Bypass Sydney

Yep, you can do that. There is a shortcut??? through Bylong and the Bylong Valley Way to Bathurst, oberon Black Springs to Goulburn. Bitumen all the way. Scenic. Depends on how much time you have.

You could also head out from Wellington to Parkes all bitumen now, and through Forbes along the Newell to Tocumwal and Shepparton.

Its a nice run through the Bylong Valley, then Rylstone and Bathurst. You have options after that - we go to Cowra then Boorowa and pick up the Hume at Bowning. Its all sealed and quite a good run. Although getting through Sydney is much easier now - once you get onto the M7 is a good easy run through to the Hume at Liverpool, especially if you can avoid peak hours.

Cheers,

Val.

Hi Ian,

The Bylong Valley is a very scenic route and I guess it would be much of a muchness whether you headed for the Hume or headed for the Newell if Melbourne is your destination. I haven't calculated the different mileage.

The worst part of the run through Sydney is from the end of the F3 to the begining of the M2. Not all that far really, probably about 8 kilometres, and once on those motorways it is plain sailing right past Sydney. Mind you there is the toll hassle if you do not have an electronic pass.

By the way Ian you wouldn't be doing the Great Ocean Road trip in company with 2 other vans would you,??. An acquaintance is about to do that trip with 2 others, leaving from The Rocks. Perhaps you are one of the group. If so hope you have a wonderful time of it. I know you will enjoy the scenery, that is for sure.

Cheers, Bruce

Do you want to bypass Sydney cause you don't like the idea of traffic ?..or do you want to see a bit of country side ??

If you want to get to Melbourne in the shortest time, then straight thru Sydney is the go..

The only bad bit is Pennant Hills rd....15 mins of normal city traffic, then all the rest is freeway.....so pretty painless to go thru Sydney..

Nice scenery the other way, but if I had to go to Melbourne, I'd rather cruise along the freeway ( especially if towing )..

But if I had 3 days to wander down, then the other way would be the pick..( nice camp spots along the way as well )

If this Route link works, I did this run from Newcastle and stopped in Wagga. It was a very long day, so I'd break it up with a night in Cowra. The 1st bit on the Putty Rd is a bit slow, but the rest of the drive is on good rural roads at 100.

Getting to Wagga and then cutting straight south will shave a bit off the drive, unless you have a pressing reason to go to Yass.

Thanks guys -have changed plans ----due to time facctors we are going down via motorways & back via bypass
No Bruce we are not part of that group -We are participating in Ironman Melbourne