maquarie pass - NSW

Hylda&Jon · Guru

maquarie pass - NSW

victon2 · Member

As a visitor to NSW from WA, I trusted my GPS to take me from Canberra to Shellharbour. It decided to take me on the Illawara Hwy, which includes Maquarie Pass. Since I am towing a 25ft Jayco van, I have to say this was one of the most frightening experiences I have ever had towing. I even managed to get the back brakes on the car smoking. Never again will I go anywhere near that road.

golivers travels · Guru

Know what you mean Victon2, only we went the opposite way in torrential rain and hail. Very frightening. Glenda

tezza · Senior Member

cry Sorry you found it so daunting. We have been on it several times albiet our van is not 25'. I think it is a beautiful drive and with uhf on correct channell one can let trucks know where you are and hear where they are. it all works quite well and adds to the experience.

victon2 · Member

Tezza, I have no doubt it is beautiful, and I did not get much chance to see it, but with 3 tonne on the back, it is an experience I can well do without

ozjohn · Guru

A really lovely drive without a van.

OJ

victon2 · Member

The original observation was that the road is both treacherous and extremely scary. especially going downhill I was not asking for a lesson in how to tow the van. It was already in low gear, but with 3 tonne pushing you, an occaisional tap on the brakes does nothing. take it from me. I can imagine going down the hill with a 17 footer would be significantly easier. I have no desire to take our lives in our hands just to say we travelled down it. Needless to say we will be finding a better route out when we leave Shellharbour

milo · Guru

thats one thing i hate with gps units , sometimes they take you where you really dont want to go..

wendyv · Guru

Can relate to your experience, Victon. Our van is much smaller and lighter than yours, but we are always wary of steep downhill sections, after a couple of hairy experiences in our early days of towing.
The Great Dividing Range runs the length of the east coast of Australia, and routes up and down it are not always caravan friendly, as you found. Rather than rely on the GPS in those parts, might be better to post on this and van forum, asking advice re possible routes. There are some that are easier.
Another way in which the GPS can bring vanners undone is taking them on dirt roads when they don't have dirt road vans.
Hope the trip back is less stressful!

Gerty Dancer · Guru

OMG! That is a tricky road, we'd never take a van on it. Its beautiful for the passenger, but the driver has to deal with steep narrow and winding road with log-trucks on it!
I havent got the map in front of me but from Canberra to Nowra via Sassafrass and Braidwood is ok, nearly all sealed nowadays and not as steep.

We found a beautiful road from Tenterfield which went through Legume then through Tooloom NP over the mountain to Urbenville on a very narrow and rough road, with steep grades. As the passenger I loved it but poor Mr D was concentrating on the road so missed the beauitiful views. He took it slowly, low gear got some use, and all well at the bottom of the hill.

jimricho · Guru

I guess there's a lesson here for us all... Do our homework and don't rely on GPS solely.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

victon2 wrote:
The original observation was that the road is both treacherous and extremely scary. especially going downhill I was not asking for a lesson in how to tow the van. It was already in low gear, but with 3 tonne pushing you, an occaisional tap on the brakes does nothing. take it from me. I can imagine going down the hill with a 17 footer would be significantly easier. I have no desire to take our lives in our hands just to say we travelled down it. Needless to say we will be finding a better route out when we leave Shellharbour

Sorry mate I didn't write it as a comment on your method, I was just saying how I myself take roads like that. I do realise it's more difficult with a heavier rig & I may have thought twice about it in your situation also.

Take care

Jon

neilnruth · Guru

If you are heading north, Mt Ousley would be the best way out of Shellharbour - not Bulli. If you are heading south, you can cross the Great Divide at Clyde Mountain (long and a good climb with some 25km bends) or go further south and cross at Brown Mtn north of Bega. It's steep but a lot shorter. We will be heading over 'the Clyde' to Canberra tomorrow - unfortunately they say there are 10 lots of roadworks on that trip at the moment.

victon2 · Member

Thats OK Jon, I have been told Mt Ousley is the best route out. Do you think that is correct.

victon2 · Member

Thanks guys, the general concensus seems to be Mt Ousley is the best way out. Fingers and toes crossed.

Cheers

Tony

victon2 · Member

Isn't that the truth. I asked mine to take me from Geelong to Frankston in Victoria, but avoiding toll roads. It did that OK, and proceeded to take me through the centre of Melbourne, past Flinders St Station, past Crown Casino, and through Toorak, again with the 25 ft van in tow.I have to say after this second mistake it made, I am close to throwing it out of the window.

Cheers

Tony

wendyv · Guru

Tony,
if you ever are doing Geelong to Frankston again, consider taking the Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry. It costs (may be cheaper first trip early in the morning), but so worth it to avoid the city traffic.

jimricho · Guru

victon2 wrote:
Isn't that the truth. I asked mine to take me from Geelong to Frankston in Victoria, but avoiding toll roads. It did that OK, and proceeded to take me through the centre of Melbourne, past Flinders St Station, past Crown Casino, and through Toorak, again with the 25 ft van in tow.I have to say after this second mistake it made, I am close to throwing it out of the window.
Cheers
Tony

All that to save a few dollars in tolls! was it really worth it?

neilnruth · Guru

I need to update the Brown Mountain route. Due to rains and landslides, Brown Mountain has been closed for 3 weeks and not ready to be opened yet.

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

Victon2
Your tales of experience with a GPS Navigator say more about you than the device.
Blindly following these devices can lead to grief particularly if you are towing.

Always check the route they predict against a map and learn how to alter the route the GPS Navigator suggests.
Thankfully the device did not take you down Montague Street in Melbourne or else you possibly would have got the top of your van wiped off by the bridge.

I am puzzled as to why it took you through the centre of Melbourne CBD as there are ways that bypass the CBD, which BTW are well sign posted and the GPS would have "recalulated" if you had followed the signs.

Agree with Jim, the Melbourne Tollway cost about $10 for a day (signs say how to get a day pass), less grief unless the Tunnel causes you stress, quiker as more direct, and you would have used much less fuel.

victon2 · Member

The reason you buy the GPS units in the first place is to guide you through towns and cities you are not a native of, or unfamiliar with. I am sure there are many many different routes through Melbourne if you know the city and are even born and bred there. If you have to check on a map every route the thing gives you, then why have it in the first place. I take the point, that a daily toll would work better, but coming from WA where there are no tolls, I am not used to allowing for that.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We have been caught with a GPS taking us through a city off toll-ways and through heavy traffic. We called ourselves all sorts of names like "stupid", but we really were just GPS Newbies... we check on new maps nowadays unless its just looking for a place in a country town.

golivers travels · Guru

Our GPS has an option to use toll roads or not. Tend not use the unit very much, usually prepare route with ipad maps prior to going, suppose it is just a bigger verson of a GPS Glenda

Geoff n Jen · Senior Member

milo wrote:
thats one thing i hate with gps units , sometimes they take you where you really dont want to go..

yep like Bulli pass in the rain - Very pretty - not too dangerous but unexpected smile

Patto44 · Senior Member

Do large trucks/semi's still use Macquarie Pass. I have seen them turn off the Hume onto the Illawarra Hwy but not sure if they go all the way down.

Cheers

Patto

jimricho · Guru

victon2 wrote:
Isn't that the truth. I asked mine to take me from Geelong to Frankston in Victoria, but avoiding toll roads. It did that OK, and proceeded to take me through the centre of Melbourne, past Flinders St Station, past Crown Casino, and through Toorak, again with the 25 ft van in tow.I have to say after this second mistake it made, I am close to throwing it out of the window.
Cheers
Tony

I think in your case throwing it away would be a good idea. You obviously have unrealistic expectations of it. You said you wanted to avoid toll roads through Melbourne and that's what it did.

As for Macquarie Pass, (and Melbourne) it's not a bloody mind reader, it doesn't know you're towing a 25 foot van!

Hylda&Jon · Guru

victon2 wrote:
Thats OK Jon, I have been told Mt Ousley is the best route out. Do you think that is correct.

Much safer route, pity it's not as pituresque.

My memory of the whole area is slowely fading with age. I moved away from the south side of Sydney over 30 yeaars ago so have only travelled that way a couple of times since. Love that new coast road in the pic down that way though

Cheers

Jon

victon2 · Member

I will go on record today as this being my last response on this forum. I am totally sick and tired of raising a subject for general but hopefully helpful discussion, only to have a tirade of smart arse comments directed back. You people should get a bloody life.

Happywanderer · The Master

Could see that coming a mile off. Some people just don't know when to shut up.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

victon2 wrote:
I will go on record today as this being my last response on this forum. I am totally sick and tired of raising a subject for general but hopefully helpful discussion, only to have a tirade of smart arse comments directed back. You people should get a bloody life.

On most forums there is often one or 2 that tend to say things in a way that tends to grate on some peoples nerves just as it is so in real life but, as in real life, maybe we have to learn to tolerate or overlook the comments I guess, otherwise we could all become hermits.

Cheers

Jon