Brisbane to Melbourne - best way to drive.

Smoke Pursuit · 30-01-2009, 02:00 PM

Hey guys...

Ill be driving down to Melbourne mid February and im just trying to decide which way would be the best to go?

Back way thru Warwick, Goondiwindi, Moree, Dubbo etc? Or the coast road?

I've never done the trip in a car, only by plane... We will be taking the Mazda 3, which has no cruise control sadly

:, but need the room!

I would love to do the trip in 1 day, but not in a mazda 3! So i would expect we will probably stop in Dubbo for the nite? Is this the best place to stop or should i try and make the most of day one and go a bit further? Will be leaving brisbane about 5 am on Friday morning, so should be in dubbo by about 4 i reckon.

Cheers.

Brent

rodderz · 30-01-2009, 02:23 PM

Quickest wold probably through Goondiwindi,, then down the Newell. Dubbo, Parks, Forbes would be a good stop for a night.

RG · 30-01-2009, 02:31 PM

In a car on the road would probably be the best way.

:

As for which route rodderz is on the money.

EgoFG · 30-01-2009, 02:33 PM

Via Yeoval

LUXO_8 · 30-01-2009, 02:33 PM

absolutley the newell is the quickest way, can be a bit boring however as its just about countryside the whole way.....

couple of mates and i did the trip back in september (melb to brisbane and back) for Powercruise, but we drove straight through (helps having 3 drivers)...
next time i go up i want to go the coastal way for a bit of scenery

gtfpv · 30-01-2009, 02:39 PM

go through the middle . going down to melbourne from sydney along the coast is best done over 2 days to notice the veiws without falling asleep . down the coast you would want 2 to 3 days . through the centre abot 20 hours driving

bluovl · 30-01-2009, 03:23 PM

I did this exact trip this time last week when I drove my newly acquired GT-P back to Victoria. I went the same way the other guys are recommending.
Out to Goondawindi, then down the Newell stopping at Dubbo overnight.
It wasnt as dry and boring as I remembered it from years back but actually scenic in places. Little or no road work made it easier too.

Dale

Smoke Pursuit · 30-01-2009, 03:54 PM

sweet...

we should have a good run hopefully.. Dubbo seems to be a good place to stop!

cheers.

Steve · 30-01-2009, 03:57 PM

I've done the Newell and it's by far the quickest way. I agree with your choice of Dubbo too, breaks the drive up nicely. Are making the trip by yourself or with a second driver?

Smoke Pursuit · 30-01-2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

I've done the Newell and it's by far the quickest way. I agree with your choice of Dubbo too, breaks the drive up nicely. Are making the trip by yourself or with a second driver?

Second driver.. Dont know how much driving she will do tho as im the one who does all the kms!

Steve · 30-01-2009, 04:01 PM

Ok, it's a trip you can do in one hit with two drivers. You can also stop at Parkes or Forbes if you want. There's plenty of accomodation.

wodahs · 30-01-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell

In a car on the road would probably be the best way.

:

you forget the forwards direction :togo:
reminds me of the guy that got booked in the north of western australia early 2008 for speeding at 40 k's an hr in a 110 zone ~ in reverse headin in to town coz he had lost forward gears

:

**Peuty** · 30-01-2009, 06:44 PM

Yep, make sure you stop in Gundy. Might be out there visiting the folks, so let me know!

gtfpv · 30-01-2009, 08:06 PM

dont stop at maitland or tamworth . 6 and 7 toed people everywhere there .

jasjul · 30-01-2009, 08:24 PM

I would definitely go inland. Pacific Hwy is shocking at the moment. They're duplicating large sections of it, so lots of 60 and 80 km/h zones. Some of them are near 15-20 k's long. It will be an easy drive once they're fininshed though.

Hitman · 30-01-2009, 08:31 PM

Newell hwy for sure, pacific hwy takes too long and is a p**** of a road.

rodderz · 30-01-2009, 10:25 PM

Coonabarabran is also a good stop, plenty of hotels there. We stopped there on the way back from Rocky. The sky is so bright and clear at night, which is why it's popular for the star watchers at the observatory.

On the way up we got to Gundy in one hit, but it's a big drive and we only had short stops.

AUXRVIII · 31-01-2009, 09:38 AM

I've done Melb to Sunshine Coast a few times via Hume and Pacific hwy in a 3 ton truck moving house for myself and a friend, my friend wanted to go the Newell as he has done that road a few times, I said Pacific, we went Pacific, he said he would never do Newell again as Pacific was more relaxing. Yes there are roadworks but atleast it breaks up the monotony especially when you have no cruise. Atleast 60 percent of the trip would be freeway also.
Also you could check out possible holiday destinations along the way.

blackers10 · 31-01-2009, 11:57 AM

me and debzilla did brisvegas to dubbo in 1 stretch via the Newell.. deb drove the whole way..we left brisbane at 3am from memory so were well on our way by sun up which saves having to put the AC on from the heat.
we could have gone further than dubbo easily probably all the way to albury in 1 day EASY. just depends if you can sleep while the other drives

drew`SEVNT5 · 31-01-2009, 01:06 PM

I did Melbourne-Stanthorpe, and Stanthorpe-Melbourne in one hit each way over Christmas 08.... Left Pakenham 6pm, 17hrs of Travel Time, 16hrs of that Driving, I was there(11am Vic Time).... On the way back, I left 11am(Vic Time), and 16hrs of Travel Time, 15hrs of that Driving, I was back @ 3am New Years Eve....

I did this solo, too...

Smoke Pursuit · 31-01-2009, 01:44 PM

I would prefer to do it over 2 days as i dont want be pushed plus i think ill be doing 90% of the driving..

If I was doing in in one of the utes it would be easier as they are more comfy then the mazda, but oh well.

MotherNatureVer2 · 31-01-2009, 03:49 PM

Coonabarabran will be easy to get accommodation at this time of year.

Just a hint, well short cut..... about 15k's out of Coonabarabran there is a turn off that is just over a bridge and has an apple stall (very small one) on the right. If you turn left there and continue through Mendooran it will cut a metric ar$e load of that part of the trip.

Is tar all the way and the roads are on par with the rest of the trip.

Smoke Pursuit · 31-01-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotherNature

Coonabarabran will be easy to get accommodation at this time of year.

Just a hint, well short cut..... about 15k's out of Coonabarabran there is a turn off that is just over a bridge and has an apple stall (very small one) on the right. If you turn left there and continue through Mendooran it will cut a metric ar$e load of that part of the trip.

Is tar all the way and the roads are on par with the rest of the trip.

Thanks for that tip, im going to draw my self some mudmaps as i know short cuts around the QLD border side to!

**Peuty** · 31-01-2009, 06:04 PM

Brent, as far as shortcuts from here to the QLD border (Gundy) there really aren't any. And believe me, I have looked, having done that trip hundreds of times.

Hitman · 31-01-2009, 06:17 PM

Unbelievble, people bragging about driving 15 hours out of 16.
As a heavy vehicle driver I can only drive for 12 hours in ANY 24 hour period, and I drive for a living!

Smoke Pursuit · 31-01-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peuty

Brent, as far as shortcuts from here to the QLD border (Gundy) there really aren't any. And believe me, I have looked, having done that trip hundreds of times.

Lol you can go via the freestone road to warwick (instead of the eight mile), which saves about 10 minutes... Thats all i have at this stage :P

**Peuty** · 31-01-2009, 11:14 PM

Yeah but going the Toowoomba way is half an hour quicker than Warwick anyway!

**Burnout** · 31-01-2009, 11:20 PM

Where you are to T'Woomba - Gore Hwy to Gundy - Newell to West Wylong - West Wylong to Mexico.

**Peuty** · 01-02-2009, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnedout

Where you are to T'Woomba - Gore Hwy to Gundy - Newell to West Wylong - West Wylong to Mexico.

That's how I'd do it

Penelope Pitstop · 01-02-2009, 01:51 AM

We just did Brissy to Canberra in one day - down on the New England and back in one day on the Pacific Highway.

IN A MINI!

:

If you think they Mazda will be uncomfortable I dare you to do it in a MINI. :evil3:

Personally I prefer the Pacific Highway but we did it through the night and there was virtually no traffic. We stopped for a small break every town or so and changed drivers every 2 hours.

We have stayed in Dubbo before on our Bathurst trip and it is a good place to have a rest stop. We took the time to go to the Dubbo Zoo which I would highly recommend if you can stretch your travel time by another 1/2 day or so.