Quickest way to Parkes?

[iceman (Mike)]

Google maps suggests either:
1) via the Great Western Highway, through Bathurst, Orange and then Parkes.
2) via the Golden Hwy, through Dubbo then Parkes.

I'm on the Central Coast, halfway between Sydney and Newcastle.

Google reckons option 1 is 6 hrs 1 min, and option 2 is 6 hours 47 minutes.

Anyway have any experience to settle it for me?

[sheeny (Al)]

Tough call, Mike... I'd say Bathurst / Orange, but a lot depends on when you are travelling. If you are coming out of Syndey on Friday arvo, or heading back on Sunday arvo, go the Golden Highway.

Al.

[BerrieK]

Hi Mike. I think that if you go from the F1 / Pacific
highway then the Cumberland Highway then M2 then M7 Westlink to M4 / Great Western Highway thru to Bathurst / Orange / Parkes it would be quickest.

Kerrie

but as Al suggests, it depend son what day and time you plan to travel

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I concur with Al Mike - avoid the Lithgow/Bathurst/Orange route during busy weekend periods...

[iceman (Mike)]

I'll be heading up on a Saturday, mid-morning. I guess that should be ok?

[sheeny (Al)]

Originally Posted by BerrieK

Hi Mike. I think that if you go from the F1 / Pacific
highway then the Cumberland Highway then M2 then M7 Westlink to M4

Yeah! The Formula 1 Messier drive!

Originally Posted by iceman

I'll be heading up on a Saturday, mid-morning. I guess that should be ok?

Should be OK, Mike. Sat mornings there will probably be some traffic coming out of Sydney but it shouldn't be as bad as Friday arvo/night.

Al.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

The respective distances are 393km vs 549km, which is about 1:1.4. So if you go the long way and average 100km/h you only need to average 72km/h going the short way to get there in the same time. Even if the first half of the trip (from your place to Lithgow) is slow I can't see it pulling your average down that much. However I have sat in bumper to bumper traffic from Katoomba to Penrith on a Sunday arvo and probably only averaged 20-30km/h.

[Allan_L (Allan)]

I went to SPSP via the Golden Highway.
Bad decision.
Even for a Friday arvo.

There were many long stoppages for major rodaworks along the Golden Highway Mike.

I reckon I lost 20 to 30 minutes just sitting still there.

I think F3 to Pennant Hills Road.
Then the M2

But if you can go via the Bell line of road it should be much quicker anfd pleasnt trip.

Then bathurst Orange etc.

But let us know what you decide andhow it goes.
Good luck, may the force be with you!

[norm]

[QUOTE]Hi Mike. I think that if you go from the F1 / Pacific
highway then the Cumberland Highway then M2 then M7 Westlink to M4 / Great Western Highway thru to Bathurst / Orange / Parkes it would be quickest.
[/QUOTE]

I concur with Kerrie too!

Its a nice drive, you'll enjoy the scenery and Canola crops!. Just be careful exiting Bathurst - got pinged on the long weekend couple of yrs ago!

[Bobj]

G'day mate, any help?
http://www.exploroz.com/Places/Direc...igal&to=parkes

Cheers, Bobj.

[Barrykgerdes]

I used to live in Hornsby and by far the quickest route was down Galson Gorge, Middle Dural Rd , Wiseman's Ferry rd to Glenorie and then cross country through Maralaya to McGraths Hill then up the Bells line of Rd to Lithgow, Bathurst and Orange.

Of course the roads are more congested now than they were 25 years ago when I did this trip often but my average speed to Bathurst was 85 Kph. By West Wyalong I had got the overall average speed to 100Kph, Then Murray Bridge 104 Kph, After that it was much slower and the average speed dropped bellow 100kph by the time I got to Hallet cove, I never travelled more tha 10Kph above the speed limit. The secret of high average speeds was driving steadily and keeping at it. I made two 10 minute fuel stops West Wyalong and Balranald.

I still follow a similar route from Kellyville to Wiruna and I do the 190K(?) in about 2.5 hrs now.

The Main Western Highway is longer for me (and I don't use tollways) so I don't use it except for a bit of variety. The Golden Highway is a nice way to go but I haven't used it for 20 years and that was only returning from Dubbo and a much longer route.

Barry