Best Route

hi there,

I would generally take the new england highway as far as the link up with the F3 at newcastle and then from sydney straight up the F5 and up the hume from sydney, thats the most direct and depending on when you pass through least trucks.

I hope that helps you out a little its not the most scenic but it is the most direct I think and the new england tends not to have a lot of trucks as they tend to hang out to the pacific hwy now it has been up graded most of the way.

Thanks

Suzanne

If I had 14 days for the trip to Melbourne I would take lesser roads but those that towing would not be a problem.
eg
Go the Ballina hook a right and follow Bruxner Highway as far out as Yetman (few hills but all bitumen)
Turn south at Yetman and go through Warialda down to Manilla
Across to Gunnedah turn south at Mullaley down throgh Coolah on to Gulgong
Then west across to Wellington then south through Molong Canowindra Cowra Young down to Wagga Wagga
Then west a bit to Collinggullie then across to Jerilderie Deniliquin and Echuca
Then down the highway through Ballarat to Melbourne.

Not the shortest or fastest but a very interesting route.

Enjoy your trip whichever way you end up going.

For what this is worth - we take as may back roads as we can. Examples are not related directly to your request however.
An example being from Coonabarabran to Dubbo via Mendooran (which could be on your route). Hema maps show the road as sealed and minor. Goes through the Goonoo Forest region and was DELIGHTFUL. Had the 111k road to ourselves. Turn off 16 k south of Coonabarabran near Warkton
Another example (way across our great Island to the west) was the Neds Creek Road which runs from just south of the Central Gasgoyne Channel camps site on the Great Northern Road in WA to Wiluna and again we had the 190k long track to ourselves.

Guess what I am saying is - don't be afraid to "Chance your arm" from map information. By looks of your rig you could do some really intriguing and out of the way trips which will not only dodge the trucks but also many of the general highway speed and other looneys.
Cheers - Ian & Sally

Adams44

Yes I have been from Grafton to EBOR. a very scenic route with a long pull up the range after Nymboida. It is bitumen all the way and very scenic.

Just take it steady and all would be fine. It is not an established truck route other than local farms etc.

Cheers

Adams 44

No I have never towed a bushtracker (hope to soon). I have been up the Ebor range only towing my camper trailer.

The route up and over the Dorrigo plateau necesitates climbing over a high part part of the dividing range and then coming off the range again either to the west or south through Tamworth area.

While the Bruxner HWY has its hills, it is much lower in climbs as it goes through the range rather than over. That said, once you climbed up from Nymboida to Ebor you have gained the height and can cruise down the back of the range.

Alan