Sydney to Mildura or Broken Hill night driving

Well you will get lots of mince from the road kill. Just make sure one doesn't come through the windscreen.

Thursday might be a better idea.

Cheers

Scottx
Six of one and a half dozen of the other, just beware that whichever way you go the roos and other wild life are your enemy.

Possibly fewer trucks on the BH route.

Possibly fewer Roos on the other, the trucks have killed lots of them.
JMHO.
Colin.

Whichever way you go it's a lot further than 1000 K's.
Best break your journey before either one, otherwise you might finish up a statistic. Not a good way to start a holiday.

Dave

I would'nt be driving in those area's at night aspeacially with rain in the area the roo's tend to come and have a drink of the road,day time driving only,REMEMBER you can look out for roo's as hard as you can but it's THE ONE YOU DON'T SEE THAT WILL HIT YOU.cheer's GREENDOG

Well watch out for the goats.
Thousands of them if you go the way of broken hill and the other side of cobar.

Honky

Thanks for your replys I apreciate it
I might see if the girls can miss their sports carnaval and leave Wed morning. If not just go a little way Wed night and do the majority of driving in the daylight on Thursday. Either way I,m sure there will be no checkered flag waving when we get to darwin eventually.

Have a good one
Scott

Hi Scott,
We have driven the Broken Hill to Nevertire road many times at night. You will find that a safe and maximum speed that we sat on was about 80 kph, sometimes slower in times when it has been dry and no rain. The worst section for roos, would be between Broken Hill and Cobar.

Any time of the year can be bad, but it is not the best when it has been hot and dry. I do not follow the weather conditions out in Western New South Wales, but if it has been wet, it will be a little better. As you know, roos are nocturnal and feed and travel at night. If wet, it will slow down their travel and in general, will be wide spread and less likely to be in greater numbers around the black stuff. The main reason, there will be good feed and moisture well out into their areas of travel.

It if is dry and been dry for a long time, different story. Any moisture will drain from bitumen and the roos are attracted to the moisture and new growth of young grasses that grow on the side of the road.

The most important thing with night travel, is that you have a good set of driving lights, 2 people in the front seat that are wide awake and watching the road constantly for any wildlife, including native, sheep and cattle, do not speed, and stop regularly, just to walk around the car and stretch you legs.
At the first sign of feeling a little drowsy, pull over and have a sleep.

Drive safely

Stephen

Hi Scott
Have lived out here in Broken Hill for 22 yrs, all driving years and my advice to you is DON'T...
Especially when we find out that "we" includes "girls" who attend "sports carnivals" so I presume your children...
The night-driver and co-pilot 'spotter' out here should ideally be military trained... Do you and the co-pilot know what you are trying to 'spot'..??
It's not just Roo's (and the the profile of the roo is infinitely different depending on their type, size, colour, position and activity)... it's Emus, Pigs, Sheep, Goats, Cats, Foxes, European tourists on bicycles, and caracases/roadkill... Not to mention Road-Trains... And the roads out here are not Freeway quality... Some stretches are pretty good - and some stretches are pretty bumpy...
Distance from Sydney Broken Hill is over 1100 kms. State speed limit is 100kph until you reach Nevertire where it changes to 110. You will NOT do this trip in 10 hours or 11 hours or even 12 hours - even if you don't stop... And you have to stop for meals/toileting/fatigue
Why not Go to bed very early the night before; plan to be transiting Paramatta at dawn; Breakfast in Macca's at Bathurst; overnight Dubbo; 8 hours to Broken Hill from there; lunch stop at Cobar - 5 hours to B'Hill; overnight: on to Port Augusta next day...
Question here..?? Are you towing a van/trailer?? - If you are then add some hours to the above journey times...
Believe me 6 hours driving a day with 2xhalf hour stops and a good lunch stop with two "sports carnival" kids in the car (are we there yet...) is the MAX you should aim for... You're on holiday... Remember - Fatigue can Kill...
Jedo

I think your decision to travel in daylight is a wise one. As indicated the chances
of encountering marsupials & other obstacles is a very real risk. Roos hit trucks
& cars every night on the 4 lane Hume highway not 5 minutes from here, &
this is north of Canberra, not exactly the outback. Besides the trip will be far more interesting in daylight, unless you are a regular traveller of these roads.
You will find Mildura or Broken Hill a big drive in a day, but doable if you keep rolling,beware of fatigue & share the driving if possible. Have a great trip
...oldbaz.

As soon as I read the original question I thought goats. Have never before seen goats on the road like those between Dubbo and Broken Hill. Just to satisfy my curiosity, are they on the road at night too?

KenD
bris

I just came through there two weeks ago . Started from near Cobar at 5.00 am - roos EVERYWHERE.

I waited for a truck and then asked on the UHF if I could sit behind him. Still not all that good, but better than doing 60 kph.

Best to go to Dubbo in the dark and then continue the next day.

Cheers,

Willie.

I have done plenty of night driving and its not as bad as people make out. Of course your chances of hitting roos are alot more but you said you will be leaving at 8.00 - well after dark. I have never hit a roo at night, all at dawn and dusk. at night they dont hop much as they have got where they are going. I see plenty but they just watch from the side of the road.

as for goats, sheep and emus. They cant see at night, they are not nocturnal. You may see see them but once again because there night vision is not good they wont be travelling accross the road suddenly in front of you.
another big tip is to never honk your horn at any animal you dont want to hit. It confuses them and often causes them to double back and act unpredictable.
When spotlighting that was a good trick to get roos to hop back out of the scrub that had beaten you to a fenceline