My name is Estelle and myself and my husband, Steve, are South Africans and new residents of beautiful Australia. We live on the Gold Coast and Steve works from home, so we have decided it is the right time to go walkabout. We have bought a 19ft Royal Flair Piazza and a Ford Ranger to tow it. We have zero towing experience, apart from a RACQ towing course, so saying we are a tad nervous and apprehensive is an understatement! We are heading up to Cairns in two weeks and need some advice on how to minimise the risk on the notoriously dangerous Bruce Highway. Is there a " good time" to travel ie early hours of the morning or weekends to avoid heavy traffic. We will be doing it in four stages. We are aware that it is a calculated risk. Any advice muchly appreciated.
Dougwe said
05:05 PM Jun 27, 2016
Welcome to the gang EW, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I travel the Bruce every year, up from VIC to Townsville and back. Have done for 3 years now. Came up the middle etc 4 years ago but decided the bruce was better, for me anyway.
I tend to be up with the birds and on my way at first light and usually stopped around lunchtime'ish. Only a few trucks early and not many other cars until around 10.00. It's always busy in the big towns but easy to get through.
I have no problem with the Bruce or Pacific. I use my UHF radio to communicate with the truckies and between us, we get them on their busy way without much hold up. They appreciate it too.
Take your time and keep to the left as much as possible, keep an eye out all around you, including your mirrors and most of all don't worry or panic about the Bruce it's OK. I also only travel at 90kph byt might sneak upto 95 in a 110 zone. NEVER faster.
I tow a 20ft van and have no problems.
Keep Safe on the roads.
cruisaderhilton said
05:37 PM Jun 27, 2016
,Hi I cant really tell you there is a rite or rong time to travel .Weekends are busy anytime ,and during the week you may get more heavy vehicles travelling the whole length delivering all manner of things. drive to conditions ,and try to be off the road by 3pm ,which will give you time to find a place to stay ,set the van up ,and be ready for happy hour.I have done this trip from Newcastle many times ,never had an issue.Now live in the Atherton Tablelands ,just up above Cairns.Stop in at either Malanda ,Atherton ,or Mareeba Bakeries as they have the best cakes &pies in Nth Queensland ,as well as beautifull scenery. ,waterfalls.
brickies said
05:51 PM Jun 27, 2016
We have found Saturday and Sunday is quit on the Bruce has there are less trucks on the road been doing for years , Don't mind the roadworks give you a break from time to time , Take a short break every 2 hours .
EW said
06:11 AM Jun 28, 2016
Thank you all so much for the info. That gives us a lot of confidence. Common sense is seems to be the order of the day and experience can only be attained by just that - experience. We are also up at the crack of yawn, so will definitely be on the road by then. Best wishes
brickies said
08:13 AM Jun 28, 2016
Just reminder the crack of dawn on the Gold coast motorway and Gateway motor way on week days is very very busy , These road are very busy from 4 am , Once you get off the 2 motor ways the Bruce is a nice drive to Cairns
Woody n Sue said
10:42 PM Jun 28, 2016
And it's welcome from us two 2 EW
Glad to see you have taken the driving course that's a good first step
hope Australia is all you hope it is enjoy your trip
Woody
EW said
11:36 AM Jun 29, 2016
Hi Woody n Sue,
Thank you for your warm welcome. We are sooo blessed to live in this wonderful country and then have the opportunity to explore it is a bonus. The "Grey Nomad" phenomenon is something we haven't come across in the various countries we have lived in since leaving Cape Town and we are loving it!
rmoor said
09:09 AM Sep 18, 2024
I realise I have resurrected an old thread (for the sake of not starting a new thread) but there was an interesting news item on the Bruce Highway on TV this morning.
It has been found to be the worst road in Queensland in terms of accidents.
One statistic that was interesting is that 25% of those accidents are from tailgating.
Most of the accidents also involved men.
I hate tailgaters with a passion. Last week on the Mitchell highway, a young woman sat right on my butt for a fair distance, flashing lights and touching the brake pedal in slower zones DID NOT HAVE any effect.
She was so close at around 100 KM per hour I could see the green packet she was eating mints from.
The annoying ones are those that sit there for 10 KM or more on a perfectly safe road to overtake but do not do so - why?
I wish the highway patrol etc would police this one a lot more.
I read a lot of criticism about the Bruce Highway. Must be a lot of traffic on there as well. That will do it in terms of potholes.
Noted in the big rains in NSW some time back, the highways were mashed but some country link roads were in fairly good nick. Obviously linked closely to heavy traffic movements.
Greg 1 said
06:25 PM Sep 18, 2024
The Bruce Highway is not the issue, it is the numnuts who inhabit it.
I haven't an issue with the Bruce.
There are far worse highways that I have travelled on in terms of the actual road than the Bruce.
If you have done a towing course, and have learnt how to pack your van correctly for weight balance, just take it steady until you get the feel of it and you will be old hands before you know it.
Driving on any of our highways just stay alert, don't make large sudden inputs with the controls, give yourself plenty of room from the car in front and enjoy the journey.
There are thousands of us out there caravanning and the number of accidents are very small by comparison.
So don't be apprehensive.
Come join us all out here on the road.
Hello all,
My name is Estelle and myself and my husband, Steve, are South Africans and new residents of beautiful Australia. We live on the Gold Coast and Steve works from home, so we have decided it is the right time to go walkabout. We have bought a 19ft Royal Flair Piazza and a Ford Ranger to tow it. We have zero towing experience, apart from a RACQ towing course, so saying we are a tad nervous and apprehensive is an understatement! We are heading up to Cairns in two weeks and need some advice on how to minimise the risk on the notoriously dangerous Bruce Highway. Is there a " good time" to travel ie early hours of the morning or weekends to avoid heavy traffic. We will be doing it in four stages. We are aware that it is a calculated risk. Any advice muchly appreciated.
I travel the Bruce every year, up from VIC to Townsville and back. Have done for 3 years now. Came up the middle etc 4 years ago but decided the bruce was better, for me anyway.
I tend to be up with the birds and on my way at first light and usually stopped around lunchtime'ish. Only a few trucks early and not many other cars until around 10.00. It's always busy in the big towns but easy to get through.
I have no problem with the Bruce or Pacific. I use my UHF radio to communicate with the truckies and between us, we get them on their busy way without much hold up. They appreciate it too.
Take your time and keep to the left as much as possible, keep an eye out all around you, including your mirrors and most of all don't worry or panic about the Bruce it's OK. I also only travel at 90kph byt might sneak upto 95 in a 110 zone. NEVER faster.
I tow a 20ft van and have no problems.
Keep Safe on the roads.
Thank you all so much for the info. That gives us a lot of confidence. Common sense is seems to be the order of the day and experience can only be attained by just that - experience. We are also up at the crack of yawn, so will definitely be on the road by then. Best wishes
Glad to see you have taken the driving course that's a good first step
hope Australia is all you hope it is enjoy your trip
Woody
Hi Woody n Sue,
Thank you for your warm welcome. We are sooo blessed to live in this wonderful country and then have the opportunity to explore it is a bonus. The "Grey Nomad" phenomenon is something we haven't come across in the various countries we have lived in since leaving Cape Town and we are loving it!
It has been found to be the worst road in Queensland in terms of accidents.
One statistic that was interesting is that 25% of those accidents are from tailgating.
Most of the accidents also involved men.
I hate tailgaters with a passion. Last week on the Mitchell highway, a young woman sat right on my butt for a fair distance, flashing lights and touching the brake pedal in slower zones DID NOT HAVE any effect.
She was so close at around 100 KM per hour I could see the green packet she was eating mints from.
The annoying ones are those that sit there for 10 KM or more on a perfectly safe road to overtake but do not do so - why?
I wish the highway patrol etc would police this one a lot more.
I read a lot of criticism about the Bruce Highway. Must be a lot of traffic on there as well. That will do it in terms of potholes.
Noted in the big rains in NSW some time back, the highways were mashed but some country link roads were in fairly good nick. Obviously linked closely to heavy traffic movements.