Best route from Sydney to Cairns

[macneil Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close macneil]

First all mods sorry if this is in the wrong area.

Hi all it was decided today that my parents will be selling up and relocating to cairns and I have decided to go with them we will be driving up and was wondering if anyone has done this and if anyone could recommend the best route up there both cars are 4x4s so a little rough ground is no trouble but both will be towing trailers so nothing to rough.


Cheers Kane.

[karlmagoo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close karlmagoo]

Mate did a road trip with the wife and daughter from sunshine coast to sydney 3 weeks ago, went the classic pacific highway route, tonnes of road upgrades being done along that route so be prepared for a casual pace, nice views along the way though and plenty of side trips to be had, can,t speak for north of bundy though, think the section of bruce highway between gympie and right up past rockhampton,s pretty average.




Cheers

[Pete t pops Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pete t pops]

If you want fast, can't beat inland. Few crappy roads just whereis.com it

[Jeffers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeffers]

There are a few different ways to get from Syd to Brisbane. I drove this a few weeks ago and came up the Pacific Hwy. All was good until about Coffs and then it was pain staking road works until the border.
I would probably recommend the New England Hwy. Branch off at Newcastle and then follow the signs. This will bring you in to Warwick. From Warwick you can go a few different ways heading north but you will eventually hit the Bruce Hwy.
The Bruce Hwy is ok at the moment. There is the odd road work, but nothing too serious. Its a pretty easy drive to be honest and quite nice scenery in some places especially up north of Mackay.
Brisbane to Mackay is about 10hrs via the Bruce Hwy, Mackay to Townsville about 4 hrs and then Townsville to Cairns another 4 hrs.
I drove the Mackay to Townsville leg today as I here for work... Easy drive and easy on the eyes.

Cheers,

Jeff

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

go inland the further the better . i went up through Gunnedah, Moree ,Mungindi ,St george , Mitchell ,Blackall , Barcaldine , Longreach , some dirt rds between longreach , Muttaburra , hughenden , then split across to the coast or go the Kenedy developemental to Mareeba and the Atherton table lands . there is nothing out there that will cause any grief and you avoid all the traffic and crap and get to see outback QLD . its also much quicker than tha coastal route . i did it solo and really enjoyed it . bear in mind if you haven't booked a hotel room you had better be off the rd by 3.30 pm to get one . hotel rooms in central QLD are pretty scarce due to the minning boom .

[Jeffers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeffers]

go inland the further the better . i went up through Gunnedah, Moree ,Mungindi ,St george , Mitchell ,Blackall , Barcaldine , Longreach , some dirt rds between longreach , Muttaburra , hughenden , then split across to the coast or go the Kenedy developemental to Mareeba and the Atherton table lands . there is nothing out there that will cause any grief and you avoid all the traffic and crap and get to see outback QLD . its also much quicker than tha coastal route . i did it solo and really enjoyed it . bear in mind if you haven't booked a hotel room you had better be off the rd by 3.30 pm to get one . hotel rooms in central QLD are pretty scarce due to the minning boom .

This way is very good if you have time on your hands, bit it is definitely longer.

Great drive though.

Cheers,

Jeff

[K & M McF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close K & M McF]

Probably the most direct is Sydney, Scone, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Moree, Goondiwindi, Miles, Roma, Emerald, Townsville, Cairns. This is probably also the quickest. Very scenic in parts as well. Will take three long days.