Best route Melbourne to Tweed Heads

Hello, It depends on the age of the kids also if they will look at the scenery and how quick you want to get there . I have not been on Narrabri Bingara rd but my map shows gravel so if you are towing a van it might get gravel rashed. Moree across is ok too. Went Tenterfield Lismore with van on, it was much easier than Grafton Glen Innes on the way back . Also did Bendemeer Port Macquarie with van on , all scenic routes but i think fastest is Tenterfield , the sadlers and town are interesting too. Hope you have a great trip . The New England Hwy from Tamworth to Warwick was the old interstate truck route until the road through Moree was ashpalted .

Peter

I have travelled from between Coonabarabran and Gunnedah (Mullaley) to Lennox Head so many times.

The best way is to turn off the Newell and travel the Oxley Highway to Bendemeer and continue on along the New England to Tenterfield then down the Bruxner to at least Casino. There is an option to either to go towards Ballina and follow the Pacific Highway or go to Kyogle and take the road to Murwillumbah.

Hope that helps.

DW

We towed our van Narrabri - Bingara- Glen Innes-Grafton a better road than Tenterfield as you get over the mountains quicker only a few k,s further

I have travelled from Broken Hill to Ballina many times and used all of the main routes.

You can go from Coonabarabran to Armidale then down to Grafton; Coonabarabran to Narrabri then Bingara, Delungra, Tenterfield then Casino; or you can go Narrabri, Moree, Tenterfield, Casino.

There is not much in it under normal road conditions. The first time I did the trip we went Armidale, Grafton. The run from Armidale to Grafton is very pretty, I really enjoyed it. The next trip we went via Moree mostly because floods kept forcing us north. We were fortunate to get through with the Gwydir Highway literally opening as we got to the road block.

You will encounter more traffic on the New England between Tamworth and Armidale especially in holliday times and it can slow you down. That said if I was to go north of Armidale I would stay on the New England until Tenterfield. I think it is a better run and keeps you heading north longer. Also if you want to go to Tweed without going to Ballina that is your best option.

My favourite route though is up through Bingara. I did some walking in Mt Kaputar National Park many years ago and I still long to spend more time there. If you go this way you must stop at Sawn Rocks. You can go and look at the rock feature but sitting watching eagles fly is not a bad way to spend the lunch break. I am pretty sure the road is all sealled now but there may still be a little bit of dirt. You can still make good time across this route because there is virtually no traffic.

We went this way when we were in a hurry. On one occasion we had to get from the Hill to Ballina in one day and this is the way we went. I was towing a Trak Shak camper trailer behind a GU 4.2TD Patrol. With two drivers we did 1550km in one (long) day.

A friend who regularly went to Tweed travelled via Goondiwindi and Toowoomba. He claimed the better road made for a quicler travelling time. He also had small children with him. Si that too is worth cosidering.

Personally I would go Narrabri, Bingara, Delungra, Glen Innes, Tenterfield, Casino ...

As I said at the start, I don't think it makes much difference. Go one way and come home another. It's all worth looking at.

Good luck
Duncs