start with on the relatively gradual climb up but the rest is fine if you don't look down the bank! When you get to the top, follow the track down through some nice bermed corners, a bridge, and a couple of boardwalks. Again, watch out for riders going the other way. At the end of the boardwalk, you can follow the main gravel road back out to the intersection of Norwood and Cluny St, or you can head up a new climbing track on your left. This leads you out a bit higher on Norwood St. Either head down Norwood St to the bottom, or head down Norwood St for a few metres, and hang a left through a gap in the fence. This will lead you down a short, steep-ish track back into Forrester Park.

2007 Nationals XC track:

Here is a map and description of the 2007 Nationals XC track (Note: the "uphill gravel road climb" is on private land. Please do not jump the fence and ride up it).

Description:

Riders start on the soccer ground in Forrester Park then loop behind the dog club and up to the start finish on the upper soccer fields.  From here a single track descends then climbs through the trees.  A lap through the BMX track then you cross the road, and after a small drop, head onto the main climb on a wide shingle road.  At the top you turn right into the Haggis Hunter for a tight & fast single track down to the head of Bethunes Gully.  After crossing the footbridge, there’s a steep single track climb up the other side of the valley.  Some well burmed corners lead off the top of the hill before the track steepens and takes you back to the head of the Gully.  A short section of shingle road then turn left into a new single track which climbs then descends down the gully.  Just after a boardwalk turn left and climb up to the skid site before exiting onto the road.  Ride down to the gate and on the left then take the single track back to Forrester Park and complete the lap.