New England Highway

The New England Hwy has some big hills but not a lot of traffic, Princess Hwy (Pacific Hwy) is flatter but more traffic.
Cheers Dave

I don't tow anything over 1.5Tonnes, so am inexperirnced with your sized combo. Until the Pacific Highway became a B double route about a decade ago, all the Brisbane-Sydney B doubles used to travel the New England. All the vegetable trucks from the Lockeyer Valley just west of Brisy (when it's not in flood) still go down the NE Highway today to Sydney. As you are starting at Singleton, unless I had a coastal fettish, I would have thought the NE Highway would still be quicker. There are really only two solid hills, the Moonbis north of Tamworth and Devil's Pinch north of Armidale.
If I was going to the Gold Coast, I would probably go via the Pacific.

Hi Humpback,

I live near the Pacific Highway in the Port Macquarie region and travel it frequently.
When heading north of brisbane I prefer the New England as it is much much quieter than the Pacific.

In your case, being at Singleton I would definitely use the New England to get to Brisbane, If I were you. The road is good with repairs being carried out where necessary.

There are a couple of good hills but nothing your Effie wont handle with moderate ease.
Your biggest test will be climbing the Moonbi Range but I do it often towing 2.5 tonne on a V8 petrol cruiser with moderate ease. Usual truck driving story, just select the best gear for the job and let it grind away till you get to the top.

Otherwise it is a very good run and always my preference when heading north, even though I live on the coast. The lack of traffic on the New England, away from the major centres, never ceases to astound me. Such a good road and so under utilised.

Cheers, Bruce.

Hullo Humpback
I have used the New England Hwy a few times recently with a F250 (5t) and a BT (3t).
IMHO, the NE would win hands down vis a vis the Pacific. Once clear of the Hunter Valley with all its hassles, there are fewer trucks, good places to stop, good scenery.
As stated by others, a couple of steep long climbs but nothing an F truck can't handle -and you will be in good company, although some of today's trcuks seem to go up hill at the same speed as they go down! :-)
If you have the time, worth spending a bit of time exploring the towns along the way once north of Tamworth.
Friendly people offering good service, in my experience.
Cheers
Andrew

Have done both with a 100 series land cruiser towing 3.5 tons of Bushtracker . No problems.
The NE wins hands down.. The road works on the PH are a serious problem. Some sections are slow as.
nE is much more scenic and has better ( not many) camps spots.very few if any decent ones on the PH.

Thankyou to everybody who replied it has been most helpfull.
Cheers
Humpback

Having used both highways as a truck driver the New England wins hands down a lot quieter but has 2 decent hills otherwise a good run you will do it easy in your rig
cheers phil