Heading South

Hi Pat
If your vehicle is a diesel make sure you fill up when you get to Jindabyne. We have alpine diesel mix down here which stops the wax in diesel from blocking the filter when fuel is cold. If you have any problems with car starting or not running properly in the morning pour hot water over fuel filter. Watch out where you camp as we have had winds up to 170Km/h down here in the last week.

From the Blue Mountains, head south to Goulbourn, Braidwood then to Cooma, not a bad camp site near the Big Hole on the road to Cooma from Braidwood.

This is mostly back roads but gets you away from the snow traffic down the Hwy.

If you don't want to drive up to the snow line, take the train from Bullocks Flat, that way you don't need to purchase the NP Pass every day you go up, or the need to carry chains.

Hi Pat,

If you want to ease into the trip, then stop the first night at Minnie Waters and camp with your tent pegs almost in the surf at the National Park. Just 4.5 hours from Brisbane. No showers but Toilets. Water from tap just outside park, about 1klm away. Minnie Waters is East of Grafton. Nice easy run for first day. Is shown on most maps.

Alternatively stop at Grassy Heads in the council owned Caravan park. Also right on the surf but has full ammenities. 7 hours from Bris with turnoff just South of Kempsey. Is only shown on really good maps. Stop and ask at Kempsey. Turnoff is well marked but still easy to miss. There is a really intersting drive through the Forest park behind Grassy Heads where a lot of experimental tree planting was done during WWII. Tracks are OK and only need 4x4 to go to lookout which is steep and a bit rough.

If you want luxury for the first night then you can't go past Darlington Beach Resort 40 minutes this side of Coffs Harbour. An en-suite caravan site will only set you back $40 for a night. Right on beach with a nine hole golf course at your disposal.

Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo of course.

Have a good trip

Cheers
Magnus

Try South West Rocks (turn off is about 20K north of Kempsey). You will be blown away with the beauty.

If you have the time while in the Goulbourn District, we did this loop about two weeks ago, very scenic with out being too challenging.
Goulbourn-Crookwell past the Wind Farm
Crookwell-Traralga
Traralga-Laggan
Laggan - Wonbeyan Caves.... Very nice camp ground
Wonbeyan Caves - Berrima, quite a scenic drive
Berrima-Goulbourn

There is some breathtaking scenery in this part of the country..... well worth the visit!!

If you have kids in the group and are thinking of going to Canberra, the National Science Museum (Questacon) is worth a look!

Have a safe trip!!!!

oh..... did I mention to pck your winter woolies??????? It's Frrrreeeeeeezing down there!!!!!!
LOL....