Last week I had to take a trip down to Canberra to visit one of the embassies for a work visa so of course my wife and I did it without the van. For those people who are planning on negotiating the Sydney traffic with their van here are some observations on what we found on 2 different days.
Left our home in Lake Macquarie on Sunday at 8am travelled via Pacific Hwy on the eastern side of the lake and joined the M1 at the central coast - traffic was fairly light, extensive road works on the M! for about 20kms in both directions with an 80km speed limit. When we hit Penant Hills road at around 9:30am traffic was moderate but steady would be easily negotiated with a van in tow, M2 and M7 were he same. The Hume and Federal Highways once we got past Campbeltown the traffic thinned out again, I set the cruise control on 110kph (double demerits) and sat back. We arrived around 1pm in Canberra stress free and that included the usual stop at Trappers Bakery in Goulburn so in my opinion it would have been an easy trip with the van.
Left Canberra on Tuesday at 8am traffic was light and it didn't start to thicken up until 11am when we were aound 20kms from the start of the M7. Traffic got heavier and heavier with a large number of semi trailers who for some unknown reason just have to try and overtake each other resulting in long back ups and some really frustrated drivers. The M7 traffic was heavy with lots of tradies and large vehicles we did see a few brave caravanners who were locked in behind slower moving vehicles with absolutely nowhere to go, at the M2 the traffic thinned a little as people seemed to be taking the off ramp before it started. Penant Hills road was an absolute nightmare, bumper to bumper, stop/start traffic and large semis everywhere it was challenging just driving that section without a van. The M1 although busy to the central coast was easily negotiated, we arrived back home at around 1:30pm and unlike the trip down we both felt physically tired and glad to get out of the car..
My suggestion is in order to avoid stress do not plan on using the Penant Hills Road mid week at least between 7am and 6pm, if possible do it on a Sunday. I have no idea how people put up with living in Sydney (or Melbourne) especially if they have to cope with traffic like that every day. My other tip is if you are planning on a break when approaching Sydney from the south do not leave it too late because the last couple of rest areas on the information signs mean taking off ramps into towns which are not that easily negotiated with a van especially the last one named after "Roden Cutler". Approaching Sydney on the M1 from the north your last chance and most accessible rest area is at the bottom of the hill just before you cross over the Hawkesbury River bridge.
Cheers
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Saturday 4th of May 2019 07:31:36 AM
We have done the trip with our caravan in tow both direction a couple of times a year over the past 6 years. Our south bound journeys is very similar to how you describe but those north bound journeys I really don't look forward to.
As a retired transport driver I am one in front with towing a large thing behind and also realized the super extra traffic thats coming from interstate south, is a huge amount explaining the extra traffic conjestion.
When its possible I like to go around via the Putty Road which I enjoy to get to Camden area. Having family on the Central Coast rules that out sometimes when we are coming down from Brisbane.
Between 9.30am and 1pm travelling north is my choice weekdays, I find that weekend drivers don't drive with the same conviction (they don't know where there going) as work day drivers.
Having never been that way I was just wondering how much easier is it to go via the Putty road then Camden and Picton when towing a van - I assume that you are picking up the Hume Hwy somewhere down that way ? When travelling from the Blue Mountains we sometimes use the Bells Line of Road from Lithgow the Putty Road to Broke, across to Pokolbin, Lovedale Road across to the Hunter Expressway near Greta and come into Newcastle from tthat direction it's takes longer and are secondary roads not highways but it avoids a lot of that Sydney traffic.. There is some major roadwork going on at the moment on both the M2 off ramp and the M1 on ramp when heading north so I guess that wasn't helping much with the traffic flow.
Agree with you 100% BB. I always do the Penant Hills mid Sunday Morning either way. Much less stress to none and the dry cleaner is put out of business.
Canberra is busy these days too. I was over there last Monday as had a quick trip with no time for visits that I would have liked to do. The new Light Rail is in now in action for those that don't know too.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
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Is that the South Steyne Hotel on the corner - I have to agree the beach front is quite a lot busier nowadays ? If they keep jamming people into the Sydney basin the infrastructure is never going to keep up, Sydney seems to be a money pit with so much of the state's budget being spent there.
Doug we stayed at the at the Rex Hotel on Northbourne Avenue which the light rail now runs up the center of, it looked impressive and from the 2 days that we were there it seemed to be well patronised. Newcastle's light rail also opened around the same time but unfortunately the route is too limited and IMHO it will struggle to stay afloat unless they extend the line out along the beaches and maybe even to the sports stadium at Broadmeadow. It's ironic that Newcastle like Melbourne and Sydney had an extensive tram network from 1887 until 1950 but the state government of the day decided that buses would be more cost effective way of moving people and shut it down apparently much to the disgust of the Novacastrian public.
BB, my understanding was it was free from opening until end April. It was busy indeedy.
When in Canberra without the aluminium teepee and needing to stay overnight I stay at the Yowani Country Club (Golf Course) also on Northbourne Ave. Far from flash but it's a bed and cheaper so that's all I need. I was in and out in the one day during the week though as I came across from Young, only two hours away.
I must say though I do like Canberra and visit the big house on the hill to see the kindy kids playing up. Looooove the War Memorial too. It's a nice drive up around all the Embassies as well even.
__________________
Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Canberra Botanic Gardens has a fantastic collection of Australian native plants, well worth a visit.
Having seen most of Canberra's attractions on previous visits we decided that we would go to the zoo - ended up being a nice way to fill in 3 hours . We never thought about going to the botanic gardens so we will put it on the list for next time. I also like the war memorial Doug especially the additions that they have done but as we were went there in August last year we didn't want to do it again. There was some sort of festival happening at the exhibition grounds at the end of Northbourne Avenue and accomodation in that area was packed out with young people and from what we saw of them they seemed to be pretty well behaved.
My other tip is if you are planning on a break when approaching Sydney from the south do not leave it too late because the last couple of rest areas on the information signs mean taking off ramps into towns which are not that easily negotiated with a van especially the last one named after "Roden Cutler". Approaching Sydney on the M1 from the north your last chance and most accessible rest area is at the bottom of the hill just before you cross over the Hawkesbury River bridge.
