Sunshine Coast to Barcaldine best route?

Submitted: Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 11:04
ThreadID: 87852 Views:3447 Replies:7 FollowUps:7
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Hello everyone,

We are heading up to Barcaldine in QLD from Mooloolaba on the Sunshine coast towing a 16.6ft van. We are wondering what is the best route to take. We are just driving through, no sight seeing on the way.

Google gives us 3 options all roughly the same time and distance. We are wanting to avoid overly hilly/rough roads with the van.

-Warrego Hwy via Dalby & Roma
- Bruce Hwy via Rockhampton
- Burnett Hwy via Gayndah, Biloela & Emerald

Any feedback on the best road?

Thanks in advance!
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Reply By: Michaeljp - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 12:10

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 12:10
Its been a few years since ive been up that way but, once past Toowoomba its all flat, Cant remember how hilly it is from you up to Rocky, but after that its all flat, but i knows it hilly from noosa via gayndah, biloela. I'd go the toowoomba way. All freeway from your place to Toowoomba, and 1 big climb up the range then flat all the to the west coast.

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Reply By: Tjukayirla Roadhouse - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 13:55

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 13:55
Coming from the Sunny coast, i'd avoid the Warrego like the plague, it's about the worst rd in Australia.
Through Gayndah is a nice drive. and more interesting than straight up the Bruce, which can also be a nightmare run at times.
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Follow Up By: Chris & Sue (Briz Vegas) - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 15:23

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 15:23
Another vote for avoiding the Warrego. At the moment it has lots of roadworks and more bumps than the roller coaster at Dreamworld.

Cheers,
Chris
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Reply By: Rockape - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 15:51

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 15:51
As you say you just want to get there so if I was doing the same I would go up the Bruce to Rocky then straight out on the Capricorn to downtown Barcaldine. 99% good (well for Qld that is) flat roads.

Have a good trip which ever way you decide.

RA.
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Follow Up By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 20:56

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 20:56
I agree Capricorn Hwy in from Rocky.
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Reply By: Member Al (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 16:19

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 16:19
From the Sunshine Coast I would choose the Burnett Hwy via Gayndah, Biloela & Emerald. But to get onto the Burnett I would go up the Bruce Hwy through Gympie and turn after 12 km onto the Wide Bay Hwy to Kilkivan to join the Burnett to Gayndah etc. This is a flat route and a good road through nice country.
The Bruce Hwy from Sunshine Coast to Gympie is in good condition with plenty of overtaking lanes so you won't hold others up if you want to take it easy. Besides, it is a divided highway from the Coast to Cooroy then a speed limit of 90 kmh to Gympie.

To reach the Burnett via Kilcoy and Yarraman would take you over some steep sections of the Blackbutt range.

Cannot fathom the suggestion of via Toowoomba from the Sunshine Coast!

Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Tjukayirla Roadhouse - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 16:32

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 16:32
yep, as systhat is your best option.
I did alot of Km's through all those roads, and it's the best option.
The Bruce can drive you nuts on the best of days, and the Warrego, as Chris said above, is like a roller coaster, with one exception being, a roller coaster is actually fun.
have a good trip anyway, whichever way you decde.
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Follow Up By: carlsp - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 18:23

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 18:23
This is the obvious choice. Good free camps along the way as well.
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Follow Up By: deserter - Saturday, Jul 30, 2011 at 17:39

Saturday, Jul 30, 2011 at 17:39
Nuther vote for that route.
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Reply By: blueteddy - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 21:20

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 21:20
Thanks everyone for your feedback! (and the tips about the rollercoaster road haha)

We've decided to take the Burnett > Capricorn route (ie: click here) and we'll be heading off in the morning.

Looking forward to staying in our first free camp along the way :)

Cheers!

Dave & Hayley
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Follow Up By: Member Al (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 21:37

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 21:37
Good one Dave & Hayley.

As you leave the motorway at Sippy Downs to access the Bruce Highway you will encounter a stop sign. Take great care of traffic on your left as they exit the Bruce Hwy, They are often travelling over the expected speed and there are many accidents at this intersection. About this point you are passing my backyard and I would invite you for a cuppa but I guess you want to be on the move.

Hope you enjoyed the Sunny Coast and I wish you good travelling.

Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: happytravelers - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 21:58

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 21:58
Hi

I also live on the Sunshine coast ( Tewantin ) and have done the Barcaldine run many times. The Gayndah, Biloela, Emerald way is my prefered option, although sometimes for a change we use the Roma, Morvan, Augathella route.

If going through Gayndah at the moment, watch out for the Bats!!

Jon
AnswerID: 461302

Follow Up By: Member Al (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 22:11

Friday, Jul 29, 2011 at 22:11
Good point about the bats Jon.

For those who don't know what we are on about, see here.

Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: blueteddy - Sunday, Jul 31, 2011 at 08:52

Sunday, Jul 31, 2011 at 08:52
Hi all!

Well we made it ~330km in from Sunny coast and successfully stayed our first night at a free stopover. ABSOLUTELY loved it!

Silly us are still on the Camps4 book (will upgrade at next town) so we went to an old "free" spot 7km west of Edsvold (Tolderodden Rest Area) only to find it is now $5/person e-permit site (still very nice though and nobody around).

So on our mission to stay somewhere free we backtracked and continued on 10km past Edsvold to the Ceratodus Rest Area and that's where we stayed (and currently are at!) Having no power was great! About 8 other campers are here, one lovely couple even came over and started chatting to us (the next-g antenna we rigged up was the convo starter).

Cooked up some bangers and mash then curled up with a hot water bottle. The morning mist is amazing and apparently stays around until 10am. We'll post some pictures when better internet comes around.

Off to Emerald or nearabouts today. The roads in from the coast were very good. No complaints at all :)

See ya later!

Dave & Hayley
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