Trip planning, route advice wanted, crossing to and from inland NSW to coast

[Meanderthals]

We're in the advance planning stages for a trip next year to make up for the aborted one this year. General plan is the same and basically Darwin, Broome and all the way around to Adelaide, Mt Gambier up to Mildura and Menindee Lakes. Various diversions at many stages. This is where it has to change though. Rather than going via Cobar to Bourke and up through to Longreach and on back here we now have to divert to Coffs Harbour then back up to Toowoomba and to the Gayndah/Maryborough region for a while. Wife is researching some of her very early family history that was around there for a while and there are people there wishing some of the information she already has. We have no interest in the coastal route from Coffs to Maryborough, or for that matter right up to Townsville. Been there, done that.

Our unknown is that the only road we've used getting across the Ranges was back in 1988 and was from Bellingen up through Dorrigo and most certainly didn't have a van in tow. So the question is, what are the relative merits (both scenery and road conditions) of the following alternatives these days:
Armidale to Bellingen, Glen Innes to Grafton, Casino to Tenterfield and Casino to Warwick.

Also, can someone confirm the road condition from Wentworth up to Menindee as it looks like Pooncarie to Menindee is dirt. Not worried but will help justify getting a Stone Stomper.

We're definitely hoping that it becomes a 6 month trip rather than the 2 hour/20 km one this year.

Phil

 

[Bushman]

Pooncarie to Menindee is most definitely dirt, can't vouch for its condition as at the time we went to travel that way (camper in tow) we got the "MOST DEFINITELY NOT" for local authorities, it was closed at the time, as was the road through the NP, as we were travelling the opposite direction, we were forced to back track to Broken Hill and use the highway.

Grafton to Glen Innes would probably be my choice. While I haven't done the full route. we did it half way as a day trip a few years back while based in G.I

 

[twscoot]

Grafton to Glen Innes is one of my favourite roads. Beautiful scenery and a great look out on the way. Sure it's a steep climb but (I've always gone west to east though) but worth it for the sweeping roads through two magnificent national parks and then into to farmland as you approach Glen Innes.

Have a look here for some more information.
http://www.expandasdownunder.com/threads/killarney-inverell-jackadgery.5846/

 

[yabbietol]

About 18 months ago I went to Urunga and stayed Valla Beach Caravan Park (very nice and got good $ rate in winter). Valla Beach is just south of Coffs Harbour. I towed my 1.2t Avan down Waterfall way which comes out at Bellingen. The Avan was small and towed well behind the Pajero, but I think the road would be a bit scary with a bigger van and a lot tougher uphill. Interestingly we Intended to go back up the same way, but in the Valla Beach van park we got talking with some people who advised us the highway south to Newcastle was a good easy run. There were some road works South of Valla Beach, but once past them it was a dream run to Hexham just West of Newcastle. We then went further West to Denman in the upper Hunter and spent the night at the van park there, which was quite nice. It was a very easy day from Valla Beach to Denman. Once at Denman there is several good choices for a nice run West

 

[The Goodwins]

Don't know if you are gone or set yet but look up the old glen Innes highway free camping tunnels made by convicts and a real ghost town to stay in

 

[Meanderthals]

No, still at home. Much has changed since my original posting. Have had to cut out Wait Awhile country due to need to be in Adelaide for a bit longer and lost a month or so with Sciatic pain. Slowly getting back to completing outstanding works around home as well as caravan mods. It's the unplanned maintenance that is getting the most annoying and delaying real progress with planned work. Have spent some time researching various NSW Routes and reading various Forum postings, here and elsewhere, and have basically decided to take the Waterfall Way down to Coffs and Grafton to Glen Innes for the return trip inland then up to Toowoomba and on to where we have to go to the Ban Ban Springs to Maryborough region for the wife's history research. It's looking like a 4-6 weeks to departure time and although we've done the Darwin to Pt Augusta route so many times over a few decades even that stretch won't be a rushed one. In much earlier days it was a 2 day drive to or from Adelaide but we're looking at an almost 2 week trip just for the Stuart Hwy, a week or so on the Eyre Peninsula then on to Adelaide. Have never found the Stuart Hwy boring and mostly different in some ways each time. Much of the trip after Adelaide will be roads that we've either never been on or would have changed a lot since we've been there. Nothing will be booked more than a day or 2 ahead, no set timetable for being anywhere, mostly free or cheap camping and heaven help the next person who puts more maintenance work or any added delay in my way because I NEED A HOLIDAY.