Hi, Early next week I will be going from Wollongong to Gosford. What is the best and easiest way to get through Sydney towing the van.
Ross
Aus-Kiwi said
11:28 AM Oct 31, 2018
Head out a little west . To avoid traffic . Tolls ? M7 then M2 to Pacific highway then M1 North near Hornsby . Punch in Blacktown on GPS then Gosford . Enjoy Pennant Hills Rd .
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 31st of October 2018 11:33:11 AM
Also try and go out of peak times school drop off and pick up.
People going to work and the coming home from work unless you will be stop start along Pennant Hills Rd.
Have a safe trip
Dougwe said
02:56 PM Oct 31, 2018
Hi Wombat, I have travelled that way twice with the Collie and 20' aluminium TeePee in tow. Easy as, really HOWEVER I did and would suggest you time you run through Pennant Hills around 10am Sunday morning as not so many on the road and very few trucks.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Rip and Rosie said
07:35 AM Nov 1, 2018
We have done that many many times - with and without the van.
Yes, aim for off peak, but if you hit traffic, my tip is to slip in right behind a big truck and stick close.
a) likelihood is he will be heading north to the motorway like you and knows the best lane to be in with minimal lane changes
b) no one cuts in behind a semi, so you will avoid fools who drive like its a video game
c) might be slower on the hills, but its a lot less stressful especially with the van on the back
wombat50 said
08:31 AM Nov 1, 2018
Thanks for the replies. A-K that is the route I was planning to take. But as I have never been through Sydney before I though I would check with others who have done it.
Ross
trev4612 said
08:54 PM Nov 1, 2018
If you wait a couple of years you can use the new tunnel under pennant hills rd lol but on a serious note stay in the middle lane on p h road and take your time this is my local area and travel it all the time
Trevor
drtooheys said
10:03 AM Nov 2, 2018
Don't mention tunnels when discussing this trip,LOL.
We did it early this year on a stinking hot day so we left early on a Sunday to beat the traffic. We have a duel cab ute with a dog crate in the back, so our dog rides in that very happily, copping a nice breeze as we move along. Well everything was going just fine following the GPS..................UNTIL, it said turn right, so right I turned straight onto the the bloody M5 finished going through the the M5 tunnel at snail pace, couldn't stop to get the dog out to put him up front with us,(so much for beating any traffic) coming out at the airport, then through the harbour tunnel before it spat me out at Chatswood, you think I was in a good mood after that, just slightly p1$$ed off. That certainly changed when the Pacific Hwy was blocked to a stand still, it took forever and a day to get onto the M1 now I was totalled p1$$ed off .
So my suggestion to the OP is DON'T go that way and don't trust the GPS.
Geeco said
04:02 PM Nov 2, 2018
The route shown by Graeme is also my route preference. Timing is important if you do not want to be in bumper to bumper traffic. We travel the M2/M7 regularly on our way to & from Melbourne in our motorhome. I have observed heavy traffic between 7.30am & 9.30 am northbound on the M7 from around Prestons to M4/M7 interchange then on the ramp from the M2 to PHills Rd due to roadworks for the tunnel. I have seen reports that consider PHills Rd to be one of the worst roads in AU. Having said that the option of continuing on the M2 to the Ryde Rd exit then up the Pacific Hwy to Wahroonga/F3 is not much better. The Pacific Hwy in that area has very narrow lanes & demands full attention in a wide bodied MH to stay in your lane. At the end of the day we all seem to manage so "don't sweat the small stuff".Try to enjoy watching the skill of the drivers manhandling the evening increasing number of rigid axle tippers with dog trailers on those roads. Cheers,
PeterD said
11:23 PM Nov 2, 2018
trev4612 wrote:
If you wait a couple of years you can use the new tunnel under pennant hills rd lol but on a serious note stay in the middle lane on p h road and take your time this is my local area and travel it all the time Trevor
Trev, I will not be using that tunnel. From what I hear it is going to be a little expensive. I expect to spend a little more time on the Pennant Hills Road which will have its traffic reduced by those using the tunnel. To find out the economics of the various routes I will be using the Sydney Motorways Toll Calculator. This will be updated to include the tunnel when it is completed.
I can't understand those who advocate planning to use Pennant Hills Road on the weekend. Living on the Central Coast I use it frequently when heading west and south. I prefer to steer clear of the richardcranium weekend warriors. I aim to travel it on the weekdays between 0930 and 1400. You may have to do a bit more stop starting along the way but if you stick behind the trucks in the central lane you will have the safest trip with fewer mugs cutting you off as they lane change. The trucks may be a little slower moving off at the lights but they get to the next set a couple of seconds behind those in the other two lanes.
trev4612 said
02:32 PM Nov 3, 2018
You are right Peter pennant hills rd can be a shocker on weekend especially during summer months there are large athletic fields at the bottom of Britannia ave pennant hills used by little athletics it can be kaos at the intersection outside patricks pub with the increased traffic flow. In my past life in fire and rescue this was my stn area I try not to travel through there on weekends
Trevor
The Belmont Bear said
03:02 PM Nov 3, 2018
Hi Ross coming from the Lake Macquarie area I always take that route when heading to places further south I can't add much more to the good advice that the others have already given you. I totally agree about staying in the middle lane on the Pennant Hills road section, if you can time your run to avoid the heavier traffic periods that's an advantage but if you can't just take your time and you will get through it OK probably take you a bit longer thats all. Once upon a time we would head down to Sydney on a Sunday as the roads were always quieter nowadays it's bit of a rat race everyday.
BBj
Aus-Kiwi said
07:05 PM Nov 3, 2018
There are other routes . But Pennant Hills is still the quickest . I traveled from Penrith to Hornsby for 35 years . Any other route including Castle Hill Rd etc . Wont be any better . Just sit back and go with the traffffik !!
Hi, Early next week I will be going from Wollongong to Gosford. What is the best and easiest way to get through Sydney towing the van.
Ross
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Wednesday 31st of October 2018 11:33:11 AM
People going to work and the coming home from work unless you will be stop start along Pennant Hills Rd.
Have a safe trip
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Yes, aim for off peak, but if you hit traffic, my tip is to slip in right behind a big truck and stick close.
a) likelihood is he will be heading north to the motorway like you and knows the best lane to be in with minimal lane changes
b) no one cuts in behind a semi, so you will avoid fools who drive like its a video game
c) might be slower on the hills, but its a lot less stressful especially with the van on the back
Ross
Trevor
Don't mention tunnels when discussing this trip,LOL.
We did it early this year on a stinking hot day so we left early on a Sunday to beat the traffic. We have a duel cab ute with a dog crate in the back, so our dog rides in that very happily, copping a nice breeze as we move along. Well everything was going just fine following the GPS..................UNTIL, it said turn right, so right I turned straight onto the the bloody M5 finished going through the the M5 tunnel at snail pace, couldn't stop to get the dog out to put him up front with us,(so much for beating any traffic) coming out at the airport, then through the harbour tunnel before it spat me out at Chatswood, you think I was in a good mood after that, just slightly p1$$ed off. That certainly changed when the Pacific Hwy was blocked to a stand still, it took forever and a day to get onto the M1 now I was totalled p1$$ed off
.
So my suggestion to the OP is DON'T go that way and don't trust the GPS.
Trev, I will not be using that tunnel. From what I hear it is going to be a little expensive. I expect to spend a little more time on the Pennant Hills Road which will have its traffic reduced by those using the tunnel. To find out the economics of the various routes I will be using the Sydney Motorways Toll Calculator. This will be updated to include the tunnel when it is completed.
I can't understand those who advocate planning to use Pennant Hills Road on the weekend. Living on the Central Coast I use it frequently when heading west and south. I prefer to steer clear of the richardcranium weekend warriors. I aim to travel it on the weekdays between 0930 and 1400. You may have to do a bit more stop starting along the way but if you stick behind the trucks in the central lane you will have the safest trip with fewer mugs cutting you off as they lane change. The trucks may be a little slower moving off at the lights but they get to the next set a couple of seconds behind those in the other two lanes.
Trevor
Hi Ross coming from the Lake Macquarie area I always take that route when heading to places further south I can't add much more to the good advice that the others have already given you. I totally agree about staying in the middle lane on the Pennant Hills road section, if you can time your run to avoid the heavier traffic periods that's an advantage but if you can't just take your time and you will get through it OK probably take you a bit longer thats all. Once upon a time we would head down to Sydney on a Sunday as the roads were always quieter nowadays it's bit of a rat race everyday.
BBj