I know there are a few aussies here who might be able to help out with this one. I’m trying to compile a list of the best grass tracks in Australia. I’m particularly interested in finding tracks in Sydney (I know of Rotary… any others?), Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Hobart/Launceston (if there are any down there).
Thanks!
The best grass i have run on, is on the Inside part of QE2 stadium in Brisbane, well the warm up track. The track is Mondo, but damn, bare foot on the inside grass is sweet indeed.
All other grass tracks i can think of in Qld are pretty darn ordinary.
Appin st Wangaratta, Victoria
Faulkner Park, Melbourne, Victoria
Mowbray rd Lane Cove, NSW
Central Reserve, Glen Waverley, Victoria
Stradbroke Park, Kew, Victoria
Kings Park, Ferntree Gully, Victoria
Pearce St, Wodonga, Victoria
Sometimes these formally prepared grass tracks are in need of a bit of attention from the local council. At different times of the year a local cricket oval can be as good as anywhere, especially if they can be under watered to be firmer under foot as occasionally the more important ovals are kept too lush for sprinting on.
Thanks for the replies so far. Keep them coming if anyone knows of any others. I must say that Rotary Oval in Sydney is by far the best grass track I’ve run on, but right now I’m particularly interested in finding grass tracks on the Gold Coast. Other good grass tracks around Australia would also be worth mentioning though.
Also kentcounty, last time I checked, there are no lanes marked out on Faulkner Park. Not sure about Stradbrok Park or Kings Park??
A close up on Google maps shows the lines at Faulkner Park. With the water restrictions in Melbourne at the moment some are neglected to preserve the water for other sections, like the turf cricket wicket areas.
Stradbroke Park and Kings Park seemed to be dedicated for LA’s, so are less popular to the masses. Another is next to Riggetti Oval near Kooyong tennis courts in Kooyong. Most were bare and uneven, while neglected this summer due to water restrictions set out by the local councils and in no condition to risk an injury by going too fast on.
Dendy Park Brighton, Victoria, is in fair condition for most of the year.
Check them out on Google maps.
Are there any other grass fields (not necessarily grass tracks) in Brisbane that are good enough to sprint on? I’ll be moving there next year and will probably be living near UQ.
Also are there any nice hills in the area for hill sprints?
Thanks, but I went to Dendy Park a few weeks ago and unfortunately, I’ve never seen it in such bad condition. This was disappointing as it was the track I used to train at many years ago as a youngster. Now it has been severely neglected and running on it could easily result in injury such as a rolled ankle or worse.
Have you tried rugby clubs? They tend to have excellent grass and if you have two adyacent fields you cand even do speed endurance there.
Actually, the Hockey fields in Gladstone Qld are decient to run on - well 5yrs ago they used to be.
Robin1 - The UQ has its own tartan oval - been awhile since i been there, but i believe the inside grass is good - there are a few ovals beside it, though more for footy and therefore roughed up.
And dont worry about hills, there is a decient grass one just 100m away or so.
Thanks for your reply. Last time I was at the UQ track (1.5 years ago) the grass wasn’t in a very good condition. Where is this hill you mentioned?
Woouldn’t most universities and well-appointed private school have their own grass ovals, often marked with lanes but mostly well maintained in any case?
Perhaps due to drought - but its been raining heaps this yr - should be ok?
HIll is the other side of the roundabout as you enter the area where the track is located. Track is to the left as you drive in, hill is to the right when approaching the roundabout
There is also a grass oval some 3k or so before you get to the uni - it looks green, however i have never been on it - could be good?
Most private schools won’t let members of the public use their ovals without a definite connection to that school. There are some very well maintained school ovals that would be amazing for sprinting on!
Synthetic Hockey pitches are also amazing to run on. Often softer than rubber tracks and firmer than most lush grass ovals.
There seem to be more of the same synthetic surfaces at soccer grounds. One in particular at the The John Cain Memorial Reserve on Darebin rd, Fairfield in Victoria. There are two joined together where you could easily get out a straight 150m!
Like I thought, Faulkner Park does NOT have a marked out grass running track, just a grass oval which has thick grass and it’s very uneven, so not suitable for sprinting at all. I went there today. F#cking waste of time!
Gosch’s paddock, where Collingwood train is always in good condition. Challenge Stadium at the WAIS in Perth is the best grass surface I’ve ever run on. An olympic marked track, that they mow with a lawn bowling green mower!
http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/145-around-the-world-in-21-days/7427-perth
F#ck me dead! Now that’s one hell of a good looking grass track! I could move to Perth just for that track lol.
Re Gosch’s paddock, wouldn’t that get chewed up if it’s used by footballers running over it in their boots?
Btw, where does one find the best smooth grass hills in the various cities?
C’mon fellas, there must be some good smooth grass hills around in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast etc.! Right now I’m looking for a good grass hill on the Gold Coast. Haven’t had any luck finding one yet. Anyone know?