doing a family trip over the summer from Sydney to the Gold Coast via Port Macquarie.
Freeways are great for getting to a destination but this one is superbly boring. Already planned to stop over for a night at Port Macquarie on the way up and on the way back.
So.... what suggestions for some freeway and non-freeway routes from Sydney > Port Macquarie > Gold Coast and return? I'm happy to do part freeway / off-freeway. There will be 3 cars driving up together, mainly adults and also a couple of under 10s -
325i (the nominated luggage mule)
118d vert (for the posers)
190E 2.5 Cosworth (the MB that wishes it was an E30 M3. Still a very awesome car)
Not everyone enjoys driving for the sake of driving if you know what I mean
I've just started planning the route and this is what I had in mind so far:
- Sydney to Warnervale via F3
- Warnervale to Newcastle via Sparks road / Central Coast hwy / Budgewoi rd / Pacific hwy / Newcastle bypass
- Newcastle to Port Macquarie via Pacific hwy (freeway)
After that I'm kinda lost for ideas. I've done the run to Coffs a few times on the freeway (if you can call it that) and I'm wary of the road and conditions especially at this time of year.
I want to keep it scenic and interesting enough without it getting drawn out or boring (remember the non-drivers and the kids!).
How about taking the trip inland just before Coffs and going up Waterfall Way thru Bellingen & Dorrigo and up towards Armidale? If you don't want to dog leg up the New England Hwy (via Armidale) to Qld then you can try swinging onto Armidale Rd via Tyringham Rd at Dorrigo and then head towards Grafton.
The trip up Waterfall Way is a spectacular drive and well worth it.
It's a pity you're staying overnight at Port (as nice as it is) else I was going to suggest perhaps you should turn off the Pacific Hwy just north of Raymond Terrace and go up the Buckets Way towards Gloucester and then head up Thunderbolts Way towards Armidale (now there's a road) and then swing down Waterfall Way to Coffs for an overnight stay!
I recently drove from Byron Bay to Sydney via the New England Highway. It was a wonderful drive, good roads very little traffic and quite scenic.
Maybe from Port Macquarie you could go west on the Oxley highway then onto the New England through Armidale, Glen Innes, Tenterfield Casino and Byron Bay.
This is a considerable detour but in my opinion a much more satifying drive.
You're basically doing the Pacific Hwy almost the entire way from Sydney except for within Sydney and the stretch to Grafton. As you've suggested, your passengers somewhat dictate this.
Why would you get off the freeway at Warnervale? Just get off at Doyalson (the next exit) and then go up through Newcastle? That's if you don't want to drive on the freeway that whole time..
If anyone has experience on these roads, please let me know.... sealed roads are a minimum, safety, a smooth and enjoyable journey are paramount. If there are any pitfalls, please point them out!
Ahh going thru Wisemans Ferry. Make sure you pack the spew bags for the family. The intense curves coming up from the river crossing are fun for the driver though.
I cant remember the name of the road... by far one of if not the best Australia has to offer, kinda out of the way tho.. its around Gloucester/Barrington Tops, would definitely add hours to your trip but daaaamn
I love it how this was the first reply :clap:
Please excuse the dirty car, I haven't had much time with it, but it's getting a full day's attention on Saturday before we leave on Sunday.
I love it how this was the first reply :clap:
Please excuse the dirty car, I haven't had much time with it, but it's getting a full day's attention on Saturday before we leave on Sunday.
I'd go off the highway at Grafton and go via Nimbin. Scenic, not too twisty, and the young ones will get to see the ferals who inhabit that neck of the woods...lol
Yeah the MB is very clean. All original and the paint work / interior are both immaculate. The only updates to it are a HU from a later model and the wheels.
Thanks for the suggestions - I'll map them out tonight and see what's what.
BTW, did the run through Wiseman's Ferry a couple of years ago with my little one and the E46F crew...... the little one loved it! Asked me for months when we could do it again :rofl:
Yeah the MB is very clean. All original and the paint work / interior are both immaculate. The only updates to it are a HU from a later model and the wheels.
Thanks for all the suggestions - we made it to Surfers no problem.
Ended up cutting down the trip a great deal due to the demands of time and other drivers.... did go through Calga, Peats Ride rd, Wollombi to Cessnock then freeway all the way to PM. Following day we did a drive straight up to Surfers. Good and easy but it would have been great to do some real driving.
Thinking of planning a driving tour some time next year where we can spend a few days enjoying the roads, cars and company. If anyone is interested, we can start discussing....
Ended up cutting down the trip a great deal due to the demands of time and other drivers.... did go through Calga, Peats Ride rd, Wollombi to Cessnock.....
Peats Ridge Road was a motherf:censor:
Never letting you choose the road again. It completely pulverised my spine! The entire "road" was nothing more than patchwork that bashed and smashed against my suspension all the way from beginning till end at 80kph.
I should have used the higher profile tyres on the other set of rims, but I doubt that it would have helped.
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