The following story appeared in Friday's motoring section of the Sydney Morning Herald....

http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/the-road-to-broken-promises-20101014-16knc.html

It also does an interesting comparison between the Pacific and New England Highways.

Well, first of all the writer of the article  must have travelled the Pacific Highway around 12 months ago. I travelled to Gosford from Ballina last long weekend and found that extensive  completion of the roadworks he comments on has been completed. Admittedly there is still heaps more to go. 

I am no fan of the Pacific Highway having worked on the Hume and Pacific Highway upgrades for the past 18 months during my travels. There is still a very long way to go, but what would you expect from he Federal and State governments.

They both want to pass the buck. (Not many votes in the country areas for Labour)

Rheo (John)

Have to agrewith what Rheo47 said.We have just returned from North Haven & had dual lanes all but for Hexham Bridge & Bulahdelah which is being worked on now after a court case.There is still a lot to go but it will not save lives as people will travel longer with out stops.In the 5 weeks away there where 2 bad accidents south of Kew on the newly open section.I also came back to Sydney for a 40th birthday party  & on returning traveling at in 110k sections at the posted limit i was passed as if i was stopped still.
A lot more trucks now use the Pacific than use the New England because of the upgrades.

-- Edited by tiger5 on Sunday 17th of October 2010 11:41:28 AM

We take the New England whenever we can.   I just love the drive along the Putty Road from Windsor.  Ok, there are a few twists and turns but if you take it easy it's a lot less stressful than on the Pacific.  Take time to smell the roses I reckon.  A good majority of us have time up our sleeve.  That's not saying we should go at a snails pace but steady always wins in the end

We traveled back to Newcastle from Wooli on the Monday after the long weekend just gone, and heard reports on the CB of traffic backed up to 17Km north of Bulahdelah on the Pacific Highway. We decided to turn off at Taree and went down via Wingham, Gloucestor on the Buckett's Way instead. Our kids who were travelling in another car left an hour and a half before we did and beat us back to Medowie by only minutes.

Just a note , but the Putty road passes through Colo just before you get to Windsor, and there is a great camping spot at a place called Col reserve, right on the river. It has hot showers and toilets, but the gates are locked at 5.30pm every night. A great place to rest and recuperate before heading on to Sydney. Bill

Hi Bill

think this is the one you are referring to?

http://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/environmental-services/natural-environment/parks-and-recreation/upper-colo-camping

Don't  know if you can get a caravan in there.
Will have a look next time i go past and confirm

Johnw


-- Edited by jandas fun on Sunday 17th of October 2010 04:06:38 PM

jandas fun wrote:

---

Hi Bill

think this is the one you are referring to?

http://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/environmental-services/natural-environment/parks-and-recreation/upper-colo-camping

Don't  know if you can get a caravan in there.
Will have a look next time i go past and confirm

Johnw


-- Edited by jandas fun on Sunday 17th of October 2010 04:06:38 PM

---

If you have a look at the page, scroll to the bottom and click on Conditions Of Camping Item 15. Vehicles, Boats and Trailers - Parking you will see that caravans are not permitted.

 

-- Edited by JRH on Sunday 17th of October 2010 04:13:28 PM

Thanks John will still wander over there to check it out. Not far from where i am. Might be good for other types of r.v's. Johnw

Good idea Johnw, you must live in a beautiful part of OZ.

JRH wrote:

---

Good idea Johnw, you must live in a beautiful part of OZ.

---

Yep. nearly as nice as your neck of the woods. Say hello to Irona for us. We will be back there one day.

John and Anne

 

jandas fun wrote:

---

 

JRH wrote:

---

Good idea Johnw, you must live in a beautiful part of OZ.

---

Yep. nearly as nice as your neck of the woods. Say hello to Irona for us. We will be back there one day.

John and Anne

 

 

---

Will do and a very warm hello to Anne also. You are always welcome friend, have a few coldies in the fridge with your name on them.
John

 

We drive frequently from Brisbane to the Coffs area and I hate that road. It certainly intimidates me. I know its an unfair comparison but in the states we drove from Maine to Florida and from memory there were only one or two sets of traffic lights, I think in South Carolina.

It's a few years since I travelled the full length of the Pacific Hwy so it's good to get an update from some of the posts here. For me the Pacific Hwy is on my "avoid if at all possible" list. Also the Bruce Highway below Gladstone. Would be above Gladstone too except I have friends there that I like to catch up with on my annual migration north. My preferred route to the New England is via Thunderbolts Way (Gloucester, Walcha, Uralla) however this is windy (as in curves) in some places, a bit narrow too in places, and involves a steep climb (descent if heading south) so I wouldn't recommend it for larger rigs, my little Goldstream, no problem. Like Ma, I'll take a windy road in preference to a major highway. Ma's route via the Putty road also avoids Maitland which can be a pain in the asterisks (I'm doing the censor's job for him/her/it) For those doing a winter migration from NSW to Nth Qld a preferred route is via Moree, Goondi, Miles to Rocky or perhaps Emerald, Charters T, and Townsville.

jimricho wrote:
For those doing a winter migration from NSW to Nth Qld a preferred route is via Moree, Goondi, Miles to Rocky or perhaps Emerald, Charters T, and Townsville.

---

We did this route November last year and no problems at all.  Great trip.

 

Hi Bill12,
If it is the Upper Colo Reserve that you are talking about - the showers are COLD only.......
We were there in March this year - my hubby had a shower there and it took him two days to get over the cold :) :)
Barb