Route Suggestrions for January trip, SEQ to ALbury

Submitted: Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 08:22
ThreadID: 87592 Views:2226 Replies:4 FollowUps:7
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Hi Guys

My second post and I'm asking for info again :-)

My wife and I have just bought a camper trainer. We have been wanting to get one for a while but could not justify the expense but her brother is getting married in January in Albury so instead of the three of us flying down to Melbourne and and having someone come down and pick us up and the reverse, or driving down in the car and staying in Motels, we thought that the money and inconvenience saved by hooking the camper on the back of the Rodeo would pay for the fuel and some of the camper off so we've got one.

Long story short, my planned route is Route to Albury

Basically get over the west of the divide nad run down along the western side. My wife Margarita does not travel the winding road too wel, just a bit better than on a plane which she has to come off in a wheelchair sometimes!! Anyway, we have 5 days to get down there and another 5 to get back, we will have our youngest (12yes) son with us and was wondering if there was any suggestions of places to camp, things to see etc from you learned lot?

Thanks in advance :-P
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Reply By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 10:04

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 10:04
Inland NSW will probably be HOT in January, so suggest you stick to the NSW Tablelands-Snowy Mountains High country more than direct routes such as the Newell Highway.

Suggestions would include down the Pacific Highway to Grafton, then up the road to Armidale stopping off at all the beautiful waterfalls (Ebor, Wollomombi, Bakers Ck). If you have 5 days that would probably do you for night 1.

Then to historic places like Gulgong & Mudgee. From there would run to Canberra and onto the Snowy Montains, coming out east of Albury. Armidale-Canberra would be a long 2nd day, but would give you more time in the cooler high country before you hit Albury.

If you want to avoid winding roads, then out to Goondi, down the Newell, turning off at West Wyalong, through to Wagga and into Albury. You'll find it a dull but easy 2 day drive with all the B doubles and Carvaners.
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Follow Up By: Member - Todd S (QLD) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 13:49

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 13:49
Thanks Mark.

I come from down the Mid North Coast of NSW so we get down there pretty often and will most likely go down there between now and then so we will probably go over the range up here. The suggestions for further south are good ones, I am interested in the colonial history and will probably have wander through the Thunderbolt and Ben Hall areas along the way as a day trip without the camper.

Wondering whether the dams/lakes would be worth a stopover and which ones. We will pass nearby:

Lake Coolmunda

Pindari Lake

Copeton Dam

Split Rock Reservoir

Lake Keepit

Lake Burendong

So there is no shortage. The you one likes to sail and canoe so I will probably factor one in. I would really like to go through some of the high country but Margarita does not travel well on the winding road and we would spend most of the time stopped on the side of the road :-P but Gulgonng, Mudgee, Bathurst sounds like a good option. Show my son the Black Stump at Coolah and do a lap of the Mountain Circuit too.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 17:45

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 17:45
Can't help you with Pindari or Lake Coolmunda.
Split Rock hasn't had much water in it for a decade. Copeton is only half full at present but has good camping faciliities. Keepit is beautiful at the moment, full of water, very good caravan park or bush camping on the other side of the Dam (it costs to get in).
Burrendong is also very good, and Windamere Dam is worth a look if you go south of Mudgee

The road from Mudgee to Bathurst via Sofala is the most direct, but it is windy and hilly. That leaves the ordinary run down to Lithgow and then across to Bathurst, or alternatively, from Mudgee across to Wellington (Lake Burrendong), then onto Molong & Cudal.

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Reply By: Notso - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 10:09

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 10:09
If you go a bit further west and go down the Newell Highway from Dubbo it is less winding and flatter. Dubbo Zoo is worth seeing.

Nice free camp in Forbes by the lake, great motor museum, Historic Town.
AnswerID: 460068

Follow Up By: Member - Todd S (QLD) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 14:01

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 14:01
Did not know about the Motor Museum at Forbes. Probably go further east from the looks but will keep it on the To-Do list. Did the Zoo a few years ago. Needed more time. Think that will be a trip of its own, we will probably go down the the rellies a bit more often now. Margarita's mother lives in Albury too.

Cheers
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Reply By: Fred G NSW - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 10:32

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 10:32
The route you show is the one I would take, more or less.

From Tamworth across to Gunnedah, Coonabarabran (Warrambungles), Mendooran, (Good free camp on the Castlereagh River), Dunedoo(sensational bakery), Gulgong (Banjo Paterson fame), Wellington (Great C/P at the Caves), Molong, Canowindra, Cowra, then down the Olympic H'way via Young, (Middle of the stonefruit season), Cootamundra (Bradman museum), Junee, Wagga, Henty, Culcairn, and hit the Hume H'way at the Ettamogah Pub about 25k's north of Albury.

It is a great and easy drive through the mid west pastoral and fruit country, with excellent roads all the way, and not too much traffic.

I always go that way when heading south, even with caravan in tow, and never tire of that drive. There is stacks of history to check out in all those towns along the way.

Enjoy your trip, whichever way you decide to go.

Fred




AnswerID: 460069

Follow Up By: Member - Todd S (QLD) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 13:58

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 13:58
Like the Stone Fruit country Fred. That run through Molong and south is my favorite route on the bike when we go down to PI for the races. Love the Lambing Flat Museum too, stop in there every time and give the old girls a few coins. Been a while since we've been down there.

Gulgong (Banjo Paterson fame) are great idea, I'll factor them in.

Thanks mate.
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Follow Up By: Member - Mark (Tamworth NSW) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 17:38

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 17:38
Young is the Cherry capital of Australia, but all the cheries will be finished by Xmas (my grandparents had a farm outside of Young).

The drive from Molong to Cudal, to Canowindra, thyen the Olympic Way (Cowra-Young-Cootamundra-Junee-Wagga-Albury) is one of my favourite drives in NSW, especially in spring.
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Follow Up By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 19:40

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 19:40
Gulgong (Banjo Paterson fame) would make Henry Lawson turn in his grave. Wrong great Aussie poet. Gulgong History
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Follow Up By: Fred G NSW - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 20:27

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 20:27
Very observant there Rod. Henry Lawson is of course comemorated at Gulgong, and was born in Grenfell, not all that far away.
Banjo is a little further south (among other places) near Orange, where he was born.

Both of these famous Aussie poets are buried in Sydney. Henry in Waverley, about 20 years before Banjo, in 1941, in the northern suburbs.

Thanks for the correction mate.

Fred

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Reply By: bert546 - Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 22:37

Saturday, Jul 16, 2011 at 22:37
if decide to travel on the newell highway please dont do what the rest of your mates do. that is travell at 95 klms/hr then when you get to the overtaking lane speed up to 100klms/hr so the truck you have been holding up carnt pass you.
AnswerID: 460135

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