Best roads in Australia?

[Jdude]

Hey guys,

I'll be getting my R this coming friday hopefully and looking forward to some nice long drives when i can, especially during the "wear in" stage of the car.
Anyone know of any good/fun drives outside of Sydney that would be worth looking at?

One i've heard of is the Windsor to Cessnock drive, which goes through the Yengo national park.
Google maps link here: Windsor NSW to Cessnock NSW - Google Maps (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Windsor%20NSW&daddr=-33.224903,150.663757%20to:cessnock,%20nsw&hl=en&geocode=FZIr__0dyUr9CCm1B4oQZGINazEl8FksprKrRw;;FV ECC_4diXoFCSnJr2548zRzazH5zcro__lktw&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=9&via=1&sll=-33.302275,151.1385&sspn=1.393388,2.878418&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.054716,151.2323&spn=1.397341,2.878418&z=9)

Any others you know of?

[Pana]

so which is it...... best roads in Australia or just best roads in Sydney?

[hooba]

Have a look at WhiteJame's post in this thread.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f112/tips-breaking-brand-new-engine-42450-8.html

In between Royal National Park and the run up to Bowral, a quick squirt up to Mt Keira would be recommended.

[MarkG]

great ocean road lol

[Tux]

The Oxley Highway, west from Wauchope, NSW is one of the very best roads you'll ever ride a motorbike on...might be too many bends for a car though.

[GolfAtom]

Many moons ago, the Putty Road to Newcastle/ Hunter Valley use to be a pleasant drive..don't know about now though!?

[Karlosovic]

so which is it...... best roads in Australia or just best roads in Sydney?Well obviously it's a given that anything worthwhile in Australia is going to be as close as possible to Sydney - why would it want to be anywhere else ? :P

Just my 2c, but Cessnock roads are notoriously pot-holed

[Corey_R]

so which is it...... best roads in Australia or just best roads in Sydney?

Either way... this has absolutely NOTHING to do with the MK6 Golf... so moved :)

[noone]

I must say that I did enjoy the drive from Turramurra to Wisemans Ferry, then winding back to the F3.

Depends what you are after, the Royal National Park drive down to Woolongong can be great, but you have to pick the day, otherwise you'll just end up in a que on the way down...

[Lorenz]

Adelaide Hills, home to the Classic Adelaide and some of the best roads in Australia :D

[pologti18t]

Word of warning.... the RNP road has had a severe lowering of the speed limit (alot is now 60km/h) and introduction of double white lines. The police are actively targeting the road as well. Its not that much fun anymore.

1. A real good run in drive (if you can spare an entire day) is up Raymond Terrace, over to GLoucester via Bucketts way, up to Walcha on Thunderbolts, down to Wauchope on the Oxley and back down to Sydney on the Pacific Hwy. I ran my Polo GTi on that route and it revs cleanly and uses little to no oil between services.

2. Macquarie Pass is always a good one ona week day (less traffic). Travel down there via the OLD Princess Highway. Back on the freeway then take Mt Kiera turnoff and wind your way back down towards the coast. Take the Albion Park turnoff then up to Macquarie Pass. You can come back via Kangaroo Valley if you like.

3. What I consider one of the best drives around requires a weekend trip (from Sydney) during summer.
- Do the Macquarie Pass drive. Cut across to the Hume Highway (there are several scenic back ways) at Marulan.
- Head to Goulburn (there is a nice back road near Marulan), then cut across to Queanbean on the back road (that passes Wakefield Park). Take the Monaro the Berridale.
- Take the road on the right to Adaminaby. The the Snowy Mtns Highway to the Kiandra turnoff. From there you drive until Cabramurra where you can take in the views. The you take the road down the mountain to Khancoban.
- From there you take the Alpine way to Thredbo and Jindabyne then you take the back road to Dalgety and Cooma.
- Easy drive back to Sydney after that.
Sydney NSW, Australia to Sydney NSW, Australia - Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Sydney+NSW,+Australia&daddr=Sir+Bertram+Stevens+Dr+to:Stanwell+Park+NSW, +Australia+to:Mt+Keira+NSW,+Australia+to:Albion+Pa rk,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Robertson+NSW,+A ustralia+to:Penrose+Rd+to:-34.700977,150.113068+to:Highland+Way+to:Marulan,+N ew+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Goulburn,+New+South+W ales,+Australia+to:Queanbeyan,+New+South+Wales,+Au stralia+to:Cooma,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Be rridale,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Adaminaby,+ New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Kiandra,+New+South+W ales,+Australia+to:Cabramurra+NSW,+Australia+to:Kh ancoban,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Jindabyne+N SW,+Australia+to:Dalgety,+New+South+Wales,+Austral ia+to:Cooma+North,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:T arago+Rd+to:Sydney+NSW,+Australia&geocode=FX06-_0dyjwDCSlLWOFQOa4SazGiG_ayzb8_pw%3BFbB99_0dqP0ACQ %3BFZ3A9f0dpN3_CCmhTdDQ3N0SazHXWuCJEpeB3A%3BFUL58v 0dZMb9CCnr-qFCxRsTazFaVkj6HsQkEQ%3BFR5-8P0d96T8CCl9JhlxrxITazHsKPjQXfHTLQ%3BFcs18P0dQuv5C CmlXNOz7XUTazFxZqaEXj5o3A%3BFezl7v0dhNj0)

[Beaker]

I'd agree 3 is about as good a drive as you are going to get in NSW (you could chuck a right in Cooma and head back via Bega and the coast as well), but damn thats a fair bit to cover in a day! Even without my added bit that have to be what? 1200km (and we aren't talking about mind numbing highway here, these are genuine drivers roads)?


Edit - just re-read the bit about requiring a weekend :duh:

[Water Boy]

One word: Tasmania

[Jarred]

there are a few nice roads in Vic too. going up the reefton spur is a real treat, and a nice big loop will only take a couple hours (complete round trip), which is good in my books!

Keen to do some discovering up around threadbo though!

[Rocket36]

Great Ocean Road - a great drive spoilt by a million tossers who have no idea what a friggin SLOW VEHICLE TURN OUT POINT is. 40km/h is SLOW! Let the people who want to drive go past ffs!!!

Black Spur - qould be better if it was longer.

Kiowa Valley.

Kangaroo Valley - the whole drive from Exeter to Nowra.

Snowy Mountains Highway - Tumut to Cooma.

Alpine Way - Thredbo to Khancoban.

Great Alpine Road - Harrietville to Mt Hotham.

Great Alpine Road - Omeo to Bruthen.

Cotter Road/Brindibella Road.

Monaro Highway - Cooma to Cann River.


Just to mention some that I have driven/riden and LOVE!

[pologti18t]

I'd agree 3 is about as good a drive as you are going to get in NSW (you could chuck a right in Cooma and head back via Bega and the coast as well), but damn thats a fair bit to cover in a day! Even without my added bit that have to be what? 1200km (and we aren't talking about mind numbing highway here, these are genuine drivers roads)?


Edit - just re-read the bit about requiring a weekend :duh:

Yeah... there is Brown Mtn , IMlay Road etc

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Jindabyne+NSW,+Australia&daddr=The+Snowy+River+Way+to:Brierly+St+to:Dalgety +to:Springfield+Rd+to:Nimmitabel,+New+South+Wales, +Australia+to:Bemboka,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+ to:Candelo,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Bibbenlu ke,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Cooma,NSW+to:Jin dabyne&geocode=FZ5Z1P0dd77bCClNblpwQcQ8azFX3veqIVB4pA%3BF VaD0v0dG-rcCA%3BFVL70v0dKhHfCA%3BFQUF0_0dAgnfCCk9gpfH4-s8azE5aBNR_lFrGA%3BFbJ40v0djpriCA%3BFa_G0v0dqNblCC lbzEhCAVI8azHjkRfiOg10jw%3BFWMS0f0dZE3qCCkVxZI5gzc 8azF8LsTzH0yb_A%3BFbH5zv0d1CrsCCnxSpRlOCM8azFT-0HPmUCSdw%3BFUM8zv0dUOLlCCkVfMfYuWg8azHgwnmchQwfTA %3BFd0S1_0dUHnjCCkvNOVKLKg9azGylm9523SrrQ%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&via=1,2,4&sll=-36.463263,148.871613&sspn=0.39208,0.615921&num=10&ie=UTF8&z=9

[Jarred]

rocket if you like black spur, be sure to head up to reefton. (well actually, go reefton, then spur) it's longer, quieter and better!

[Whubbsie]

Fixed

Well obviously it's a given that anything worthwhile in Australia is going to be as far away as possible to Sydney - why would it want to be anywhere near it:P
d
case in point
VVVVVVVVV

One word: Tasmania

[VisionaryVr6]

Adelaide Hills, home to the Classic Adelaide and some of the best roads in Australia :D

soooooooo true

[elephino]

For those in Sydney who want a short blast - the Comenarra Parkway in West Pymble - comenarra parkway, pymble - Google Maps (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=comenarra+parkway,+pymble&sll=-33.74414,151.141103&sspn=0.05417,0.076818&g=pymble&ie=UTF8&hq=comenarra+parkway,&hnear=Pymble+New+South+Wales&ll=-33.746824,151.111622&spn=0.054169,0.076818&z=14)

[Tux]

Word of warning.... the RNP road has had a severe lowering of the speed limit (alot is now 60km/h) and introduction of double white lines. The police are actively targeting the road as well. Its not that much fun anymore.

1. A real good run in drive (if you can spare an entire day) is up Raymond Terrace, over to GLoucester via Bucketts way, up to Walcha on Thunderbolts, down to Wauchope on the Oxley and back down to Sydney on the Pacific Hwy. I ran my Polo GTi on that route and it revs cleanly and uses little to no oil between services.

2. Macquarie Pass is always a good one ona week day (less traffic). Travel down there via the OLD Princess Highway. Back on the freeway then take Mt Kiera turnoff and wind your way back down towards the coast. Take the Albion Park turnoff then up to Macquarie Pass. You can come back via Kangaroo Valley if you like.

3. What I consider one of the best drives around requires a weekend trip (from Sydney) during summer.
- Do the Macquarie Pass drive. Cut across to the Hume Highway (there are several scenic back ways) at Marulan.
- Head to Goulburn (there is a nice back road near Marulan), then cut across to Queanbean on the back road (that passes Wakefield Park). Take the Monaro the Berridale.
- Take the road on the right to Adaminaby. The the Snowy Mtns Highway to the Kiandra turnoff. From there you drive until Cabramurra where you can take in the views. The you take the road down the mountain to Khancoban.
- From there you take the Alpine way to Thredbo and Jindabyne then you take the back road to Dalgety and Cooma.
- Easy drive back to Sydney after that.
Sydney NSW, Australia to Sydney NSW, Australia - Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Sydney+NSW,+Australia&daddr=Sir+Bertram+Stevens+Dr+to:Stanwell+Park+NSW, +Australia+to:Mt+Keira+NSW,+Australia+to:Albion+Pa rk,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Robertson+NSW,+A ustralia+to:Penrose+Rd+to:-34.700977,150.113068+to:Highland+Way+to:Marulan,+N ew+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Goulburn,+New+South+W ales,+Australia+to:Queanbeyan,+New+South+Wales,+Au stralia+to:Cooma,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Be rridale,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Adaminaby,+ New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Kiandra,+New+South+W ales,+Australia+to:Cabramurra+NSW,+Australia+to:Kh ancoban,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:Jindabyne+N SW,+Australia+to:Dalgety,+New+South+Wales,+Austral ia+to:Cooma+North,+New+South+Wales,+Australia+to:T arago+Rd+to:Sydney+NSW,+Australia&geocode=FX06-_0dyjwDCSlLWOFQOa4SazGiG_ayzb8_pw%3BFbB99_0dqP0ACQ %3BFZ3A9f0dpN3_CCmhTdDQ3N0SazHXWuCJEpeB3A%3BFUL58v 0dZMb9CCnr-qFCxRsTazFaVkj6HsQkEQ%3BFR5-8P0d96T8CCl9JhlxrxITazHsKPjQXfHTLQ%3BFcs18P0dQuv5C CmlXNOz7XUTazFxZqaEXj5o3A%3BFezl7v0dhNj0)




X 1. I've done all of those trips...

[Tux]

One word: Tasmania



For sure. I rode my Fireblade around Tassie in 06.. Just like country NSW in the 70's. Fantastic memories.

[mikinoz]

On the Tasmania bandwagon here, it is a fantastic place for driving and it gives me the geebies that I have to live in NSW at the moment. 5 mins from Hobart you have wonderful mountainous roads.

A good drive is the one from Devonport to Hobart via Queenstown for those that have time for a visit.

[Jdude]

Thanks guy appreciate the advice! looking forward to getting out on some of these roads ;-)

[dylan8]

Great Alpine Road - Omeo to Bruthen.

Monaro Highway - Cooma to Cann River.

interesting choices, what were you driving on these rocket?

[sir_camel]

I'm planning a Tasmania drive week with some mates at the moment. Can't wait.

From sydney my favs are:

Dural - Wisemans Ferry - Mangrove Mtn - Old Pacific Hwy to Berowra

Royal National Park and lunch at Scarborough Pub

Putty Rd

The road from Mangrove Mtn up to Wollombi. Wollombi Rd? Not sure what the name is.

Oxley Hwy over the range between Port Macquarie and Walcha is amazing too.

[hooba]

If you are going to do a Tassie drive, Elephant Pass (a Targa stage) from St Marys to the coast should be on your list. If you do it, make sure you stop here for some pancakes before the road gets really interesting.

Mount Elephant Pancakes, Mount Elephant Pass, St Mary's, Tasmania (http://www.mountelephantpancakes.com.au/mtelephant.htm)

Some good info here ( check out the index, they got a long list of good roads across Australia)

Tasmania: Elephant and St Marys Passes - PASSING DELIGHTS | InsureMyRide (http://www.insuremyride.com.au/imr/bike-stuff/road-bikes/rides/tasmania-elephant-and-st-marys-passes-passing-delights)

[TazzyVR6]

It sucks living in Tasmania j: Make sure you drive Hellyer Gorge between Yolla and Queenstown and the 99 bends from Queenstown to Hobart :)

[mikinoz]

It sucks living in Tasmania j: Make sure you drive Hellyer Gorge between Yolla and Queenstown and the 99 bends from Queenstown to Hobart :)

There are some downsides to living there, like cost of living being high, relative wages being low and many other issues that crop up in "the mockery", but yes, roads, safety, health, scenery are all ace. And a pretty awesome VW mechanic! :P

[Rocket36]

interesting choices, what were you driving on these rocket?

My B-King... :D (has a Hyabussa engine but is tuned for more slightly more torque and slightly less high end speed - put another way, "SO MUCH FUN!")

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu115/kjnielsen/Automotive/B-King.jpg

[trickysimon]

Clyde Mountain definitely has to get a mention!

[gtimk5]

Thanks heaps Mikinoz, much appreciated and nice to know someone thinks that way mate!
Tassie roads are great but police presence is pretty high these days and many of the targa road stages are targets. Cool weather in the winter means stacks more power too but ice and moss half way through corners can catch out the unwary! And does!!
I found a great road last year in northern NSW whilst returning from visiting the late and great Davemack. It ran from Ballina across to Tenterfield, a real blast with some pretty tight stuff closer to Tenterfield. Long single lane bridges and very quiet meant time to stretch the legs of my GTI. Very enjoyable.
But yes, Tassie must rate as having some of the best driving roads in the country!
Cheers, Andrew

[Corey_R]

I found a great road last year in northern NSW whilst returning from visiting the late and great Davemack. It ran from Ballina across to Tenterfield, a real blast with some pretty tight stuff closer to Tenterfield. Long single lane bridges and very quiet meant time to stretch the legs of my GTI. Very enjoyable.
I was forced to drive that way home to Sydney on day after being in Brisbane. The Pacific Highway was closed due to an accident and so had to do a de tour! I drove along there, and then down the New England Highway home. It was a nice drive!

Plus, once you get to the other side of Armidale and Uralla, you can then do Thunderbolts Way and The Bucketts Way that has also been mentioned here! You could then even tie that along with the Pacific Highway back to Sydney....

But word of warning, it's AT LEAST two days of driving!

[tessie]

....in Australia......Tassy for sure! There must be someone out there who agrees with me.

[cameronp]

I note that nobody has mentioned Western Australia as having great driving roads ;)

I'm sure there must be some, though I can't think of many off the top of my head. The bendy roads that I can think of in the hills around here tend to have low speed limits, plenty of other traffic and semi-regular police presence - making hooning a pretty bad idea.

[gtimk5]

....in Australia......Tassy for sure! There must be someone out there who agrees with me.

I know a lot of people on here have already mentioned the Tassie roads!!!

[jettapilot]

Coffs Harbour to Armidale via Bellingen. Waterfall Way isn't it?

Then do Buckett's Way to Walcha and Oxley to Tamworth. Or to Port Mac.

[ron]

try parramatta road between Lidcombe and parramatta .....both directions

[diop]

Love a good drive up the Freeway, past Mount Lofty and back down Greenhill Road, then up Norton Summit Road, through Basket Range, Lenswood etc. and on to Lobethal, which makes a nice stop for Lunch. Back to Adelaide (Athelstone) via Birdwood, Gumeracha, Chain of Ponds and Cudlee Creek through the rollercoaster-like Gorge Road!
:cool:

http://a.imageshack.us/img64/494/35354578.jpg (http://img64.imageshack.us/i/35354578.jpg/)

[jimbomort]

Northern NSW

Grafton to Armidale via Ebor is a nice drive, particularly as you wind up a long ridge towards Ebor. Of course there more open sweepers, so needs bit of pace in that section you really enjoy it, but there are other parts that are good windy roads.

[Blitzen]

Old Pacific Hwy to Cessnock, then out to Singleton, take the Putty Road to Windsor, then the Bells Line Of Road to Lithgow, then back to Sydney over the Great Western Highway...

If you are in North Qld, you HAVE to do the Gillies Highway between Cairns and Atherton...

[type 17]

Any where in the South West, Caves Rd, Brockman Hwy, Sues Rd etc