Travelling south by bus.

Not sure where you are trying to go!!!!!

South of Mackay, one of the flatest places across the divide has to be around Emerald. Unless you are totally aware of your geography (noting which way creeks flow etc) you will not not know you have crossed the divide except for a sign on the side of the road.

Often the sharper climbs are over ranges other than the divide.

Alan

Thanks Alan, we are heading for sunny old Geelong in Victoria. Way south ! We can manage 'normal' road grades but have some concerns regarding very long pulls - like Mt Morgan . We were hoping we could get some useful feedback via this wonderful site as we seem to get only awful 'war stories' elsewhere !

Once upon a long time ago I was towing a 17ft tandem axle trailer weighing 1.5t with a 2 stroke Suzuki and heading north. I opted to drive all the way to Ayr and Woodstock over the Great Dividing Range to Charters Towers which was the gentlest of all the crossings. Later in our travels were dragged a 27ft van around Oz.

Don't go via Mt Morgan!! It is narrow and steep. Don't go via Biloela, Monto, Gayndah etc Very hilly in places

You could go via Biloela, Banana, Theodore, Miles, Goodiwindi and on to the Newell Highway. The only steep road is south between Coonabarabran and Gilgandra and some narrow bridges(or so it seemed with a 27footer on the back).

Alternatively you could go via Emerald, Springsure, Rolleston, Roma, St George, Hebel, Lightning Ridge, Walgett, Coonamble, Warren, Triangle, Narromine, Dubbo, West Wyalong, Parkes, Forbes, Nerrandera, Jerilderie, Cobram, Shepparton, and there you must head towards and along the Hume Highway, skirting Melbourne and than taking the Expressway to Geelong.

If you continue south of Shepparton via either Bendigo or Ballarat you will encounter the tail end of the Great Dividing Range with so steep down hill and up hill runs.

All pretty flat country. This way you stay west of the range.

Happy Travels!

Thanks Willem, your suggestions are greatly appreciated. We should be able to navigate a safe passage after the assistance received here. What a great site !
Happy trails
Larapinta

Larapinta,

We travel from Mackay to Mildura each Christmas. We turn off on the southern side of Rockhampton travel west to Westwood then head south to Banana, Miles, Goondiwindi. A good run, not to hilly.

Regards,
Greg

Thanks Macca 2 for your help and thankyou too Greg. Greg .... how far below Rocky do you find your turn-off - the only one I can see on my map is either the Capricorn Hway ( route 66)which takes in Mt Morgan or the Burnett Hway( route 17) which takes you through to Dululu, and we could join the Leichardt from there - have no idea what that way is like. Is there another road from Rocky to Westwood, if so, we would be interested to know more about it. Thanks again for your help, the more 'white knuckle-ing' we can cut out the happier we'll be.

Many thanks Greg, you assistace will hopefully make for smoother trip south.
Happy trails.
Larapinta