Road tolls (the payment ones)

Beth54 · Guru

Road tolls (the payment ones)

jimricho · Guru

Being a C0ckroach from south of the Tweed my Brisbane local knowledge is limited, but to the best of my knowledge you won't need the Clem7, just the Gateway (bridge toll applies) to go from the Sunshine Coast to the GC. Driving through Brisbane CBD and across the Storey just to avoid a few bucks toll would be madness.

PS: I've stayed a few times a that park at Rollingstone Beach, it's very nice there, much nicer than in downtown Townsville. Not too far to go from there to Deeragun. There's a nice drive there up to Paluma, road up the mountain is not caravan friendly however.

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 21st of January 2012 05:40:03 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi all,

Just wondering if someone out there could tell me how you go about paying for the use of roads that have a toll charged for them? I am coming from Townsville down the coast in April/May and I have noticed some roads I will be on have a toll charge. I have a etag in Melbourne that covers city-link and east-link, is this compatible with other states? DOUG

golivers travels · Guru

Doug Your Melboune etag will cover all tolls in Australia. They just bill it to you account. We found this out when we were in Brisbane. If it beeps when you go through the toll point then it is okay. Glenda

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

good question but I cannot answer it, I live in WA and our GPS is set to avoid toll roads when in Vic and all other state's that have tolls

spice · Senior Member

After paying taxes for 43 years to build roads and other infrastructure I avoid toll roads like the plague, Rod

Bent Axle Bob · Senior Member

I travelled over the Sandgate Bridge north to south and had my money ready to pay the toll and, ello, ello, ello, no cash toll collection booth. Instead, you go online to....... Govia.com.au and you can pay casual tolls there up to 3 days after. and set a limit date, in my case 18/01 to 26/01. The etag covers all toll roads and bridges in OZ.

delapan · Senior Member

Rod i agree with you totally and worst of all the big tax on petrol in the early '70's "to be used only to fix the roads".........

Beth54 · Guru

When the tolls first came to SEQ roads, I said I wasn't going to use them, but I quickly found that it cost you more in fuel to go around the tolls.

Of course, some still don't use them on principle, but in my opinion, that's cutting off your nose etc etc.

I use the Logan Motorway every time I go to visit my son near Ippy, and daughter near Springfield Lakes. It'd take a helluva lot longer to get there if I avoided tolls.

Just to clarify, it doesn't always beep, but still registers. But if it beeps a few times, it means you're out of credit.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Yeah we said we werent going to use them ... but! going "the long way" takes so long, uses more fuel and patience. Really its cheaper on your nerves, and because of less time and fuel used.

colsa · Senior Member

Hi Dougwe, are you visiting Townsville or is that home, we spent 25 years in condon, left to do this roaming a bit over 5 years ago, it has changed a lot in that time don't miss the humidity though, we're getting a bit of humidity here in Perth but nothing like up there.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Dougwe - as said above your e-tag from Victoria will cover you all over Australia - I have a Breeze one (Eastlink) from Victoria, and have never had a problem, a necessary evil - and if you use the Clem 7 Tunnel here in Brisbane, you travel under the city from around Bowen Hills to Annerley - probably cost more in petrol to go around than to use the tolls

Clare46 · Senior Member

When I visit my son who lives near the centre of Sydney I use the tollways, 3 in total each way and even though it costs me about $20 return it takes me about 30 mins each way and is still a lot better and easier than taking the long way which is stop start traffic for about 50 mins each way as I'm usually traveling early evening.

Beth54 · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Dougwe - as said above your e-tag from Victoria will cover you all over Australia - I have a Breeze one (Eastlink) from Victoria, and have never had a problem, a necessary evil - and if you use the Clem 7 Tunnel here in Brisbane, you travel under the city from around Bowen Hills to Annerley - probably cost more in petrol to go around than to use the tolls

I've used the Clem 7 only a few times Jules, and it always gives me the creeps. I saw a movie once that sticks in my brain each time. Long story short, the river ends up leaking into the tunnel. (For anyone who doesn't know this tunnel, it goes under the Brisbane River.)

But it does get me across town to the Royal Brisbane Hospital a lot easier/quicker than the alternatives.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Hi Beth - got a friend in the RBH at the moment - few years ago there was a huge crash in one of the tunnels in Melbourne - not 20 minutes before my daughtrer and her hubby had travelled thru on a surprise visit to see us in Melbourne - if they had been any later and involved, we would not have known for some time - it was a disaster - I make it a rule never to change lanes in any tunnel -but I often miss the turn off to go through the Clem 7 - don't find the signage all that good.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

colsa wrote:
Hi Dougwe, are you visiting Townsville or is that home, we spent 25 years in condon, left to do this roaming a bit over 5 years ago, it has changed a lot in that time don't miss the humidity though, we're getting a bit of humidity here in Perth but nothing like up there.

Colsa, only staying, I'm actually staying in Rollingstone was offered a lovely site overlooking the beach there and couldn't resist. I have a Daughter and her family in Deeragun and will visit them and my new Granddaughter who will only bee a couple of weeks old by then, yes we know a girl is joining our clan. I am going up for that reason and decided to turn it into a road trip, see other posts.

DOUG

Dougwe · Chief one feather

jules47 wrote:
Dougwe - as said above your e-tag from Victoria will cover you all over Australia - I have a Breeze one (Eastlink) from Victoria, and have never had a problem, a necessary evil - and if you use the Clem 7 Tunnel here in Brisbane, you travel under the city from around Bowen Hills to Annerley - probably cost more in petrol to go around than to use the tolls

Thanks jules47, sounds good that tunnel but I think it will be out of my way, I will be going from Sunshine Coast to Gold Coast at that stage. Trying to keep away from too much traffic if possible.

DOUG

Beth54 · Guru

jimricho wrote:
Being a C0ckroach from south of the Tweed my Brisbane local knowledge is limited, but to the best of my knowledge you won't need the Clem7, just the Gateway (bridge toll applies) to go from the Sunshine Coast to the GC. Driving through Brisbane CBD and across the Storey just to avoid a few bucks toll would be madness.

PS: I've stayed a few times a that park at Rollingstone Beach, it's very nice there, much nicer than in downtown Townsville. Not too far to go from there to Deeragun. There's a nice drive there up to Paluma, road up the mountain is not caravan friendly however.

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 21st of January 2012 05:40:03 PM

You're right Jimricho, no need to go through the CBD at all. It's horrendous, even for a home town girl.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Thanks Beth I will use the Gateway. It will be interesting what way my GPS tells me to go when I set it that morning. I might end up telling it where to go.

jimricho · Guru

Forget the GPS mate, It may want to take you by the shortest route and lead you astray. Just follow M1, Gateway Motorway. Get a good ol'fashion up-to-date paper map, you'll see it marked on the map.

goinsoon · Guru

You wont have a problem the gateway is well sign posted all the way South from Caboolture

Beth54 · Guru

You just have to be sure to be in one of the the two left hand lanes, which I assume you'd be anyway as you're towing.

It's well signed, as Goinsoon said, but when I was heading home yesterday, someone darted across 2 lanes to get into the correct lanes. Obviously didn't notice the big signs. disbelief

Happywanderer · The Master

If I can drive from the north down to the south on that particular road anyone can do it.
Its well signposted and you don't go anywhere near the CBD.

Another choice would be to go inland and keep away from the big cities Doug.

JazzinAround has just done the same trip and got mixed up in Sydney ending up coming through the tunnel I think she said taking over two hours because of heavy traffic.
Said she should have taken the Canberra exit and missed it.

Beth54 · Guru

My boys...one in his Patrol, the other on a motorbike...got seperated in Sydney rencently, while trying to go through. Took them 2 hours to find each other again.

They'd been in Victoria when it was 40+ and decided to head home via the coast. It was certainly a bit cooler but a lot more traffic too.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Marj, I am going up to Townsville in-land and back via the East Coast, it's been 40 years since last that way and then it was only as far as Hervey Bay.

Beth, when I was in Sydney 40 years ago for the first time driving I was on the coat hanger and heading for CBD from the North side but somehow in the wrong lane and ended up way South, I don't even remember where. The main thing I do remember about Sydney was Kings Cross, I was sitting on a bench seat opposite a fountain I think and a man sat next to me and put his hand on my knee, I did the mile run in 10 seconds, I was out of there.... and have never been back. Must have been my long blondish hair those days, now it's short and grey, the bods not the same as well. Loved all the Touristy things around Sydney though.

Beth54 · Guru

yeoeleven wrote:
When Etoll came in I created an account paying in $25 and authorising a bank deduction of $15 when the account descended below $15.
This works well and now the Queenlsand name is Go Via and the account is still valid.
It beeped at me last year when I went through Melbourne but I had been worried about the signal reaching the transponder because of the metal sun visor.
John

Ditto John. Eaxactly how mine is done. My transponder is in a little cargo thing on my dash. It still picks it up. I know it's supposed to stick to the inside of the windscreen, but when I changed cars, the sticky bit went with the old Camry. It works fine.

-- Edited by Beth54 on Sunday 22nd of January 2012 05:57:55 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

Oh I can see why you want to go the coast way then Doug.
Me, I do whats less stressful.
When are you heading north, must be soon if you are heading back April/May

yeoeleven · Guru

When Etoll came in I created an account paying in $25 and authorising a bank deduction of $15 when the account descended below $15.

This works well and now the Queenlsand name is Go Via and the account is still valid.

It beeped at me last year when I went through Melbourne but I had been worried about the signal reaching the transponder because of the metal sun visor.

John

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Leave April 11, back end May. have some work commitments first. It will help the bank and top up a bit after my big spend up on the Prado. I get it this week. Have to work 4 days this week. So much for my casual job and reducing the hours worked, maybe I should say, trying to reduce the hours worked. Still the boss helped me out when I needed it last year so My turn to help her out. It's a two way steet.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi John, my understanding with my etag is, if it beeps it registers and if it beeps twice your account is low or empty. I set up that auto pay with my etag account but it never seems to work so I just keep checking and topping up myself. One day I will ring CityLink and ask why it doesn't do it auto for me.