We're booked on the Spirit of Tassie on the 16th jan. We figure we will allow ourselves about 4 days to get down there. Keeping in mind that it's school hols we are not sure which is the best way to go- coastal or inland. /Any advice re places to stop on the way would be appreciated too. We thought that inland would probably be the best way as far as accomodation at this time goes. Also hoped the nights wouldn't be as hot inland. would this be the correct assumption?we have a tent and are looking for powered sites. Any experiences to share?
rosco said
10:00 AM Dec 12, 2011
Inland may be best.
Am at Newcastle and have recently found out our office is closing over Christmas and returning 9/1/2012. I know its a little before your dates.
I did a ring around up and down the coast to find a powered site. No go. Went as far up as Coffs Harbour and as far down as Merry Beach. All booked out.
Ended up phoning Armidale, Tamworth and Dubbo. All have plenty of powered sites with no need to make a booking.
Hope this helps.
Ross
ozjohn said
10:07 AM Dec 12, 2011
Quickest, shortest and easiest route is inland down the Newell Highway. Enjoy the trip. Ozjohn.
03_troopy said
10:47 AM Dec 12, 2011
ozjohn wrote:
Quickest, shortest and easiest route is inland down the Newell Highway. Enjoy the trip. Ozjohn.
Hahah.. this post reminds me of when you plug the destination into our Navman GPS, it gives Quickest, Easiest, Shortest, Most economical, and you can bet that they show 4 different ways. But I'd have to agree with OzJohn here.
Google maps: 1702Km 20Hrs 21mins
-- Edited by 03_troopy on Monday 12th of December 2011 10:50:08 AM
Gerty Dancer said
10:47 AM Dec 12, 2011
Yep, Newell Highway. We have used the New England Highway many times but its busy at that time of year, and the Coast road is far too busy, no places to stop, wouldnt even consider it.
Sorry but it can get very HOT out there in Jan. If you are looking for a powered site theres a cute little caravan park at Finley, just over the bridge. Camping along the rivers at Narranderra or Tocumwal is really nice, but will be full. A forum member recently stayed at the c'park in Tocumwal and liked it. Peak hill might be a bit nicer than Dubbo. It would be a side trip, but the Warrumbungles would be cooler because of its altitude, and its beautiful. There was a thread on here not too long ago about where you can stay near the ferry terminal in Melbourne, my search didnt find it though.
03_troopy said
10:53 AM Dec 12, 2011
Gerty Dancer wrote:
Yep, Newell Highway. We have used the New England Highway many times but its busy at that time of year, and the Coast road is far too busy, no places to stop, wouldnt even consider it.
Sorry but it can get very HOT out there in Jan. If you are looking for a powered site theres a cute little caravan park at Finley, just over the bridge. Camping along the rivers at Narranderra or Tocumwal is really nice, but will be full. A forum member recently stayed at the c'park in Tocumwal and liked it. Peak hill might be a bit nicer than Dubbo. It would be a side trip, but the Warrumbungles would be cooler because of its altitude, and its beautiful. There was a thread on here not too long ago about where you can stay near the ferry terminal in Melbourne, my search didnt find it though.
Narrabri Big Sky: Right in town, handy to RSL that has an excellent restaurant. This is a council park but is well run with clean modern amenities and drive thru sites.
Both are on my "would go back there" list
Rip and Rosie said
01:05 PM Dec 12, 2011
Newell without question. Lots of overnighter parks, ring ahead if you are worried.
Have done it many times, and try to stay some place different each time. Only place I wouldn't bother with is on the highway at Seymour.
Have a nice drive.
Rosie
Joe said
03:22 PM Dec 12, 2011
The key limitation there is "looking for powered sites". If you can cope without that then I'd be looking at the New England Highway and for each night I'd be heading eastward off the highway into one or other of the national parks that litter that part of the country.
You should try to get into them as early as you can to give yourself the best chance of getting a walk in before dinner. Many of the parks, and their waterfalls and ridge views, are spectacular and well worth a couple of hours walking.
However, if you choose to stick with van parks and powered sites then you can also, as Rosco said, stay at van parks along the northern end of the New England and enjoy the cooler weather that their height above sea level affords. There will be bigger crowds closer to Sydney, but that can't be helped.
However, from Tamworth you can cut across to the Newell at Coonabarabran, or from Musselbrook you can head across to Dubbo and this will put you back on track for the faster route with the least traffic.
Oneliner said
03:32 PM Dec 12, 2011
The Newell is a good option and there are quite a few smaller towns that have good facilities and are cheaper than the bigger centres. For example Gilgandra - rather than Dubbo. In Tassie, have a look at Mole Creek (about 45 mins from Launceston)
wendyv said
04:53 PM Dec 12, 2011
Ace Caravan Park at West Wyalong is excellent - long drive through sites so you can stay hitched up.
Pejay said
05:24 PM Dec 12, 2011
After doing the trip to Melbourne/Tassie in July/Aug we certainly suggest the Newell.
1st nt was at Lake Coolmunda C/Pk ($24/nt) where we met up with the friends were were going to travel with. 2nd n/t was at Narrabri Showgrounds ($14/nt) basic with hot showers and toots, even saw the trots that night too! 3rd nt was Parkes Showground ($15/nt) not at all impressed 4th nt at Jerilderie C/Pk ($26/nt) from there straight through to Melbourne and stayed a couple of nts at Chelsea Hts C/Pk ($25.20/nt) on the eastern shore of Port Phillip Bay.
They allow you to stay 'til after lunch for a night sailing, and you then follow the Esplanade around to Station Pier without having to go right through the centre of the city. Be aware though, that along the waterfront whilst you are waiting for the gates at the pier to open at 4.30pm, that you will get slugged with parking meters, and the cops are pretty fierce along there as well. Hope this helps.
Cupie said
08:18 PM Dec 12, 2011
I detest driving the Newell, with every one in a rush & lots of trucks on a time schedule ... but given your time frame then it is IMO, the best option.
But if you were not in a hurry there are lots of things to see along the way as per previous posts.
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 12th of December 2011 08:20:07 PM
We're booked on the Spirit of Tassie on the 16th jan. We figure we will allow ourselves about 4 days to get down there. Keeping in mind that it's school hols we are not sure which is the best way to go- coastal or inland. /Any advice re places to stop on the way would be appreciated too. We thought that inland would probably be the best way as far as accomodation at this time goes. Also hoped the nights wouldn't be as hot inland. would this be the correct assumption?we have a tent and are looking for powered sites. Any experiences to share?
Am at Newcastle and have recently found out our office is closing over Christmas and returning 9/1/2012. I know its a little before your dates.
I did a ring around up and down the coast to find a powered site. No go. Went as far up as Coffs Harbour and as far down as Merry Beach. All booked out.
Ended up phoning Armidale, Tamworth and Dubbo. All have plenty of powered sites with no need to make a booking.
Hope this helps.
Ross
Quickest, shortest and easiest route is inland down the Newell Highway.
Enjoy the trip.
Ozjohn.
Hahah.. this post reminds me of when you plug the destination into our Navman GPS, it gives Quickest, Easiest, Shortest, Most economical, and you can bet that they show 4 different ways. But I'd have to agree with OzJohn here.
Google maps: 1702Km 20Hrs 21mins
-- Edited by 03_troopy on Monday 12th of December 2011 10:50:08 AM
Sorry but it can get very HOT out there in Jan.
If you are looking for a powered site theres a cute little caravan park at Finley, just over the bridge. Camping along the rivers at Narranderra or Tocumwal is really nice, but will be full. A forum member recently stayed at the c'park in Tocumwal and liked it. Peak hill might be a bit nicer than Dubbo. It would be a side trip, but the Warrumbungles would be cooler because of its altitude, and its beautiful. There was a thread on here not too long ago about where you can stay near the ferry terminal in Melbourne, my search didnt find it though.
This one Gerty?
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t45413391/accomodation-near-the-spirit-of-tasmania-terminal-in-victori/
A couple of caravan parks on the Newell:
Goondiwindi Top Tourist: http://www.toptouristparks.com.au/parks/queensland/goondiwindi/103-goondiwindi-top-tourist-park Good park located away from the traffic noise of the main highway. It's on the way into town if you're coming in from Toowoomba on the Gore/Leichhardt Highways.
Narrabri Big Sky: Right in town, handy to RSL that has an excellent restaurant. This is a council park but is well run with clean modern amenities and drive thru sites.
Both are on my "would go back there" list
Have done it many times, and try to stay some place different each time. Only place I wouldn't bother with is on the highway at Seymour.
Have a nice drive.
Rosie
You should try to get into them as early as you can to give yourself the best chance of getting a walk in before dinner. Many of the parks, and their waterfalls and ridge views, are spectacular and well worth a couple of hours walking.
However, if you choose to stick with van parks and powered sites then you can also, as Rosco said, stay at van parks along the northern end of the New England and enjoy the cooler weather that their height above sea level affords. There will be bigger crowds closer to Sydney, but that can't be helped.
However, from Tamworth you can cut across to the Newell at Coonabarabran, or from Musselbrook you can head across to Dubbo and this will put you back on track for the faster route with the least traffic.
1st nt was at Lake Coolmunda C/Pk ($24/nt) where we met up with the friends were were going to travel with.
2nd n/t was at Narrabri Showgrounds ($14/nt) basic with hot showers and toots, even saw the trots that night too!
3rd nt was Parkes Showground ($15/nt) not at all impressed
4th nt at Jerilderie C/Pk ($26/nt)
from there straight through to Melbourne and stayed a couple of nts at Chelsea Hts C/Pk ($25.20/nt) on the eastern shore of Port Phillip Bay.
They allow you to stay 'til after lunch for a night sailing, and you then follow the Esplanade around to Station Pier without having to go right through the centre of the city. Be aware though, that along the waterfront whilst you are waiting for the gates at the pier to open at 4.30pm, that you will get slugged with parking meters, and the cops are pretty fierce along there as well.
Hope this helps.
I detest driving the Newell, with every one in a rush & lots of trucks on a time schedule ... but given your time frame then it is IMO, the best option.
But if you were not in a hurry there are lots of things to see along the way as per previous posts.
-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 12th of December 2011 08:20:07 PM