Canberra to Maroochydore

ChiChi1 · Guru

Canberra to Maroochydore

Boroma577 · Guru

Which way from Toowoomba to Maroochydore??

ChiChi1 · Guru

Which ever way GPS takes me.LOL But I would like to avoid Brisbane CBD. Big Cities make me nervous.

Boroma577 · Guru

ChiChi1 wrote:
Which ever way GPS takes me.LOL But I would like to avoid Brisbane CBD. Big Cities make me nervous.

Well you may have the Toowoomba range to navigate then.

ChiChi1 · Guru

Do you know what it is like? I'll be driving the transit van and am unsure of how it will go down steep hills. Seems to have plenty of power to go up.

Esmeralda · Guru

ChiChi1 wrote:
Well, looks like I'm off again. Have to get to Maroochydore by next Monday for another funeral. Thinking from Canberra, Cowra, Dubbo, Narrabri, Moree, Gooniwindi, Toowoomba, Maroochyore.
Would appreciate any advice or comments. Particularly, are there any especially steep hills to come down.?
Thanks a lot

That's the way I came up here (not but up the Hume to just past Gundagai) but the rest of the roads (also not Maroochydore) but the rest. Roads were OK and no especially steep hills.

Sheba · Guru

Would be a bit longer, but after Toowoomba, you could go through Esk then Kilcoy, and across to either Caboolture, or Beerwah, and up to Maroochydore. That's about the shortest way if you want to avoid going through Brisbane.

Cheers,

Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 29th of August 2011 06:15:32 PM

Boroma577 · Guru

ChiChi1 wrote:
Do you know what it is like? I'll be driving the transit van and am unsure of how it will go down steep hills. Seems to have plenty of power to go up.

ChiChi, the Toowoomba range is one of the steepest here which is why I asked which way you were heading.

If you head up the New England and on the the D'Aguilar there is still the Blackbut Range, so not sure how you are going to get around not coming down a range.

You are on the western side of the range and need to come down it at some point. The Toowoomba range is steep, quite steep but it is also not terribly long.

I suggest you get into the left hand lane and lock her in low gear and go down very slowly with the trucks. I can't see it being a problem.

I drive a large 4WD and tow a 20' caravan and this is how I manage this range....actually it is how I manage any range. I do have the added advantage of a brake controller though.

From there I suggest you head down towards along the Warrego H'way to the Logan Motorway which exits at Gailes to ultimately head north.

From there head towards the Sunshine Coast via the Gateway which is all toll road so you'll have to make provision to pay that as there are no toll booths along the way.

Hope this helps.

ChiChi1 · Guru

Thanks Esmeralda. Thats encouraging.

This will be my first long trip and into the bargain in a hurry. Would I be better off going to Gundagai. Certainly a lot easier than going through Boorowa. Will have a look.

Thanks Sheba, looked at that route, thought it would be going over the ranges. (i.e. up and down hills and round sharp corners.)
Which would you pick?

Need to keep this as stress free a possible.

Boroma577 · Guru

Sheba wrote:
Would be a bit longer, but after Toowoomba, you could go through Esk then Kilcoy, and across to either Caboolture, or Beerwah, and up to Maroochydore. That's about the shortest way if you want to avoid going through Brisbane.
Cheers,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 29th of August 2011 06:15:32 PM

Still have a steep range in there Sheba and a very narrow winding road if you come across from Crows Nest or even Hampton to Esk.

If you come down from Toowoomba, you still have the range to navigate before you get to the turnoff to go to Esk.

The way I have suggested via the Logan Motorway is probably the best as it is a highway and the most direct route.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Yes ChiChi - I would do as Boroma suggests - if you choose not to go up to Toowoomba from Warwick, you can always come through Cunninghams Gap - still works on there, but only one lane operative so traffic speed is well controlled - you won't get pushed by anyone. Then straight up the Cunningham and onto the Centenary Highway, exit at the Northern Suburbs sign - follow all the way to the Sunshine Coast via Gateway - pretty straightforward - as for the toll on the Gateway, can buy toll pass at Post Offices (and other places) have three days to get one after using it.

Good luck and safe travel whichever way you decide.

Boroma577 · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Yes ChiChi - I would do as Boroma suggests - if you choose not to go up to Toowoomba from Warwick, you can always come through Cunninghams Gap - still works on there, but only one lane operative so traffic speed is well controlled - you won't get pushed by anyone. Then straight up the Cunningham and onto the Centenary Highway, exit at the Northern Suburbs sign - follow all the way to the Sunshine Coast via Gateway - pretty straightforward - as for the toll on the Gateway, can buy toll pass at Post Offices (and other places) have three days to get one after using it.

Good luck and safe travel whichever way you decide.

Jules, I think Centenary highway is taking her to close to the city...that'll take her down on to Milton Road....nightmare!!

I reckon take the Logan M'way at Gailes and then on to the Gateway is still the best way to go....keep her on a well signposted major highway.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

biggrin Yep - you are probably right re the Logan Motorway - just that is the way I always go, never worry about the city - I am from Melbourne - peak hour in Melbourne lasts all day!!!

Boroma577 · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Yep - you are probably right re the Logan Motorway - just that is the way I always go, never worry about the city - I am from Melbourne - peak hour in Melbourne lasts all day!!!

I am prety much of the same opinion except when I am towing the van but ChiChi is not so confident which is why I suggested the other way.

I honestly can't think of another alternative from Toowoomba or even Warwick. Coming up either the Newell or the New England will put her on the western side of the range.

Sorry Chichi, don't mean to be talking about you in the third person.

Happywanderer · The Master

To avoid the steep range at Toowoomba and Cunninghams Gap at Warwick, my suggestion would be to head to Moonie from Goondiwindi up through Dalby and back in at Caboolture and on to maroochydore.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I'm sure she understands - don't you Chichi? But there is HW with another suggestion - could be a bit longer - but would probably work ok smile smile

Cruising Granny · Guru

There has been a lot of roadwork on the road inland from Toowoomba. I don't know how far they are now, but I'd head east at northern NSW and that should get you on that Logan Hiway.
A bit of terrain shouldn't worry the Transit, as you're not towing anything.
Please, whatever you do, never, never ever trust the GPS implicitly. It could get you into all sorts of trouble and on the roads, even the long way that you'd never pick.
Check your preferred route on Google Maps and then set the chosen routes on the GPS. I still carry paper maps as well.
GPS is set in America by Americans, from satellite pictures. Not always accurate I'm afraid.
Safe travels. Pity about the circumstances.

Happywanderer · The Master

Have they taken the toll booths out of the gateway and logan freeways. Last time I drove through them, probably 8 years ago they still had the booths.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

There is an illuminated sign on the Ipswich Motorway that tells you not to use your GPS - follow signs - or else you end up going round in circles, or running into concrete walls!!!
Yep no tollbooths - just overhead bippers taking your pic - smile for the camera!

Cupie · Guru

Boroma577 wrote:
Which way from Toowoomba to Maroochydore??

One alternative is to go from Toowoomba via Crows Nest to Yarraman & then across towards Kilcoy. Just past Kilcoy you can turn off to Beerwah & on to Maroochydore.

Gives Brissie a wide bearth. Maybe not the fastest but avoids the Toowoomba range.

Whatever way you take you'll need to come across the range. But careful slow driving in the right gear & sparing use of the breaks makes it easy peasy.

Sheba · Guru

Good one Cupie. I had thought that might be a bit too far out of the way, but, on second thought, there is a week to do it in.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Boroma577 · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
Dalby and back in at Caboolture and on to maroochydore.

How would you get from Dalby to Caboolture HW?

Dalby is still west of the range and Caboolture east.

Happywanderer · The Master

Would have to get the map out but don't you cut across somewhere about Dalby, Kilcoy etc and come out at Caboolture.

Boroma577 · Guru

Cupie wrote:
One alternative is to go from Toowoomba via Crows Nest to Yarraman & then across towards Kilcoy. Just past Kilcoy you can turn off to Beerwah & on to Maroochydore.

That'll then bring you down the Blackbutt Range which again is still quite steep and winding and it is only single lane.

That brings you out on the D'Aguila H'way.

Travel Bug · Guru

jules47 wrote:

biggrin Yep - you are probably right re the Logan Motorway - just that is the way I always go, never worry about the city - I am from Melbourne - peak hour in Melbourne lasts all day!!!
______________________________________________________________________

I go that way too Jules....
I never worry about the City either...for similar reasons...I am from Sydney.

Sheba · Guru

Still go through Toowoomba, but North, through Crows Nest, not East. From memory, the D'aguilar Highway east from Yarraman does not have such a steep descent, or am I wrong ?

Cheers,

Sheba.

Boroma577 · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
Would have to get the map out but don't you cut across somewhere about Dalby, Kilcoy etc and come out at Caboolture.

HW, my question is how do you get from Dalby to Kilcoy without going down the range at some point.

Happywanderer · The Master

Just checked the map. Would be Dalby, Kingaroy, Nanango, Kilcoy, Caboolture. It would be a little longer but would cut outthe really hilly steep area.
I've done Echuca to Bundaberg in 3 days going that way so can be done.

Boroma577 · Guru

Sheba wrote:
Still go through Toowoomba, but North, through Crows Nest, not East. From memory, the D'aguilar Highway east from Yarraman does not have such a steep descent, or am I wrong ?
Cheers,
Sheba.

That takes you via the Blackbutt range which is steep, winding and only single lane.

You still have to head east at some point, as Marchooydore in on the coast.

Happywanderer · The Master

Surely up further is not as steep as Cunningham gap or the Toowoomba steep descent.
I don't remember seeing anything that bad further north. I haven't done it all but have done most.