Goulburn-Oberon Road Query

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 09:30

ThreadID: 64843 Views:8943 Replies:7 FollowUps:5

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Member - Terry W (ACT)

Has anyone travelled the Goulburn-Oberon Road via Taralga and Black Springs recently and able to say whether it is suitable for a 20 foot dirt road caravan (Sterling Outback)?

I am getting conflicting advice about the dirt bit from Taralga to the Abercrombie River.

Cheers,

Terry

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Reply By: Member - John and Val W (ACT) - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 09:55

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 09:55

Hi Terry,

Havent been that way for a couple of years but seem to recall that the road around the Abercrombie River is pretty steep and marked not suitable for caravans.

Val.

J and V
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AnswerID: 342815

Follow Up By: Member - Terry W (ACT) - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 10:04

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 10:04

Thanks John and Val. Sounds like the route through Cowra might be the safest way to go. You Northside or Southside?

Cheers,

Terry

FollowupID: 610538

Follow Up By: Member - John and Val W (ACT) - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 10:28

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 10:28

Hi Terry,

The road to Cowra is good, just has some long hills. We are deep north (just over the border in NSW).

Cheers,

Val.

J and V
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FollowupID: 610545

Reply By: bockstar1 - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 10:46

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 10:46

According to this it's now completely sealed;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goulburn-Oberon_Road

Regarding the Abercrombie River NP and camping grounds. The Sink is accessible by standard car and trailers although there is limited space to set up C/Ts and Caravans. The Beach and Silient Creek are more suited to car & trailer/caravan based camping. The Beach being the pick of the 2 locations. Access to both these areas is more suited to a 4WD as there are some steeper sections. Access around the southern part of the park is also more suited to 4WDs than softies and 2WD.

AnswerID: 342818

Follow Up By: Time - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 13:13

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 13:13

In my view anyone who takes a two wheel drive or caravan into Abercrombie NP has rocks in their head!

Re 20 ft van on the tar, you will have problems climbing out of the Abercrombie River crossing unless you have a heap of power and low down torque, wouldn't recommend it, and as mentioned above it is sign posted as not suitable for vans.

FollowupID: 610569

Reply By: Member - Howard (ACT) - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 13:11

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 13:11

Terry,
I can confirm that the road is sealed all the way from Taralga to Oberon.go that way regularly.

what are you towing with as the climb going north up out of abercrombie river has some very tight corners but main problem is it is a very steep pull of a couple of km.

I can get the cruiser hot if I overdo it with the camper trailer on the back.
While the road is not recommended for caravans we have taken 4 decker semi trailer stock floats thru that road when it was still dirt.
not easy but possible.
cheers
Howard

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AnswerID: 342837

Reply By: Gronk - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 13:23

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 13:23

If I was towing a 20ft van with a manual vehicle, then I would be wary of ever stopping on some of the steep sections, but apart from that, this road is fairly easy.....pick a gear and stick to it and you will have no probs..

AnswerID: 342842

Follow Up By: Member - Terry W (ACT) - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 15:50

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 15:50

Thanks everyone. We tow with an automatic 4.6 litre Disco 2 V8 which has reasonable torque and has low range if really needed. We were just looking for a different route from Canberra to Bathurst and it looked like an interesting variation, but we had lots of conflicting advice. I think we will go via Cowra, our usual way, and have a look at the other route without the van.

Thanks again everyone for the great advice.

Cheers,

Terry

FollowupID: 610596

Reply By: seawasp - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 21:04

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 21:04

The road is sealed all the way you intend to travel . Just exercise caution and take your time on the descent and climb at the Abercrombie River , steep and some sharp bends with reasonable turning area. I tow with a L/C 100 and 18' tandem van through this area. Also watch out for the skippies and wombats around night time, we have pranged two Ambulances at Oberon in recent weeks , there seems to be more around this year.

AnswerID: 342941

Reply By: Madfisher - Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 21:23

Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009 at 21:23

Another route which is by fat the shortest(260ks Bx to Canberra) is through gunning, Crookwell, Tuena. The road is now sealed all the way to Crookwell and only about 12ks of well maintained dirt left between Crookwell and Bathurst.Some steep sections but nothering like the oberon road, bit windy but interesting scenery and villages.
Cheers Pete

AnswerID: 342948