Brisbane To Dubbo

[DanW]

I'm driving to Dubbo at the end of the month and was wondering if anyone had any recent experience to share about which route.

I plugged the details into whereis.com and it says to go

Bris-Toowoomba- Goondiwindi then down the Newell Hwy (Moree Coonabarabran etc). Is this the best route?

Going the Cunningham highway through Warrick and then onto Goondiwindi seems like it's a bit more direct (but perhaps the road isn't as good?)

Any comments from people who regularly or have recently travelled out that way would be much appreciated.

We're going to try to get to Coonabarabran on the first day then spend 2 days there (on a farm stay). 700km in one day but the kids do handle a hop from Port Mac to Canberra once a year so I think it's doable (I think....)

Cheers

Dan

[glenn82]

yeah whereis.com is correct, def go via toowoomba, alot of truckies go this way, the roads better, i find it quicker aswell.
to get to coonabarabran will take 7-8 hours from brisbane, be careful at night between the border and moree, you get a lot of roos etc( that is if ur traveling at night, i do) i wouldnt recomend stopping in moree for obvious reasons

[JDNSW]

I would use Cunningham's gap, but I have not been that way since the floods, and I know the road was badly damaged then, but I don't know the state of repairs. I usually do Caboolture - Dubbo in one day, so i don't see a problem with Brisbane-Coonabarrabran in one day.

The Newell has suffered significant damage from the rain, and you can expect roadworks - use www.rta.nsw.gov.au (http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au) to check for problems, just before travelling. I would also consider the possibility of going via the New England and cut across from Tamworth. This is hillier, but about the same distance, and has less heavy traffic. But again, expect rain damage and roadworks.

John

[DanW]

Thanks Glenn - won't be travelling at night. Mostly because of the roos, but also the kids seem to do a lot better when there is something to look at. So we'll leave Brisbane early and then take our time.

I grew up in Grafton, and spent a bit of time working on the cotton farms around Moree (well I stayed at Ashley). I spent a few nights on the town after pay day so stopping there doesn't worry me so much! I'm just keen to get a bit further south on the first day.

[DanW]

I would also consider the possibility of going via the New England and cut across from Tamworth. This is hillier, but about the same distance, and has less heavy traffic. But again, expect rain damage and roadworks.


Thanks John, I was considering the New England, and perhaps spending a night at Tamworth to break the trip up. The only downside is my youngest suffers terribly from motion sickness so hoped that the Newell would offer a bit more straight and flat!

I'll study the RTA site and get a feel for what's happening

[JDNSW]

Thanks John, I was considering the New England, and perhaps spending a night at Tamworth to break the trip up. The only downside is my youngest suffers terribly from motion sickness so hoped that the Newell would offer a bit more straight and flat!

I'll study the RTA site and get a feel for what's happening


It depends on the kid I think, but it may not be hills and curves so much as road surface that affects the motion sickness. Fortunately, after two sons and four grandchildren I have no experience at all with car-sickness!

The other thing worth mentioning is that the scenery is a lot more varied and hence interesting going via the New England. If you go that way and you could also consider cutting south to Coolah from Mullaley and on to Dubbo via the Golden Highway rather than rejoining the Newell.

John

[harlie]

Route via Toowoomba has a better road surface (more comfortable) than Cunninghams Gap – they are nearly exactly same distance

[stevo68]

What about from the Gold Coast to Dubbo....though we are going to do it over 2 days, probably stay in Narribri overnight. We are going the week of Easter, thanks

Regards

Stevo

[incisor]

via toowoomba was fine

the newell was fine, the gore, a bit rough in spots.

no roos spotted the other week, but dragon flies the size of cessnas were on the prowl in large numbers..

[stevo68]

via toowoomba was fine

the newell was fine, the gore, a bit rough in spots.

no roos spotted the other week, but dragon flies the size of cessnas were on the prowl in large numbers.. yep looks like Whereis says from the GC to go via Toowoomba. Should be a hoot with 4 kids in the car and a missus that hate's long drives :twisted:.

Regards

Stevo

[awabbit6]

We went down to Dubbo last September. For us, Warwick, Goondiwindi then south to Mooree was the most obvious route.
The road from Warwick to Goondiwindi was a bit rough due to flooding but wasn't too bad.
We made an overnight stop at Mooree on the way down but did the trip back from Dubbo in one hit with 3 kids. It was a long drive, but we were keen to get home.