Start your engines and set your coordinates for The Bend Motorsport Park – Australia’s premier motorsport facility just an hour’s drive from Adelaide.
The state of the art, world-class Bend Motorsport Park boasts a huge array exhilarating experiences for competitors, enthusiasts and spectators. With an impressive race circuit inspired by some of the world’s most iconic venues, rally and off-road tracks, a 4WD adventure park, drifting, karting and rallycross circuits The Bend Motorsport Park is one of the most epic motoring experiences in Australia.
With a range of accommodation options, a restaurant, bar and function rooms and a jam-packed calendar of motoring events, The Bend is a one-stop destination for high octane thrill seekers. Hit the road and experience everything this petrolhead’s paradise has to offer with our guide on what to do at the The Bend.
HOW TO GET THERE
The Bend Motorsport Park is in Tailem Bend, an easy hour’s drive from Adelaide. If you’re driving from Melbourne to Adelaide it’s only a 7 hour drive. On the way back to Adelaide take a detour through the picturesque Langhorne Creek wine region, stopping off to quench your thirst at one of the many cellar doors.
WHERE TO STAY
Rydges Pit Lane Hotel
Stay in the heart of the action at the Rydges Pit Lane Hotel, with views of all the track-side action. Developed especially for the motor park and with many of the 100 rooms overlooking the racing circuit, the brand-new hotel is the perfect base for a fast-paced adventure.
Big4 The Bend Holiday Park
Yep, The Bend even has its own caravan park. The impressively modern BIG4 The Bend Holiday Park is just a stone’s throw away from all the action and offers a variety of accommodation types from deluxe cabins to unpowered sites.
WHAT TO DO
Hot Laps
Hold on tight and experience the jaw-dropping thrill of race speeds as a passenger in a track-prepared V8 Ford Mustang or Formula Toyota open wheel race car. The ultimate adrenalin rush, this short and sweet experience ranges from approximately 10 to 20 minutes and makes for a great gift for adrenaline junkies.
Go Karting
Take go karting to a whole new level and race around The Bend’s world class karting circuit in some of the fastest hire karts available in Australia reaching speeds of up to 75km/h. With karting options available for even the youngest adrenalin seekers from five years old, it’s the ultimate special family day out. Make sure you book to secure your spot.
Driver Experience
For real motor fanatics, experience everything The Bend has to offer in one epic day. Take the wheel of eight performance and specialty vehicles and traverse The Bend’s world-class tracks in a Ford Mustang, rally car, V8 race car, Formula Toyota FT-40, clubman, 4WD, Kawasaki ZX-10R Superbike and Sodi Karts RT8, with side-by-side coaching from a professional instructor. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea are included. A half-day experience featuring four vehicles is also available.
4WD Short Course
If four-wheel-driving is your thing, The Bend has you covered with their 4WD short course. Using your own 4WD in a safe environment, you’ll have both practical and theoretical sessions with a nationally accredited instructor. Over four hours, you’ll cover a lot of ground including driving in a range of off-road conditions from steep inclines to muddy terrain, sand and wet roads, to conducting vehicle checks, wheel changes and learning about the best environmental practices. A must-do for all 4WD enthusiasts.
The Fuel Restaurant
Keep your tank fuelled at the impressive track-side restaurant and bar. Located in the heart of the park, sit back, refuel and relax at The Fuel restaurant as you enjoy uninterrupted views over Pit Lane and the Motor Racing Circuit. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
WHAT’S ON AT THE BEND MOTORSPORT PARK
2019 The Bend Supersprint
Supercars will take over The Bend for an epic three days of racing for the Virgin Australia Supercars Championships from 23 to 25 August 2019. The biggest names in supercars will descend on the bend and battle it out on Australia’s newest stop on the national supercar circuit.
Cruise the Bend
Part of a car club? Get your group together and cruise in the tracks of supercars on Cruise The Bend days. This unique event is held throughout the year and puts you and your car on the track behind a lead car at road pace. Drive laps of both the 4.95km International Circuit and the 7.77km GT Circuit, the second longest permanent circuit in the world.
Open Track Days
Want to experience the thrill of driving world-class tracks in your own racing car? Held monthly, the Bend’s Track Days gives race-junkies the opportunity to hit the circuit in your car. You’ll have to hold a CAMS Speed Licence and have appropriate safety gear to take part, so check out the Bend Motorsport website for more information.
Other events – check the Bend Motorsport website for more information.
Discover more
For off-the-track action, feed lions at Monarto Zoo, wakeboard at Murray Bridge or stop-in at wineries at Langhorne Creek. Check out our guide to the best things to do along the Murray River, Lakes and Coorong.
