Cristmas traffic through Tweed (QLD)??

[Jimmy]

Hi all,

As a relatively new Gold Coaster, I was wondering if anyone new of a sneaky way through the friday christmas traffic heading south (this friday 22nd Dec). I assume that Tugun and Brunswick heads etc etc will be outrageously busy. I was thinking of heading west out to Beaudesert and then south to Casino and then Grafton, but never been out that way. Are the roads any good?? especially at night??

Any help, directions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jimmy

[weeds]

there is a nice drive down through lions road, it starts just west of Beaudesert and heads south and comes out at kyogle?? unfortunitly its nearly all sealed now

http://www.paramountpublicationhouse.com/ed-TheLionsRoad.htm

http://www.kyogleweb.com.au/scenery/lionsroad.htm

[drivesafe]

Hi Jimmy, as weeds posted.

It’s a great drive and the distance in time is the same whether you just go via Mt Lindesay Hwy and The Summerland Way or if you turn off the highway at Rothdowney and go via the Lions Road.

The advantage to taking the Lions Road is that there are NO trucks and it’s a very educational drive.

At the top of the range, about 2kms south of the Tick Gate is the turn off for the Spiral Loop Lookout. This is only about 300m from road and well worth the effort as this is one of the rail engineering marvels of the world and the reason the Lions Road was made, back in 1975

If you leave the coast before 7 am you can be at the lookout as the south bound XPT goes around the loop at 9-04.

One warning, between Canungra and Rothdowney, make sure you watch your speed.

[solmanic]

If you don't want to go that far inland, just try taking the Currumbin Creek/Tomewin Road through to Murwillumbah. Nice little drive along the scenic rim just over the NSW border.

OR

You could go a little further inland and take the Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd through the Numinbah Valley past Natural Bridge.

[Bigbjorn]

Where is your destination? If going to Newcastle/Hunter Valley, Central Coast, or Spivsville (Sydney), consider going Nerang-Beaudesert-Boonah-Aratula to the New England highway at Warwick via Cunningham's Gap. Good roads, little traffic. In Warwick Police District, Cunninghams Gap to Border, comb your hair and brush your teeth and smile for the camera. Red hot, they are.

[Jimmy]

Where is your destination? If going to Newcastle/Hunter Valley, Central Coast, or Spivsville (Sydney), consider going Nerang-Beaudesert-Boonah-Aratula to the New England highway at Warwick via Cunningham's Gap. Good roads, little traffic. In Warwick Police District, Cunninghams Gap to Border, comb your hair and brush your teeth and smile for the camera. Red hot, they are.


Thanks for all the great advise everyone. Looks like the inland route is the go. The first leg of the journey is at night so probably not much stopping and straighter less 'technical' roads are probably better in a fully laidened Defender.

I'm heading to Bega and south coast NSW, but unfortunately have to go through Sydney so that will be a bugger.

I'm all ears for any other suggestions, but don't want to go to far out of the way.

I guess I'm debating going through Beaudesert or Murwilllumbah or something. Probably less traffic out west??

many thanks
jimmy

[drivesafe]

Hi again Jimmy, as your leaving at night, just go straight down the highway.

The only traffic your likely to cop are the trucks.

Up until recently I was doing round trips from GC to the Illawarra and always planned to either hit Sydney at night or leave GC late at night to miss any traffic here and with a break, still go through Sydney before Peak Period.

By the way, I find the quickest route to the South Coast now, is to take Penddle Hills Rd from Hornsby to the M2, continue on to the M7 and then to either Campbelltown or Wilton and down the coast from there.

It works out heaps quicker than going through Sydney.

Just remember, you need an E-Tag now.

Cheers

[Jimmy]

Hi again Jimmy, as your leaving at night, just go straight down the highway.

The only traffic your likely to cop are the trucks.

Up until recently I was doing round trips from GC to the Illawarra and always planned to either hit Sydney at night or leave GC late at night to miss any traffic here and with a break, still go through Sydney before Peak Period.

By the way, I find the quickest route to the South Coast now, is to take Penddle Hills Rd from Hornsby to the M2, continue on to the M7 and then to either Campbelltown or Wilton and down the coast from there.

It works out heaps quicker than going through Sydney.

Just remember, you need an E-Tag now.

Cheers


I'll be leaving the Goldy at about 4-5pm, so the inland route will be the go (tugan, and the roads works south will be horendous). I'm planning on hitting up 4-5 hours in the saddle that night, then through Sydney midday-ish/early arvo saturday and down the coast for a camp spot sat evening (finegrs crossed). Should be some nice solid driving and much banter on the UHF - I can't wait.

E-Tag?? I assume thats for the bridge, but can I not just use coins?? If not where/who do I get this Tag thingo?

cheers
Jimmy

[Bigbjorn]

Go Putty Rd. to Windsor-Penrith-Bringelly-Narellan-Campbelltown-Appin-Thirroul. No need to go into Sydney.Alternatively Narellan-Camden-Picton-Wilton-Wollongong.

[Cruiser]

You can use coins on the Harbour Bridge. M2, M5, Eastern Distributer(on your return). M7 no coins need E-tag or credit card via phone.

[Quiggers]

You're in my patch!

Gold Coast to Bega? Beaudesert - Rathdowney - Kyogle - Casino - Grafton
It's the Summerland Way. The Lions Road is a short cut but is slow and windy and up and down (but lots of fun in the daylight and watch out for wildlife and idiots -it's a one laner for many stretches) I drive it often and its not a highway, and it's not recommended for anyone with a tow.....
but a quick way out of QLD to Grafton.....

or head s/west to Tenterfield and down the New England, bugger all traffic on that road these days....every tourist wants to be on the appalling Pacific Highway (just wait til you get Brunswick Heads, the delays are hours long in summer).....

GQ

[Jimmy]

You're in my patch!

Gold Coast to Bega? Beaudesert - Rathdowney - Kyogle - Casino - Grafton
It's the Summerland Way. The Lions Road is a short cut but is slow and windy and up and down (but lots of fun in the daylight and watch out for wildlife and idiots -it's a one laner for many stretches) I drive it often and its not a highway, and it's not recommended for anyone with a tow.....
but a quick way out of QLD to Grafton.....

or head s/west to Tenterfield and down the New England, bugger all traffic on that road these days....every tourist wants to be on the appalling Pacific Highway (just wait til you get Brunswick Heads, the delays are hours long in summer).....

GQ

GQ,

The Beaudesert route sounds like the go. But one question. When you get to Rathdowny do you take the Running Creek road (I think) down to Kyogle?? And I can't find Lions Road? where is it and is it really that bad an option, especially at night??

cheers to the road
Jimmy

[Bigbjorn]

Dont go via Rathdowney-Kyogle-Grafton. This keeps you on the Pacific Highway with all the traffic congestion and caravan terrorist traffic through Coffs, Port, etc., Go through Boonah to Aratula and the Cunningham and New England Highways to Singleton and then via the Putty Rd. to Windsor. Cuts out Sydney completely.

[100I]

Yep steer clear of the caravans on the Pacific, PITA, limited overtaking.
The road to Tenterfield was still good dirt for quite a stretch last time I was down that way, but it was good enough to sit on 80k+ if that's your bag. watch out for skips of course at night. FYI the Lions rd turnoff is about 5 or so k short of Rathdowney- take the Innisplain rd just before the Mt Lindsay hwy crosses the old interstate rail.

[Bigbjorn]

Why Thirroul?...if suggesting going down Bulli Pass and south from there forget iit. Its a parking lot on that stretch of road in the afternoon. Better to go straight down Mt Ousely...
Perhaps I could have said that better. What I meant was to pick up the highway south to Bega at somewhere down the 'gong.

[Turtle61]

Ow, yes - the trip down South at Chrissy....

For starters, I agree - take the New England Highway. I have no idea what's the best way to get ther from GC, not my patch.

NEH is good and at night pretty and quick but watchout for speed cameras and trucks.

To be honest I'd avoid Putty Rd. It's slow and winding and you end up in Windsor which will probably cost you more time and frustration. I'd say carry on from NEH to F1. North of Sydney continue to M7 (toll) but it will by-pass most of Sydney (if you don't have to stop there) far quicker than anything else. You end up joining M5/Hume Hwy near Liverpool and yor options start there:
1. Cut from Picton to W'gong and keep going South
2. Cut from Moss Vale to Nowra
3. Goulburn to Batemans Bay via Kings Hwy or
4. You could even keep goig on Hume/Federal Hwys to Cooma and cut across to Bega. Only draw-back is going through Canberra, but given that all public servants would probably escape it could be a good run... although the traffic between Canberra and Bega might be a worry. It is longer (by about 60ks) but may be quicker and less frustrating than Pacific and its caravan procession.

... that's my 2 Swiss Centimes worth. I haven't been down that way for about 5 years so things could be different.

[Bigbjorn]

I disagree with your assessment oif the Putty Road, winding yes, slow no. Regularly did 2 1/4 hours Coogee to Singleton off peak. Get into Windsor, cut across to Penrith without going to the Great Western, then cross country to Picton and the 'gong as per my earlier contribution. No wucking furries. Avoid spiv city and its alleged freeways and toll roads at all times. Traffic, Traffic, Traffic. Every time I go backfor a visit I am amazed that the traffic has actually got worse when I thought that it had already reached the nadir of driveability

[DEFENDERZOOK]

with the roads he is about to travel on......would not speed cameras be more of a concern than traffic......?

dunno what queensland is like......but down here there are radar traps hidden between the fixed speed cameras......
especially at this time of year......

[Bigbjorn]

with the roads he is about to travel on......would not speed cameras be more of a concern than traffic......?

dunno what queensland is like......but down here there are radar traps hidden between the fixed speed cameras......
especially at this time of year......
Yes, indeed. I did mention the Warwick Police District earlier in the thread. The NSW Highway Gestapo will also be out in covert force.

[Jimmy]

Dont go via Rathdowney-Kyogle-Grafton. This keeps you on the Pacific Highway with all the traffic congestion and caravan terrorist traffic through Coffs, Port, etc., Go through Boonah to Aratula and the Cunningham and New England Highways to Singleton and then via the Putty Rd. to Windsor. Cuts out Sydney completely.

Brian,

Saddly I must go through Sydney, so the Rathdowney-grafton route then into Sydney seemed pretty good (I'm heading to Msoman in Sydney) - but if there's a better way I'm all ears. Notwithstanding, I'm starting to think it would be better to go back through sydney in the new year when there might be less traffic. I'm picking up some parts for the Defender, but not crucial to driving obviously.
chers
jimmy

[Bigbjorn]

Singleton-Maitland-Freeway to Hornsby then back streets to Mosman