We are planning to drive to Adelaide next month. We are pretty new at this and have only been the proud owners of a Franklin's Micro for a couple of months. So we are in the stage of planning our trip. The plan is to get to Adelaide within a week. We have only four weeks to do the round trip. So if anyone out there can help me here? The last time I travelled on the Newell Hwy, it was pretty good, about 20 years ago. At that time the Pacific was bad. We have a choice of using the Newell, New England, or Pacific to get to Dubbo. Naturally we plan to stop at least one night before that, but what would be the best route to take I wonder? I heard that the Newell is now the worse road compared to the others. What is the general opinion here? I had no luck today with NRMA, RACQ or RTA in trying to get this information.
That's a fairly long way to go - from Redcliffe to Adelaide in a week pulling a van. I suppose if you are still working & on a tight time table it is doable ... don't know how enjoyable though.
I would give the Pacific a miss & go down the Newell (though we avoid it because the transports go must faster than us ... but that won't be a problem for you. given the daily distance you will need to cover).
Come back via the New England for a bit of a scenery change.
You might even choose to go down via Broken Hill from Dubbo & back via Mildura .. again for variation.
Gee you're driving past a lot of stuff worth looking at. Do you realy need to go to Adelaide on such a short timeframe?
Ma said
08:38 PM Apr 30, 2009
We just came back from a round trip to Adelaide and that was from Ulladulla, way way south of Redcliffe for sure and we were away 5 weeks. Admittedly we had plenty of time up our sleeve. Went down via Wagga and along the Murray then into Adelaide and back up along the Great Ocean Road.
Cupie is right, there is so much to see it would be a shame to rush things, we didn't see half of it in our 5 weeks. Can you cut it short and stop and smell the roses from time to time.
Whatever you do and wherever you go, stay safe. Oh and Welcome to the Forum, you are just going to love it here.
Micro52 said
08:40 PM Apr 30, 2009
Thanks Cupie for your prompt reply. I have picked up on a couple of things in your comment. Let me say first of all that I have travelled the Newell to Adelaide from Brisbane and back about four times and The Pacific and New England a couple of times. But that was many years ago and I was a lot younger and the roads were a lot different. I do remember now that you mentioned it that the truckies did favour the Newell and now I have a caravan attached, this is probably something I might try to avoid. Unfortunately we do not have time on our side as I still work and the sight seeing on the way down will have to suffer. However, we will take your advice and come home at a more leisurely pace. I'll probably need a holiday when I come home to recover from the holiday.
Micro52
Micro52 said
08:51 PM Apr 30, 2009
Hi Ma,
Yes, it would be nice to be able to take our time, and I certainly plan to do this more often when I can. Sadly with the current financial climate, now is not the time to retire. We plan to share the driving so I'm hoping that it won't be too much of a strain on us. I used to live in Adelaide a bit more than 20 years ago. The quickest time I've driven between Adelaide and Brisbane is 26 hours. Hard to believe now, but I guess we do stupid things when we are younger. When we are both retired, then we'll have plenty of time to smell the roses. Regards MICRO52.
Cruising Granny said
11:26 PM Apr 30, 2009
The Newell is my preferred option.
Do what you can with the time you have.
In 2006 I went around Oz in 25 days. Broome to Perth to pick up my girlfriend for company, across the Nullarbor to Pt Lincoln to visit daughter no. 2, then to Edithburgh to daughter no. 1, 2 nights, then to Mildura, to Nowra to pick up my van. Then to Qld, NT home to Broome.
I was on 4 wks annual leave, and made the most of the time I had to pick the van up and tow it home.
Cupie, I used that quickie trip as a recognaisance for future travel.
Sometimes we just can't do things the "ideal" way, so we do what we can with the time we have.
Micro52, enjoy your trip whichever way you go, and do it safely.
Cheers Chris
Wombat 280 said
11:54 PM Apr 30, 2009
Your opening Title "best highway in NSW" is considered to be a oxymoron. There's no such thing in NSW as a good Highway . All the good surfaces start within meters of crossing any of the NSW State lines into another state. Go via Broken Hill into SA and you will see a fine example of what I mean . We are the only state that can take a hole and turn it into a speed hump and until at least 100 km's it's 99% unrepairable they refuse to pull it up and reconstruct unless they get a grant from the Feds for a black spot project . The Roads Minister or his family must also have shares in Pedders Suspensions and Jaxs Tyres I'm sure.
drongo & wendy said
08:36 AM May 1, 2009
I have "heard" that the only good highway in NSW is the one leaving it, but that must have been said by New South Welshman of course.
Geez was only mucking
Basil Faulty said
09:11 AM May 1, 2009
I'd take the Newell then go to Adelaide via Broken hill..... As to the best Hwy I'm not sure but I can nominate the KINGS HWY - Canberra to Batemans Bay as the WORST....
Ma said
09:55 AM May 1, 2009
Not sure if it's the worst Basil, but definitely the most dangerous. Travel it VERY frequently and have seen some horrendous accidents.
dave06 said
10:45 AM May 1, 2009
I'd go through the centre (broken hill way) as well but hell it's still 2,000 kms, I would take a minimum of 3 days to do that, stop and say G'day to a big red, have a look at the sturt pea, take your time just a little!!!
Micro52 said
06:53 PM May 1, 2009
Hmm, well thanks Guru, Ma, Drongo & Wendy, dave06, Basil Faulty, Wombat 280, Cruising Granny and Cupie for all of your helpful information. We'll probably choose the Newell Highway and most definately take it easy. On another matter, we are still unsure about the benefits of CB Radio. We have 3G mobile phones, but as this is the first long trip, we are wondering if CB is going to be worthwhile. It's probably a pretty subjective topic as those with them will be for 'em.
Any thoughts as to the best deal and type to buy on a strict budget if we decide to purchase?
I have to say this is the best site I have used. Everyone is SOOO friendly and helpful.
MICRO52
ibbo said
07:02 PM May 1, 2009
Micro52 wrote:
Hmm, well thanks Guru, Ma, Drongo & Wendy, dave06, Basil Faulty, Wombat 280, Cruising Granny and Cupie for all of your helpful information. We'll probably choose the Newell Highway and most definately take it easy. On another matter, we are still unsure about the benefits of CB Radio. We have 3G mobile phones, but as this is the first long trip, we are wondering if CB is going to be worthwhile. It's probably a pretty subjective topic as those with them will be for 'em.
Any thoughts as to the best deal and type to buy on a strict budget if we decide to purchase?
I have to say this is the best site I have used. Everyone is SOOO friendly and helpful.
MICRO52
ibbo said
07:04 PM May 1, 2009
Hi.Dont mean to interupt your post,but the name Rhyll,is it taken from Rhyl in North Wales?Cheers.Ibbo.
-- Edited by ibbo on Friday 1st of May 2009 07:07:01 PM
dave06 said
07:05 PM May 1, 2009
I bought my G.M.E. tx 3220 off ebay, secondhand, abut $250 I think, i tend to think that gme are as good as any but I'm no expert on them, I dont use mine much but I wouldnt be without it, lets just call it a wee bit more "security
Micro52 said
07:09 PM May 1, 2009
Ibbo, hey.
Yes, a town in Wales, also in Victoria and the name of a frigate and a vintage car. Rill (different spelling, same pronunication) is a babbling brook.
Seeya
Cruising Granny said
11:37 PM May 1, 2009
You don't know how valuable and useful UHF CB's are until you've had one, and then you don't.
I wouldn't travel without mine scanning. I use it to learn about traffic conditions, road works or any other road matters in front of me. Even Police patrols and radars.
Talking to truckies if you have to without hogging the airwaves can also be useful.
Ignore the "truckie french", because you can learn more about the roads and the drivers in this country.
I consider it a back up tool, and the rest of the time it's entertainment. I get a lot of laughs from the chat. Compare new vs used, and it's your choice. Cheers Chris
Basil Faulty said
11:32 AM May 2, 2009
Ma wrote:
Not sure if it's the worst Basil, but definitely the most dangerous. Travel it VERY frequently and have seen some horrendous accidents.
Hence the reason I don't go that way to the coast, I go dwon the Brown which is narrow and windy but its just the few KM, the Kings gets bad from Braidwood all the way to the Bay. I've had my share of scares on the Clyde... Hey even Trunk Rd 92 is better and it's still dirt!!!
Ma said
12:04 PM May 2, 2009
and the scenery on Turpentine (92) ain't half bad either. Have you ever seen such phenominal rock formations?
Can you enlighten me re: Brown's
Basil Faulty said
05:42 PM May 2, 2009
Ma wrote:
and the scenery on Turpentine (92) ain't half bad either. Have you ever seen such phenominal rock formations?
Those rocks are where some of the most bizzare signs are displayed; These are sacred areas please do not photograph intentionally
Do NOT STOP DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS
yeah well thats all well and good but going on about it does not help the cause, just builds resentment as most people just want to get to their destination without political discourse.... Latest on the upgrade; http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=%22trunk+road+92%22&btnG=Search&meta I was told a week or so back that this stage will be finished in June with overall completion in 2012
Cruising Granny said
06:56 PM May 2, 2009
These are sacred areas please do not photograph intentionally
So just keep taking "accidental" or "unintentional" photographs. Oops!
Who's going to dob? In fact who's watching? And what are they going to do if they catch you"
Maybe the other sign means "Do not stop taking photos."
It's all in the interrpretation.
And while it's still a free country, .....
Happy snapping. Cheers Chris
Ma said
06:57 PM May 2, 2009
My sentiments exactly Granny
Basil Faulty said
07:24 PM May 3, 2009
Yet if you go to the local "interpretive centre" at Huskisson near the Lady Denman (what a fiasco that was) you can buy pictures of these exact same rocks.... Curious hey?
Looking forward to some input here,
Regards
MICRO52
That's a fairly long way to go - from Redcliffe to Adelaide in a week pulling a van. I suppose if you are still working & on a tight time table it is doable ... don't know how enjoyable though.
I would give the Pacific a miss & go down the Newell (though we avoid it because the transports go must faster than us ... but that won't be a problem for you. given the daily distance you will need to cover).
Come back via the New England for a bit of a scenery change.
You might even choose to go down via Broken Hill from Dubbo & back via Mildura .. again for variation.
Gee you're driving past a lot of stuff worth looking at. Do you realy need to go to Adelaide on such a short timeframe?
We just came back from a round trip to Adelaide and that was from Ulladulla, way way south of Redcliffe for sure and we were away 5 weeks. Admittedly we had plenty of time up our sleeve. Went down via Wagga and along the Murray then into Adelaide and back up along the Great Ocean Road.
Cupie is right, there is so much to see it would be a shame to rush things, we didn't see half of it in our 5 weeks. Can you cut it short and stop and smell the roses from time to time.
Whatever you do and wherever you go, stay safe. Oh and Welcome to the Forum, you are just going to love it here.
Thanks Cupie for your prompt reply. I have picked up on a couple of things in your comment. Let me say first of all that I have travelled the Newell to Adelaide from Brisbane and back about four times and The Pacific and New England a couple of times. But that was many years ago and I was a lot younger and the roads were a lot different. I do remember now that you mentioned it that the truckies did favour the Newell and now I have a caravan attached, this is probably something I might try to avoid. Unfortunately we do not have time on our side as I still work and the sight seeing on the way down will have to suffer. However, we will take your advice and come home at a more leisurely pace. I'll probably need a holiday when I come home to recover from the holiday.
Micro52
Hi Ma,
Yes, it would be nice to be able to take our time, and I certainly plan to do this more often when I can. Sadly with the current financial climate, now is not the time to retire. We plan to share the driving so I'm hoping that it won't be too much of a strain on us. I used to live in Adelaide a bit more than 20 years ago. The quickest time I've driven between Adelaide and Brisbane is 26 hours. Hard to believe now, but I guess we do stupid things when we are younger. When we are both retired, then we'll have plenty of time to smell the roses. Regards MICRO52.
Geez was only mucking
As to the best Hwy I'm not sure but I can nominate the KINGS HWY - Canberra to Batemans Bay as the WORST....
Not sure if it's the worst Basil, but definitely the most dangerous. Travel it VERY frequently and have seen some horrendous accidents.
Any thoughts as to the best deal and type to buy on a strict budget if we decide to purchase?
I have to say this is the best site I have used. Everyone is SOOO friendly and helpful.
MICRO52
-- Edited by ibbo on Friday 1st of May 2009 07:07:01 PM
Ibbo, hey.
Yes, a town in Wales, also in Victoria and the name of a frigate and a vintage car. Rill (different spelling, same pronunication) is a babbling brook.
Seeya
Hence the reason I don't go that way to the coast, I go dwon the Brown which is narrow and windy but its just the few KM, the Kings gets bad from Braidwood all the way to the Bay. I've had my share of scares on the Clyde...
Hey even Trunk Rd 92 is better and it's still dirt!!!
Can you enlighten me re: Brown's
Yep sure can check out this link;
http://www.ozroads.com.au/NSW/RouteNumbering/National%20Routes/18/snowymtnshwy.htm
has pretty pictures as well....
There is only about 12 km of actual windy road between Nimitabell (great little bakery) to Bemboka (Pie shop). The rest is good undulating country road.
Those rocks are where some of the most bizzare signs are displayed;
These are sacred areas please do not photograph intentionally
Do NOT STOP
DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS
yeah well thats all well and good but going on about it does not help the cause, just builds resentment as most people just want to get to their destination without political discourse....
Latest on the upgrade;
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=%22trunk+road+92%22&btnG=Search&meta
I was told a week or so back that this stage will be finished in June with overall completion in 2012
Curious hey?