Thread: First trip to the snow

Hi Peter,

Lovely time to visit as the weather is usually good for skiing with kids! We go backcountry skiing from Guthega each year at that time.

You are not likely to see snow on the roads but you never know! The only really important tip is to plan to have a close to empty fuel tank when you get to Jindabybe so you can get a full tank of Alpine diesel when you arrive. We once got caught out in a cold snap with gelled up diesel in a toyota and only just got out. In Jindabybe The NSW Parks centre near the cinemas is good for local info also.

Enjoy the trip!

Originally Posted by Brightsbane

We're considering one of the inland routes home. Is there anything particularly interesting to see and do if we take 2 stops? What about road conditions etc? Or should we just double back up the Pacific Hwy?

Cheers,

Peter.

Absolutely ANY route is more interesting and much safer than the Pacific Highway. If you want bitumen roads, going through Dubbo gives you the chance to drive through the Warrumbungle Ranges, and before Dubbo you could visit the Parkes telescope - very interesting for the kids.

If you want to take dirt roads the scope for interest and beauty is endless.

Happy travels.

Theres also the zoo at dubbo.

Cheers

Dan

Cheers, sounds like an inland trip will be the go. Parks observatory and Dubbo zoo are great pointers, thats the sort of stuff I'm after.

Simonmelb, someone told me about the alpine diesel but what about the coolant? Will I need antifreeze?

Hey Peter,

The family and I have done the same trip you are talking about many times (in our D3, and then our D4).

We were normally there early September and had snow on the road most years, but nothing too challenging and never had any issues with getting around in the Disco's (we stay in Thredbo)

As for the trip there and back, we have done the pacific highway and the Newell - normally try to do down on one and back on the other just to mix it up.

Agree with the others that the Pacific can be a bit boring, but it is great for eating up kilometres too, so prefer it on the way home. My only advice for the Pacific is to leave the highway to find food - there are some great little towns along the way where you'll find old fashioned bakeries etc with Mittagong, Woolgoolga, and Bangalow being my favourites.

This is also the great thing about the Newell - you go through a bunch of great towns, and all have some decent places to stop Cowra, Parkes, Dubbo, Narabri, Moree - the list goes on. I have driven from Brisbane to Gilgandra in one go (but that is a massive day behind the wheel). A great Little motel there called the Windmill Motel - very basic, but clean, cheap and great hosts (at least they did when I went through). I've stayed at Dubbo (actually in the Zoo) and it's great, and have spent a couple of days in and around Coonabarabran. There is an observatory there which has a great way of giving you perspective on the solar system (scale planets on billboards as you drive out of town with distances between to scale) - great depending on how old the kids are (or if you happen to be a nerd like me....) That time of year there are plenty of canola fields in full bloom - great scenery!

If driving home the Pacific and leaving from the Snow after a day of skiing, I can recommend staying at the Rydges Campbelltown - it is modern and really well priced, but if you try to press on you start to run out of options almost until you get to Raymond Tce - and those Motels there are expensive for what they are. I can do Campbelltown to Brisbane in one day without too much trouble (but again that might depend on how your passengers travel.)

Either way you go I reckon it is a great drive if you are willing to take the time for some stops, and the Disco is perfect for the Alpine travel (lots of debate about Alpine Diesel but if you want it they have it at Jindabyne)

Cheers

Dan

I do Sydney to Brisbane trip several times a year and I always go New England Highway now, lots less trucks much more relaxing much less traffic and I like the country scenery much better. I even found some snow to drive through at Glen Innes last time.

Thanks for taking the time to write that up Dan. We've already booked some accommodation at Coffs and Sydney for the trip down but as you have said, we probably would have been better taking the Pacific Hwy back.
Not to worry, we have 3-4 days to head up the inland route and your suggestions will be put to good use.

Andrew, good to know about the road traffic. I was worried there would be heaps of trucks but sounds like it will be better than the coast road.

Is the Pacific Highway all duel carriage way now? (Syd/ Bris}