Best route

Robert

ExplorOz Trip Planner:

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Cheers

Thanks Willem,

Trip planner is Google also.
There is over 500 klms of what looks like unsealed roads north of Barcaldine on the direct route but maybe not the quickest route.
Has anyone been that way ?

Bob

Hello Bob,

The coast route is the most scenic however not the quickest. I find the inland routes just as interesting and many of the smaller towns have tourist attractions that are worth a look. You are correct, not much of a road between Barcaldine, through Muttaburra to Hughenden. Mostly gravel and crosses black soil plains that are troublesome in the wet. We still managed to negotiate the route quickly with a diesel towing a heavy off-road camper trailer.

You may do better inland to Mungindi and then up through St George, Roma, Rolleston, Springsure, Emerald, Clermont, Charters Towers, The Lynd Junction, Ravenshoe, Atherton, Cairns. This involves some of the ‘developmental’ roads. They are sealed but the bitumen is narrow in some places. Main thing is that there is not too much traffic to delay you and they provide a fast route. Best overnight spots I have found on that route are St George, Roma, Emerald and Charters Towers providing both excellent hotels and van parks. Once you pass The Lynd Junction follow the Kennedy for about 90 km and you will find the Georgetown Road leading west. Thirty or so kilometres along that road is the Undara Volcanic National Park that also provides good meals and accommodation as well as some interesting lava tubes. From Undara backtrack to the Kennedy and on to the tablelands for some more great scenery or a quick and easy run into Cairns.

Bob,

I haven't done the trip for about 15 years, but when we were living in Townsville we did it numerous times.

A brief summary, down to Rocky, then swing inland to Mt Morgan, Miles, Mooney, Taroom (not necessarily in that order, I'm working from memory). Keep going on to Goondiwindi (sp?) then follow the Newell.

That was the quickest way back then, but things may have changed.

Ah, when I was younger and coppers were fewer, I could knock that over in 26 hours. I reckon I'd set aside three days now.

Cheers,

Jim.

Travelled from Cairns to Northern Victoria just before Christmas.
Cairns/Lynd Junction/Hughenden.Torrens Creek, Barcaldine, Charleville, Bourke, Cobar, Ivanhoe (heaps of goats between Cobar & Ivanhoe), Hay, Deniliquin, Echuca, Stanhope. Total km's travelled 2700 km's, guessing around 700km's of dirt. Was lucky with the weather/road conditions.