Beoz

I quite fancy it for the Ashes test.

Anyone done it? What is there to do on the way?

Take the Broken Hill route? Take the Wagga Wagga route?

No idea about inland NSW, SA, VIC.

GarryP

Never done Sydney to Adelaide, but have done Melbourne to Adelaide. As you probably know, a whole lot of bugger all across that stretch.

Wagga Wagga is the shortest (14:23 h, 1337km), but boring.

People talk of the Broken Hill route, but the Sydney<>Broken Hill part is a killer of a drive. Reference to encounters with trucks and wildlife too. (18:30 h, 1656km)

You also might consider the route down via Melbourne, both for better roads, better scenery, and places to stop. There's route that encompass the dividing range, Halls Gap, etc. (17:40, 1595km)

Hell, you could even do the coastal road and encompass the Great Ocean Road - but that really would add the time and miles.

Probably allow 3 days, 2 nights (although the direct route is in theory doable in 2 days, 1 night. And given as how you'd have to get back as well, a circular route is possible. Obviously the only reason to do it is see and stop at places on the way.

Beoz

Yes. Want to avoid "bugger all" but not go to places I've been before.

Done Melbourne (many times), Great Ocean Road, the mountains, you know ...... the stock standard stuff.

Broken Hill does sound interesting but as you say, its a long route.

Was kind of thinking (hoping) something could be done like drive down Thursday Friday, game day Sat and Sun, drive back Mon Tues. It might be a stretch too far.

Was thinking there could be a game of golf on the way at a nice country course, if they exist.

GarryP

Mildura is supposed to be 'nice' in a genteel country town sort of way. Halls Gap is good if you haven't done it before.

Broken Hill has a golf course Home

If you take a more direct route you can do it in two days. However, those routes really mean you don't want to be driving dusk/dawn/at night because of the wildlife. Mind I guess either end could be, so early start/finish followed by later start/finish. At that time of year the daylight will be long.

quoll

Fly!

Boring as the proverbial batsh*t. The road builders went to the Roman school of road building for much of the way.

Beoz

Yes dusk. Hit a roo down Holbrook way once at dusk, then the guy behind ran up my backside. I know you aren't suppose to slow down for them.

mulben

You could drive via
Bathurst
Cowra - Golf
West Wyalong > detour here to Griffith via Hidden Valley road
Griffith - Food / Wine / Golf
take Kidman Way till Goolgowi then Western Hwy
Hay > back onto the Stuart Hwy
then Renmark > Adelaide

alternate route would be via Murray Valley Hwy
with golf clubs in abundance from
Corowa
Echuca / Moama
Swan Hill/ Murray Downs
then back on the Stuart Hwy at Robinvale

Swerv-o

I went the opposite way:

Sydney > Cobar > Wilcannia > Broken Hill > Adelaide.

I'd say that the drive from Broken Hill to Adelaide was the most dull - there were quite a few interesting towns and hamlets on the Sydney to Broken Hill stretch.

It took 2 days all up, but was well worth doing - it was quite an experience - also interesting to see how human life seems to hang on, even in very marginal circumstances. Wilcannia a particularly good example of this.


S

Beoz

Nice. Food and wine would definately help

Beoz

Yes it would be quite interesting to see outback survival.

carcajou

Mildura is nice and has some good restaurants. But the Mildura to Adelaide part is dull, dull, dull - I was very disappointed in the Riverland. Though taking this route you will obviously pass through the Barossa Valley towards the end. Probably the most interesting way would be through Albury and Halls Gap. Maybe do that one way and come back through Broken Hill on the return.

Outback driving, don't do it at night. If a roo darts out in front of you, keep the wheel straight and just hit it. A roo may total your car but probably won't kill you. What will kill you is if you jerk the wheel and careen into a tree or oncoming traffic. An emu also might kill you because their centre of gravity is higher so when you take out the legs, the body goes into your windshield. Cows are problems farther north, unfenced properties so they just wander about on the roads.

Plan to make sure you reach that day's destination by sunset. Many restaurants in country towns are only open 12-2 and then again 6-8. Call ahead to make sure they are open. Petrol stations have greasy food. Some food in country towns (ie, Mildura) is very good while others is nasty. I would use Trip Advisor etc to pick restaurants before setting out.

ozzieeagle

Emus generally come in pairs as well, so if you see one crossing a road and think it's gone, another will almost certainly be a little way behind it.

Wife saved me in WA with her inherent Aus knowledge.

carcajou

Yes. Roos also travel in mobs of around 25 - if you see one there will be many others around.

OzTennis

I've nearly cleaned up a couple of emus between Halls Gap and Dunkeld - came over the crest of a hill and just in front mother and young 'un were slowly crossing the road and I just managed to avoid them without swerving into the verge or a tree! I'll second that about including the Grampians on at least one route as it's one of Victoria's highlights.

spuddyo

Train might be another option, sit back relax, watch the scenery go by. A seat on a sleeper train may not be too expensive. Not sure how many times a week it goes though, may be only 2 or 3 times these days.