I thought I would write up a blurb for those thinking of driving via the Barrier HWY to get to the GTG in July 2009, I will do it in two parts. Basically the first part covers Sydney to Port Augusta. The sond part will be Port Augusta to Ross River via Alice Springs.
So for Part 1:
Well I drive return trips regularly from Alice Springs to Newcastle and Sydney, it usually takes me two days to do the trip one way.
As for the best route, well imo, I find the much better route is to go via the Barrier HWY. From Sydney up to Dubbo, then Nyngan, across to Cobar, Broken Hill to Pt Augusta.
Remember if you are thinking of taking fruit, just make sure you consume it before the inspection stations, there is a random inspection station on the eastern side of Broken Hill. But there is a mandatory inspection station at Oodla Wirra in S.A.
Be wary of the wildlife on the road in the early mornings and late afternoons, usually roos and emus on the Barrier HWY. You will see lots of goats especially around the McCullochs Range before Wilcannia. Actually from Cobar through to Wilcannia has heaps of goats and some sheep. However the goats are pretty road savvy so you don't normally have to worry about hitting them.
No need to overload the car with food etc as there are plenty of places along the way to stop and get stuff to eat. I do recommend a portable drink cooler.
I find the most boring part of the trip is the section between Dubbo and Nyngan, but that is just me.
If you were looking for places to stay the night instead of trying to rough it in the car then I can recommend a couple of places that I stay in. In Cobar there is the Town & Country Motor Inn, they have a reasonable restaurant as well. In Broken Hill I recommend the Outback Villas their website is http://www.outbackvillas.com.au/ and they have two bedroom villas that are quite comfy with AUSTAR and Maccas is just down the road there is also a servo next to Maccas. In Port Augusta I recommend the Standpipe Motor Inn http://www.standpipe.com.au/page.asp?pa ... rent2id=35 ( now part of the Best Western chain). If you plan on being there on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday they have a reduced room rate which was always known as the Gold Card rate, it is still available but now known as the weekend getaway and is still 33% off but to get this rate yu need to ring the motel direct and ask for it. They also have a fantastic Indian restaurant there and you get a free drink voucher from reception when staying the night and eating at the restaurant. I generally see what time it is when I get to Broken Hill if I have not prebooked anywhere. If it is Xmas time you will have useable light up till 8:30pm and don't forget that you set your time back 30 mins at Broken Hill. It will take you about 3.5 hours to get from Broken Hill to Port Augusta.
Back to the route, from Broken Hill you head to Peterborough, the turn off to Peterborough is about 7km after Oodla Wirra. From Peterborough you head for Wilmington then you jump over the range through horrocks pass and drop down into Port Augusta.
Remember to give Roadtrains some notice of your intent to pass them, they will try harder to keep their rigs from swaying if you turn your lights on when approaching and hang back to get a good view of the road ahead, remember these rigs are up to 57.5 metres long so you need a good overtaking distance.
As for fixed speed cameras the only fixed speed cameras between Dubbo And Port Augusta are located at the southern approach to Nyngan, eastern approach at Broken Hill and the western side of Yunta in S.A. Once in Port Augusta there are red light cameras at the lights west of Maccas and speed cameras on the bridge. However it is always advisable to stick to the speed limits especially 100 k's either side of Manna Hill in SA.
The cameras at Nyngan & Broken Hill are the heavey vehicle cameras but I am not sure if these can also be used as fixed speed cameras now as well which is why I mentioned them.
Things to include in your car besides your comfort items I believe you should have a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. Hopefully you will not need them for yourself but I have had to use mine on occasions at accidents I have come upon. Also the standard recovery gear always comes in handy for pulling tourists out of trouble. :lol:
Oh and don't swerve to save a lizard or some other little critter on the road, I know it sounds crass but better to take them out then take yourself out. I have repeatedly come across single vehicle roll overs that ended up this way cause the driver swerved violently to miss a lizard or some such critter.
Toilet Facilities are always the things that are the great unknowns when traveling, some can be nightmares especially in the outback. So allow me to give you some of the better ones along the route from Dubbo to Port Augusta:
1. Nyngan main street http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 3&t=h&z=19
2. Cobar Shell Servo ( Hit and miss with this one, sometimes very good and sometimes not so good. Has been recently renovated.)
3. Emmdale – Basically a thunderbox but usually clean and useable http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 6&t=h&z=16
4. Spring Hill – another thunderbox but basically clean and useable google map location http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=- ... 6&t=h&z=18
5. Broken Hill – Maccas or the shopping centre across from Maccas are the picks.
6. Cockburn – NSW SA Border – the pub/roadhouse toilets are okay http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 6&t=h&z=18
7. Manna Hill – Public toilets are usually well maintained.
8. Yunta – The roadhouse toilets are usually clean
9. Peterborough – the toilets in the centre of town on the main street are kept clean but are locked after a certain time on dusk http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 3&t=h&z=17 If needed there are another set of public toilets on the northern end of the main street which are usually in good condition. http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 6&t=h&z=18 the green area is the park with the toilet block. To get to Pt Augusta you take the Ooroo Rd just past this park.
You should be good to get to Port Augusta Maccas from there or the motel in Port Augusta.
More info to come in this thread.
Cheers
Mav
So for Part 1:
Well I drive return trips regularly from Alice Springs to Newcastle and Sydney, it usually takes me two days to do the trip one way.
As for the best route, well imo, I find the much better route is to go via the Barrier HWY. From Sydney up to Dubbo, then Nyngan, across to Cobar, Broken Hill to Pt Augusta.
Remember if you are thinking of taking fruit, just make sure you consume it before the inspection stations, there is a random inspection station on the eastern side of Broken Hill. But there is a mandatory inspection station at Oodla Wirra in S.A.
Be wary of the wildlife on the road in the early mornings and late afternoons, usually roos and emus on the Barrier HWY. You will see lots of goats especially around the McCullochs Range before Wilcannia. Actually from Cobar through to Wilcannia has heaps of goats and some sheep. However the goats are pretty road savvy so you don't normally have to worry about hitting them.
No need to overload the car with food etc as there are plenty of places along the way to stop and get stuff to eat. I do recommend a portable drink cooler.
I find the most boring part of the trip is the section between Dubbo and Nyngan, but that is just me.
If you were looking for places to stay the night instead of trying to rough it in the car then I can recommend a couple of places that I stay in. In Cobar there is the Town & Country Motor Inn, they have a reasonable restaurant as well. In Broken Hill I recommend the Outback Villas their website is http://www.outbackvillas.com.au/ and they have two bedroom villas that are quite comfy with AUSTAR and Maccas is just down the road there is also a servo next to Maccas. In Port Augusta I recommend the Standpipe Motor Inn http://www.standpipe.com.au/page.asp?pa ... rent2id=35 ( now part of the Best Western chain). If you plan on being there on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday they have a reduced room rate which was always known as the Gold Card rate, it is still available but now known as the weekend getaway and is still 33% off but to get this rate yu need to ring the motel direct and ask for it. They also have a fantastic Indian restaurant there and you get a free drink voucher from reception when staying the night and eating at the restaurant. I generally see what time it is when I get to Broken Hill if I have not prebooked anywhere. If it is Xmas time you will have useable light up till 8:30pm and don't forget that you set your time back 30 mins at Broken Hill. It will take you about 3.5 hours to get from Broken Hill to Port Augusta.
Back to the route, from Broken Hill you head to Peterborough, the turn off to Peterborough is about 7km after Oodla Wirra. From Peterborough you head for Wilmington then you jump over the range through horrocks pass and drop down into Port Augusta.
Remember to give Roadtrains some notice of your intent to pass them, they will try harder to keep their rigs from swaying if you turn your lights on when approaching and hang back to get a good view of the road ahead, remember these rigs are up to 57.5 metres long so you need a good overtaking distance.
As for fixed speed cameras the only fixed speed cameras between Dubbo And Port Augusta are located at the southern approach to Nyngan, eastern approach at Broken Hill and the western side of Yunta in S.A. Once in Port Augusta there are red light cameras at the lights west of Maccas and speed cameras on the bridge. However it is always advisable to stick to the speed limits especially 100 k's either side of Manna Hill in SA.
The cameras at Nyngan & Broken Hill are the heavey vehicle cameras but I am not sure if these can also be used as fixed speed cameras now as well which is why I mentioned them.
Things to include in your car besides your comfort items I believe you should have a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. Hopefully you will not need them for yourself but I have had to use mine on occasions at accidents I have come upon. Also the standard recovery gear always comes in handy for pulling tourists out of trouble. :lol:
Oh and don't swerve to save a lizard or some other little critter on the road, I know it sounds crass but better to take them out then take yourself out. I have repeatedly come across single vehicle roll overs that ended up this way cause the driver swerved violently to miss a lizard or some such critter.
Toilet Facilities are always the things that are the great unknowns when traveling, some can be nightmares especially in the outback. So allow me to give you some of the better ones along the route from Dubbo to Port Augusta:
1. Nyngan main street http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 3&t=h&z=19
2. Cobar Shell Servo ( Hit and miss with this one, sometimes very good and sometimes not so good. Has been recently renovated.)
3. Emmdale – Basically a thunderbox but usually clean and useable http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 6&t=h&z=16
4. Spring Hill – another thunderbox but basically clean and useable google map location http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=- ... 6&t=h&z=18
5. Broken Hill – Maccas or the shopping centre across from Maccas are the picks.
6. Cockburn – NSW SA Border – the pub/roadhouse toilets are okay http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 6&t=h&z=18
7. Manna Hill – Public toilets are usually well maintained.
8. Yunta – The roadhouse toilets are usually clean
9. Peterborough – the toilets in the centre of town on the main street are kept clean but are locked after a certain time on dusk http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 3&t=h&z=17 If needed there are another set of public toilets on the northern end of the main street which are usually in good condition. http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... 6&t=h&z=18 the green area is the park with the toilet block. To get to Pt Augusta you take the Ooroo Rd just past this park.
You should be good to get to Port Augusta Maccas from there or the motel in Port Augusta.
More info to come in this thread.
Cheers
Mav
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