Collie Motorplex
Location
Collie, Western Australia, Australia
Current Local Time
Track Info
Collie Motorplex - Collie, Western Australia, Australia
Permanent motorsport circuit in Western Australia's South West - anti-clockwise - technical, undulating and home to both short and long layouts
When was the track built?
Collie Motorplex was developed on a former coal-mining site east of the town of Collie. The project began as a regional driver-training and motorsport facility, with development gathering pace during the early 2000s.
A major upgrade created a State championship-standard circuit, which officially opened in 2006. The next big change came more than a decade later when approximately 950 metres of new track was added. The extension transformed the compact circuit into today's 2.55 km long layout, which held its inaugural race meeting in May 2019.
When was its first race?
The first official motor race on the State championship circuit took place on 1 October 2006. South-West Minister Norm Marlborough started the race as part of the venue's official opening celebrations.
The modern long circuit began its own racing history on 26 May 2019. It gave Western Australian competitors a significantly larger regional circuit and opened Collie to a wider range of car and motorcycle events.
What's the circuit like?
- Busy and technical: Corners come regularly at Collie, so finding a smooth rhythm is important. A mistake in one section can easily affect the next few corners.
- Plenty of elevation: The long extension includes two noticeable climbs before dropping back towards the original circuit. That means drivers and riders sometimes approach corners without being able to see the complete road ahead.
- Power and handling both matter: There are places to accelerate hard, but the mixture of tight left and right turns means outright horsepower alone will not produce a quick lap.
The shorter layout is particularly useful for club events and newcomers, while the 2.55 km circuit adds more speed, elevation and variety for experienced competitors.
Lap records and benchmarks
- WA State Speed Series: 1:06.4791 - Tom Hamlett, Dallara Formula 3, 2023.
- Motorcycle Outright: 1:07.4420 - Sam Clarke, Suzuki GSX-R1000R, 2025.
- Formula One Sidecar: 1:13.196 - Dillan McDermott / Grady Norris, Suzuki LCR 1000, 2020.
- Formula Ford 1600: 1:13.4730 - Elliott Cleary, Van Diemen RF94, 2022.
- Circuit Excel: 1:25.6441 - B. Sherriff.
Sprint times and race lap records are recorded under different competition rules, so they should be treated as useful benchmarks rather than directly compared.
Why go?
Collie Motorplex gives Western Australian motorsport a very different atmosphere from the major circuit near Perth. Surrounded by bushland, it feels like a traditional regional race meeting while still offering a modern long circuit, pit facilities and timing equipment.
The calendar includes State-level circuit racing, Formula Ford, production cars, historic machinery, speed events, motorcycle racing, drifting and track days. Come-and-try events also make the venue approachable for people who want their first experience of driving or riding on a race circuit.
Where's the best place to watch?
- Main straight and pit area: A good starting point for new visitors, with race starts, finishes and plenty of activity between sessions.
- Pedestrian bridge area: Useful for seeing the circuit from a different angle and moving between spectator areas without crossing the racing surface.
- Long circuit extension: Where event access allows, this is the best area for appreciating the climbs and extra speed that distinguish the full 2.55 km layout from the original short circuit.
Spectator areas can change depending on the event, so follow circuit signage and instructions from officials when choosing where to watch.
Transportation & Parking
Getting to Collie Motorplex (Western Australia)
Collie Motorplex is a regional motorsport venue about 14 km east of Collie in Western Australia's South West. Driving or hiring a car is the easiest way to arrive, although Transwa coaches can get you into Collie before a taxi or pickup for the final journey.
Driving & parking (easiest way)
- From Perth: head south using the Kwinana Freeway and Forrest Highway, then continue towards Collie via the South Western Highway and Coalfields Highway.
- From Bunbury: Collie is around 60 km away using the South Western Highway and Coalfields Highway.
- From Collie: continue east towards Powerhouse Road and follow navigation to the Motorplex.
- Navigation: enter Lot 643 Powerhouse Road, Collie WA 6225.
- Parking: use the upper car park to the right of the main entrance for convenient pedestrian access into the venue.
Tip: The circuit is outside town, so buy fuel, food or other essentials in Collie before heading to the venue.
Coach & public transport
Collie has regional coach connections, but there is no regular public bus from the town centre directly to the Motorplex.
- From Perth: Transwa services including SW3 and SW4 connect the Perth region with Collie.
- From Bunbury: Transwa's SW5 coach operates between Bunbury and Collie.
- Arrival point: Collie coaches arrive and depart from the Collie Visitor Centre.
- Visitor Centre → circuit: arrange a local taxi or pickup for the remaining 14 km.
Regional services do not run as frequently as city buses, so check both your outward and return journeys before travelling.
Train
- No direct train: passenger trains do not run directly to Collie.
- Australind: the Perth–Bunbury Australind returned in 2026 and currently operates a reduced staged timetable while additional trains are tested.
- Connecting to Collie: Transwa provides coach connections towards Collie, including services connecting through Brunswick Junction.
- Simplest option: if your main goal is the raceway, a direct regional coach or rental car is usually easier than combining train and coach services.
Airport transfers
- Perth Airport (PER): the main airport for interstate and international visitors travelling to Collie.
- Rental car: the simplest onward option, with major rental companies operating at Perth Airport.
- Public transport: Perth Airport connects with Perth's train and bus network, allowing you to continue towards a Transwa departure point if you are not driving.
- Allow plenty of time: Collie is around 200 km south of Perth, so it is better treated as a regional road trip rather than a quick airport transfer.
Race-day tips
- Entry: the Motorplex currently advertises free spectator entry for most events, but check the individual meeting before travelling.
- Viewing: there are several spectator areas around the circuit and visitors are encouraged to bring their own chair.
- Food & drink: hot and cold food and drinks are available from the circuit canteen, with cash and EFTPOS accepted.
- Facilities: the venue also has toilets, a medical centre and a campers kitchen.
Camping
- Unpowered camping: the circuit offers plenty of unpowered campsites for competitors and spectators.
- Current rate: $10 per person per night.
- Booking: camping must be reserved in advance.
- Campers kitchen: includes a microwave, stove, kettle, fridge and filtered drinking water.
- Bunkhouses: limited bunkhouse accommodation is also available and requires advance booking.
Accessibility
- Accessible parking: dedicated ACROD parking is available inside the Motorplex.
- Access: the venue lists access pathways for spectators.
- Without a car: arrange an appropriate taxi from Collie in advance because the regional coach does not continue to the circuit.
- Before travelling: contact the Motorplex if you need specific information about the best viewing or access area for your event.
Quick guide
- Driving? Travel to Collie, then continue around 14 km east to Powerhouse Road.
- Without a car? Take a Transwa coach to Collie Visitor Centre and arrange a taxi or pickup for the circuit.
- Flying? Perth Airport is the main choice; hiring a car is the simplest way to complete the journey.
Check Collie Motorplex and Transwa shortly before travelling, as event admission, gate times and regional transport schedules can change.
Nearby Activities
Things to do around Collie Motorplex (Western Australia)
Collie Motorplex sits among the forests of Western Australia’s South West, around ten minutes from Collie town centre. Whether you’re visiting for car racing, motorcycles, drifting or a track day, there are lakes, walking trails, local history and relaxed country-town stops nearby.
Family-friendly highlights nearby
- Replica Underground Coal Mine Experience: Head to the Collie Visitor Centre for a self-guided look at the town’s coal-mining past. Displays recreate the dark underground environment and make the history easy for children and first-time visitors to understand.
- Collie Mural Trail: Turn a walk around town into an outdoor art hunt. Murals tell stories about Collie’s people, industries and landscape, with plenty to spot along the way.
- Central Park & Soldiers Park: Easy places to stop with younger children for playgrounds, picnic space and a break between activities.
- Black Diamond Lake: A former mine famous for bright turquoise water. It is popular for photos, picnics, kayaking and paddleboarding, but there are no toilets, drinking water or bins. Swimming is at your own risk.
Culture & rainy-day stops
- Collie Art Gallery: A modern regional gallery with changing exhibitions by local and visiting artists. It is an easy indoor stop close to the centre of town.
- Coalfields Museum: Learn how coal, railways and industry shaped Collie through historic photographs, machinery and everyday objects.
- Collie Visitor Centre: A useful first stop if you are new to the area. Pick up maps, ask about current trail conditions and check what is open during your visit.
Eat & drink between sessions
- Collie town centre: The easiest choice for cafés, bakeries, pubs, takeaway and supplies. It is close enough for a meal before or after most track sessions.
- At the Motorplex: A canteen provides hot and cold food and drinks for spectators. Availability can depend on the event, so bring water and snacks as a backup.
- Picnic option: Pick up food in town and head to the Collie River, a park or one of the nearby lakes for a quieter meal outdoors.
Get outdoors around Collie
- Minninup Pool: A peaceful section of the Collie River with lawns and picnic areas. It is a simple option when you only have a couple of hours away from the circuit.
- Wambenger Trails: Collie is a major mountain-biking destination, with routes ranging from beginner-friendly rides to more technical forest trails.
- Wellington National Park: Combine jarrah forest, walking and cycling trails with river pools, Wellington Dam and the enormous mural covering its dam wall.
Easy trips if you’re extending your stay
- Wellington Dam & Honeymoon Pool: An easy half-day or full-day escape. See the dam mural, then continue through the forest to Honeymoon Pool for picnicking, swimming, paddling and short walks.
- Bunbury: Head to the coast for beaches, waterfront walks, shopping and a larger choice of restaurants. Allow roughly an hour by road from the Motorplex.
- Ferguson Valley: A relaxed countryside drive with wineries, local produce and forest scenery. It works well for adults looking for a slower day after the racing.
- Busselton: Around 90 minutes away depending on your route, with its long timber jetty, sheltered foreshore and plenty of places to eat.
Good to know on event weekends
- Check the event first: Collie hosts everything from major race meetings to small test days, so spectator access, start times and entry conditions vary.
- Bring a chair: The Motorplex has several spectator areas but recommends bringing your own seating.
- Staying overnight: Unpowered camping is available at the Motorplex by booking, while Collie also has motels, holiday accommodation and campgrounds.
- Plan to drive: Public transport around the wider Collie region is limited, so a car is the simplest way to combine the circuit with lakes, trails and national parks.
Event schedules, spectator access, attraction opening hours, water conditions and park access can change - check current information before you travel.