Sydney to Adelaide - Which way to go

Submitted: Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 07:06
ThreadID: 34971 Views:34186 Replies:11 FollowUps:9
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A good mate of mine asked me yesterday which route would be best to travel to Adelaide from Sydney. Is it quicker to head south to Wagga and then cut across or is it best to head out of Sydney via Baturst and head across.

I had no idea so I thought I would ask for some advice.
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Reply By: Pajman Pete (SA) - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 07:26

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 07:26
I did Watsons Bay, Sydney to Adelaide in 11 Hours once.

My normal Sydney Adelaide route was West to Bathurst along the mid western highway, Cowra, West Wyalong, GoolGowl, Hay, then 4 km short of Balranald turn left to Tooleybuck, Piangil, Oyen, Pinarroo, Lameroo, Tailem Bend, Murray Bridge and Adelaide.

Cheers

Pete
AnswerID: 178728

Follow Up By: garbage - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 17:07

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 17:07
How fast were you driving?
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Follow Up By: Pajman Pete (SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 13:54

Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 13:54
Left Watsons bay at 3:00 AM to miss traffic, cleared Sydney in an hour and obeyed the limits until passing Katoomba then opened her up. The 2 ltr Escort used to cruise nicely on 180 Kmh. (Delorto carbs, lynx manifold, mallory ignition, balanced motor etc etc)

Of course now I am responsible on the open road ... besides which the Heritage Listed Pajero would only doo 180 if I drove it off a cliff!

Cheers

Pete
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Reply By: Member - bushfix - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 07:54

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 07:54
try travelmate.com.au

look here

but that's if you want the "quickest" route

"best" route? that would be the one with the most dirt, least traffic lights, least people, most bush. :)
AnswerID: 178731

Follow Up By: Ando79 - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 08:42

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 08:42
G'day Bushfix,

Dunno about Travelmate. I live in Narrabri. Needed to work out how far it is to Lightning Ridge and back for a gig we are playing out there in August. I asked travel mate what the distance to Lightning Ridge would be and it spat out a number that seemed a little on the large side, so i checked the map maker and it had me driving from Narrabri, an hour north to Moree, then west across through Collarenebri to Lightning Ridge. That's just silly. I wouldn't trust it at all. Not trying to rubbish your advice, just sharing my experience with travelmate.

Cheers,

Ando
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Follow Up By: Member - bushfix - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 08:53

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 08:53
G'day Ando,

yeah I only use it as a guide. funny example you mention. i just checked, it will pick the Moree route as fastest and the Wee Waa route as shortest. BUT the time it gives for the Moree route is an hour longer than the Wee Waa route....maybe it knows a good pub on the Wee Waa route it is trying to help you avoid :)

(with aplogies to the op) what music do you play Ando?
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Follow Up By: Ando79 - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 09:00

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 09:00
hahahhahah yep. The Royal Hotel in Wee Waa is always a good place to avoid.
We've got a band called the Cutties (nb. not pronounced cewties) and play a bit of country/rock. Provides a bit of pocket money which is great these days given the price of fuel. Playing the Telegraph Hotel in Narrabri tonight if anyone is in town.

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Follow Up By: Member - bushfix - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 09:08

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 09:08
if there is one hotel in town, it's the Royal.

good on you and good luck with the band, I will keep an eye out for the Cutties.
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Reply By: Member - DOZER- Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 08:12

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 08:12
Mate....i would go Waga waga , hay, turn left b4 Bal...good roads
...2 servos sold me short litres on the way.....The shell at Gundagai, and the main roadhouse at Hay...stay away from the ripoffs...
Andrew
AnswerID: 178736

Reply By: Member - Andrew W (SA) - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 08:31

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 08:31
Don't forget to take into account where you are coming from and which of the motorways you will have access to ... they can make a hell of a difference.
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Reply By: Outbacktourer - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 08:48

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 08:48
Depends where you are coming from but with the M2 connecting to the M7 and then Hume Hway you will be in Wagga in no time with no traffic lights from Lane Cove. Fuel economy will be good too because your wallet will be about $8.00 lighter!

You can also go via Nyngan, Cobar and Broken Hill. There is less than 100K difference in all of the routes mentioned so it gets down to the kind of driving you want to do. IMHO if you juts want to get from Sydeny to Adelaide with no fuss, go Wagga. If you want to go via some outbackish scenery go Broken Hill. The West Wyalong route save some distance and gives you more rural driving but will be slower to Hay.

Going to Alice next week myself..via Wagga.

OT
AnswerID: 178742

Reply By: Member - Coyote (SA) - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 09:24

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 09:24
If you decide to go the most direct way (thorugh Hay) take a good book to keep you awake while you drive across the Hay plains.. even the Nullabour seems enterntaining compared to that stretch of road..
AnswerID: 178750

Follow Up By: Hayjude - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 12:19

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 12:19
Hay Plains would have to be more entertaining than the dead straight and boring road between Wilcannia and Dubbo. Travelled the road that many times and you just go into auto pilot a lot of the times.
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Reply By: Member - Michael O (NSW) - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 14:17

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 14:17
Been to Adelaide stacks of times when the Grand Prix was on there and tried all the different ways.

Without a doubt, the quickest is the Hume to the Wagga turnoff.
Sturt Highway west to just short of Balranald.
Then down to the Murray at Tooleybuc.
Manangatang, Ouyen to Pinnaroo (pick up half an hour at the border)
Tailem Band and on the freeway into Adelaide.
AnswerID: 178790

Follow Up By: garbage - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 17:15

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 17:15
Aye to this route!
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Reply By: clayts - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 15:56

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 15:56
Agree with Michael O,

Done the trip too many times to count, definatly the best, safest and easiest way.

Being an Adelaide'en I'm not sure what it's called but the new ring route freeway thingimee was awsome at xmas on the way the Lake Macquarie for a sailing regatta. Saved heads of time and was heaps easier than towing the yacht through Sydney. It was free then as it was just open, not sure what the toll is now?

We don't have tolls in SA, coz it'd be political suicide!!!

Drive safely
Clayts
AnswerID: 178811

Reply By: RayJen Paj05 - Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 16:10

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 16:10
Agree with Macca: Wagga, Hay, Mildura, SA Riverland, Truro (great pasties and the best kitchener buns you will ever eat), Elizabeth, Adders. We do it often and have tried all the rest.

Also Balranald has a bakery with great vanilla slices.

This is a deceptively long trip, I recommend you stay somewhere overnight; the second day recently I had one of those eye flicker moments and was on the wrong side when Jenny said Look Out. Luckily she was awake.

Safe travels Jason: RayJen
AnswerID: 178812

Follow Up By: clayts - Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 22:23

Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 22:23
Sorry Rayjen, Please don't be offended but as and Adelaidian.

IMHO if ya looking to go the quickest definitly give the (Mildura, SA Riverland, Truro,Elizabeth, Adders) a big miss. Not many passing lanes on the Sturts Hwy, too many 80km zones and has long sweeping turns with nowhere to pass with heaps a traffic (the Sturt hwy is probably SA's worst road for accidents and Fatalities) Also coming through Elizabeth you cop too many lights and traffic (unless you go via Angle Vale which is a bit tricky if ya haven't done it B4)

The Freeway from Tailem Bend is the easiest and brings you out within 6km of the CBD.

Clayts
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Reply By: Lyds- Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 23:04

Friday, Jun 16, 2006 at 23:04
go one way, come back the other.

I found the Wagga/Hay path an easier drive, so would probably come back that way.

AnswerID: 178878

Reply By: Muddy doe (SA) - Saturday, Jun 17, 2006 at 00:39

Saturday, Jun 17, 2006 at 00:39
I used to do the trip from Adelaide to Wollongong many times and return.

Agree that Hume is best toward Wagga and then via Hay and Balranald.

Few years ago I found that a short cut exists around the top of Wagga. As you head down the Hume you turn right on Burley Griffen Way at Bowning and go west through Harding, Temora, and Griffith and then head down rejoin the Sturt hwy and then across to Hay. Much less traffic and it avoids going through the long 80km/h stretch at Wagga. Highway Patrol is also very diligent around Wagga!

Once at Balranald the best way is to go south to Tooleybuc and via Ouyen and into Pinaroo, Lameroo, Tailem Bend and then into Adelaide on the South East Freeway.

Cheers
Muddy
AnswerID: 178886

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