Tell me where to go

Allara · Senior Member

Tell me where to go

jimbo · Guru

Sorry Allara I can't help.....But I'd Imagine be very Hilly either way

lilly31 · Guru

Allara ..will be hilly which ever way u decide to go..the pacific hwy will only be realy hilly from Releigh to Dorrigo .pacific HWY isnt to bad from what i remember some other nomads might be able to help out there ..if you go new england it hilly all way from tamworth to dorrigo ... hope this is some help

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Sorry Allara, its years since we went on that road (from Armidale), at the time not towing anything and enjoyed all the waterfalls and scenery so much didnt really take much notice of the steepness. Does your ute would tow your van easily? It looks as if it would...Good luck!

Allara · Senior Member

Should tow OK but if it is long and steep it would use up more fuel and be slower.

Allara · Senior Member

Hi
Have made executive decision to go to Tamworth. Should be there 17th to 20th, at the showgrounds. See you there Grumpy.
Cheers

jimricho · Guru

If going from Tamworth to Dorrigo as I recall from many years ago the way from Tamworth via Armidale should not be too much of a problem. Allow time to detour via some of the scenic spots. There are some spectacular waterfalls and gorges along the way.

My recollection of the road between Bellingen and Dorrigo is windy and narrow. Probably ok but take care. Maybe other GNs will have some more up to date info.

Check with the locals at Hillsborough re the best way to get to the New England Highway. I presume you're at the Dog Showground.

petengail · Guru

I drove up the road from Caramba to Lowanna the other week, probably the most direct way from Coffs to Dorrigo. It is very steep and winding, and of course very beautiful. About 16 k's from memory, straight up and down with no flat parts. Though an idiot passed me on double lines before I could pull over to let him pass. I commented to management that I would tow our small (14 ft) van down or up it. She indicated that if I did it would not be with her navigating. Would be interested in hearing from anyonewho has towed either up or down this stretch...

-- Edited by petengail on Saturday 8th of January 2011 06:30:11 PM

Zoomtopz · Guru

If you leave Tamworth week-day , it should be a pleasent 3 to 3 1/2hrs to Dorrigo .
Gets a bit hectic @ weekends , everybody going to the beach .
You have Moonbies leaving Tamworth , then some reasonable pulls at times .
Some not so wide sections from Armidale to Dorrigo .
With the weather being predicted , you might want to pull into Wollomombie Gorge ,
35 - 37k out of Armidale , some Kodak moments .
Ebor Falls a MUST , don't forget to walk down to the bottom falls . Take Kodak .
That's 6hrs .
Richo
ps - Pete Coramba to Dorrigo - probably one of those ferals from Lowanna .
Coramba to Dorrigo - sealead to Ulong , dirt , narrow & ROUGH to Dorrigo .
I ALLWAYS let somebody know where I am going on those roads , I know what
they are like , I am a Local on them .
Richo

Dragonfly · Veteran Member

If you're going to be in Tamworth on 17th Jan, I doubt you will get a camp. The Country Music Festival will be on! Morag

Allara · Senior Member

Thanks guys, am writing down the spots to look at on the way. Not walking 6hrs to bottom of the falls......couldn't get back up. Take some pics from the top..methinks.
Yes, going to the dog showground. Showground at Tamworth should be OK to park, been there before, was good.

Itinery then..leave Taralga (near Goulburn) Wed 12th, Stay Richmond O/N, see kids, Hillsborough 13th, Tamworth, Dorrigo back to Armidale, leave van $15 per week to leave it at Pembroke Van Pk, drive to Stanthorpe, visit friends for a week, back to Armidale for dog shows feb, then back home about 7th Feb.

Allara

Zoomtopz · Guru

Allara , it's only 3 - 4 hundred metres to the bottom falls . There are 2 waterfalls
only a couple of hundred metres apart at Ebor .
Or you can drive . There are car-parks at each of the falls .
At Wollomombi Gorge , the viewing platforms are only 2-3hundred metres from
the car park .
With all this rain , and more forcasted & looking at that system off WA .
There is sure to be heaps of water .
Don't forget Dangar Falls at Dirrigo .
Richo.

Allara · Senior Member

Are those carparks big enough to turn the van around in?
Thanks

Gerty Dancer · Guru

From memory the one at Ebor is pretty big, and the Wollomombi one has a "loop" that you can turn in. If in doubt check with the local tourist info people.

Nicholstones · Guru

Allara wrote:

Are those carparks big enough to turn the van around in?
Thanks

At Ebor both the top and bottom car parks are a one-way loop, so no problems with the van. We were there last year on our way to Yamba towing our 20'6" and got in and out fine.

Zoomtopz · Guru

At Wollomombi , I have turned a semi-trailer around . They have tour-buses there as well.
You will be able to turn around .
Richo.

PeterD · Guru

Allara wrote:
Have made executive decision to go to Tamworth. Should be there 17th to 20th, at the showgrounds.

Are you still in web contact? The country music festival runs 14 - 23 Jan. You wont get in unless you have a booking.

I would be inclined to go the other way. The climb from Bellingen is not steep, just long. There are a couple of single lane sections. If you have to stop for them the gradient you stop on is very gentle. The rest of the ascent is full 2 lane road. It's probably just as easy getting up there as getting through Tamworth during country music festival.

Have a look at this map - there are three alternates shown on the LHS. Hover your cursor over the second and third and an extra blue route tracer will appear. Route 3 is the only one with a really steep hill. I use that route through Gloucester and Walcha when I go to Qld sometimes, my Navara pulls a 2 tonne van up there OK.

Zoomtopz · Guru

Only trouble with Bello - flooding . I don't know what roads are closed .
They are working on th Mt road a couple of nights a week .
Ok th water is still going down - I would check it out before I go that way.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Hope you are enjoying Tamworth Allara, and got there comfortably!