travelled up to Darwin and back from western Victoria last winter to escape the cold.looking at northern NSW some where around the Coffs Harbour region this year. looking for tips regarding best routes from Ballarat to Coffs, kind of weather to expect, things to do etc . camp site recommendations welcomed. travelling with Disco3 and 2.3t supreme excutive as tow rig.
any suggestions welcome,probably leaving @ middle of May returning late august/september
Happy travels
Edmond
Radar said
10:11 PM Feb 10, 2022
Interesting question.
From Western Victoria, my choice would to take every back road you can find from the border and enjoy the drive to Coff Harbour area.
Head to Armidale would be good, then to Dorrigo before taking your time coming down the range. Select low range.
Coffs Harbour has lots to offer from beautiful beaches, so e of the best days drives in all directions. Mild weather will be experienced.
Some of the best low cost camping.
Nanaglen.
Bellingen.
Ebor.
Kempsy.
Grafton.
Minnie Waters.
Hadpthead, South West rocks, Crescent Heads.
The list goes on.
Haji-Baba said
10:23 AM Feb 11, 2022
Why not try Bribie Island for a winter stay. Very good van park right on the Water directly opposite the boatramp good shopping nearby.
Temperatures for winter from about 7--12 c. mornings, 25during the day. Fishing and tourism venues are very good. Adjacent to all the Sunshine Coast attractions and very good inland centres. Great eateries all over the Island and sporting clubs welcome visitors. Two golf clubs, three Bowls clubs, R.S.L. and many more.
My wife and I have basically visited the Island all our lives and in recent years permantly retired here.
It is well worth a look if, you get the chance.
Have fun Haji-Baba
-- Edited by Haji-Baba on Friday 11th of February 2022 10:25:47 AM
edmond morris said
11:14 AM Feb 11, 2022
Thanks for the feedback Radar and Haji- Baba
THe dividing range was one of my concerns, would it be similar to the descent from Canberra to batemans bay? not for the faint hearted with 2.5t on the back!
Will do some research on the places listed, and start looking at routes from the border. Echuca looks to be the starting point and heard northwest from there.
Thanks again
Edmond
Haji-Baba said
12:38 PM Feb 11, 2022
Edmond
If you even thought of Bribie as a winter retreat come up the Newell To Goondiwindi, Millmerran, Dalby, Kaimkillenbun, Cooyar, Yarraman, Kilcoy, Caboolture, Bribie island.
I can't speak for the Newell having not been over it for 25 years but further north from Goondi. to Millmerran can be a bit upsandown but fair most of the way.
Dalby to the Bun new, good to Cooyar over the range not steep but take it steady, couple of tight corners. Cooyar To Yarraman good, Blackbutt range is 60 all the way down but very safe.
I have travelled this road many times towing or otherwise with property interests in between and it is a very comfortable route.
Have fun Haji-Baba. Ps. Don't go up the Leichardt Highway or the Moonie to Dalby. Go up to Dalby on the Gore Highway.
-- Edited by Haji-Baba on Friday 11th of February 2022 12:47:22 PM
Radar said
10:14 PM Feb 11, 2022
edmond morris wrote:
Thanks for the feedback Radar and Haji- Baba
THe dividing range was one of my concerns, would it be similar to the descent from Canberra to batemans bay? not for the faint hearted with 2.5t on the back!
Will do some research on the places listed, and start looking at routes from the border. Echuca looks to be the starting point and heard northwest from there.
Thanks again
Edmond
Hi, you could come though to Dubbo then head east on the Golden Valley Highway to near Newcastle before turning north to Coffs.
But really you are missing some of the best scenery, great small towns when you take the populated routes.
86GTS said
01:48 PM Feb 13, 2022
I'd head straight towards Melbourne, around the Ring Rd & then head East along the coast following the Princes Hwy. I wouldn't travel more than 100kms per day, better still even less than that. Naturally you'd want to skirt around Wollongong, Sydney & Newcastle. Lots of quiet little spots along the East Coast away from the major centres. Most of them on side roads slightly off the main Hwy. It you feel like a bit of mountain scenery, head up into the Great Dividing Range on day trips away from camp. The NSW North Coast has some mild Winter weather without the crowds of QLD. A trip thru the NSW Outback on the return trip would make a nice change of scenery. It's no wonder that you want to get away from Ballarat at that time of year. It's so dismal. Happy & safe travels.
-- Edited by 86GTS on Sunday 13th of February 2022 01:50:14 PM
2trout said
03:47 PM Feb 13, 2022
If you decide to go via East Gippsland (Princess Highway), let me know. There are some great free camping spots along the way and the weather is usually very good at that time of the year. Typically mid-teens to low 20's.
edmond morris said
01:42 PM Feb 17, 2022
Hi All
thanks for all the great feedback so far. The inland route via dubbo ,tamworth etc looks favourite at the moment, then back via newcastle and sydney possible stop at Canberra as well.
planning mid may to early september at the moment ,any ideas greatly accepted.
Cheers
Hi all Nomads
travelled up to Darwin and back from western Victoria last winter to escape the cold.looking at northern NSW some where around the Coffs Harbour region this year. looking for tips regarding best routes from Ballarat to Coffs, kind of weather to expect, things to do etc . camp site recommendations welcomed. travelling with Disco3 and 2.3t supreme excutive as tow rig.
any suggestions welcome,probably leaving @ middle of May returning late august/september
Happy travels
Edmond
Interesting question.
From Western Victoria, my choice would to take every back road you can find from the border and enjoy the drive to Coff Harbour area.
Head to Armidale would be good, then to Dorrigo before taking your time coming down the range. Select low range.
Coffs Harbour has lots to offer from beautiful beaches, so e of the best days drives in all directions. Mild weather will be experienced.
Some of the best low cost camping.
Nanaglen.
Bellingen.
Ebor.
Kempsy.
Grafton.
Minnie Waters.
Hadpthead, South West rocks, Crescent Heads.
The list goes on.
Why not try Bribie Island for a winter stay. Very good van park right on the Water directly opposite the boatramp good shopping nearby.
Temperatures for winter from about 7--12 c. mornings, 25during the day. Fishing and tourism venues are very good.
Adjacent to all the Sunshine Coast attractions and very good inland centres.
Great eateries all over the Island and sporting clubs welcome visitors. Two golf clubs, three Bowls clubs, R.S.L. and many more.
My wife and I have basically visited the Island all our lives and in recent years permantly retired here.
It is well worth a look if, you get the chance.
Have fun Haji-Baba
-- Edited by Haji-Baba on Friday 11th of February 2022 10:25:47 AM
Thanks for the feedback Radar and Haji- Baba
THe dividing range was one of my concerns, would it be similar to the descent from Canberra to batemans bay? not for the faint hearted with 2.5t on the back!
Will do some research on the places listed, and start looking at routes from the border. Echuca looks to be the starting point and heard northwest from there.
Thanks again
Edmond
Edmond
If you even thought of Bribie as a winter retreat come up the Newell To Goondiwindi, Millmerran, Dalby, Kaimkillenbun, Cooyar, Yarraman, Kilcoy, Caboolture,
Bribie island.
I can't speak for the Newell having not been over it for 25 years but further north from Goondi. to Millmerran can be a bit upsandown but fair most of the way.
Dalby to the Bun new, good to Cooyar over the range not steep but take it steady, couple of tight corners.
Cooyar To Yarraman good, Blackbutt range is 60 all the way down but very safe.
I have travelled this road many times towing or otherwise with property interests in between and it is a very comfortable route.
Have fun Haji-Baba. Ps. Don't go up the Leichardt Highway or the Moonie to Dalby. Go up to Dalby on the Gore Highway.
-- Edited by Haji-Baba on Friday 11th of February 2022 12:47:22 PM
Hi, you could come though to Dubbo then head east on the Golden Valley Highway to near Newcastle before turning north to Coffs.
But really you are missing some of the best scenery, great small towns when you take the populated routes.
I'd head straight towards Melbourne, around the Ring Rd & then head East along the coast following the Princes Hwy.
I wouldn't travel more than 100kms per day, better still even less than that.
Naturally you'd want to skirt around Wollongong, Sydney & Newcastle.
Lots of quiet little spots along the East Coast away from the major centres. Most of them on side roads slightly off the main Hwy.
It you feel like a bit of mountain scenery, head up into the Great Dividing Range on day trips away from camp.
The NSW North Coast has some mild Winter weather without the crowds of QLD.
A trip thru the NSW Outback on the return trip would make a nice change of scenery.
It's no wonder that you want to get away from Ballarat at that time of year.
It's so dismal.
Happy & safe travels.
-- Edited by 86GTS on Sunday 13th of February 2022 01:50:14 PM
thanks for all the great feedback so far. The inland route via dubbo ,tamworth etc looks favourite at the moment, then back via newcastle and sydney possible stop at Canberra as well.
planning mid may to early september at the moment ,any ideas greatly accepted.
Cheers
Edmond