Hello all ,need some advice as to an alternative to get thru Brisbane on our way south ,during easter weekend .We are heading to Newcastle NSW to trade in our caravan ,on a new Retreat Brampton ,We will be going down the coastal route (usually go inland ) but for a change want to go via scenic route .Brisbane concerns me as it will be easter time with all that traffic .Is there a way of getting around the main traffic ,by skirting the city ,or any other alternatives .Thanks JOHN ...
Dougwe said
10:02 AM Mar 20, 2017
How, John.
I go up from VIC to Townsville and return every year. I always plan going through Sydney and Brisbane about mid morning on a Sunday. Sydney is via Pennant Hills and Brisbane is via the Gateway Bridge that I call the Golden Gate Bridge. Looks frightening heading south but when on it you don't know.
I find less traffic and only the odd truck.
I'm more a coast person not inland.
I tow what is listed below.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Darmc said
10:36 AM Mar 20, 2017
Hello cruisaderhilton, don't forget the tolls on the gateway.
Darmc
FNQ
brickies said
11:02 AM Mar 20, 2017
If you are not concerned about tolls I would stay on the Gateway motorway from the northside of brisbane which will lead you right onto the Gold Cost motorway , This will take you from the Bruce to Pacific highway without going into any built up areas of Brisbane or the Gold Coast , I will always pay tolls then fighting my way though big cities .
GarrynLyn said
11:08 AM Mar 20, 2017
John,
I'm at Lake Eacham and recently travelled to Port Macquarie and return. To avoid traffic etc, I drove to Rocky and then inland through Mt Morgan, Miles, Goondawindi, Inverell, Walcha. I found the road to be good and very little traffic. I would travel this route again.
The Belmont Bear said
11:08 AM Mar 20, 2017
Hi crusader, whenever I have travelled through Brisbane either on my way up the coast or coming back I have used the Gateway route, having said that I am not that familiar with Brisbane so I don't know what the Easter traffic is going to be like. Isn't there a Retreat dealership in Queensland it seems like a long way to come from Cairns to Parravans it took me almost 3 days from Newcastle in a car (not towing a van) and I went via the shorter inland route. I hope that you don't have to bring it back again in 3 months for it's first service.......
cheers
BB
Bill B said
11:24 AM Mar 20, 2017
Allow extra travelling time as there is a huge amount of roadworks on the Pacific Highway south of Grafton.
-- Edited by Bill B on Monday 20th of March 2017 01:48:32 PM
cruisaderhilton said
12:59 PM Mar 20, 2017
To Gary&lyn ,If you are at Lake eacham ,i am at Jaggan ,5mins Sth of Malanda .
-- Edited by cruisaderhilton on Monday 20th of March 2017 01:07:38 PM
brickies said
01:03 PM Mar 20, 2017
Easter Thursday and Easter Monday can be busy , Garrynlyn route would be the way I would like to go but it would take longer , But you did say you wanted to go the coastal road , If you still do the Gateway would be the way to go , You could still go via brisbane city but still hard to avoid toll road and would take a lot longer and more fuel .
cruisaderhilton said
01:06 PM Mar 20, 2017
You are right Belmont ,It is a long way ,But we have all our Relo,s down there ,As i have said to you before on previous posts ,i lived at Cardiff for 53 years ,until i moved up to fnq .So we will be killing 2 birds with the 1 stone , a visit to see the relos ,and to trade the van we have now on a you beaut retreat ,( they gave us a good trade in price ,so that swayed us to do it that way ). Maybe see you down there on one of our visits south .Cheers JOHN.
cruisaderhilton said
01:09 PM Mar 20, 2017
Do you know if the roadworks will be done by late april Bill
Dougwe said
01:13 PM Mar 20, 2017
I'm not Bill but late last year was no problem just need to slow down to roadwork speed. It will be still going on now and for some time but easy travelling IMO.
CC Bear said
01:21 PM Mar 20, 2017
Brisbane Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning heading south, from the Pine River (start of Gateway south) full on roadworks till just past Nudgee. Widening road and new bridges speed limit restricted to 80 k/h. Road surface good as they are not tearing it up.
Only one toll and that is on the Gateway bridge, take note of the toll signs as they give you a number to call and you have three days to pay or go on line and pay in advance I believe is possible.
Always work on on pacific highway but stick to speed limit no problems.
Roving-Dutchy said
01:48 PM Mar 20, 2017
The road works on the Pacific Highway will continue for many years.
I wouldn't think it would be a good idea to be approaching Newcastle in the Easter Monday there are always long delays coming from the North on that day.
Also heading for the Gold Coast late Thursday or Friday morning would be best avoided.
Cheers
David
Bill B said
01:52 PM Mar 20, 2017
cruisaderhilton wrote:
Do you know if the roadworks will be done by late april Bill
As stated by Roving-Dutchy they will be ongoing for several years.
Between Grafton & Forster turn off I'd guess about half of that distance is at 80 kph due to the road works.
Dunmowin said
03:41 PM Mar 20, 2017
Minor roadworks also North of Maryborough and South of Marlborough, neither are of any issue. Not sure if roadwords still happening around Northlakes.
Over Easter, Gateway motorway is fine, just avoid Easter Thursday pm and Easter Monday pm.
i.e. Northbound on Thursday afternoon, southbound on Monday to/from sunshine coast, and southbound on thrusday afternoon and Monday afternoon to/from gold coast.
Gaylehere said
12:54 AM Mar 21, 2017
Also just remember Easter Monday is the last day of the Queensland school holidays so there will be holiday makers heading home as well as the usual Easter traffic.
How, John.
I go up from VIC to Townsville and return every year. I always plan going through Sydney and Brisbane about mid morning on a Sunday. Sydney is via Pennant Hills and Brisbane is via the Gateway Bridge that I call the Golden Gate Bridge. Looks frightening heading south but when on it you don't know.
I find less traffic and only the odd truck.
I'm more a coast person not inland.
I tow what is listed below.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Darmc
FNQ
John,
I'm at Lake Eacham and recently travelled to Port Macquarie and return. To avoid traffic etc, I drove to Rocky and then inland through Mt Morgan, Miles, Goondawindi, Inverell, Walcha. I found the road to be good and very little traffic. I would travel this route again.
cheers
BB
-- Edited by Bill B on Monday 20th of March 2017 01:48:32 PM
-- Edited by cruisaderhilton on Monday 20th of March 2017 01:07:38 PM
Do you know if the roadworks will be done by late april Bill
Only one toll and that is on the Gateway bridge, take note of the toll signs as they give you a number to call and you have three days to pay or go on line and pay in advance I believe is possible.
Always work on on pacific highway but stick to speed limit no problems.
I wouldn't think it would be a good idea to be approaching Newcastle in the Easter Monday there are always long delays coming from the North on that day.
Also heading for the Gold Coast late Thursday or Friday morning would be best avoided.
Cheers
David
As stated by Roving-Dutchy they will be ongoing for several years.
Between Grafton & Forster turn off I'd guess about half of that distance is at 80 kph due to the road works.
Minor roadworks also North of Maryborough and South of Marlborough, neither are of any issue. Not sure if roadwords still happening around Northlakes.
Over Easter, Gateway motorway is fine, just avoid Easter Thursday pm and Easter Monday pm.
i.e. Northbound on Thursday afternoon, southbound on Monday to/from sunshine coast, and southbound on thrusday afternoon and Monday afternoon to/from gold coast.