Possum3 suggested that I post my question to this forum, so here it is:
My wife and I plan to take a few months to travel from south NSW to Townsville and back to visit my sister. We're wondering which routes to follow and what attractions or towns you suggest we see. At first I thought up the coast road and then back down the centre of QLD and NSW. Zig zagging our way to see different places such as Winton and Lightening Ridge. Then someone suggested to go up to the west of the Great Dividing Range and then back via a route further to the west of that route. We could then take a day or two trips to see friends and attractions on the coast but also avoid the major traffic on the coast road.
Does anyone suggest some routes, attractions and towns to see? Keeping in mind that we hope to travel up the Stewart Highway and back in the far west of QLD and NSW on a separate trip.
Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.
Possum3 said
04:10 PM Feb 1, 2021
Buz, I am aware that quite a few Forumites travel to Townsville regularly - give them time to see your request, they don't all come on here 24 X 7.
Buzz Lightbulb said
02:08 PM Feb 9, 2021
I received this reply and have permission to post it here. Hopefully it will get some discussion going. I'm still looking for advice :
Hi Buzz,
I wouldn't say I know a lot at all really. Yes, I have beed going to Townsville by road every year since 2013. I have gone up and down the Newel Hwy one year but far from happy with that way.
I usually start out at Young NSW from my mates farm. Stay at Gunning Show Ground 1 night.
Through Sydney via Pennant Hills, there is a new tunnel that way now, I always do that midmorning Sunday and stay 1 night at Bulahdelah Bowls Club. They have great meals.
From there I used to stay at friends in port McQuary but they have left there so I now go through to Byron Bay and stay at the Belongal Fields park. This is not a place I recommend but does me.
Leaving Sunday, through Brisbane about 8.00am via Gateway and at least a couple of nights at Gin Gin Show Ground.
Next through to Waverley Creek Rest area about 160km north of Rockhampton for 1 night.
Then through to Home Hill rest area behind shops and beside railway line and 1.5hrs south of Townsville for 1 night. The middle pub have nice meals :)
I leave there to arrive at my daughters place in Townsville mid morning for clearance in the street to reverse van in driveway.
I usually don't do touristy things on way up. I choose times and places on way back to VIC for summer. I come back same way though.
If you go up the middle stay at Ilfracomb not Longreach.
I have also gone via Tamworth, Banana then across to Rockhampton then up Bruce.
I prefer to go Pacific and Bruce Hwy as most is double lane and I can go at my own pace without holding up trucks. The Bruce does have single lane in sections after Gin Gin. Getting better though.
I hope all that is if some help.
Whenarewethere said
02:52 PM Feb 9, 2021
If you have the time go around Sydney. Bylong Valley Way north of Kandos is a great drive, probably not so good it towing.
We try to take different roads where possible to make things more interesting.
Again if not towing, Thunderbolts Way
Buzz Lightbulb said
03:14 PM Feb 9, 2021
Thanks Whenarewethere,
We will be towing but taking our time. Maybe it's worth exploring as a day trip from a base somewhere. We'll keep it in mind.
erad said
03:55 PM Feb 9, 2021
We live in Cooma NSW, and used to travel to Moranbah in Central Qld quite often. 2000 km door to door. Looking at the map, it is almost a straight line due North, with minor deviations East or West from the line. Lightning Ridge is an interesting place to overnight or even spend a couple of days. Years ago, some friends were heading North and stopped at the Ridge. Next morning, they headed off and after a while, one of them said "I'd give anything to get a cappuchino at the next town. The next town was Hebel, and lo and behold, the corner store actually sold Cappuchinos! Since then, we have gone through many times, and my wife adores their Egg & Bacon Burgers - they come complete with salad. There isn't very much at Hebel either...
Injune is another nice place to stay overnight. The local club put on an excellent meal. Further up the road is the turnoff to Carnarvon Gorge. If you have the time, the short detour is worth the effort. If you are self contained, very cheap camping just before the Park entrance- the road heads off to the North, and the campsites have the most superb views of the gorge.
Rollaston is where you turn left to go to Emerald. Depending on the time of the year and the time of day, the local ladies (I think the school P&C committee) had started up a coffee stall in the middle of the park, out on the road to Bilolea, which is past where you would normally turn off, but it is worth looking...
The road from Emerald through to Charters Towers is all sealed (quite a few trucks use it). Charters Towers is an interesting town to explore over a few days as well, and it is only a short run from there to Townsville.
bgt said
04:26 PM Feb 9, 2021
We lived in Gundagai for a number of years. Traveled to the Gold Coast many many times. No argument the Newel Highway is the fastest and easiest. That's why zillions of semis go that way. But the trucks may intimidate some. Just watch your mirrors.
The Bruce highway is ok as far as Gympie. Then IMHO it's a PITA. But if you wan to see the towns along the way there isn't much choice. Just be careful. Lots of alternatives on the way back south.
BarneyBDB said
06:04 PM Feb 9, 2021
If you happen to come across a road called "Dawson Developmental Highway" that looks like it will cut about 80k off the trip I would avoid the temptation. One day they may develop it into a goat track. Luckily I was in a 4wd.
Warren-Pat_01 said
09:54 AM Feb 10, 2021
Hi Buzz,
I'm not going to mention the NSW side of the trip but in QLD there are three ways to get to Townsville - up the Bruce along the coast; up the centre via Toowoomba (the garden city, with numerous attractions), Roma - Emerald past Carnarvon Gorge (well worth a good look) to Charters Towers & into Townsville; the third is the longer way, via Longreach, Winton, Hughenden & into Townsville via the Flinders Highway.
I'm not going to mention all the tourist attractions as I'd be writing all day but I will state that having a UHF radio, either fixed or hand held is a mandatory safety device (monitor chn 40) for travelling on the inland roads as there can be some very large trucks travelling to mine sites. They have escorts that give warning to get off the road if they are really large.
We travel to Toowoomba from Townsville a few times a year - the temperature governs which of the first two routes I take. If the temperatures are in the mid to high 30s, we do the coastal route.
Currently there are lots of road works going on all of these roads - be prepared for delays. Finally the government has realised we in the north need as many overtaking lanes as they have in the south!
Enjoy your planning, if I can assist further send me a PM.
Our son has just travelled from Canberra to Townsville & return & even his wife who allergic to driving long distances enjoyed the journey, so much so that she wants to revisit a number of places. His young son wanted to know why they couldn't fly from Cowra to Townsville! But he discovered lots of interesting stuff. They did the inland run going up, the coastal run down to Toowoomba.
Buzz Lightbulb said
11:13 AM Feb 10, 2021
Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. Please, keep them coming.
It's so exciting planning such a trip. We hope to travel from late winter through to spring so it won't be too hot or cold. It'll be a great test for our Jayco 17.xx caravan with solar panel and ensuite.
Now, we just need the COVID-19 vaccine and the borders to keep open.
Whenarewethere said
12:01 PM Feb 10, 2021
If you are east of Armidale, Point Lookout is brilliant. There is a NP campground at the bottom. Leave the caravan there & drive up to the lookout. A bit before sunset is even better. If you are into walking there are some good, but tiring tracks.
Just another note Buzz - check out the visitor information centres.
The one at Cowra is great (includes history of the Japanese break out in the 1940s), Roma is good, Injune (near Carnarvon Gorge) is really good too. Most towns have them, volunteer staff are very helpful.
Buzz Lightbulb said
04:29 PM Feb 11, 2021
All useful tips. Thank you all.
Buzz Lightbulb said
02:06 PM Feb 13, 2021
Many thanks to you all for your suggestions. We have lots to investigate before our trip.
Hi all,
Possum3 suggested that I post my question to this forum, so here it is:
My wife and I plan to take a few months to travel from south NSW to Townsville and back to visit my sister. We're wondering which routes to follow and what attractions or towns you suggest we see. At first I thought up the coast road and then back down the centre of QLD and NSW. Zig zagging our way to see different places such as Winton and Lightening Ridge. Then someone suggested to go up to the west of the Great Dividing Range and then back via a route further to the west of that route. We could then take a day or two trips to see friends and attractions on the coast but also avoid the major traffic on the coast road.
Does anyone suggest some routes, attractions and towns to see? Keeping in mind that we hope to travel up the Stewart Highway and back in the far west of QLD and NSW on a separate trip.
Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.
Hi Buzz,
I wouldn't say I know a lot at all really. Yes, I have beed going to Townsville by road every year since 2013. I have gone up and down the Newel Hwy one year but far from happy with that way.
I usually start out at Young NSW from my mates farm. Stay at Gunning Show Ground 1 night.
Through Sydney via Pennant Hills, there is a new tunnel that way now, I always do that midmorning Sunday and stay 1 night at Bulahdelah Bowls Club. They have great meals.
From there I used to stay at friends in port McQuary but they have left there so I now go through to Byron Bay and stay at the Belongal Fields park. This is not a place I recommend but does me.
Leaving Sunday, through Brisbane about 8.00am via Gateway and at least a couple of nights at Gin Gin Show Ground.
Next through to Waverley Creek Rest area about 160km north of Rockhampton for 1 night.
Then through to Home Hill rest area behind shops and beside railway line and 1.5hrs south of Townsville for 1 night. The middle pub have nice meals :)
I leave there to arrive at my daughters place in Townsville mid morning for clearance in the street to reverse van in driveway.
I usually don't do touristy things on way up. I choose times and places on way back to VIC for summer. I come back same way though.
If you go up the middle stay at Ilfracomb not Longreach.
I have also gone via Tamworth, Banana then across to Rockhampton then up Bruce.
I prefer to go Pacific and Bruce Hwy as most is double lane and I can go at my own pace without holding up trucks. The Bruce does have single lane in sections after Gin Gin. Getting better though.
I hope all that is if some help.
If you have the time go around Sydney. Bylong Valley Way north of Kandos is a great drive, probably not so good it towing.
We try to take different roads where possible to make things more interesting.
Again if not towing, Thunderbolts Way
We will be towing but taking our time. Maybe it's worth exploring as a day trip from a base somewhere. We'll keep it in mind.
Injune is another nice place to stay overnight. The local club put on an excellent meal. Further up the road is the turnoff to Carnarvon Gorge. If you have the time, the short detour is worth the effort. If you are self contained, very cheap camping just before the Park entrance- the road heads off to the North, and the campsites have the most superb views of the gorge.
Rollaston is where you turn left to go to Emerald. Depending on the time of the year and the time of day, the local ladies (I think the school P&C committee) had started up a coffee stall in the middle of the park, out on the road to Bilolea, which is past where you would normally turn off, but it is worth looking...
The road from Emerald through to Charters Towers is all sealed (quite a few trucks use it). Charters Towers is an interesting town to explore over a few days as well, and it is only a short run from there to Townsville.
The Bruce highway is ok as far as Gympie. Then IMHO it's a PITA. But if you wan to see the towns along the way there isn't much choice. Just be careful. Lots of alternatives on the way back south.
I'm not going to mention the NSW side of the trip but in QLD there are three ways to get to Townsville - up the Bruce along the coast; up the centre via Toowoomba (the garden city, with numerous attractions), Roma - Emerald past Carnarvon Gorge (well worth a good look) to Charters Towers & into Townsville; the third is the longer way, via Longreach, Winton, Hughenden & into Townsville via the Flinders Highway.
I'm not going to mention all the tourist attractions as I'd be writing all day but I will state that having a UHF radio, either fixed or hand held is a mandatory safety device (monitor chn 40) for travelling on the inland roads as there can be some very large trucks travelling to mine sites. They have escorts that give warning to get off the road if they are really large.
We travel to Toowoomba from Townsville a few times a year - the temperature governs which of the first two routes I take. If the temperatures are in the mid to high 30s, we do the coastal route.
Currently there are lots of road works going on all of these roads - be prepared for delays. Finally the government has realised we in the north need as many overtaking lanes as they have in the south!
Enjoy your planning, if I can assist further send me a PM.
Our son has just travelled from Canberra to Townsville & return & even his wife who allergic to driving long distances enjoyed the journey, so much so that she wants to revisit a number of places. His young son wanted to know why they couldn't fly from Cowra to Townsville! But he discovered lots of interesting stuff. They did the inland run going up, the coastal run down to Toowoomba.
Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. Please, keep them coming.
It's so exciting planning such a trip. We hope to travel from late winter through to spring so it won't be too hot or cold. It'll be a great test for our Jayco 17.xx caravan with solar panel and ensuite.
Now, we just need the COVID-19 vaccine and the borders to keep open.
If you are east of Armidale, Point Lookout is brilliant. There is a NP campground at the bottom. Leave the caravan there & drive up to the lookout. A bit before sunset is even better. If you are into walking there are some good, but tiring tracks.
The one at Cowra is great (includes history of the Japanese break out in the 1940s), Roma is good, Injune (near Carnarvon Gorge) is really good too. Most towns have them, volunteer staff are very helpful.