Go Back   IceInSpace > General Astronomy > General Chat
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #21  
Old 05-03-2012, 11:33 PM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,548
And she can stop in at the Dish - I know she wants to!
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 05-03-2012, 11:35 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
Quote:
Originally Posted by Screwdriverone View Post
Hi Ken,

Ive done the Melbourne - Sydney run too many times as well as the Sydney Brisbane run and I would avoid the Pacific Hwy north of Hexham (where the F3 ends) . . .
Hi Chris,
I don't know how you got Google maps to show that way (New England Hwy) as I can only get Google Maps to show 3 ways (see attachment)
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (Map.jpg)
138.6 KB30 views
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 05-03-2012, 11:38 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
Quote:
Originally Posted by erick View Post
The Newell, Ken, no question. I've done the Melbourne Bundaberg run several times and love that route. But, at the moment I'm not sure it is open, given the flooding.
Yes, thanks Eric, we are trying to keep an eye on what Hwy's are open and which are shut.

The floods could change the decision of which route by Saturday.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 06-03-2012, 12:07 AM
Screwdriverone's Avatar
Screwdriverone (Chris)
I have detailed files....

Screwdriverone is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kellyville Ridge, NSW Australia
Posts: 3,306
Quote:
Originally Posted by ballaratdragons View Post
Hi Chris,
I don't know how you got Google maps to show that way (New England Hwy) as I can only get Google Maps to show 3 ways (see attachment)
Hey Ken,

Zoom into the section you want to change and then DRAG the blue line to the road you want, it gets a little snooty sometimes, but if you persist, it will move after refresh.

You need to select say the Pacific Hwy route first, then modify it.

Cheers

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 06-03-2012, 12:25 AM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
Quote:
Originally Posted by Screwdriverone View Post
Hey Ken,

Zoom into the section you want to change and then DRAG the blue line to the road you want, it gets a little snooty sometimes, but if you persist, it will move after refresh.

You need to select say the Pacific Hwy route first, then modify it.

Cheers

Chris
Thanks Chris.

I have just done a State by State 'Flood Road Closure' check and the only way through at the moment is by Hume Hwy (31) to Sydney (and somehow find the way through Sydney) then follow Hwy 1 up to Mooloolaba

I hope the floods recede by Saturday so she can use the Newell.

here is a Map of the closed Hwy's.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (flood closures.jpg)
185.9 KB29 views
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 06-03-2012, 06:12 AM
glenc's Avatar
glenc (Glen)
star-hopper

glenc is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Terranora
Posts: 4,383
Bing Map

The shortest way is 1842 km via Parks and it avoids Sydney.
She might want to avoid Melbourne and Brisbane too.
http://binged.it/yRI7ff
or http://binged.it/AFcQQt
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 06-03-2012, 08:27 AM
Cloudyagain's Avatar
Cloudyagain (Neale)
Registered User

Cloudyagain is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tower Hill
Posts: 178
Hi Ken,

When we used to take the kids to the Sunshine Coast from Bendigo we always went the Newell. 2 long days or 3 less long days. Usually stayed in Dubbo, then sometimes stayed in Goondawindi, other times continued on. From Goondawindi we have been the back way through Esk etc but you need to keep consulting the map. Have also gone through Ipswich and onto the freeway all the way through Brisbane. That was very easy and you end up on the Bruce Highway. Tollway in Brisbane though.

Pity about the floods, can she put it off a few days, could come to the camp and go after that

Neale.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 06-03-2012, 08:56 AM
mishku
Registered User

mishku is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 491
Hi Ken,

+1 for Neale's suggestion, including places to stop.

When I was a kid, I grew up on the Gold Coast and we drove down to Melbourne for holidays each Christmas. We'd always go the inland route, stopping at Dubbo or Gilgandra overnight, and would go inland to Warwick rather than following the Coast roads in Qld. Was a reliable 2 day journey with two drivers.

Any chance a friend could go with her and fly back down? Hope she has a safe trip

Mich
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 06-03-2012, 08:59 AM
mishku
Registered User

mishku is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 491
Hi Ken,

Re-reading the thread - a big +1 for getting someone else who loves a road trip to head up with her (to allow for breaks and company) and paying for a flight to send them home again. What about a bit of father-daughter bonding and a tropical holiday?
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 06-03-2012, 09:02 AM
Screwdriverone's Avatar
Screwdriverone (Chris)
I have detailed files....

Screwdriverone is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kellyville Ridge, NSW Australia
Posts: 3,306
Hey Ken,

Hmmm, thats why I suggested the Hume to Sydney, onto the M7 (EASY to get to as its basically at the end of the Hume Freeway on the left 3 lanes) then via M2 (M7 BECOMES the M2), Pennant Hills Road and F3 to New England Hwy. She wont have to go ANYWHERE near Sydney CBD or heavyish traffic if she is travelling outside of peak.

New England seems open except for some local diversions around Tamworth.....

The New England Highway remains open to the Queensland Border.
Alternating traffic conditions are in place due to flooding at Kootingal (east of Tamworth) on the New England Highway due to flooding. Traffic can pass at this location, but delays will be experienced.

Newell is a mine field as you suggested by the flood maps, for best roads/travel times, follow the A300, Hume, M7, M2, F3, New England.....DONE.

As I said, the trip is longer this way, but avoids a lot of the well defined issues of the Pacific Hwy and she should get a good run, just take breaks every 2-3 hours for 15 mins at least.

Suggested stop points:

Albury, Yass, Goulburn (or the twin Shell Maccas Servos north of Goulburn at Sutton Forest - 10 mins past) - there is a very nice and quaint winery off the West side Service station road at Sutton Forest - right next door to the servo, lovely Italian couple who have some beautiful wines (ask them for some limoncello -mmmmm - you might get a bottle thrown in!!) - worth a stop if she likes her wine (or you do Ken! ), then onto Pennant Hills/Thornleigh for the night...

Next day, stop at Scone (for some Scones, Obviously!), Armidale and then Toowoomba, before the last run around the NE of Brisbane.

Should be a nice trip....lots of lovely towns to stop at for a break, even if they arent scheduled... better to enjoy the trip and see the sights than push through and hate the drive.

Cheers

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #31  
Old 06-03-2012, 04:56 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
Quote:
Originally Posted by glenc View Post
The shortest way is 1842 km via Parks and it avoids Sydney.
She might want to avoid Melbourne and Brisbane too.
http://binged.it/yRI7ff
or http://binged.it/AFcQQt
Thanks Glen, they are the ways she really needs to go, but as my map shows, the highways are cut by floods and it was just on the news that is is about to get even worse.
The waters are now rising not receding


Quote:
Originally Posted by mishku View Post
Hi Ken,

Re-reading the thread - a big +1 for getting someone else who loves a road trip to head up with her (to allow for breaks and company) and paying for a flight to send them home again. What about a bit of father-daughter bonding and a tropical holiday?
That is what we have been considering, Mish.

Have to check on a lot of things first.
Reply With Quote
  #32  
Old 06-03-2012, 08:03 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
I have made the offer to drive her car up there with her, and fly back.

Then she informs me that she might have someone else also willing to do it.

Either way it's better than her driving all that way as an inexperience driver.
Reply With Quote
  #33  
Old 06-03-2012, 09:02 PM
Screwdriverone's Avatar
Screwdriverone (Chris)
I have detailed files....

Screwdriverone is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kellyville Ridge, NSW Australia
Posts: 3,306
Did you decide on the route Ken? I still think its a winner to go the Hume/New England combo....

My notes on the original post should work....

Cheers

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #34  
Old 06-03-2012, 09:19 PM
GrahamL's Avatar
GrahamL
pro lumen

GrahamL is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: ballina
Posts: 3,265
A friend has travelled the pacific between ballina and sydney up to a dozen or more times and year for the last 10 years and dosn't mind it.

Never changes his driving habits either ,always travels this bit of road through the day 8.00 to 5.00 never at night or early mornings,never at holiday times its just not up to coping with the volume of traffic .

I thinks his logic makes a lot of sense , most all the southbound overnight transport leaving brisbane hits the north coast just on dark,
most all the northbound overnighters pass through just on dawn.

I hope your daughter finds her new life all she hopes for Ken
So does this mean you've got a reason to head up to astrofest later in the year ?
Reply With Quote
  #35  
Old 06-03-2012, 09:35 PM
mishku
Registered User

mishku is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 491
Oh Ken, I'm glad. Better that than you guys enduring three days of worrying

Quote:
Originally Posted by ballaratdragons View Post
I have made the offer to drive her car up there with her, and fly back.

Then she informs me that she might have someone else also willing to do it.

Either way it's better than her driving all that way as an inexperience driver.
Reply With Quote
  #36  
Old 06-03-2012, 10:00 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
Quote:
Originally Posted by Screwdriverone View Post
Did you decide on the route Ken? I still think its a winner to go the Hume/New England combo....

My notes on the original post should work....

Cheers

Chris
Yes Chris, it sounds the best way considering the floods, thanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by nightstalker View Post
I hope your daughter finds her new life all she hopes for Ken
So does this mean you've got a reason to head up to astrofest later in the year ?
Yes, it is a good step forward for her. New Job, renting a beautiful House about 80m from the beach, Uni next year.

And no Graham, I won't be able to make it up. The pension doesn't allow for such luxuries
Reply With Quote
  #37  
Old 08-03-2012, 07:16 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
All the travel plans have been postponed for one week to see if the waters recede and the Newell Hwy is re-opened.
Not looking good at the moment as they evacuate even more towns tonight.
Reply With Quote
  #38  
Old 22-03-2012, 10:48 PM
ballaratdragons's Avatar
ballaratdragons (Ken)
The 'DRAGON MAN'

ballaratdragons is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
Well, I offered to drive, but my daughter and her friend Cassie (each in their own cars) decided they could make the drive themselves and take it slow over 4 days now that the Newell Hwy is re-opened.

You can imagine my fear. Jess only passed her driving test 2 weeks ago but I was partially relieved that they were spreading the trip over 4 days.

Well, they left Ballarat on Tuesday morning. . .





and arrived at Mooloolaba on Wednesday afternoon!

and she sms messaged me tonight with Video of the massive storm they are in, and their street is flooded

All I could say back was: Welcome to Queensland
Her first day in QLD and their street is flooded

But the good news is that they made it safely. She said it was tiring, and a loooong way (do'oh).
Reply With Quote
  #39  
Old 23-03-2012, 08:26 AM
erick's Avatar
erick (Eric)
Starcatcher

erick is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Gerringong
Posts: 8,548
Well done to the Ladies! It is one of Australia's nice drives, in my view.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 05:13 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement