Driving Down To Syd

[RYN26]

Hi All,

I am planning to drive down to Syd during the easter vacation( shame I can't join the easter cruise ) And being my first time for such a long drive, I really want some advice from you guys. Anything need to be done to the car before and after the journey? Any place on the way must see? ( I dont mind stop in a nice town for a night ) OH, and I heard that ppl under 25 can't drive a turbo car in Syd, is that true? If so, I might be in trouble. ( sometimes you just wanna get older, insurance etc.... )

Anyone wanna join me for the journey? Cruising down there with other skylines must be fun!!

anyway, Looking forward to your ideas, Thx alot! See you guys at tonight's skyline cruise and Happy easter~~

Ryan

Edited March 30, 2006 by RYN26

[SMR33]

Hi Ryan,

The trip takes roughly 10 hrs 30 mins if you don't stop (only fuel stops and maccas drive thru)

Kempsey is approximately half way, but I would not recommend staying there...I would stay in Port Macquarie (only about another 40 mins south of Kempsey). Port Macquarie is off the Pacific Highway, about 10kms and is a lovely place.

Coffs Harbour is a nice spot (about 4 hours from Brisbane), the Big Banana is there on the highway, so something to look at.

The rules about turbos is that people who are only on P's and under a certain age are not allowed to drive/own turbo cars -- my understanding is that you will be fine as your vehicle is registered in Queensland and you have a Queensland drivers licence.

I would check fluids and tyre pressures if you keep your car well maintained...if you don't keep your car well maintained I would get a service. Also if you are a member of the RACQ for roadside assist, the NRMA in NSW is the same thing, and they will attend to your car if needed.

Hmmm, skyline cruise down the coast over easter...sounds quite nice

BTW - NSW have double demerit points over the whole easter period...usually starts on Thursday night at 12 midnight and runs through until Monday night at 12 midnight...this may have altered since I was there last though.

Have a safe trip

Regards,

Karen

[NismoGirl]

Some good tips there Karen

All I can say is make sure you are in RACQ Ultra care or at least RACQ, cause if anything happens, at least then you will be able to get some help.

We drove to Carins last July/August and we upgraded our RACQ to ultra care just incase something happened. You can get emergency accommodation and hire cars if anything does happen. Although we didn't use it, it was a nice peace of mind to know it was there if needed.

Just stick to the speed limit and road rules, and you'll be right.

If you've got a FMIC that you don't want anything to happen to, some people put mesh across the front bar... if you want a cheap alternative, wrap fly screen around the bar and take it off when the trips finished. I wish we had thought of this before driving to cairns. Though, the only thing that we hit, out of all those animals out there, was a f**ken pidgeon.... in hte middle of now where between Airlie Beach and Bowen. Hit the window, so there was no damage

[RYN26]

Karen, You are always so kind and helpful! Thx for the advice! Will see you tonight and tell me more about it, haha~ My car is always well maintained, serviced every 3000km, last service was 1000km ago. Thinking serive it again before the journey, or should I do it after the thing??

NismoGirl, RACQ ultra care aye? hmmm....must be expensive. but thanks for the remind anyways. My next plan might be driving up to Carins, is it even tougher than driving to Syd?

[chaos]

Hey Ryan,

How'd sunday go with Dan??

You wont need to worry bout being a P plater with a turbo car, as this only came into affect for those who got their license after July/june last Year (not 100% sure). So yeah, this rule only applied for those that got it after this cut off date.

Also might not hurt to have the car checked over for leaks etc.

But should be a good drive down

[RYN26]

Hey Chaos,

Yeah, Dan was very helpful. Broke one belt last weekend, and he drove all the way to my place, and get everything done with a fairly good price. (it's a Sunday) So, Thx for recommending him to me, bro:)

For the guys dont know Dan, he's user name is 3Litre3 in our forum, really nice guy and good mechanic. I will surely go to him later on.

[R33S2]

If you like to get away form it all Evans Head is a good spot, about 1/2hr before Kempsy, but being easter you'll be up for it where ever you go, even with a tent.

As you approach Grafton there is a left turn up a hill, Centenary Drive, you can see the town up ahead on the right, bypasses the whole 80/60 cops single lane stuff.

There are fixed cameras all over the show, easy to avoid because of the signage but still, they work.

[SMR33]

Ryan, you're welcome anytime

If you like to get away form it all Evans Head is a good spot, about 1/2hr before Kempsy

Hey Terry, do you mean a different town, because Evans Head is not far south of Ballina...do you mean Crescent Head or Grassy Head??

As you approach Grafton there is a left turn up a hill, Centenary Drive, you can see the town up ahead on the right, bypasses the whole 80/60 cops single lane stuff.

Yes, this bypass is teh best but heading north, it comes up upon you very quickly There's also a bypass for Ballina but I won't go into that...too confusing without a map :

There are fixed cameras all over the show, easy to avoid because of the signage but still, they work.

Correct

<insert rant about blatant revenue raising>

[dangerous_daveo]

Fixed cameras arent revenue rasing. They have big signs up, if you cant see them you should have to pay, so that some little kid gets a decent education so they dont do the same thing. /end rant....

Anyway, if you are tired PULL OVER, get out of the car, do some star jumps or something. Its a long mostly straight road. It will put you to sleep if you let it. Dont let it. That and fill her right up to the brim before you leave as close to the boarder as you can. NSW fuel is exxy!

[NismoGirl]

NismoGirl, RACQ ultra care aye? hmmm....must be expensive. but thanks for the remind anyways. My next plan might be driving up to Carins, is it even tougher than driving to Syd?

I dont know about that, never driven to Sydney to compare But Cairns was an awesome drive for people who love driving. Just have to plan your stops out because lots of places up north don't have 98 ron fuel.

RACQ ultra care isn't that expensive.. like $150 or something?

[85URK]

dont speed and watch the fixed speed cameras down there especially through the nsw/qld border area near muwillumbah. (SP) anyway other that that have fun.

[chaos]

I think from memory, there's a BP right on the tweed river.

[jlnewton]

Yeah, plan your fuel stops. You can make it to Coffs pretty easy from here. I usually filled up there, there is a Shell on the left just as you are leaving Coffs. Then you will need some fuel just before Sydney, you might make it, but I was always too scared to try There is a Shell at Kempsy too.

[RYN26]

Thx heaps for all the kind advice!!

Speeding aye?.......Will keep an eye on it, Karen, I dont usually drive like I did last time, haha.

and fuel, Ya!!! Big problem, will follow your advice to fill up my tank before getting into Syd. But I think I still have to fill my tank at least once, coz I will stay there for around 1wk and might drive to Canberra as well. Keeping fingers crossed. Will try to record my car's fuel consumption the whole way, if anyone is interested:) and I am still comparing BP and Shell, will see the differences between them easier this time.

Anything else? Thx again everyone!

hmm.....I think I need to get some maps now, would anyone like to borrow some to me, Cheers~~

[R33S2]

uh umm I do mean Cresent Head but all three are good spots.

The Ballina short cut is very difficult to explain indeed (those bridges wow), but worth it to avoid all those round abouts! but you miss Maccas and the Big Prawn that way LOL.

And did you know that there is a short cut just past Mclean to Corrindi, cuts about 25kms.

And the cops, dont worry about their attitude, just go to a quiet place in your mind untill it is all over.

I think they drink too much coffee, or something.

[chaos]

lol big prawn, we passed that on our all nighter cruise, didnt realise how far south we were lol

[Col-GTSX]

Depends what time you leave Brisbane too...

I left Bris one night a 12am and got to robina and filled up and then the next servo open was in coffs so make sure you fill at robina cause you may need those extra couple of litres... I did...

Most certainlly watch for the fixed speed cameras, they are all signed about 20 metres before the camera unit... You dont want to be fined in NSW... Very expensive...

Watch your speed over the bridge at tweed as there is speed cameras on the bridge too...

[The Dan]

You can't go to Sydney without visiting Bondi Beach. I know it's a piss poor excuse for a beach but you can at least say you went. Plus the view of twin peaks is quite nice also.

Thanx again for the kind words Ryan.

[SMR33]

uh umm I do mean Cresent Head but all three are good spots.

Yes they are

The Ballina short cut is very difficult to explain indeed (those bridges wow), but worth it to avoid all those round abouts! but you miss Maccas and the Big Prawn that way LOL.

True

And did you know that there is a short cut just past Mclean to Corrindi, cuts about 25kms.

No, didn't know about that one

Also, now that the highway has been re-routed (for quite some time now) you don't get to see the Big Oyster at Taree...The mini Ayers Rock was still visible from the highway (down near Buladelah) last time I was down that way, but that may have changed now too (they were doing roadworks in that area last time...they've probably finished that by now.

[R33S2]

Bored? Who me? damn this weather.

Any way here are the maps for short cuts

Tucabia

It's a country road and mostly good surface, capable of 100 ks in most places but does get a bit twisty in Pillar Valley part, a nice drive if your not in a hurry. From north theres a servo off the left side of the Pac Hwy and the turn is past that, Tucabia (two cabe i a) is small and just remember to turn left at main road. From south its the Airport turn off.

Ballina Bypass

A good road, gets twisty and bumpy esp those bridges in the south (and one way) but worth the effort for the traveller as Ballina Sucks poo. The turns offs nth&sth pac hwy are hard to find, as there is nothing there but the Nthn one has/d a Teven sign and once though there, after the big down hill run, turn left after the bridge and follow the creek, cross both bridges and your sweet. From the sth its pretty hard to pin point, but if I remember rightly its the second turn after Gwyder Hwy.

I've been advised not to go the Cumbalum route (steep hills) and never tried it, has anyone on here?