Advice on travel route from Melbourne to Bundaberg Queensland going solo.

as far as the NSW leg goes -- new England hwy - you miss all the cities the you would if going to coast way - not much to see -- and a LOT of long stretches of 100 KMH and not to many cops this way - im sure others will fill in the gaps


IT is a long drive mate parents live in bundy so from Sydney - i try to break that into 2 days... yours should be 3 days MIN safely

Boc

Turn off at Seymour and head for Tocumwal then head up the Newell Hwy to Goondiwindi. Then on to Toowoomba up to Kingaroy over to Maryborough the up the road to Bundaberg.

Sainsy, a good short cut is after Dubbo, at the sale yards turn right and head for Mendooran, then on to Coonabarabran, a lot quicker and no trucks.

As you are not used to driving long distance, I would limit the day to about 6 or 6 1/2 Hours driving. I travel solo a lot, am lucky have cruise control, but always stop every two hours or so, depending on spacing of towns etc. I would aim for West Wyalong for the first day, then Narrabri or Moree, then day three to Goondiwindi, Dalby and then across to Maryborough and upto Bundaberg. If you have a look at where is and google, the route should be pretty easy to follow.

Just had a look at google and it suggests not going into Maryborough, I don't know that way as I go to Hervey Bay via Maryborough. Google also suggest that is is about 700 k's or so for the last day would be a big day for you. You may want to break the trip into four days, say Wiily to Narrandera, then Narrandera to Coonabarabran, Coonabarabran to Dalby, Dalby to Bundaberg. Hope the above helps and enjoy the trip.

Sainsy, glad I could be of assistance, the legs I suggest may be too short, they maybe too long, will leave that up to you.

One other suggestion, if funds permit is to look at getting cruise fitted, the one would be a lot cheaper than factory I think. Makes it a much easier trip to do, one less thing to worry about...... If you would like a suggestion for cruise, just ask.

I take it that you are an experienced traveller in the bush, may be just what I am looking for, a travelling companion.....

Enjoy the trip, John

Hi Sainsy
why don't you buy a Navman set it for the quickest route to Bundaberg and sit back it will tell you when and where to turn. They also show petrol stations and red light camera's and speeding camera's
Richard

Sainsy, I would catch a boat to the city, LOL. Bugga that bridge traffic each day. I am looking to retire next year, no more peak hours, ever...............

Sainsy think we should meet for a coffee, a women that actually knows how to drive.......

Bet I cop heaps for that comment.......

Sainsy, just had a thought, some of these posts will get moderated due to the chit chat rule, if you would like to continue chatting, I can be contacted via email, jlsulli@bigpond.com Will understand if you don't. John

My highway drive is between Adelaide and Brisbane which is a three day trip- I would allow the same time for Melbourne to Bundaberg. Whenever I'm making a long highway trip I use the RAA (SA) trip planner before I leave. It gives times, distances and directions and you can print the instructions. Your local RA** branch should also have a free 'Tour Planning Map of Australia' (though chances are you will have something similar already). I like to keep this highway map in the car.

The trip planner link is here.

Sainsy. If you hook your Tom Tom up to the computor you can join up to the member file downloads and change the navigator voice.I also got rid of that annoying siren for the overspeed alarm, now have nice mellow chimes which are much easier on the nerves when driving. Regards,Bob.

Hi Sainsy,

Although I live in San Diego most of the time I have a farm up between Childers and Bundaberg, also my Mum lives in Orange I tend to do the trip from Orange to Bundy 3-4 times a year.

The best way to come from Melbourne is straight up the Newell Highway to Dubbo, this is where I join the Newell on my trips so here are a few pointers from there..

Just as you are leaving the city centre of Dubbo you'll cross over the railway and there is a great PIE SHOP on the left hand side, advertise as the best pies in Australia.

As someone else said there is a short cut from Dubbo to Conabarabran though Mendooran, the turn off for this is actually a bit past the sale yards at Brocklehurst just after you go over a long bridge. Follow this for abt 5-6 km and you'll turn right over the railway lines and this will take you to just south of Coonabarabran. Be careful for roos through the forest.

Coonabarabran is used as a stopover for many doing the Mel-bris trip and there are heaps of motels.

Abt 10 km north of Coonabarabran the Newell turns left and you go up throuigh the Pilliga Forest to Narrabri . No petrol between there.

Narrabri is always a hard place to get a motel room but if you stay there go to the RSL for tea.

Straight run through to Moree and Boggabilla,

Turn left at the Wobbly Boot Hotel (Slim Dusty song) and you'll cross into QLD (remember no DLS in Qld.)

At the BIG round-a-bout if you go left it will take you down the main street of Gundy and turn right to Moonie. If you go straight ahead at the round a bout you'll go past a BP and McDonalds and then turn left to get the the Moonie Road (bypass town)

North of Gundy make sure you go on the Moonie Road and not turn to Toowoomba.

At Moonie turn right to Dalby.

At Dalby take the Bunya Hwy to Kingaroy. Buy some peanuts.

go though to Wondai and Murgon.

At Murgon there is a short cut though to the Burnett Hwy but I can't remember just were it turns off but you need to be heading towards Gayndah on the Burnett Hwy.

At Ban Baa Springs turn right to Biggenden go though Biggenden to Childers.

In Childers turn left at the Shell Servo and 5km north of Childers at Apple Tree Creek the road splits and the left hand lane goes through to Bundy.

Be carefull between Childers and Bundy as the cane harvest will just be ending and the are a couple of tram crossings and cane trucks on the roads.

The longest runs without servos is Coonabarabran-Narrabri and Moree to Boggabilla. I generally fill up at Narrabri and top up again when I get to Gundy.

Cheers

Bruce