If you are referring to the Golden Highway it is in reasonably good condition and can do as advised by signage speeds. Easiest way inland from the Coast as it crosses the mountains at their lowest point.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
It is a pretty good road. Not been on it for some time so cannot give a pothole update. Rained most of the day in Dubbo today and new potholes appeared where the old ones were so would expect some potholing in sections. It is not as hilly and winding as say the Bell's line of road or the Mitchell Highway in the mountains as it tends to follow a valley particularly through Sandy Hollow where the scenery is brilliant. Would be a bit cautious with travelling at some times of the day, gets a bit Wombatty around Ulan region. The run from Jerry's Plains, Denman, Merriwa etc is fairly flat and a good run. Very flat from Dunedoo to Dubbo and that is the spot where concentration may wane, a lot of accidents in that region and the western sun can be a factor. Sandy Hollow is a good rest point, so are the public toilets in the park on the western side of Merriwa is a popular rest spot. You have to be alert at Branxton, I don't like the road division there and also alert to turning into the correct route after the army grounds after Branxton can be tricky? Hope this helps a little bit.
I used that route at the end of last year towing my 18 foot van and had no problems at all. There were a few potholes as it was just after the floods but nothing too dramatic.
I crossed the GDR the other day from Casino to Tenterfield and there has been some improvement with new road works happening along the way. The initial climb up the Richmond Range certainly cleans out the cobwebs in the Isuzu. It was like climbing Mt Everest with a van on the back.
If you need to refuel on the way and are towing, I found the easiest servo to get into was the one in Denman. Just turn right and it is a then on a side street to the left with a drive through back onto the exit road.
Hey DMaxer. I bought a new diesel D-Max ute two weeks ago to tow my little van in my intended travels soon. Very happy with it.
The other decent re-fuel spot is at Sandy Hollow and a quick feed in there on the road is also a popular spot.
Mind you I haven't re-fueled there with a van on and while towing with my remaining little Suzuki Vitara 4wd have found it is best to survey an entry and escape route from servo's. I am inexperienced towing a van but learning the ropes slowly. I cannot recall the servo at Denman you mentioned but will have a look next trip.
Hey Vince 56. Are you returning the same way? There is an awful right hand turn around Cessnock on the way back to Newcastle tangling with heavy traffic from both directions. I was talking to a truck driving client recently and he said he was on his way to Newy and I mentioned that intersection. He reckons it is the worst one in NSW and a monster of a thing to get a truck around there. Be warned.
Hi RMoor, glad you enjoy your new car. I have never regretted purchasing mine.
I found the one at Sandy Hollow on the left hand side heading east was always crowded and only discovered the one at Denman by accident. If heading east, turn right into Denman and head down the main street for about 100 metres. I think there is a pub on one corner and you turn left into that street with the servo almost on the corner. You can drive straight in and when exiting the lane takes you back onto the road you came in on. Really easy and no need to do anything more than follow the road.
The right hand bend you are talking about is where the golden Highway meets the New England Highway. It is really just a matter of being a little bit patient because there is a view a long way either side and doesn't take long to get a break in the traffic. If it is towards the busy hours of the day then take at turn at Range road on your left a few kilometres before the intersection and it brings you out at Whittington about five kilometres from that intersection on the New England Highway. Just follow that through and you miss having to make the right hand turn onto it from the golden Highway.
Each time I have gone through the traffic has been pretty light. I guess morning and afternoon peak times would be different.
Hi led the golden why about 6 weeks ago has a few rough spots but otherwise a good road they are w working on it in different sections but you can comfortably travel at 90 to a dollar,I tow a 20ft 8 van no problems.
Thanks DMaxer. I will explore that diversion you mention via Whittington. I dislike that other intersection and have waited there for many seconds debating whether to go or stay. The problem is from memory it is 100K speed limit both ways and although vision is good, it is a risky intersection. It really cries out for one of those entry methods where you only have to worry about the right and get your own merging lane for a while to take the left hand traffic out of play??? The new player in my game is I am still mastering the low gear on my new DMax diesel. I have mastered it now and find second quickly now but initially had done more hops than Skippy getting used to it. So I will now be very slow entry with or without a van into a stream of traffic and have had to already adjust my driving methods to vary from the Suzuki V6 auto with very good pickup.
I will exclusively use the route you mentioned in future.
Catch up with you over on the cricket thread where we are currently batting for opposite teams ha ha
Ron there is currently major road works at Whittington I would suggest you detour from Golden Highway at Walkworth and go through Singleton and re-enter New England highway from there.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
Thanks mate. But won't be going that way for a while. When I do I will be following DMaxers route I can assure you. My target is Bega to Sussex Inlet September and just had to knock back a trip in August to Beechworth as I have far too many commitments in August. Shame that, as the trout might be biting about then. Hope to funnel up the South Coast slowly in 2 months time and torment a few fish and lose a few more golf balls.
Be interesting to see how vince56 went with his trip? Bit of rain about always makes any trip challenging.
Massive car theft going on in Dubbo at present, if anyone is staying there for any length of time have to be very vigilant. Played golf with a few ppl owned motels there and they said they now have to employ night time security as they have been copping it every night. I guess visitor vehicles in motels at night are an easy target?
