New England or Pacific Highway? Which do you prefer?

**FenianEel** · 16th January 2006, 02:04 PM

Last week had to urgently get to Sin City for a funeral, so the wife and I packed a bag, and took off in the trusty Disco.

Having done this trip too many times to mention, I took the New England and did it straight through, with a couple of toilet /drink/food stops. Avg. speed for overall trip was 110kph

Returning on the Pacific Hwy on Friday with lengthier stops, avg. speed for trip was 95kph.

Consumption was terrible both ways - due to heaviness of foot on way down and stop start , high traffic and genrally dribbling along on the way back.

To me NEW ENGLAND is better scenery, better roads (condition and layout), less peelers, less traffic, more interesting. In distance it's only 40ks longer.

PACIFIC Highway is a decent freeway at start and finish, nice drive through Nthn Rivers, then 600+k's of boring driving through 2 lanes highway of trees, much more traffic, lights, lower speeds, more little towns to slow down for and worse roads.

So what are your thoughts???
If you've done both, which do you prefer?

And Why do they call it the "coast road"? It's not on the coast, you don't see the coast, and due to traffic, little towns, lights and trucks - you hardly "coast" along??

**crump** · 16th January 2006, 02:11 PM

New England, on the bike in late Autumn, mmmmm, I can feel a tour coming on.

**drivesafe** · 16th January 2006, 02:25 PM

I prefer the Pacific but I start from the Gold Coast.

If you are leaving from the western suburbs of Brisbane then the quickest trip to Sydney is down through Beaudesert, along the Mt Lindesay Hwy and then down the Summerland Way to Grafton, then to Sydney on the Pacific Hwy.

Thats the shortest and Quickest trip.

BTW nearly all the trucks have moved from the New England to the Pacific in the last 5 or so years because of all the improvements, but the is a hell of a lot more work needed.

A little trick when using the Pacific Hwy, try starting out late at night. You miss all the road works and get to Sydney in the middle of the day so you miss peak period down there.

Cheers.

**abaddonxi** · 16th January 2006, 02:32 PM

There are some great stretches off the Pacific Highway - Buckett's Way is narrow and somewhat potholed, but also empty, full of nice smells and bird noises - even at 110kph.

The coast road runs closer to the coast, Myall Lakes, car ferries. Also very nice if you have the time.

Your funeral wasn't on the 10th, by any chance? I had one on that day.

Cheers
Simon

**FenianEel** · 16th January 2006, 02:47 PM

Simon,

It was on the 12th. Myall lakes is a nice spot. There are a lot of nice spots on the way. A lot less dodgy little roadside attractions now though, not like the 70's and 80's.

**weeds** · 16th January 2006, 03:17 PM

unfortunity, i'm forced to stop at the mother inlaws at coffs harbour, so its the pacific for me

**adm333** · 16th January 2006, 04:18 PM

I went down the "coast" road at Christmas.

I keep meaning to try the New England but force of habit sent us down the Pacific.

It's a pretty terrible trip and if you managed a 95kmh average then you were doing quite well.

My new NAVMAN told me the average was more like about 80 - 85 km/h.

Dave

**abaddonxi** · 16th January 2006, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by FenianEel
Simon,

It was on the 12th.

Well phew, wouldn't have wanted to pass like ships in the night at the same funeral and not caught up.

Simon

**seqfisho** · 16th January 2006, 04:23 PM

I voted Pacific, not because I prefer it just that it seems to be the way I've gone in the last dozen or so times :x

They both suck as they lead to Sydney :roll:

ET · 16th January 2006, 04:38 PM

Mate it is the Pacific for me. Only because there are lots of great places to stop for a surf.
Can't do that on the inland route.

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