gold coast to melbourne best route?

[scottygc]

i have a few days over xmas and thought id take the wife and kids to visit my parents for xmas

i live in labrador on the gold coast and the folks live in traralgon in gippsland

i have a couple of ways i can go

a) head west to goondawindi then south to melbourne the turn left back to traralgon
according to the map its 1916 km

b) south via syndey then camberra down the monaro hwy to cann river then to traralgon 1807 km

any thoughts on the best way?

it will be a non stop drive on the way down with two drivers changing over

the return trip will be more relaxed with a few stop overs along the way

thanks
scotty

[Bigbjorn]

Gold Coast-Beaudesert-Boonah-Cunningham H'way-Newell H'way

[weeds]

not sure how much time you have up your sleeve?

i would allow three days with kids and the defender, as its summer i would go the coast road with the hope of a swim or two on the way

[blackdiamondmarine]

If you are wanting to do it in two days take the newell Hwy for sure. Try and make Moree first night, hot natural thermal springs at the caravan park are great for a relax and the pub down the road does good meals.
the Newell is boring, but up to 6 hours faster.
If you have three days go the coast.

[shining]

If you want to keep moving stay away from the coast and Sydney at Christmas/any holiday time.

[Homestar]

As some others suggested, stay away from Sydney. Go down the Newell, heaps quicker.

If you have a couple of drivers as suggested, then you will only need to stop for fuel. I have done the exact trip - I used to live in Traralgon. It should take about 26 hours or so depending on how often you want to stop.

Between me and the missus, we didn't need to stop. We also had the rug rats along on that trip - we struck out at 5ish - just after work, so they were asleep in a few hours. They slept all night, so we only had to worry about them getting board for half the trip. Rolled into the Gold Coast at 7 the following evening.

Nothing a few games of Eye spy, spotto, and car cricket won't fix.:p

Cheers - Gav

[ramblingboy42]

I'd take my missus......she really stood beside me during the floods.......

[Sleepy]

Personally, I would drive down the coast to Sydney then Hume. If you have the time take the Mountain route to Gippsland.

Much prettier journey. The Pacific Hwy is a lot better now and you can get through Sydney a lot quicker than 20 years ago. Lots more dual carriageway. Only real hold up was Ballina road works.

I did this trip in August (in a 101), only other drama was a prang that held up traffic between Newcastle and Sydney.

As for the mountain route south of Canberra - only do it if you have the time - it would be quicker to drive Hume to Melbourne then Taralgon. (all hwy)

[33chinacars]

My vote is for the Newell Hwy. Especially at Xmas time

Gary

[big dave]

gday scottygc

if you have 3-4 days why not go out to bourke and down the darling river, well worth the trip, you can get to Tilpa pub in a day, then sort out which way from there, i would go to menindee then across, its not as direct as the newell but a lot more fun,

cheers

dave

[SuperMono]

Up until just a few years ago Melbourne-Gold Coast return was a regular annual trip. I've driven pretty much everyway you could find on the map.

Suggest skipping Beaudesertand trying this:
Gold Coast-head north west towards Ipswich then drop back onto the Newell H'way via Warwick and Goondiwindi. You could also go via Toowoomba.
Might sound strange as it is further in km, but the road is better and traffic more free flowing.

When you get down south your choice is to stick to the freeways (Hume, Citylink, Monash) and continue out to Gippsland (the fast way outside of peak hour) or take the more scenic route from Seymour through Yea, Yarra Glen, Lilydale, Monbulk and Pakenham (the way I would go).
There is a nice run from Lilydale out via Noojee if you want the slower but very scenic backway.

Comes down to what you want out of the trip and how you travel in regard to comfort and time verses fatigue.

[boger]

Ballina is now open on the east coast if that helps;) will only save you 20min or so , Go west young man ,sounds best:) good luck will have to make trip next year, Let us us Know how you go ok:D

[Bigbjorn]

Up until just a few years ago Melbourne-Gold Coast return was a regular annual trip. I've driven pretty much everyway you could find on the map.

Suggest skipping Beaudesertand trying this:
Gold Coast-head north west towards Ipswich then drop back onto the Newell H'way via Warwick and Goondiwindi. You could also go via Toowoomba.
Might sound strange as it is further in km, but the road is better and traffic more free flowing.

When you get down south your choice is to stick to the freeways (Hume, Citylink, Monash) and continue out to Gippsland (the fast way outside of peak hour) or take the more scenic route from Seymour through Yea, Yarra Glen, Lilydale, Monbulk and Pakenham (the way I would go).
There is a nice run from Lilydale out via Noojee if you want the slower but very scenic backway.

Comes down to what you want out of the trip and how you travel in regard to comfort and time verses fatigue.

Why would you go backwards out of your way by a long shot to go into Ipswich? The shortest and fastest run is Gold Coast-Beaudesert-Boonah-pick up the Cunningham H'way at Aratula, the foot of Cunningham's Gap, a long way south and west of Ippy. Then go from Warwick to Goondiwindi and down the Newell. Straight, flat, and fast except for the climb up the Gap. Do observe the speed limits in the Warwick police district. They are obsessed with speed cameras.

[AKW]

The newell is the way to go.
Been useing the coast road a bit this year for work
(truck driver) it is still a s*** of a road, ( car drivres you know).
The Newell is rough at the moment from the floods last week
but should be a BIT better by christmas.
I hope so anyway as i'm going up in my D1 then aswell.

Andrew

[Tank]

Straight down the coast, Sydney is a doodle at Christmas time, about an hour from Hornsby to Liverpool, then down the Princes Hwy. all the way to your destination and you can always call in at Moruya Heads and say hello, Regards Frank.

[Baseplate]

The newell is the way to go.
Been useing the coast road a bit this year for work
(truck driver) it is still a s*** of a road, ( car drivres you know).
The Newell is rough at the moment from the floods last week
but should be a BIT better by christmas.
I hope so anyway as i'm going up in my D1 then aswell.

Andrew

Agree and it comes complete with a transmission cooler:D
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/869.jpg

[SuperMono]

Why would you go backwards out of your way by a long shot to go into Ipswich?

First time was because I had to drop something off on the way.
Then I checked the clock and found minimal impact on the time taken and a much smoother, low stress run (mainly freeway after all).

Did the run again in both directions plus another run the 'traditional' route.
The longer northern loop came out better (for me).

Maybe I just always struck the right conditions on the long route and the wrong conditions on the short route.

My most enjoyable route was to head down the minor roads back into NSW and check out some of the smaller towns, but it does take a lot longer.

[d2dave]

If you want to do it in the shortest time avoid the coast road, straight down the Newell. A mate of mine who does it frequently turns off at West Wylong, through to Wagga, Albury and then the Hume to Melb. This is about 30 km longer but with the freeway through Albury and then freeway all the way to Melb he reckons this more than offsets the 30km.

Dave.