Best Highway to Canberra from Bega

George · Veteran Member

Best Highway to Canberra from Bega

bensuz29 · Veteran Member

G'day

Can I get some advice on the best highway to take from Bega NSW ie.. highway 18 or 52 we are towing a large van and I have had some conflicting stories.

Thanks

Ben

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We used to live in Canberra, have travelled both highways many times and still cant give advice, don't like either road.. We've towed our caravan down/up Brown mountain, bit steep but got there ok. (our caravan weight is well under the tugs towing limit) There's a look-out halfway up so you could stop for a break. Log trucks use both highways so they are built with passing lanes etc. The Clyde mountain on the kings highway seems just as steep, and its a lot further via Batemans Bay.
Nowadays from Nowra to Canberra we use the Turpentine road through Nerriga, its not really suitable to a big van though. (3k's dirt, 5 ton limit on a bridge)

Chat to the local truckies if you can, they know the roads best.

msg · Guru

I would prefer Brown Mountain to the Clyde. Don't like either. I'm like Girty dont know which one is worse.

Kiwi-as · Guru

I boiled comming up Brown Mountain last yr.Have a cruiser repowed with Chev 6.5diesel towing a close to 3ton van. Brown is steep and just keeps going up and up. I think all roads up that mountain range would be steep. There are stopping areas on the way up. Hope this has been some help.

Happy Daze · Senior Member

We've travelled both Brown Mountain and the Kings Highway down to Batemans Bay many times, and as the lesser of two evils, I'd recommend the Kings Highway rather than Brown Mountain. We've towed a single axle caravan, not a large rig, but coming down Clyde Mountain there are a number of places where you can get over to the left to let any build up of traffic behind you get ahead. Also, on the tighter corners (hairpin bends) the road has been widened so you can swing out a bit if necessary. It's a major route for large trucks and mostly (there's the odd accident) they manage very well. As always, drive to the conditions and you'll be okay. Safe and happy travels.

capricorn and pisces · Senior Member

We haven't had much experience with Brown Mountain but have travelled the Clyde many times with boat or caravan on behind the Prado, have to agree with Annie (Happy Daze) just drive to the conditions, be sensible, there are wide areas on the hairpin bends and a few areas for pulling over and letting faster traffic pass, take care and enjoy, cheers Capricorn

neilnruth · Guru

We have done both Brown Mtn and Clyde many times - but our van is much smaller than yours by the sound of it. Brown is steeper but shorter than Clyde. Brown probably has less 25km bends but as geojen says, some of them are very tight. If you decide Clyde Mtn (Kings Hwy) you might note that there will be closures on the highway from Tuesday to Thursday for about 4 - 5 weeks.
http://the-riotact.com/kings-highway-closures-mooted/100338
(Sorry I can't work out how to make this a link to click!)
The landslide of last year has to be fixed.
Safe travelling which ever way you go.

bensuz29 · Veteran Member

Thank you all for your replies they are appreciated
Ben

Gerty Dancer · Guru

neilnruth wrote:
We have done both Brown Mtn and Clyde many times - but our van is much smaller than yours by the sound of it. Brown is steeper but shorter than Clyde. Brown probably has less 25km bends but as geojen says, some of them are very tight. If you decide Clyde Mtn (Kings Hwy) you might note that there will be closures on the highway from Tuesday to Thursday for about 4 - 5 weeks.

(Sorry I can't work out how to make this a link to click!)
The landslide of last year has to be fixed.
Safe travelling which ever way you go.

http://the-riotact.com/kings-highway-closures-mooted/100338

Thanks Ruth, didnt know about the road closures, planning a trip to Canberra.