I'm taking a drive... about 2,200 kms

[Grum]

do you have a car bra? might be worth picking one up just for the trip

[Ringo]

Originally Posted by XG-PanelvanMan

hey mate first of all have a good time and stop every coupla hours

second read this post first

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=108716
good luck mate


cheers
brendan

I remember reading this thread...yeah I'm not all that keen on travelling at dawn or dusk in case of roos...I don't have a bull bar or a car bra for that matter (for the bugs...not the roos obviously ).

[prydey]

stop it, you're making me jealous!! I've done adel - bris that many times its not funny but earlier this year due to rising fuel prices and lower air fares it is now cheaper to fly. going again in feb and am flying again.

i'm one of those people that love to drive though. i always go up the newell so can't really comment on new england. i also always stop in motels so can't really comment on any hotels. being a non drinker i don't go there anyway.

i've stayed at motels in west wyalong (true blue), parkes - el mexicali(don't go there), parkview, all settlers, court st. Dubbo - centrepoint(off the main track and very good price), narrabri - bellview, nandewar.

if you're like me you'll love the drive by yourself. last easter i bought my ba from qld and flew up and drove it back. as much as i like travelling with the wife and daughter, the trip back by myself was the most enjoyable yet. not stopping for toilet breaks every town and not stopping for brekky, lunch and tea at certain times etc. just drive, fill the tank up when it gets empty, fill the stomach when it gets empty, stop when you like, keep pushing on if you wish etc etc. freedom. i pulled up for about 1/2 hour just out of parkes for a quick nap, and then for about 3 hours behind mobil at balranald and then home.

i've never been one for stopping every couple of hours but generally it works out not far off that anyway with food/toilet stops and fuel. if you are not used to doing the long drives then i'd recommend a stop every now and then just to stretch the legs.

what car you driving?

in the ba on the way home i got about 850km to a tank. in my 5sp xr6 wgn i used to get about 950km so only 2 fills if i left with a tank full.

have fun. wish i was you!

[Van D]

Sounds awesome mate. I've been in the car for family holidays to the gold coast/brisbane and fairly recently drove from melb to sydney with a friend and then back separately. Picked up an old XT wagon in sydney and was the best fun i'd had in a long time. Was grouse cruising back in a classic too, plenty of looks, and questions at the servo's!

We took plenty of time (left around 6.30-7am and got to the guys house around 5) with a stop for lunch at gundagai etc. Then drove a few more hours back that night. Have loved seeing b doubles on the road, especially at night, since a kid.

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by MYVYSS

....I was planning to stop at Goondawindi (SPelling).....

GoondIwindi dude, Goondiwindi. If you go through Gundy stop at the Royal hotel for a beer!

(Gundy is my home town by the way)

Daniel

[DayTE]

Sounds like a top trip. I miss those kind of drives now I'm back home in Tassie. One end of the state to the other end in around three hours it's not quite the same as 10 -13 hrs major capital city to major capital city on the east coast.

I'll agree with the Thunderbolts comments earlier, it's not a bad bit of road, but when I was living in Newcastle a few years ago I remember Bucketts Way as a horrible stretch. Pothole on top of pothole on top of pothole, maybe it's been upgraded by now!

Either way have a good trip and if you decide not to drive it let me know and I'll drive it for you!

[StookEB]

As others have said, go via Thunderbolts way. I travelled along the road to Armidale in my parents XR6 and the only two things I can say is:
*DAMM it was great fun
*BA brakes are crap HAHA

Go for it mate. Just cruise along and visit local pubs, they ussually have the best meals.

[rodderz]

Me and the missus drove all the way up the Newell in June on route to Rocky for our wedding.

The 1st day we drove from Melbourne to Goondiwindi, a good 1400km, left at 4.30-5.00am and got there at 7.00pm. Got a lot further than we expected, we were planning on stopping in Dubbo or Forbes but made it there pretty easy.

We did it a different way this time- instead of doing 4hr driving shifts we did about 2 or so, stopped for a dunny and stretch (and dog to have a wee) and swapped drivers. Much more refreshed than being buggered driving too long.

The roo's were out in force just after Moree, luckily Goondi was not far up the road.

If you don't amke it that far I would recommend Coonabarabran or Narrandera, we were warned off Moree because of some locals, who were making mischiefs of themselves around some cars at a maccas carpark as we got fuel

[normxb]

Hey Ringo

Just A Tip

Being a "Bushie" (last 16 yrs) I'm pretty used to "Locusts" , Slide some Fibre Glass Flyscreen in front of your radiator (or Grille).

Reason for Fibreglass is it will "give" when the little mongrels hit , Aluminium or brass just Shreds them . KEEP an eye on the Temp Gauge if you run through a lot , and give it a Brush Off .

Lot's Better than trying to clean the radiator later .

I went to Bundaberg 3 years in a row (Muso Job) , Mid NSW to Goondi 1st day (C/Van Park Cabin outskirts of town , bout $50 for 2 Adults 3 kids) , Goondi to Bundi 2nd day , easy drive in an XF Wagon with enclosed trailer , so you should make it no probs to Brisvegas. Either way Goondi or Tamworth , both great drives .

There's no Greater Feeling , pulling out the drive at the Start of the Trip :

Norm

Oh , Don't forget "Daylight Saving" unless they've changed . One of the QLD boy's can fill you in there .

Have a "Good & Safe Trip" :

[rodderz]

The scenery is fantastic too, from the plains through south NSW till the windy hills and forests through Coona past the Warranbungles (sp?). Don't worry about the truckies, they are fantastic as long as you don't pull off any stupid moves

[Taxman]

As previously stated don't contribute to the coffers. As you come up the various highways in the middle of nowhere you will find cameras sitting on top of poles or as you enter some small whistle stop towns 10 metres around the first corner or just before the end of town don't be surprised to find another. I used to do a lot of driving to see my country clients before I had a series of heart attacks and I enjoyed the solitude of a long drive with the radio providing something in the background. I envy you the trip - enjoy and take care.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by T6Ute

when I was living in Newcastle a few years ago I remember Bucketts Way as a horrible stretch. Pothole on top of pothole on top of pothole, maybe it's been upgraded by now!

Yeah it was being fixed up back in 06 - hopefully they did it by now.

[Ringo]

Thanks for all the information people.

I will be driving safely, stopping and resting etc. I expect to be radar'd a few times so will be keeping within speed limits but the reports of fixed camera's in the middle of no where is something I didn't know about. I have three days to do this drive so I'm in no hurry.

I'm going to look into getting a bit of flyscreen and will have a look at how easy it will be to drop that in front of my radiator.

Someone asked what I'm driving and well...um its not a Ford....I've got a Mazda 6 Luxury Sport 6 speed manual. (No... its not the Turbo 4wd MPS model)

It is a bit of a drivers machine. The sports suspension and low profile tyres through give it a firm ride similar to a WRX and while it corners like it on rails it will not help it to be a comfy interstate cruiser....all the better for thunderbolts pass though !

Its a brilliant car and I love it. I can't wait to see what fuel economy I get...I have already started filling it with 98 octane.

[scoupedy]

I did that trip several times earlier this year and always stayed at Parkes Dubbo has too much crime chances are that if you stay at a pub your car will be broken into at Dubbo P.S The new England sucks the Newell is heaps better

[Dave_au]

I'd still say Thunderbolts Way - even though you have to go east to get a north-north westerly road, and I doubt you would have the same locust problem that your bound to be in for on the Newell.

[MotherNatureVer2]

Welcome to my area :P

A suggestion, dont worry about Dubbo or Gilgandra ....... Mendooran is a lot better place to stay ;)

We have a couple of rooms at the local RSL and depending on what day of the week you are travelling through they have meals (Thurs - Sat nights) .

It is only 70k's to town from Dubbo & then the same to Coonabarabran on the way out.

Let me know if you need any more details ;)

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Ringo

Not sure where I will stop the first night. Depends on how I go but Dubbo may be a bit far, maybe West Wylong, Parkes or Forbes. We will see...

Melbourne to Dubbo is only 9 hours and 15 minutes driving time in a speed limited B-double. You should be able to knock west Wyalong to Dubbo over in around 2 hours and 45 minutes in a car, at the speed limit.

Originally Posted by Ringo

Drunk indigenous people @ 9 in the morning in Moree,

You don’t have to go to Moree to find these.

Originally Posted by Ringo

B-Doubles a plenty,

What’s wrong with that? You’ll find that they generally respect the road rules and show more courtesy than 99% of car drivers.

Originally Posted by Ringo

Trucks with "100 kph Speed Limited" stickers cruising at 120 kph,

Wrong road for this. You’re thinking of 31, not 39. Besides, you don’t require the signs anymore.

Originally Posted by Ringo

Road kill of all shapes and sizes,

Not as much as you think.

Originally Posted by Ringo

Cattle grazing on the side of the road...sometimes with a famer present,

Usually always with a farmer present, somewhere. Just look for the caravan.

Originally Posted by Ringo

Fuel prices that trigger your swearing relfex,

You’ll be pleasantly supprised these days. More chance of getting ripped off in the city.

[Ringo]

Hi Full noise,

No offence to B-double drivers intended mate...just observation. I spend all day in an office and don't get out enough...

The truck comment comes about from being overtaken by a cowboy semi one year and after he pulled in front of us we see 120 speed limited stickers on the back of it...we were doing 110 when he overtook us. He was exceptional....its the only time ever been nervous around a truck after ten+ trips....he was on a mission. Do trucks have brand/personality stereotypes? (probably best discussed in the truck thread)


Actually should have added in:

"Truckies doing the old fashioned one flash of the right indicator to help you pass them safely"

Also is the 9 hours 15 mark from where exactly? Cambellfield?