New England Hwy - Brisbane to Sydney

I'm not sure why anyone would really want to go inland these days especially from Bris to Syd.

There is a heck of a lot of dual carriage way these days , and a lot of it 110kph.

I always travel up the pacific hwy from Canberra to the Gold Coast.

i think that over the last year or 2 the NEH has been done up in brisbane's end?? makes it far more accessible for people travelling down to sydney.

dave

The Grey Nomads
Relaxed forum for the grey nomad community to keep in touch

I enjoy the New England when I venture north. Just a hint -if you're heading southbound....at Singleton, turn off the New England and head East, and you'll eventually join up with the Newcastle Freeway just North of the Hawkesbury Bridge.

There is a lot of road works on the Nth Coast using the Pacific where the upgrading is still going on.

The Coffs area seems to take ages to drive through as does the Ballina/Byron area but atleast the scenery is nice through the latter. If you hit the Gold Coast at the wrong time of day make sure you take your chill pills.

There will be loads of cops on the Pacific.

Hi Tony,

Do this trip twice per year and have done for the last 17 years. The NE is IMO the best, every couple of years we try the Pacific and it hasn't improved over 17 years as far as I'm concerned. Rough stats are that we drive from Brisbane to Emu Plains, a touch over 1000K and this takes about 12.5 hours with the breaks etc. Found the trip via the Pacific about 100k less but taking about a half hour longer. We go via the Putty and do the trip at night - next one leaving Sat night.

Kind regards

Tony, why anyone would ever willingly use the Pacific Highway is beyond me...
It's an abomination of a road, far too many single lane sections (STILL) where you can get stuck behind traffic for miles on end followed by a short stretch of dual carriageway where everyone goes like Sterling Moss trying to get past as many others as they can ;-( It's bloody dangerous, and the accident stats confirm this.

New England is a much better run.

The pacific is better road these days, and to Coffs or mid coast the best way.
See notes above re ballina, Brunswick heads, Coffs road works.
Generally though I prefer the New England for east and central Sydney.
Western Sydney definitely new england and the putty rd.

I live south side of Brisbane near Rocklea, so New England is a little easier for me.
If I am going penrith or Richmond, I go down the Newell highway.
13 hours down the newell, compared to 12.5 hours on the new england, but a lot easier driving.

A standard run for me is 12 hours in the pajero, best is 10.5 hours central sydney to home (dream run getting out of sydney with every light green, 10 mins for fuel at scone), can take 13/14 hours depending on where in sydney, with a 30 min stop to give you an idea of my type of travelling.

Hi Tony,

I live near Coffs Harbour so i am pleased to hear so many prefer the NEH. Drive carefully.

John L

I know which route I'd be taking....definitely the sister in law.

Merry xmas GU

Not sure about at xmas time but NEH is the way to go normally
(if you do not wish to stop at a beach somewhere.)

NEH for me, every time.

Thankyou to all for helping me decide that the NEH is definitely the route to take

Try Thunderbolts Way