Five Go Kart tracks around Melbourne for those who have the need for speed
Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, Jamie Whincup: like most top-flight race drivers, they all started in karts.Far from being toys, a good go-kart is a mini race car perfect for learning the skills of racing or solo laps with responsive steering, just enough (but not too much) grip and ample engine power, they’re tons of fun. The good news is all you need is some money to pay for kart hire and inside knowledge of where the best tracks are near Melbourne. Here are five we think you’ll love.
Ace Karts, Sunshine
With a top speed of 75km/h, Ace Karts’ Sodi RT10 Superkart will fulfil anyone’s need for speed and this outdoor circuit in Melbourne’s west is the place to do it. The 700-metre circuit is a doozy with seven turns, a short straight and a mix of constant-radius and tightening corners to keep you awake. There are also more sedate rookie karts available (good for 6-11 year-olds) and twin-seaters for those who prefer to ride shotgun.
Phillip Island Go Karts
Here’s your chance to combine a drive and maybe a seaside holiday with some serious track time. The Phillip Island Go Karts track sits alongside the full-sized circuit and replicates it completely (except for scale at 750 metres long) so you can lap like a V8 Supercar or MotoGP bike. The views across Bass Strait are superb and the nine-horsepower Sodi karts (single or tandem seaters) are fast but safe.
Le Mans Entertainment, Dandenong South
This sprawling complex combines kart tracks, laser-tag and mini-golf which means a big day out for the family or, for rev-heads, just stick to the karting. Le Mans Entertainment has three karting tracks ranging from the fast but technical Lakeside Circuit to the slightly twistier Pentrite Track (both outdoors, all-weather and floodlit) to the titchy Rookie Track for beginners. There are karts to match with the flagship Praga good for 80km/h (if you’re over 18), the more sedate sprint karts for over-12s and even mini karts for the littlies aged four to eight.
Karting Madness, Braybrook and Bayswater
Those who prefer an indoor venue instead of racing in the rain have the option of not one but two facilities at Karting Madness’s inner-west and outer-eastern venues. The Braybrook track is tight at 400 metres long but the 270cc karts provided have plenty of grunt. At Bayswater the track is 600 metres and the safe areas are dotted with classic race cars (including Dick Johnson Falcons and a Peter Brock Commodore) for inspiration.
Stony Creek Go Karts, South Gippsland
Did someone say ‘road trip’? Stony Creek Go Karts is a 160km drive from Melbourne on the way to Wilsons Promontory and close to Inverloch and Venus Bay beaches. It also has Victoria’s longest hire-kart track at 800 metres, perfect for stretching the legs of the 70km/h, nine horsepower Sodi karts on offer. Solo drivers, families and groups are welcome and the cafe serves great home-made pizza.
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