Coonabarabran to <span class="highlight">Dubbo</span> via Mendooran

Submitted: Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 12:49
ThreadID: 81238 Views:10984 Replies:5 FollowUps:10
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In an archived thread this alternative route bypassing Gilgandra which avoids some hills and trucks was suggested. Can anyone who has travelled this route tell me what the road is like? I guess you follow Mendooran Road right through but my GPS tells me it is unsealed in parts.
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Reply By: NRE - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 12:59

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 12:59
This road is sealed. Turn left to Mendooran approx 15km south of Coonabarabran. There are a few trucks using this road now as well, but it is a lot quicker than going through Gilgandra.
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Follow Up By: lesterb - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 13:31

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 13:31
Would this take me through Binnaway, Mollyan, New Mollyan to Mendooran then continue along Mendooran road through Goonoo State Forrest through Jones Creek and Bruah to Dubbo?
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Follow Up By: NRE - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 14:03

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 14:03
No - that route is the 1st major turnoff 6km out of Coona - and is the road to Coolah.
The one you need to take is the 2nd major turnoff 15km out of Coona and clearly marked to Mendooran and just follw the signs to mendooran and then Dubbo.
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Follow Up By: OzTroopy - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 14:05

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 14:05
Stoopid stoopid gps garbage ..... buy a NRMA map .... LOL

If heading south from coonabarabran ... ignore the binnaway turnoff.

Continue on until you get to the mendooran turnoff and take that one.

The road is not sydney freeway specifications wide ... but is good for for rural nsw.

Forget the skippies .... Watch out for emus between mendooran and dubbo.
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Follow Up By: cycadcenter - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 15:00

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 15:00
Also beware as it is a favorite road to set a radar up.

Skippies are common through the forest section south of Mendooran.

at the southern end there is a rail crossing and you turn left immediately after at a T intersection. Can sneek up if not paying attention,

The road joins the Newell at Brocklehurst.

Bruce
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 16:02

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 16:02
Trucks have been using that road for 20 -30 years.

PeterD
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Follow Up By: cycadcenter - Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 at 00:14

Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 at 00:14
The intersate trucks don't use it that much as it screws up the timing through the Saf-T-Cam

Bruce
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Reply By: Wilko - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 13:32

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 13:32
Hi Lester,

Its a reasonable country sealed road, watch out for the skips if you are travelling around dusk/dawn.

Cheers Wilko
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Reply By: Member - A J- Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 14:30

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 14:30
lesterb - if it is the hills you want to avoid and traffic - coming from the south turn off at Tomingley south of Dubbo and go through to Narromine. Then back onto the highway at Eumungerie onto to Gilgandra. From Gilgandra to Coonamble across to Pilliga, Wee Waa and back to Narrabri.

This route is a little longer but equal in fuel consumption and time.



A J
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Follow Up By: rodeonut - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 18:01

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 18:01
Ummm,This way would be many hrs longer! Just gillgandra to pilliga to narrabri to coonabarabran would take 3.5 to 4 hrs!!! the route through mendooran is just as quick as the newel hwy, just not as good a road but it is still quite ok. should take about 1hr 45 min to 2 hrs.
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Reply By: Honky - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 14:58

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 14:58
Also watch out for the drop off on the shoulders of the road.
They can be quiite deep with the amount of rain that has fallen in the area

Honky
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Reply By: Trev6 - Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 22:45

Friday, Sep 10, 2010 at 22:45
If your into camping don't forget to check out the free camp site on the banks of the maquarie river at Mendooran, it has fairly basic ammenities (toilets, cold showers) with nice sheltered eating areas, good for an over night stop or just a meal break. It should look a picture at the moment with all the green grass and plenty of water in the river....Trev6

BTW, good road well worth the drive.
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Follow Up By: cycadcenter - Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 at 00:19

Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 at 00:19
It's on the Castlereagh River.

Bruce
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Follow Up By: Trev6 - Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 at 12:53

Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 at 12:53
Thanks Bruce for the correction

Trev6
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Follow Up By: cycadcenter - Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 at 14:24

Saturday, Sep 11, 2010 at 14:24
I stop across the river and get a good smell of the cypress pine sawmill there.

I was through there last month on my way from Childers to Orange and I don't think I have seen the countryside look that good in 20 years.

Bruce

Currently in Phoenix Arizona
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