Melbourne to Lennox Head

Thisguyloveslife · Member

Melbourne to Lennox Head

PeterD · Guru

It is actually shorter and quicker to go through Sydney - Look at this map.

What is your problem with hills? I think to become a complete driver you need to be able to cope with hills. There are lots of places on the eastern coast that you will miss If you do not become confident traveling in hilly country. Are you frightened you will over stress your tug? If it is a diesel it actually does some good for them to stress them a bit. It would be a pity to miss Tamworth. Going through Sydney to me is just as stressful as traveling the hills around Tamworth.

Radar · Guru

PeterD wrote:
It is actually shorter and quicker to go through Sydney - Look at this map.
What is your problem with hills? I think to become a complete driver you need to be able to cope with hills. There are lots of places on the eastern coast that you will miss If you do not become confident traveling in hilly country. Are you frightened you will over stress your tug? If it is a diesel it actually does some good for them to stress them a bit. It would be a pity to miss Tamworth. Going through Sydney to me is just as stressful as traveling the hills around Tamworth.

PeterD hi

I could not agree more, I wish I could of wrote that, I have all ways said the best views are at the top of mountain and more you go up the more you go down the better you learn to read the roads, take your time and enjoy.

From Tamworth up the New England to Glen Innes and down to Grafton would be my pick for the less experienced. There is signs saying "trucks must use low gear" on that down hill section of the Gibraltar Range, then the flat run to Lennox Head, the road works are not really a problem.

Enjoy your travels

PeterD · Guru

Radar wrote:
From Tamworth up the New England to Glen Innes and down to Grafton would be my pick for the less experienced. There is signs saying "trucks must use low gear" on that down hill section of the Gibraltar Range, then the flat run to Lennox Head, the road works are not really a problem.

Any time I see that sign I also slow and pull the gearbox back to 2nd or 1st. If I am traveling too slowly in that gear I shift up a gear (or two.)

wendyv · Guru

You could go up the Newell Highway, then cut across from Dubbo to Newcastle - avoid Sydney and the worst of the range that way. Then up the coast.

Thisguyloveslife · Member

Hi Pete thanks for Your reply I have driven down Kings Hwy to Batesman Bay I should have stated was more wondering what the state of the road was cheers Neil

Thisguyloveslife · Member

Thanks Wendy might go that way and come back through Tamworth on the way home cheers

PeterD · Guru

Thisguyloveslife wrote:
Hi Pete thanks for Your reply I have driven down Kings Hwy to Batesman Bay I should have stated was more wondering what the state of the road was cheers Neil

If you take the route on my map through Armidale and Ebor, I an uncertain of the bit from Ebor to South Grafton. I think it may have some narrower bits on it. However past discussion on newsgroups suggest it is OK. It would have the least severe gradients on it. If you go down through Ebor to Bellingen or Glen Innes to South Grafton, I know they are full width roads with edge lines. They do have gradients similar to the Clyde Mountain (I have driven both of those.)

-- Edited by PeterD on Thursday 18th of April 2019 11:26:26 PM

Radar · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Thisguyloveslife wrote:
Hi Pete thanks for Your reply I have driven down Kings Hwy to Batesman Bay I should have stated was more wondering what the state of the road was cheers Neil
If you take the route on my map through Armidale and Ebor, I an uncertain of the bit from Ebor to South Grafton. I think it may have some narrower bits on it. However past discussion on newsgroups suggest it is OK. It would have the least severe gradients on it. If you go down through Ebor to Bellingen or Glen Innes to South Grafton, I know they are full width roads with edge lines. They do have gradients similar to the Clyde Mountain (I have driven both of those.)

As PeterD has wrote from Armidale to Ebor, the first 120 kilometres easy as, then there is a section older road that has slow corners, narrow and windy as it slowly drops down into the valley for about 10 kilometres maybe less, for rest the rest into Grafton reasonably though rural areas. A couple of free camps along the way Ebor Sports ground and Coutts Crossing Hotel.

I have over the years use this road in my work as a transport driver with semi trailers before they sealed it, have also travelled with the caravan a couple of times of late, wife says she loves The Waterfall Way but please find a better way up.

If your been down Brown Mtn you would not have any problem handling Glen Innies to Grafton which is my pick to Lennox Head.

The other one which I did in reverse on Tuesday is via Tenterfield down to Casino, Lismore and though to Lennox Head, the road in general was not to bad once again there is a section as you drop down off the Great Devide which is slow for about 20 kilometres.

Hope this is of some help.