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Post Info TOPIC: Road conditions Goondiwindi to Dubbo via Newell Hwy and Dubbo to Bathurst on the Mitchell Hwy


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Road conditions Goondiwindi to Dubbo via Newell Hwy and Dubbo to Bathurst on the Mitchell Hwy


Hi, We are towing our van from Goondiwindi to the Blue Mountains. Can anyone give me some advice on the road conditions from Goondiwindi to Dubbo via Newell Hwy and Dubbo to Bathurst on the Mitchell Hwy onto Katoomba.



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Greg


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You will find a little bit of rough stuff, just slow down a bit for it and you will be OK. I drove down there as far as Coonabarabran after the big wet last year. Whilst there was a lot of damaged road then, I suspect most of it will have been fixed by now. Just keep your eyes open and you will be able to pick any bad spots in time to slow down.

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PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 



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We did the journey in April 2022 just after all the rain and the roads were totally cactus and a lot were being "Repaired". Given the choice I would be coming through Gilgandra and Golden Highway and expressway to Sydney.

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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan

Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.



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Thanks for the information, much appreciate. 



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Greg


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I did Ballina to Broken Hill via Newcastle last November and returned via Gilgandra, Narrabri and Moree in December. The roads were pretty bad in some places. I would take the route suggested by Possum.

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DMaxer, where did you find the worst of the road between Gilgandra and Moree? When I travelled the Newell Hwy late last year I found the worst bit of the road was between Goondiwindi and Narrabri. If Greg travels the route Possum and you are recommending, then he has travelled the worst of the Newell before he diverts at Narrabri to head for Newcastle.



-- Edited by PeterD on Wednesday 3rd of May 2023 07:31:47 AM

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PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 



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Within the last two weeks, a friend travelled south from Goondiwindi to Dubbo, in his motorhome. He said sections of the Newell between Moree and Dubbo were under repair, but otherwise good.

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It was really bad between Warren and Gilgandra and then pretty ordinary between Narrabri and Moree. 

I think the route using the Golden Highway is the best if you are towing. 



-- Edited by DMaxer on Wednesday 3rd of May 2023 03:58:13 PM



-- Edited by DMaxer on Wednesday 3rd of May 2023 04:00:05 PM

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Greg is not travelling from Gilgandra to Warren so we can forget that stretch. That means the only bit that is crook is from Moree to Narrabri. If he is going to dodge that then he will have to turn at Moree and head to Glen Innes. If he turns at Narrabri and heads for Newcastle then he will not be dodging much rough stuff.



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PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 



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When I was at Gilgandra I remember there was major flood damage around Wellington and Molong and the roads were cut in several places. The route he wanted to take may now be fine but I find the Golden Highway is the easier of the two when towing. I apologise for agreeing with Possum. Am I forgiven?

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No apology required, however allow me to mount my soap box.

I do get a little peeved at the attitudes that some have regarding outback roads. There seems to be the thinking that when people are asking about roads they require billiard table quality roads. If they wish for roads like that then they should stick to places along the Pacific, Hume and similar roads and not come into the western districts of NSW Qld, similar places and more remote areas. I have been driving these roads since the late 1950s and lived out there for most of the rest of my life. It is not possible for us to have first quality roads out there, our taxation system will not support them. If you want top quality roads then I suggest you campaign for increased taxes. Considering the number of kilometres of road that each tax payer supports we don't do too badly with our road quality. I have been told many times that once we get off the few top quality roads that ours are better than the ones in the USA.

I have seen the roads improve over the last 70 years. Things have been much the same over that period in that our roads don't get overengineered to prevent road failures. They are built to minimum standards in the knowledge that there will be some failures and that these failures can be rectified quickly. Most of the reports, including mine are not from experiences in the last month and some include roads that Greg does not intend to use. I am sure that most of the roads we have reported on will have been repaired to a trafficable condition by now. Yes there will be the odd rough bit of patched road but there will be noting that will damage your tug or van. If you are going to travel in western NSW then you should expect some of those conditions. If you don't wish to experience a few of these road impediments per hundred kilometres then you are going to miss a lot of Australia.

We should be using emotive language to describe things and telling people to dodge those places when it is common knowledge that flood damage is repaired quickly. Most of the roads that were water damaged last year will have been repaired by now. I believe it is senseless telling people to steer clear of places they may have enjoyed just because they may experience a little discomfort. They will be missing out on something new just because they have taken bad advice.

 

 

DMaxer, Private message sent to you.



-- Edited by PeterD on Thursday 4th of May 2023 01:57:42 PM

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PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 



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Thanks for all your advice. We understand that when travelling in the west we will encounter the odd bit of rough road.

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Greg


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Greg asked for advice and Possum and I related our previous travels in the area. 

Go and lecture someone else.



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Just drive to the conditions and enjoy scenery

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There's a nice alternate route leaving Dubbo via Yeoval to Molong, where you can see a rural art lost of animals on bikes, keep your eyes open in the trees by gate they could seen in many places, the road is sealed all the way not heavy in traffic a great drive.



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Nice drive if you have the time. You may still be able to get a list of those artworks from the Dubbo visitors centre. The only problem with viewing them is there is no pull off space at most of them. The guide to those statues asks you not to attempt to stop t them.

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PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 

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