I intend towing my 3.3t van with a 2001 gu 4.2td patrol from Wagga to Tathra, just wondering the easiest route. Thanks, Geoff
Dougwe said
04:34 PM Aug 29, 2025
G'day,
Through Canberra and across to Batemans Bay via the Kings Highway is probably the quickest but there are a lot of bends and twists up hills and down hills with a big decline on the Batemans Bay side. You have the rig so drive according to conditions. Trucks do it all day and night.
You could also go Canberra to Cooma via Monaro Hwy, easy run on the Monaro. Then across to Bega, then Tathra. Still twists and turns.
The longer way but easy peasy, down to Benalla then head across to Yarra Glen, Co ckatoo etc then come out at Pakenham then an easy drive along Hwy1 to Tathra.
As I said, you have the rig so just drive to conditions and enjoy. Tathra is a lovely place.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Spin said
08:33 PM Aug 29, 2025
Dougwe wrote:
You could also go Canberra to Cooma via Monaro Hwy, easy run on the Monaro. Then across to Bega, then Tathra. Still twists and turns.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
This is the easiest, and shortest way. You will have one big twisty hill to tackle ,Brown Mountain, but otherwise it's an easy run with a big van. Trucks follow this route daily.
If the brown worries you you can go Canberra, Cooma, Bombala, Pambula, Merimbula or Bega and then to Tathra.
erad said
10:50 PM Aug 29, 2025
To get to the coast, you have to go down a steep mountain road for a few km. Once down, the rest is easy. DO NOT rely solely on your brakes - use low gear. The Kings Highway probably has a shorter length of downhill, but I reckon it is steeper than Brown Mountain. There is a lot more ACT traffic as well. I recommend to go through Cooma and then down Brown Mountain. You an expect a fair bit of traffic on either road at weekends.
To get from Wagga, you have 2 choices - come over the Snowy Mountains, or go through Canberra. At this time of the year, no contest - Canberra, because of the risk of snow and ice on the Snowy Mtns road. In summer, I would choose the Snowy Mtns, but there is one very steep climb coming up from Talbingo. I used to tow my 16.5 ft Jayco with a 3.2L diesel Pajero up there in 3rd gear (manual transmission), but it is steep and narrow winding road. After that climb, easy run for the rest of the trip.
Timewise, the Cooma route would be quiker, because the Princes Highway is a bit of a goat track, and you have a few towns to go through whereas the Monaro Highway/Snowy Mtns Hwy is generally more open country. Going via Canberra, Cooma to Tathra will take you about 4 hrs driving time, whereas via the Kings Hwy and Batemans Bay will take you about an hour longer. People seem to have a phobia about the Brown Mountain, but if you take your time, use the engine and gears to brake as well as the brakes, it is an easy and safe drive. Milk tankers and other trucks use the Brown every day. It is only 10 km of steep, winding road. Hell, I have even ridden my bicycle down and up it!
Rodsvan said
03:38 AM Aug 30, 2025
I do much of this trip every few weeks as we have a holiday house down near Tathra. Erads response above is spot on with what I'd recommend.
Just be aware that there is a set of temporary traffic lights on the Brown Mountain road as there is a short section where one lane is closed due to some damage. I'd still take this road instead of the Clyde Mountain, as the Clyde has more traffic and is a rat race of aggressive Canberra drivers.
At this time of year you'll also encounter a bit of ski traffic between Canberra and Cooma, more so between Friday afternoons and Monday mornings.
GeoffSA said
02:48 PM Aug 30, 2025
Thanks Doug and all other advisers, I now have some thinking to do. Considering Brown Mountain route.
-- Edited by GeoffSA on Saturday 30th of August 2025 02:55:57 PM
Mein said
07:58 PM Aug 30, 2025
Apart from the fact that the 2001 / 2005 Nissan Patrol has a 2.5t towing limit, with only 118kw under the bonnet it must be relatively slow going.
Spin said
08:57 PM Aug 30, 2025
I live in Bega, 18k's from Tathra, I tow our 19' 2.3T caravan up and down the Brown with a 2011 Colorado with out a problem. Just take your time and use your gears and you will be fine.
GeoffSA said
08:29 AM Sep 1, 2025
Mein wrote:
Apart from the fact that the 2001 / 2005 Nissan Patrol has a 2.5t towing limit, with only 118kw under the bonnet it must be relatively slow going.
I think you will find the Patrol has a 3.5t towing limit.
GeoffSA said
08:30 AM Sep 1, 2025
Mein wrote:
Apart from the fact that the 2001 / 2005 Nissan Patrol has a 2.5t towing limit, with only 118kw under the bonnet it must be relatively slow going.
I think you will find the Patrol has a 3.5t towing limit., and yes, it is slug but always gets you there.
I intend towing my 3.3t van with a 2001 gu 4.2td patrol from Wagga to Tathra, just wondering the easiest route.
Thanks, Geoff
Through Canberra and across to Batemans Bay via the Kings Highway is probably the quickest but there are a lot of bends and twists up hills and down hills with a big decline on the Batemans Bay side. You have the rig so drive according to conditions. Trucks do it all day and night.
You could also go Canberra to Cooma via Monaro Hwy, easy run on the Monaro. Then across to Bega, then Tathra. Still twists and turns.
The longer way but easy peasy, down to Benalla then head across to Yarra Glen, Co ckatoo etc then come out at Pakenham then an easy drive along Hwy1 to Tathra.
As I said, you have the rig so just drive to conditions and enjoy. Tathra is a lovely place.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
This is the easiest, and shortest way. You will have one big twisty hill to tackle ,Brown Mountain, but otherwise it's an easy run with a big van. Trucks follow this route daily.
If the brown worries you you can go Canberra, Cooma, Bombala, Pambula, Merimbula or Bega and then to Tathra.
To get from Wagga, you have 2 choices - come over the Snowy Mountains, or go through Canberra. At this time of the year, no contest - Canberra, because of the risk of snow and ice on the Snowy Mtns road. In summer, I would choose the Snowy Mtns, but there is one very steep climb coming up from Talbingo. I used to tow my 16.5 ft Jayco with a 3.2L diesel Pajero up there in 3rd gear (manual transmission), but it is steep and narrow winding road. After that climb, easy run for the rest of the trip.
Timewise, the Cooma route would be quiker, because the Princes Highway is a bit of a goat track, and you have a few towns to go through whereas the Monaro Highway/Snowy Mtns Hwy is generally more open country. Going via Canberra, Cooma to Tathra will take you about 4 hrs driving time, whereas via the Kings Hwy and Batemans Bay will take you about an hour longer. People seem to have a phobia about the Brown Mountain, but if you take your time, use the engine and gears to brake as well as the brakes, it is an easy and safe drive. Milk tankers and other trucks use the Brown every day. It is only 10 km of steep, winding road. Hell, I have even ridden my bicycle down and up it!
Just be aware that there is a set of temporary traffic lights on the Brown Mountain road as there is a short section where one lane is closed due to some damage. I'd still take this road instead of the Clyde Mountain, as the Clyde has more traffic and is a rat race of aggressive Canberra drivers.
At this time of year you'll also encounter a bit of ski traffic between Canberra and Cooma, more so between Friday afternoons and Monday mornings.
Thanks Doug and all other advisers, I now have some thinking to do. Considering Brown Mountain route.
-- Edited by GeoffSA on Saturday 30th of August 2025 02:55:57 PM
Apart from the fact that the 2001 / 2005 Nissan Patrol has a 2.5t towing limit, with only 118kw under the bonnet it must be relatively slow going.
I live in Bega, 18k's from Tathra, I tow our 19' 2.3T caravan up and down the Brown with a 2011 Colorado with out a problem. Just take your time and use your gears and you will be fine.
I think you will find the Patrol has a 3.5t towing limit.
I think you will find the Patrol has a 3.5t towing limit., and yes, it is slug but always gets you there.