North Brisbane -> Canberra

[d4m0]

I'm heading South from North Brisbane (Sandgate) to Canberra a week before xmas - last time I went via Goondiwindi/Narrabri/Cowra and it was a bit of journey I have to say. Not that I'd mind doing it again, but wondered what it was actually like along the coast - the googles promise it's an hour shorter (at 13 hours rather than 14), but I'm not sure how interesting it would be, not to mention roadworks and xmas traffic. There were a few nasty potholes to dodge down near Cowra, but otherwise it was pretty good. Not much traffic either. I did it in one go last year, but not convinced I need to do that again, so if you've got some hints about where might be good to stop for a snooze I'm all ears too.

Any thoughts from anyone will be greatly appreciated!

[Red_Bullet]

Go west young man and rest in Coonabarabran, then take a look at the Warrumbungles later in the day.

[93_Clubman]

When I used to do the run I'd take New England H'way - Btw, Rocky on here just did the run from Rocky to CBR: http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=77194

[d4m0]

Go west young man and rest in Coonabarabran, then take a look at the Warrumbungles later in the day.

That's a good idea - I hadn't thought of doing something sensible (like seeing some sites while there) - I had the "it's all about the drive" thing going on.

When I used to do the run I'd take New England H'way - Btw, Rocky on here just did the run from Rocky to CBR: http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=77194

Thx 93_Clubman - that was a good account. Shame I missed the discussion, as I would've recommended the Putty Road - they resealed it only a couple of years ago and it's a lovely twisty road.

[Ven3li]

From Brisbane, I'd either take the New England HWY all the way to SIngleton, then get on the Putty, or get off earlier at Uralla and head down Thunderbolts/Buckets to Newcaslte: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Uralla,+New+South+Wales+2358/Newcastle,+New+South+Wales/@-31.7793432,150.2251534,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b9f8fc43d644613:0x40609b49043b7a0!2m2!1d151.4915632!2d-30.6414818!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b733e1371c702e5:0x4017d681632a8a0!2m2!1d151.7816802!2d-32.9282712!3e0

From Newcastle you could head down the M1 a bit then jump on the Old Pacific HWY if you wanted some more twisty roads, speed limit is only 60kph through most it though.

With all the road works and traffic on the Pacific HWY, I wouldn't be surprised if New England/Thunderbolts/Buckets was the quicker route from Brisbane to Sydney. Far more interesting too.

[lonesailor]

I did this trip a couple of years ago coming back from fanfest in Melbourne via Canberra. Directed from Canberra by google through some interesting roads, I turned off towards Manilla a bit before Tamworth and up what I believe is called the Fossickers way to Warianda then Texas, I continued via Toowoomba, Esk, Kilcoy to Caloundra to collect my dog, but their is multiple options from Texas to North Brisbane. The Fossickers way was a great drive, all fully sealed,even if a little rough in places, but a great drivers road with minimal traffic and some surprisingly big interesting towns along the way, that I had never heard of. I realize that you have already done your trip, but I would recommend it to anybody doing a trip down that way. It will not be quite as quick as the Newell, but much more interesting

[Red_Bullet]

Interesting, I might spend a couple of nights in that region.