Canberra to Maroochydore

Boroma577 · Guru

RE: Canberra to Maroochydore

Boroma577 · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:

GPS is set in America by Americans, from satellite pictures. Not always accurate I'm afraid.

Ain't that the truth CG??

Happywanderer · The Master

Yes I realise that Boroma, but its obviously not as bad further north as I have travelled to Bundaberg and not done any of the really steep stuff. I always go up the Newell, Moonie, Dalby, Kingaroy, Biggenden, Bundaberg. If Chichi doesn't want to deal with the really steep bits she could do the same and head back south at Gympie.

ChiChi1 · Guru

WOW you guys. Going to have to go back to the maps again. Looks like I can't avoid the range. Will have to bite the bullet and just do it. Thanks everyone for your guidance. Will try to update as I go. (Pending internet availability) The other way of course is the coast highway. Thanks.

Sheba · Guru

Ok, I give up. I've never had a problem with the Hi-ace. All I can think of now, is to suggest you do as Boroma said in the first place. Make sure you're in Low Gear, and go down slowly, whichever Range you cross.

Personally, I'd rather do that than contend with Freeway traffic. Much better scenery along the way as well.

Cheers,

Sheba.

Boroma577 · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
Have they taken the toll booths out of the gateway and logan freeways.

They have been gone for a number of years HW...it is all Etag now.

ChiChi1 · Guru

Yes Sheba. Freeways and tolls are a pain. Am looking closely at the Esk route.

Boroma577 · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
Yes I realise that Boroma, but its obviously not as bad further north as I have travelled to Bundaberg and not done any of the really steep stuff. I always go up the Newell, Moonie, Dalby, Kingaroy, Biggenden, Bundaberg. If Chichi doesn't want to deal with the really steep bits she could do the same and head back south at Gympie.

If you go Dalby to Kingaroy then you must go over the Bunya Mts, is that correct?

Time is also not on her side HW.

Boroma577 · Guru

ChiChi1 wrote:
Yes Sheba. Freeways and tolls are a pain. Am looking closely at the Esk route.

From where to Esk ChiChi??

justcruisin01 · Guru

Boroma is on the money in my book. One short steep descent & its all over.

This is the way we travell when going to the NT . I have towed a large off road camper up & down there as well as our 20ft van .Went through there about three mths ago, the road works were finished & well sighn posted & the GPS was close enough with the new roads.

Happywanderer · The Master

The Bunyas are right behind those towns but I've never been over them, there must be valleys as I've found my way over to the east many times without crossing high mountains and steep winding roads. Only ever seen pretty undulating hills.
I do not like the Cunningham Gap at all, did it twice, that was enough for me.

Boroma577 · Guru

justcruisin01 wrote:
Boroma is on the money in my book. One short steep descent & its all over.

Thanks JC, I have lived and driven in the area for many years so have quite a reasonable knowledge of the roads etc.

I first learnt to reverse a CT down the side of the Bunya Mts on a gravel track.....scary stuff but I am sure it was the best lesson I have ever learned and I had to learn it fast.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

smile Chichi - you are probably very confused by now - just take it easy, work out what suits you best - you know your vehicle and your capabilities - the descents aren't that much of a worry really, just do your own thing - sit behind a truck and follow them down, use your gears - even in an automatic.
Take care

Boroma577 · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:

I do not like the Cunningham Gap at all, did it twice, that was enough for me.

I travel in the area quiet a lot HW and over a number of years which means I have had to traverse both the Toowoomba range and Cunningham's Gap many times.

Neither of them are at all daunting to me but I do understand that to anyone not familar with the area would probably find them a bit challenging.

Boroma577 · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Chichi - you are probably very confused by now - just take it easy, work out what suits you best - you know your vehicle and your capabilities - the descents aren't that much of a worry really, just do your own thing - sit behind a truck and follow them down, use your gears - even in an automatic.
Take care

Very good advice.

Esmeralda · Guru

I did the Cunningham Gap with Esmeralda when I went from Goondiwindi to Boonah - there were roadworks and everyone went slowly.

Not such a pain as I had thought it would be. Chi Chi whatever way you go, just take a few deep breaths and go for it girl. smile smile

Happywanderer · The Master

Too true Boroma. Down here its as flat as a pancake, not even a gentle rise for 100 ks.

Boroma577 · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
Too true Boroma. Down here its as flat as a pancake, not even a gentle rise for 100 ks.

How lucky can you get HW? Where is the general direction of here?

Happywanderer · The Master

Echuca. Vic.

ChiChi1 · Guru

Very confused. Have a few days to make up my mind. When I say steep, I would be comparing it to Brown Mountain on the run from Canberra, Cooma, Bega. That, I have done in my car, but not in the van. At least the van is manual and I do know how to use the gears.(I think).

Boroma577 · Guru

ChiChi1 wrote:
Very confused. Have a few days to make up my mind. When I say steep, I would be comparing it to Brown Mountain on the run from Canberra, Cooma, Bega. That, I have done in my car, but not in the van. At least the van is manual and I do know how to use the gears.(I think).

I don't know Brown Mt so can not compare ChiChi but I am sure you will be fine.

Just start your descent in low gear, get in the left hand lane and stay there until you are near to the bottom of the range.

ChiChi1 · Guru

Boroma, you'll have to come down this way, and I'll take you down. Only a couple of hours from Canberra across the top of the snowy mountains and down to the coast. Lovely drive.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Yep, Chichi - takes Boroma's advice - probably more daunting in your mind that in actual fact! You'll wonder you were worried about when you do it.

Boroma577 · Guru

ChiChi1 wrote:
Boroma, you'll have to come down this way, and I'll take you down. Only a couple of hours from Canberra across the top of the snowy mountains and down to the coast. Lovely drive.

You are on ChiChi, will definitely be in that one.

-- Edited by Boroma577 on Monday 29th of August 2011 09:55:56 PM

Boroma577 · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Yep, Chichi - takes Boroma's advice - probably more daunting in your mind that in actual fact! You'll wonder you were worried about when you do it.

I agree....

ChiChi1 · Guru

Yes Jules, we seem to make mountains out of molehills when we don't know where we are going. But at least when we get there and do it, its a great feeling.

Boroma577 · Guru

ChiChi1 wrote:
Yes Jules, we seem to make mountains out of molehills when we don't know where we are going. But at least when we get there and do it, its a great feeling.

Just think of it as conquering a challenge ChiChi and you feel great after it.

Yuglamron · Guru

I was driving on the Toowoomba Road from Ipswitch yesterday the 30th.There are huge signs re the Toowoomba ranges, Restrictions from the 4th september.There are roadworks going down the ranges after the flooding where one lane is washed away ,so it is restricted to one lane down anyway.

I would also check the Qld Govt Transport website to check on the condition of the ranges too.

Safe motoring.

I would advise the Cunningham Gap route to avoid the ranges if possible.

ChiChi1 · Guru

Thanks Yuglamron will do

bill12 · Guru

I have traveled this area a number of times and , probably the best way is uo the New England highway to Toowoomba, and skirt the dams, til you get to Kilcoy, and down from Malany to the coast.Cuminghams Gap and the Toowoomba range are steep, and the road from Kilcoy to Malany isn,t too bad,and Maroochdore is just up the road. Bill