Were thinking about Travelling down the great the great alpine road to Lakes entrance, from myrtleford , is This a good road to tow a caravan any answers would be much appreciated....
erad said
10:46 AM May 3, 2019
Depending on your driving experience, what vehicle and what caravan you are using, it is a great road. Very pretty. very hilly, very winding, narrow in places. As long as you keep well on your own side of the road, and hope that oncoming traffic does the same, it should be an excellent trip. Personally, I would not hesitate to do the trip, but I would allow lots of time - overall average speed around 50 km/h maximum.
Olive Oil said
11:55 AM May 3, 2019
Use the SEARCH function & you'll find lots of threads/arguments about this subject.
We've done it in our car but wouldn't think of towing our 17ft caravan along it. We're not ''highly skilled'' drivers like some.
I did it a couple of years ago with 20 foot road van and Prado .The road is narrow and winding and partially gravel but take it easy and you won't have a problem very scenic and great camping along the river
markf said
12:17 PM May 3, 2019
We've towed our camper over both Mt. Hotham and Falls Creek from Mt. Beauty to Bairnsdale without problems and we've seen loads of smallish caravans on the road.
Having said that, there are signs on both roads saying "Not Suitable for Caravans"
Radar said
04:21 PM May 3, 2019
Ron-D wrote:
Were thinking about Travelling down the great the great alpine road to Lakes entrance, from myrtleford , is This a good road to tow a caravan any answers would be much appreciated....
Hi Ron D
We have driven this beautiful drive, towing our caravan, we took our time and enjoyed, had a couple of overnighters at different places before reaching Lakes Entrance.
Yes it is windy, some ups and downs, in all very doable.
Ron-D said
06:03 PM May 3, 2019
thanks Radar thats very encouraging dont like the bit about signs saying its not suitable for caravans its a polarising road by the looks of it,our car is a Mux the van is 18 foot been towing vans about 15 years but dont like the idea of haveing to change My undies at the bottom of the mountain
markf said
06:33 PM May 3, 2019
I think the signs are advisories - I've seen a lot of caravans being towed up and down.
Don't worry about the undies - just wear the brown corduroy trousers...
Olive Oil said
07:15 PM May 3, 2019
Ron-D wrote:
thanks Radar thats very encouraging dont like the bit about signs saying its not suitable for caravans its a polarising road by the looks of it,our car is a Mux the van is 18 foot been towing vans about 15 years but dont like the idea of haveing to change My undies at the bottom of the mountain
Brown trousers & nappies only required for the extremely narrow blind corners with no guard rail & a 1000ft plus drop. The road is a favorite with boy racer motor bike riders, lots have been killed over the years.
Hylife said
09:53 PM May 3, 2019
Just did that road before Easter towing our 2.8ton 20' Retreat with our Fortuner.
It's a perfect road. Well sealed all the way, and plenty wide enough that dozens of large semis now use it every day as a direct route between the Hume and Sth East Vic.
Slow and steady going up the steep side from Bright to Hotham Heights. Keep well to the left on bends you can't see fully around.
The eastern side is not steep at all and you can safely do near highway speeds down to Gippsland.
You can free camp at Dinner Plain car park (heated toilets and a fire pit) outside of snow season. We shared the carpark with the volunteer firefighters tackling the Dargo bush fires.
like hylife says, its a great road. Dont know when some of these posters think upgrades came, perhaps they want to reveiw their medications. The road has been fully sealed for many years and is used by school busses most days and tour busses (weather permitting) during the middle of winter. Have yourselves a cup of tea at Harrietville and take your time to the top, there are only a couple of sharp corners which are well signposted.
My only real tip is to pick a clear, blue day if possible
Geeco said
11:33 AM May 4, 2019
We travelled from Bruthen to Bright with an overnight in Omeo in our 7mtr motorhome last spring. It is a very interesting drive as are most in that area. No problem with the road with plenty of articulated vehicles using it. Cheers,
Ron-D said
07:52 PM May 4, 2019
Thanks for all your information its been very helpfull...
Bass said
06:04 PM May 5, 2019
Ron.. don't let anybody who has not done something tell you, you cannot do it. Last 3 years done Omeo Bright, Omeo Darthmoth, Omeo Corriyong all 19foot van 3.2t. no probs not in a jeremy Clarkson video so just took it easy . Benambra road not sealed but good. some ripper free camps up that neck of woods but getting a bit chilly for my bones now.
chears bass
Olive Oil said
08:23 AM May 7, 2019
Did the GOR twice in recent times in our CAR, white knuckle territory but great scenery if you're game to take your eyes off the road. The advisory signs saying not suitable for caravans are there for a reason.
Plain Truth said
09:17 AM May 7, 2019
You will have no trouble towing over the GAR.
We now prefer the Omeo Hwy.now,even though it is narrower at the Southern end,and has steeper drop offs.
Just came back over yesterday after being up on the Murray.
First gear, hairpin bends & white knuckle territory, this section is famous.
-- Edited by Olive Oil on Thursday 9th of May 2019 06:40:57 AM
Plain Truth said
11:42 AM May 9, 2019
Ha Ha,looks like D.D. is scaremongering again.
I am reading a book called "The King of Hotham my Father" written by Gillian
Salmon. It is about Lindsay Salmon who built the Drift Chalet on Mt.Hotham.
This lady worked on the Mountain when they were building the Arlberg Project,let us read a bit.On page 363 -I quote
"I lived in Bright and I continued to work on "Arlberg Project,I drove up and down the mountain till it was finished"
She drove that section every day.You drive it twice and you are petrified.
We took our 21ft 3.5t caravan from Bright to lakes entrance. In March. No issues. No different to any other great divide crossing. Do not contemplate during winter.
yobarr said
01:14 PM May 9, 2019
Dunmowin wrote:
We took our 21ft 3.5t caravan from Bright to lakes entrance. In March. No issues. No different to any other great divide crossing. Do not contemplate during winter.
Hi John....even without having been there,I would have to agree.If Olive Oils photos are any guide,it would be a walk in the park.Still,I suppose the pictures could help those with little experience,and even less skill? Cheers
Olive Oil said
07:34 AM May 10, 2019
Ran out of town for having a safe sensible opinion.
Desert Dweller isn't on this forum anymore.
He lost interest & unsubscribed.
I should know, I'm married to him.
Ron-D said
08:52 AM May 10, 2019
Olive Oil wrote:
Ran out of town for having a safe sensible opinion.
Desert Dweller isn't on this forum anymore.
He lost interest & unsubscribed.
I should know, I'm married to him.
Did the alpine road its tight in places but no problems just take it easy .as for desert dweller being Run out of town I think if you dont tone things down on your comments you will upset people I copped some flack before the penny dropped,if your comments are too aggressive you will lose respect on this site just my opinion...
Were thinking about Travelling down the great the great alpine road to Lakes entrance, from myrtleford , is This a good road to tow a caravan any answers would be much appreciated....
Use the SEARCH function & you'll find lots of threads/arguments about this subject.
We've done it in our car but wouldn't think of towing our 17ft caravan along it. We're not ''highly skilled'' drivers like some.
https://www.dangerousroads.org/australia-and-oceania/australia/1696-great-alpine-road-australia.html
We've towed our camper over both Mt. Hotham and Falls Creek from Mt. Beauty to Bairnsdale without problems and we've seen loads of smallish caravans on the road.
Having said that, there are signs on both roads saying "Not Suitable for Caravans"
Hi Ron D
We have driven this beautiful drive, towing our caravan, we took our time and enjoyed, had a couple of overnighters at different places before reaching Lakes Entrance.
Yes it is windy, some ups and downs, in all very doable.
thanks Radar thats very encouraging dont like the bit about signs saying its not suitable for caravans its a polarising road by the looks of it,our car is a Mux the van is 18 foot been towing vans about 15 years but dont like the idea of haveing to change My undies at the bottom of the mountain
I think the signs are advisories - I've seen a lot of caravans being towed up and down.
Don't worry about the undies - just wear the brown corduroy trousers...
Brown trousers & nappies only required for the extremely narrow blind corners with no guard rail & a 1000ft plus drop. The road is a favorite with boy racer motor bike riders, lots have been killed over the years.
Just did that road before Easter towing our 2.8ton 20' Retreat with our Fortuner.
It's a perfect road. Well sealed all the way, and plenty wide enough that dozens of large semis now use it every day as a direct route between the Hume and Sth East Vic.
Slow and steady going up the steep side from Bright to Hotham Heights. Keep well to the left on bends you can't see fully around.
The eastern side is not steep at all and you can safely do near highway speeds down to Gippsland.
You can free camp at Dinner Plain car park (heated toilets and a fire pit) outside of snow season.
We shared the carpark with the volunteer firefighters tackling the Dargo bush fires.
My only real tip is to pick a clear, blue day if possible
We travelled from Bruthen to Bright with an overnight in Omeo in our 7mtr motorhome last spring. It is a very interesting drive as are most in that area. No problem with the road with plenty of articulated vehicles using it. Cheers,
Thanks for all your information its been very helpfull...
chears bass
Did the GOR twice in recent times in our CAR, white knuckle territory but great scenery if you're game to take your eyes off the road. The advisory signs saying not suitable for caravans are there for a reason.
You will have no trouble towing over the GAR.
We now prefer the Omeo Hwy.now,even though it is narrower at the Southern end,and has steeper drop offs.
Just came back over yesterday after being up on the Murray.
First gear, hairpin bends & white knuckle territory, this section is famous.
-- Edited by Olive Oil on Thursday 9th of May 2019 06:40:57 AM
We took our 21ft 3.5t caravan from Bright to lakes entrance. In March. No issues. No different to any other great divide crossing. Do not contemplate during winter.
Hi John....even without having been there,I would have to agree.If Olive Oils photos are any guide,it would be a walk in the park.Still,I suppose the pictures could help those with little experience,and even less skill? Cheers
Ran out of town for having a safe sensible opinion.
Desert Dweller isn't on this forum anymore.
He lost interest & unsubscribed.
I should know, I'm married to him.
Did the alpine road its tight in places but no problems just take it easy .as for desert dweller being Run out of town I think if you dont tone things down on your comments you will upset people I copped some flack before the penny dropped,if your comments are too aggressive you will lose respect on this site just my opinion...