Since they (The Councils) have saturated the rest spots with threats of Doom and Gloom if you decide to sleep the night  (They like to call it Camping) and in my opinion have contributed to many deaths because people didn't rest up..I seen that in August Sept and Oct this year along the Bruce h/Way and New England H/way on my way Home.....

I too avoid the Pacific Highway if possible.  A few years ago I regularly travelled from Newcastle to Brisbane and preferred "Thunderbolts Way" from Newcastle to Uralla (via Gloucester) and then NE Hwy to Brisbane.

Click on this Google Maps Link to check out another way, via Moree, Dubbo and Cowra.   Its only about 40 kms longer than Pacific Hwy avoids Sydney, also slightly shorter than NE Hwy.  You can edit the start and destination points add intermediate destinations and generally "play around" with it to suit your personal travel plans.

Note that I have not travelled the section from Dubbo to Canberra, apart from Cowra to near Yass, so I have no knowledge of the road conditions on that stretch.

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 14th of December 2010 05:26:22 PM

Sorry about  the truth.....It's mentioned in the Local Camilla  QLD paper...Also Serina paper.....In the "Who's to Blame?)

Gerty Dancer wrote:

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Thanks Jim, will consider that route on the Newell, had always thought it a lot further, but as you say.....
We know the Canberra-Dubbo road pretty well, usually start in that direction then turn East at Wellington thru Gulgong, Merriwa to Scone/NE H'way, thus avoiding Sydney.

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Just checked out of curiosity and according to Google the Newell Hwy is about 50 km shorter.  Like you I would have assumed it was further too.  Google Maps is an excellent trip planning tool.

 

If I remember right from when I was studying law....If you are a 'bona fide' traveller...you can stop overnight anywhere...even in George street..in the City.!!

Also, horses have right of way over motor vehicles. Although I wouldn't want to put that one to the test....

Wow! Thank you Peter! Even though Google and WhereIs differ a bit, they are consistent in showing which is the longer/shorter route.

We'll be heading north on the Newell via Molong, but the homeward bound trip is a bit complicated, as we have to stop at a couple of places in the Northern of NSW, but will then return via the NE H'way.

Well be travelling in an Mazda2 for fuel economy, so we will feel all the bumps in the road and will be in a position to comment on road conditions!

Jim via Toowoomba every time for me , most of the trucks go that way now ,did a Racq Trip Planner check Brisbane to Goondiwindi Via Toowoomba 341 ks taking 3 hrs. 54 mins. , Brisbane to Goondiwindi Via Warwick 353 ks. 4 hrs. 15 mins

I was told by inspector of police that local government laws can stop you from sleeping in areas prohibitive to do so , but if you tell the police officer or council officer that you had to rest has you felt you were tried to drive and was unsafe to do so, it would be irresponsible for anyone to more you on , and could be fort in court

I had wondered about that. Being a prospective MH buyer. If you have a drink after a long days drive, could the police consider that you are in control of a vehicle under the influence?

I would be very wary of some of the (so-called) "legal" advice being offered in this thread!

ignorantia iuris neminem excusat!

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 18th of December 2010 07:54:19 AM

Thank you for the stats Peter -
What they don't tell you - is how hilly , corners - etc
I have previously mentioned that I prefer to travel the New England than Pacific .
It is 15k longer but 40minutes longer as well . I live near Grafton , I travel up the
Armidale Rd - the 1st 20k are flat , the next 75 are climbing & winding . As you climb
from 20ft above sea level to 3000ft at Ebor & all those slow corners from Nymboida
to Dundurrabin . I have sometimes mentioned , my trucking experiences . In early
70s (when trucks were still slow) I worked for Mayne Nlckolas - During summer
months we had to go Hume - New England from Melb-Bris Instead of Newell . They
reckoned we saved 60% on tyre wear - that was before tubeless truck tyres .
I suppose it is entirely up to each person & the mission .
Richo

Zoomtopz can you tell me if there are many steep and windy spots on the Newell, I was thinking of taking it when going from Melbourne to Gold Coast,  I was wondering about the sections Goondwindi--Toowoomba--Gold Coast or is there a better option.
Thanks

-- Edited by gillyb on Tuesday 21st of December 2010 07:42:33 AM

According to Google Maps... Goondi to South Brisbane via Gore Highway/Toowoomba ... 347 kms, via Cunningham Hwy/Warwick... 356 km.

H.W. you may be referring to going via Warwick and Toowoomba in which case, yes, you would be going out the way.

The Gore Highway is a direct route from Goondi to Toowoomba. To get onto it you have to travel a short distance (about 20 ks I think from memory) along the Leichhardt Highway from Goondi. Turn left at Boundary Road, a short distance past the big BP as you head north out of Goondi to get onto the Leichhardt/Gore Hwy.

Check these suggested (by Google Maps, not me) routes from Goondi to Bundy

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 21st of December 2010 07:05:22 PM