We are intending on travelling down the coast from Wollongong to Batesman Bay, Narooma, and Bega, from there we internd to go to Canberra.
Does anyone know what the roads are like, as we are towing a 5th Wheeler.
I have been told that the Monaro Hwy from Bega to Canberra is very windy and gets down to 25klm per hour.
Ma said
09:43 AM Jan 3, 2010
Hi Rolex,
We live in Ulladulla and have travelled over to Canberra countless 100's of times. We go via the Kings Highway. Some on this forum definitely don't like going this way and tend to use the Monaro Highway, but to each his own I suppose. You go with what you care comfortable with.
Whilst the Kings Highway has the Clyde mountain to climb, we have never had any trouble either in our former tug and tow, (X-trail and Jayco Penguin) and with the Ford Ranger and 18.5 ft Jayco Discovery it is even better.
If you drive to the conditions of both the road and your vehicle, oh and don't forget the weather, you shouldn't have any problems. Our Motto "Hasten slowly" is something we all should do to enjoy our travels.
We have seen many 5th wheelers on the Kings Highway and they don't seem to have any trouble.
The road is pretty good all the way through to Queanbeyan, no dirt - apart from any roadworks that may be along the way, but most of the upgrades and done now anyway, it isn't too narrow, semi trailers travel it with no problems, so your 5th wheeler shouldn't have any problems.
If you do decide to come down the Princes Highway through Ulladulla, PM me and I'll put the kettle on or have a coldie ready for you.
Happy travels and stay safe.
Ma
hammer said
09:47 AM Jan 3, 2010
Hi, The road has a good surface but is very hilly and lots bends to go around, can get very windy at times. there are some hills where you will need to use low gear to come down. We came down the Kings Hwy from Canberra to Batemans Bay, will never do that again.
Mick themungrel said
09:55 AM Jan 3, 2010
rolex wrote:
We are intending on travelling down the coast from Wollongong to Batesman Bay, Narooma, and Bega, from there we internd to go to Canberra.
Does anyone know what the roads are like, as we are towing a 5th Wheeler.
I have been told that the Monaro Hwy from Bega to Canberra is very windy and gets down to 25klm per hour.
Rolex I have travelled that road many times in a semi and had no problems at all yes there is a windy climb off the coast to the Tablelands yes the Brown Mountain has some sharp corners yes you probably will get down to 25kph when going up the Brown . Yes it can be windy but so can any section of road .Once at the top of the Brown it is a good run into Cooma and onto Canberra . Apart from the climb off the coast I was able to sit on 100pkh without to much problem . The road is sealed all the way
Rolly said
10:17 AM Jan 3, 2010
Ma wrote:Our Motto "Hasten slowly" is something we all should do to enjoy our travels.
Now, ain't that a fact ?!
rolex said
11:54 AM Jan 3, 2010
Thank you all for your replies much appreciated.
Rolex
rosey said
02:42 PM Jan 3, 2010
Exactly as Mick said.. the only steep bit is the Brown mountain area between Bemboka and Nimmitabel, but its definitely do-able. I think the Clyde is steeper than the Brown, but will stand corrected, as havent done them both close enough together to compare. It might be an idea to check with the locals about timing, there used to be log trucks coming down loaded on that road which are better avoided.
Enjoy your trip, and keep us posted!
-- Edited by rosey on Sunday 3rd of January 2010 01:43:08 PM
Mick themungrel said
03:19 PM Jan 3, 2010
rosey the Clyde used to be steeper but with all the road works done in the last years it is about the same . The Brown is a easier run from both ends than the Clyde . I wouldnt worry to much about the log trucks they do that road all the time and no doubt call it on the UHF . I would much rather travel a road with other trucks than with tourists .
rosey said
03:49 PM Jan 3, 2010
Mick themungrel wrote:
rosey the Clyde used to be steeper but with all the road works done in the last years it is about the same . The Brown is a easier run from both ends than the Clyde . I wouldnt worry to much about the log trucks they do that road all the time and no doubt call it on the UHF . I would much rather travel a road with other trucks than with tourists .
Thanks Mick . I take your point about tourists, a few have given all of us a bad name, but maybe truckies are more courteous to other truckies?
Basil Faulty said
07:43 PM Jan 3, 2010
As someone who travels that way a bit I no longer use the Clyde... If I were coming from Bega I would actually venture further south to say Merimbula and have a look around there, it's picturesque... then to get to Canberra, head 8 km south to Pambula drive through town and after you cross the bridge there is a sign indicating a turn to the right, Daragh Mtn Rd I think its called but it says Wyndam and Bomballa. Nice easy drive not steep not very windy. At Cathcart you can drive through to Bombala or take a gravel (7km) short cut to Bibbenluke then follow the road to Cooma and on to Canberra... little trafic on this route but good road incl the gravel....
Mick themungrel said
08:38 PM Jan 3, 2010
Rosey my point is that truckies drive for living and 99% of the time you have a fair idea of what they will do in a given situation were as a tourist is busy looking at the road and looking around at the scenery or what the kids are doing . Truck do communicate via the UHF as well .
Ma said
08:44 PM Jan 3, 2010
Like I said earlier, if you drive to the conditions of weather, vehicle and self it really doesn't matter which road you take as long as you do it sensibly and get there with the minimum of stress and enjoy the drive.
Personal choice entirely.
Mick themungrel said
10:23 PM Jan 3, 2010
Ma wrote:
Like I said earlier, if you drive to the conditions of weather, vehicle and self it really doesn't matter which road you take as long as you do it sensibly and get there with the minimum of stress and enjoy the drive.
Personal choice entirely.
Agree completely Ma
brickies said
08:40 AM Jan 4, 2010
Often on the news they blame the road for accidents , but never the drivers fault , have respect for yourself and respect the road
rosey said
02:29 PM Jan 4, 2010
Geez Mick, your cute little dog is getting younger!!!! Could you please let us in on the secret? You could make a fortune if you could market it... lets go into business!!
Mick themungrel said
10:43 PM Jan 4, 2010
rosey wrote:
Geez Mick, your cute little dog is getting younger!!!! Could you please let us in on the secret? You could make a fortune if you could market it... lets go into business!!
I wish . that at 7 weeks old
jimricho said
06:53 AM Jan 5, 2010
brickies wrote:
Often on the news they blame the road for accidents , but never the drivers fault , have respect for yourself and respect the road
Not in anyway disputing your very good commonsense advice, but unfortunately the road toll does not discriminate the innocent victims from the offenders. Safer roads would not only save the lives of the offenders but also the victims of their actions.
Serious road accidents also sometimes occur for reasons that can only be described as "s##t happens" where no serious offence has been commited, particularly on some of the busy sub-standard roads on the east coast.
brickies said
09:27 AM Jan 5, 2010
I can assure great percentage of accidents i have attended with the fire & rescue have been on good road , almost all caused by some one neglect but with that most times there is a victim who have been driving responsible and caught up in the accident ,It would to good to have all road perfect but the better the road the faster some drivers drive , I still believe if all diver drove to the condition of the road but we do not have a perfect world
jimricho said
05:44 PM Jan 5, 2010
I could be wrong but I seem to recall that the two worst accidents ever on the Pacific Highway involving buses 20 years ago both occurred on good stretches of road and the Clybucca section north of Kempsey where one of them happened had been completely rebuilt and not long opened. The NSW government promised a divided road from Hexham to Tweed Heads within (I think) 10 years. Since then governments from both sides of the political fence have come and gone and the job is still far from done.
brickies said
06:38 PM Jan 5, 2010
yes mate the MI brisbane to gold coast divided highway and they still manage to get across from one to other and cause accident , I remember that bus accident one bus on the wrong side of the the police report stated that if the bus on his right side of the road had of been has far left has he could the accident could have been avoided
glassies said
04:47 PM Jan 7, 2010
Yes i too remember that bus crash since i lived in crescent head at the time ,that was realy an horrific time for a lot of people, did you know that they set up a donation box for people to donate ,it got ripped off, so then built a better one ,that too alas got stolen they then
built on into and cemented it into the ground, somebody drove there car up to it chained it
up and once again stole it, from my last stop there ,the donation box has been removed as far as i could see.
I can remember one ses worker in kempsey as time had said to my partner he was being sent home after cradling a young boy in his arms while they both watched his mother die?
The ses worker was sent home due to stress and being unable to cope with any more that day.
It was an horrific crash on a dead straight part of road ,nobody did hear the outcome of what exactly happened?.
Does anyone know what the roads are like, as we are towing a 5th Wheeler.
I have been told that the Monaro Hwy from Bega to Canberra is very windy and gets down to 25klm per hour.
We live in Ulladulla and have travelled over to Canberra countless 100's of times. We go via the Kings Highway. Some on this forum definitely don't like going this way and tend to use the Monaro Highway, but to each his own I suppose. You go with what you care comfortable with.
Whilst the Kings Highway has the Clyde mountain to climb, we have never had any trouble either in our former tug and tow, (X-trail and Jayco Penguin) and with the Ford Ranger and 18.5 ft Jayco Discovery it is even better.
If you drive to the conditions of both the road and your vehicle, oh and don't forget the weather, you shouldn't have any problems. Our Motto "Hasten slowly" is something we all should do to enjoy our travels.
We have seen many 5th wheelers on the Kings Highway and they don't seem to have any trouble.
The road is pretty good all the way through to Queanbeyan, no dirt - apart from any roadworks that may be along the way, but most of the upgrades and done now anyway, it isn't too narrow, semi trailers travel it with no problems, so your 5th wheeler shouldn't have any problems.
If you do decide to come down the Princes Highway through Ulladulla, PM me and I'll put the kettle on or have a coldie ready for you.
Happy travels and stay safe.
Ma
The road has a good surface but is very hilly and lots bends to go around, can get very windy at times. there are some hills where you will need to use low gear to come down. We came down the Kings Hwy from Canberra to Batemans Bay, will never do that again.
Now, ain't that a fact ?!
Rolex
Enjoy your trip, and keep us posted!
-- Edited by rosey on Sunday 3rd of January 2010 01:43:08 PM
Thanks Mick . I take your point about tourists, a few have given all of us a bad name, but maybe truckies are more courteous to other truckies?
Personal choice entirely.
I wish . that at 7 weeks old
Not in anyway disputing your very good commonsense advice, but unfortunately the road toll does not discriminate the innocent victims from the offenders. Safer roads would not only save the lives of the offenders but also the victims of their actions.
Serious road accidents also sometimes occur for reasons that can only be described as "s##t happens" where no serious offence has been commited, particularly on some of the busy sub-standard roads on the east coast.