best route Sydney - whitsundays

HI Terry:

I have done Sydney - Gympie twice this year. Once via the Pacific and once via the New England. If you want flat, the New England is the best way to go, and (from my experience) has less traffic, including trucks. But it is a slightly longer route.

Can't help you with any info beyond Gympie.

Jack

We went a more inland route. Sydney, Gunnedah, Moree, Goondiwindi, Miles, Rockhampton, Airlie Beach. With overnight stops at Goondiwindi and Rockhampton. We were towing a trailer and at the time had 4 children under 12. We found the roads fast, quiet and fairly straight and flat.

Terry/Colin, might see you there. Going up early Thurs. (4 sleeps to go) Went up thru Gunnedah, Narabri, Moree, Miles, Rocky last year. Excellent run. We towed a van and we're going the same route this year. Did it in 2 hops staying o/night in Condamine. (nice stopover $17 drive thru and nice pub meal) That was two 11.5 hour days. Might take it a bit easier this time, I was buggered when we got to the Whitsundays at about 6pm. If you go to "travelmate" this is the route it will come up with. The best thing about the route is the lack of traffic. It was 1st July last year so I'm hoping it will be similarly uncrowded this year.

Fat Terry
Give this a try.
MAPS AND DIRECTIONS

Many thanks for all the answers. I continually marvel at the number of helpful people out on the net, I think my wife's sick of me talking about it !

Yes, Ive tried a few of the mapping/travel planning sites, but my general experience with them isnt good (likle sending you in the wrong direction), so I was after some practical experience.

Looks like New England/Newell is the way to go according to the majority of advice ... I would have taken the New England most of the way but now a diversion along the Kamilaroi Highway to get off the New England onto the Newell is the way to go. Nowwhereroute agrees with that, although like I said the various different programs suggested different routes - but nowwehereroute seems to coincide with general advice !

Many thanks for everyones response, its appreciated.

Im planning to do the trip in 3 days and stay in van parks (in the boat, yes it might look a little strange !) - apart from the one mentioned can anyone recommend from experience any stops that roughly coincide with 700km intervals along that route ?

G'day fat Terry,
Take it from an ex interstate driver that did nth QLD to southern states once a week, if you want flat, straight and little traffic, though a little rough in places, go with Gillians route everytime.
Can't help you with good c/p though, a sleeper cab on the side of the road was the best it ever got for me. LOL

Avagoodn
Pezza

Colin

We just did Sydney to Fraser Is and back up the Pacific, on the basis that its lots better.

Heavy traffic, road getting better but soime notorious stretches. Go with Gillian's route I reckon

Max

Last time we did Sydney to Hamilton Is., was head east out of the harbour- steer to port- ease the main and launch the spinnaker- and let the southerly do the rest.
Fuel consumption was very good also.