Which highway - Coast or New England?
I'm taking my family down to Newcastle for xmas. I haven't driven up or down in over 10 years now. What's the best route these days? I'm getting mixed response Coastal vs New England. Time is about the same give or take on whereis.com.
I plan to stay somehwere overnight as I have two kids 3 and almost 2. Thanks. |
09:24pm 02/12/09 Permalink
I've done the trip some 40 odd times over the last 5 years, coast definitely for the win in my opinion
especially with all the upgrades they've done although one time I, along with 10's of kilometers of other motorists did sit on the 4 lane highway north of Newcastle for 2 hours for no apparent reason I also saw this crazy mofo http://unix.org.au/~brett/hilux/sydtrip08/resize/IMG_0147.JPG on a 100km/hr highway |
09:37pm 02/12/09 Permalink
I find the New England is a better/calmer road to drive, can just cruise.
Defiantly better scenery on the coast road though, and more places to stop if the kids get restless. |
09:41pm 02/12/09 Permalink
Well I'm thinking I might go the New England on the way down and Coastal on the way back.
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09:44pm 02/12/09 Permalink
coast is a little more scenic in parts, inland is a little easier on the driver generally
both take about the same time these days |
09:46pm 02/12/09 Permalink
I drove to newcastle earlier in the year. No idea which way I went. The obvious way.
Stay in coffs coast holiday park in a cabin. I enjoyed it more than a hotel, and they actually give you stuff like a heater, knives, forks, plates, etc... I felt like you got more than at most hotels. Quick walk through the bushes and you're on an awesome quiet beach. Might be a son of a b**** to organise for this xmas though. last edited by thermite at 21:58:21 02/Dec/09 |
09:50pm 02/12/09 Permalink
teq is that a dude riding on a bike? the image is too tiny.
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10:11pm 02/12/09 Permalink
10:33pm 02/12/09 Permalink
I'm with Jim. Coast is more scenic, but New England is an easier drive. Any time I'm driving down to Sydney I take the New England unless I plan to take a few days about it (I like staying at the beach). However there are a few places to stay on the New England as well (Armidale, Tamworth).
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10:36pm 02/12/09 Permalink
New England is far superior
less traffic, less roadworks. |
10:49pm 02/12/09 Permalink
Yeah I've heard that. New England less cars less roadworks...
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11:29pm 02/12/09 Permalink
I'm doing the coast run in a few weeks time when I take the family to Lakes Entrance (vic) for the xmas break.. Planning to follow the coast for the entire way down, which works out to about 1700km with two kids under 3. God I must hate myself or something..
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11:59pm 02/12/09 Permalink
New England is far superior I love driving the New England it's a less boring drive for everyone. |
02:34am 03/12/09 Permalink
I'm doing the coast run in a few weeks time when I take the family to Lakes Entrance (vic) for the xmas break.. Planning to follow the coast for the entire way down, which works out to about 1700km with two kids under 3. God I must hate myself or something.. On the massive road trips (1700 was nothing) Mum use to keep us kids in check (4 of us) by having a Lollie box. Every half an hour we would get to pick 1 lollie from the box. If you messed up you missed out on your lollie. We use to sit there and stare at the clock waiting for "Lollie time!" Probably wont work for your youngings though, but when they get a bit older if you do a big trip it might. By the time I have my own kids you'll be able to have Plasma TV's and whatever Movie format they're up to in your cars, so they'll be sorted. |
09:09am 03/12/09 Permalink
subscribe: i havent done the drive in about 9years, going down on the 12th.
coast definitely for the win in my opinion thats what i was thinking, bit nicer drive if you want to pull over for a pint / lunch. last edited by mooby at 09:14:50 03/Dec/09 |
09:13am 03/12/09 Permalink
as someone whoes done it a few times this year coast is definately the way to go dont bother with new england anymore
sorry I should add it isnt scenic at all, almost every town excluding ballina (which is almost done) is now bypassed so mostly its just a straight run. |
08:42pm 03/12/09 Permalink
