I am currently in Inverell NSW and will be heading to Townsville on Thursday and need to be there Saturday afternoon.
I was going to go back to Moree then Roma (one night), Emerald (one night) then via Charters Towers to Townsville.
OR
Any opinions as to maybe go via Toowoomba, Rockhampton then up the Bruce to Townsville. I haven't decided on stop overs yet but would be Thursday and Friday nights only. What is the road like between Toowoomba and Rockhampton as it looks windy on the map.
I feel like a change of scenery.
dazren said
02:07 AM May 22, 2013
Hmmm ?? very good question Doug, and the answer could be complicated, May I suggest that you come back down here, Go to work for me, and look after the house and garden, And then through the goodness of my heart I will do the trip Both ways ?? and give you a full report when i get back, as to which way You would have liked the most
I woild not make this kind offer to anyone, But !! if your confused You know i am only to happy to assist, ?
pauline said
02:09 AM May 22, 2013
The Bruce is not most peoples favourite highway Doug, lots of roadworks............though we did it twice last year up and back from Mackay and didn't have a problem as we just drove to the conditions and were not in a hurry, stayed at a free stop on the way up, on your left just off the highway, I think Boyne River or name like that about an hour and a half from Rocky, lots of vans there and the noise from road never stopped me from sleeping.
Pejay said
02:24 AM May 22, 2013
Yep, as Pauline says, the road works up the Bruce are quite bad at the moment as they have been for a long time, however, bear in mind if you go up through Emerald to Charters Towers you will most probably have to contend with road trains that go like the clappers. But no matter which way you choose to go, travel safely.
briche said
02:55 AM May 22, 2013
Hi Doug, as you know we were in Qld last year and while the road works were in full flight it was not all that difficult to get through them. It really is just a matter of not rushing it and take your time. There are plenty of places to full over for the night and after a while you don't hear the traffic noise. Your call but it's doable.
Whatever you do, just take it easy out in the playground.
Brian & Cheryl
Happywanderer said
03:09 AM May 22, 2013
Dougwe, my thought would be going that far inland could be quite cold at night. Going too close to the coast will mean using the Bruce. Why not go Moree, Goondiwindi, Millmerrin, Dalby, straight up to Mundubbera, onto Monto. Hold on while I turn the page on my map. Going by the next page would be Emerald to Charters towers which Pejay says the road trains could be a problem, so why not over to Rockhampton after Dululu. That would give you only a small amount of the Bruce left. Are you really going to do all that distance in only 2 days, too much for me.
Dougwe said
03:36 AM May 22, 2013
Few, ooops Phew Marj, that sure sounds a long way and I would like to be there before Xmas
Thanks for the suggestion, I will check all that out though as it sounds doable. Coming from a local I would ask nothing else.
The way I have worked out going via Roma etc I would cope no problem so whatever way I decide on needs be around same distances, give or take 100km or there abouts. I am managing 600km days no problem.
I left Peak Hill at 6.15am today and was in Inverell at 2.15pm and 600km. I just leave at a time to get me to my destination by 2-3 pm to get somewhere to camp up.
Naturally, on my way back south later in the year via the coast I will take time to smell the roses and catch a wave or two (I dream a lot) etc and a big stop over in Batemans Bay.
Dougwe said
03:44 AM May 22, 2013
dazren wrote:
Hmmm ?? very good question Doug, and the answer could be complicated, May I suggest that you come back down here, Go to work for me, and look after the house and garden, And then through the goodness of my heart I will do the trip Both ways ?? and give you a full report when i get back, as to which way You would have liked the most
I woild not make this kind offer to anyone, But !! if your confused You know i am only to happy to assist, ?
Dazren, now I know why I call you a true mate.
Thankyou so much for that great offer. However, I have spoken to your boss and he has informed me you have been very naughty and won't give you the time off and as I have no experience in the very specialised work you do he can't allow me fill your shoes due to a hi risk of me, well, let's just say, in his words, stuff things up. So with that all in mind and me not wanting to upset the apple cart so to speak, I will just have to work it out myself. I do have HW helping me now so all is well.
Thankyou again though mate.
pauline said
03:55 AM May 22, 2013
What about me......................it isn't fair LOL
Dougwe said
04:01 AM May 22, 2013
Oops, sorry Pauline, I have made a note of your suggestion as well as I will take on board all other ideas as well. Geee, just because I didn't give you a toot the other day. It will be a long blast next time now.
dazren said
04:02 AM May 22, 2013
Dougwe wrote ------------ Dazren, now I know why I call you a true mate.
Thankyou so much for that great offer. However, I have spoken to your boss and he has informed me you have been very naughty and won't give you the time off and as I have no experience in the very specialised work you do he can't allow me fill your shoes due to a hi risk of me, well, let's just say, in his words, stuff things up. So with that all in mind and me not wanting to upset the apple cart so to speak, I will just have to work it out myself. I do have HW helping me now so all is well.
Ok thanks anyway Doug, you can't blame me for trying, So excuse me for now, as i am about to crawl into the Feotal position and cry my eyes out, until i go back to work tomorrow.
Have you popped in to see BH ?? and if so ?? what did she feed you , something good i bet TRAVEL SAFELY MATE ! Dazren
pauline said
04:05 AM May 22, 2013
All I can say is out of sight out of mind................keep safe
Dougwe said
04:07 AM May 22, 2013
The big event is tomorrow sometime mate. I have to find a mechanic tomorrow as well as The tug is idling very rough indeed and a bit smelly too. I think it is running too rich and I am not going to stuff with it. Just got it back from a service too, bugger. I will speak to Mr BG for a suggestion.
hako said
04:24 AM May 22, 2013
G'Day Dougwe, last week my son and I drove Toowoomba, Miles, Taroom, Banana, Dululu then then stay on the Leichardt till you reach the Capricorn Hwy and turn right to Rocky. Good road all the way with a few holdups for roadworks. Not much traffic. Next day drove to Mackay on the Bruce with no problems except for usual roadworks. We were in a Hilux twincab TD3.0 with a large trailer behind. A long drive both days! Good Luck.
jimricho said
01:24 PM May 22, 2013
My usual and preferred track from Inverell to Nth Qld is through Warialda, North Star, Goondi, Miles, Theodore, Rocky, then the Bruce Hwy. Overnight stops at Possum Park (20Ks nth of Miles) and Marlborough (100Ks nth of Rocky) http://goo.gl/maps/7Szyr
Your planned track via Roma, Emerald, Charters, may a viable alternative, distance and time much the same but it's been several years since I went that way so I'm not in a position to compare. http://goo.gl/maps/FAsnc
Charters Towers is an interesting town and well worth a few days stopover.
Dougwe said
01:35 PM May 22, 2013
Thanks Jim, another good way. I will look at that as well.
I came down via Emerald, Roma, Gooondiwindi then down the Newell heading south a few weeks back and the roads and road trains where not a real problem. I found if I moved over as far left and slowed down a little those big rigs would move over to the left as well but they don't slow down, they are in a hurry, I'm not so all was good. I usually give them a quick g'day on the UHF as we pass anyway and most of the time I would get a good reply back.
I am just thinking of maybe a change in scenery.
jimricho said
02:10 PM May 22, 2013
You'll come across oversize loads on the Leichhardt Hwy too. Last year I found that the escorts were calling the load size on Ch 40 as they approached.
PS: I lived in Inverell from 1962 to 1983
Dougwe said
02:45 PM May 22, 2013
Thanks for your suggestion too Denis, sounds similar to Jim's. I will look at all suggestions today as I need to make up my mind post haste as I leave here tomorrow, well as long as I can sort out the tug running rough that is.
spida said
04:02 PM May 22, 2013
Banana - go 40km north on Leichart turn left to Baralaba and stay at the weir - lovely spot. then north to higway and on to Roma.
Dougwe said
04:08 PM May 22, 2013
Hi Vida, is that Gil Weir. Good to hear you. I have been keeping tabs on your travels.
carry1 said
05:21 PM May 22, 2013
Hi Doug, not familiar with the roads you re taking on your way back to Tsv Just take care on the way, 600 klm per day that's really pumping it.
Dougwe said
05:29 PM May 22, 2013
Tug problem sorted. I lifted the hood and pocked around, found a loose tube and re-connected it the the right place and BINGO problem is no longer, just saved some money by checking first myself.
hako said
07:03 PM May 22, 2013
Dougwe wrote:
Tug problem sorted. I lifted the hood and pocked around, found a loose tube and re-connected it the the right place and BINGO problem is no longer, just saved some money by checking first myself.
If you need any help when passing through Toowoomba I can help with tools, space etc. IU'll PM you my number if you need it.
Have a good trip.
Denis
Beth54 said
07:22 PM May 22, 2013
There are lots of roadworks on most of the major roads and highways out here. I didn't come across any road trains but wide loads are common in these mining areas. (I'm still in Taroom.)
As you say Doug, just keep your UHF on 40 and you'll know what's coming up.
I'd never been on the Leichhardt Hwy before and I found this section between Miles and Taroom to be surprisingly scenic. Not flat as I expected.
I've PM'd you Doug as to my movements from here.
Dougwe said
02:39 AM May 23, 2013
Denis...Thanks mate but tools not needed just fingers and I have PM'd you as well.
Beth... we have spoken so all sorted there as well.
Phew all this decision making has made my poor brain very tired indeed. Maybe a good happy hour is needed. Bugger, it's raining.
Two Strays said
05:11 AM May 23, 2013
Hello Dougwe
We go to Townsville each year from Melbourne, having travelled every which way and we find the quickest route is through Emerald, Charters Towers, Townsville. Yes the road trains go like the clappers, however, use the UHF and let them know your intensions and you will have no problems. I dont know your fuel range, but if you do not want to pay through the nose for fuel at Belyando Crossing take a jerry can or two to get to Charters Towers. Make you last fuel stop at Clermont. Its 370km to Charters Towers from Clermont and very little in between. Have a safe trip.
Two Strays
Dougwe said
01:20 PM May 23, 2013
Thanks two strays, I did your way going down to Mount Gambier a month back and decided to go back to Townsville again and just felt like a change of scenery.
I have decided to go via Goondiwindi, Miles, Rockhampton then up the Bruce to Townsville. I am aware of all the different opinions about the Bruce but time will tell I spose, then I can add my opinion as well.
I do really want to be in Townsville Saturday afternoon but if road conditions are too bad and I have to slow down, so be it and I get there Sunday instead, no real problem.
BohemianGypsy said
09:02 PM May 23, 2013
Dazren, I didn't cook a meal this time for Doug as it was peeing down with rain and we decided to meet in town and have lunch at a cafe. The three of us were there for ages chatting lol. Doug came back after that for a cuppa. He left about 5.30pm I think and it was still raining.
When he returns it will be warmer and I will cook a nice meal for him then but in the meantime Ray and I are going to be free camping around our region for a week here or there to see what we will need or not for our big trip. Finally getting out there Ray and I went to Yamba for 5 days and spent it with my sister and her partner as they just got a brand new van. We all had a great time and slowly getting Ray used to towing the big van lol.
I am currently in Inverell NSW and will be heading to Townsville on Thursday and need to be there Saturday afternoon.
I was going to go back to Moree then Roma (one night), Emerald (one night) then via Charters Towers to Townsville.
OR
Any opinions as to maybe go via Toowoomba, Rockhampton then up the Bruce to Townsville. I haven't decided on stop overs yet but would be Thursday and Friday nights only. What is the road like between Toowoomba and Rockhampton as it looks windy on the map.
I feel like a change of scenery.
I woild not make this kind offer to anyone, But !! if your confused
You know i am only to happy to assist, ? 
Hi Doug, as you know we were in Qld last year and while the road works were in full flight it was not all that difficult to get through them. It really is just a matter of not rushing it and take your time. There are plenty of places to full over for the night and after a while you don't hear the traffic noise. Your call but it's doable.
Whatever you do, just take it easy out in the playground.
Brian & Cheryl
Why not go Moree, Goondiwindi, Millmerrin, Dalby, straight up to Mundubbera, onto Monto.
Hold on while I turn the page on my map.
Going by the next page would be Emerald to Charters towers which Pejay says the road trains could be a problem, so why not over to Rockhampton after Dululu. That would give you only a small amount of the Bruce left.
Are you really going to do all that distance in only 2 days, too much for me.
Few, ooops Phew Marj,
that sure sounds a long way and I would like to be there before Xmas 
Thanks for the suggestion, I will check all that out though as it sounds doable. Coming from a local I would ask nothing else.
The way I have worked out going via Roma etc I would cope no problem so whatever way I decide on needs be around same distances, give or take 100km or there abouts. I am managing 600km days no problem.
I left Peak Hill at 6.15am today and was in Inverell at 2.15pm and 600km. I just leave at a time to get me to my destination by 2-3 pm to get somewhere to camp up.
Naturally, on my way back south later in the year via the coast I will take time to smell the roses and catch a wave or two (I dream a lot) etc and a big stop over in Batemans Bay.
Dazren, now I know why I call you a true mate.
Thankyou so much for that great offer. However, I have spoken to your boss and he has informed me you have been very naughty and won't give you the time off and as I have no experience in the very specialised work you do he can't allow me fill your shoes due to a hi risk of me, well, let's just say, in his words, stuff things up. So with that all in mind and me not wanting to upset the apple cart so to speak, I will just have to work it out myself. I do have HW helping me now so all is well.
Thankyou again though mate.
Oops, sorry Pauline, I have made a note of your suggestion as well as I will take on board all other ideas as well. Geee, just because I didn't give you a toot the other day. It will be a long blast next time now.
Dougwe wrote ------------ Dazren, now I know why I call you a true mate.
Thankyou so much for that great offer. However, I have spoken to your boss and he has informed me you have been very naughty and won't give you the time off and as I have no experience in the very specialised work you do he can't allow me fill your shoes due to a hi risk of me, well, let's just say, in his words, stuff things up. So with that all in mind and me not wanting to upset the apple cart so to speak, I will just have to work it out myself. I do have HW helping me now so all is well.
Thankyou again though mate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have you popped in to see BH ?? and if so ?? what did she feed you , something good i bet
TRAVEL SAFELY MATE ! Dazren
I have to find a mechanic tomorrow as well as The tug is idling very rough indeed and a bit smelly too. I think it is running too rich and I am not going to stuff with it. Just got it back from a service too, bugger. I will speak to Mr BG for a suggestion.
Good Luck.
Your planned track via Roma, Emerald, Charters, may a viable alternative, distance and time much the same but it's been several years since I went that way so I'm not in a position to compare. http://goo.gl/maps/FAsnc
Charters Towers is an interesting town and well worth a few days stopover.
I came down via Emerald, Roma, Gooondiwindi then down the Newell heading south a few weeks back and the roads and road trains where not a real problem. I found if I moved over as far left and slowed down a little those big rigs would move over to the left as well but they don't slow down, they are in a hurry, I'm not so all was good. I usually give them a quick g'day on the UHF as we pass anyway and most of the time I would get a good reply back.
I am just thinking of maybe a change in scenery.
PS: I lived in Inverell from 1962 to 1983
If you need any help when passing through Toowoomba I can help with tools, space etc. IU'll PM you my number if you need it.
Have a good trip.
Denis
There are lots of roadworks on most of the major roads and highways out here. I didn't come across any road trains but wide loads are common in these mining areas. (I'm still in Taroom.)
As you say Doug, just keep your UHF on 40 and you'll know what's coming up.
I'd never been on the Leichhardt Hwy before and I found this section between Miles and Taroom to be surprisingly scenic. Not flat as I expected.
I've PM'd you Doug as to my movements from here.
Beth... we have spoken so all sorted there as well.
Phew all this decision making has made my poor brain very tired indeed. Maybe a good happy hour is needed. Bugger, it's raining.
Hello Dougwe
We go to Townsville each year from Melbourne, having travelled every which way and we find the quickest route is through Emerald, Charters Towers, Townsville. Yes the road trains go like the clappers, however, use the UHF and let them know your intensions and you will have no problems. I dont know your fuel range, but if you do not want to pay through the nose for fuel at Belyando Crossing take a jerry can or two to get to Charters Towers. Make you last fuel stop at Clermont. Its 370km to Charters Towers from Clermont and very little in between. Have a safe trip.
Two Strays
I have decided to go via Goondiwindi, Miles, Rockhampton then up the Bruce to Townsville. I am aware of all the different opinions about the Bruce but time will tell I spose, then I can add my opinion as well.
I do really want to be in Townsville Saturday afternoon but if road conditions are too bad and I have to slow down, so be it and I get there Sunday instead, no real problem.
Dazren, I didn't cook a meal this time for Doug as it was peeing down with rain and we decided to meet in town and have lunch at a cafe. The three of us were there for ages chatting lol. Doug came back after that for a cuppa. He left about 5.30pm I think and it was still raining.
When he returns it will be warmer and I will cook a nice meal for him then but in the meantime Ray and I are going to be free camping around our region for a week here or there to see what we will need or not for our big trip. Finally getting out there
Ray and I went to Yamba for 5 days and spent it with my sister and her partner as they just got a brand new van. We all had a great time and slowly getting Ray used to towing the big van lol.
Michelle