Need help from Gold Coast Swaggers

[macca]

In a couple of weeks I am dropping my daughter off at the Gold Coast airport and then driving her car back to Melbourne, our truck driver from work is telling me not to go anywhere near the Pacific highway because of road works and to come back via the New England Hwy.  Two questions, is that info correct and if so what is the quickest way accross to the New England from Coolangatta
Thanks in advance
macca

[plusnq]

I usually go Goldie, Murwillumbah, Uki, Kyogle, Tenterfield myself. It is about 3.5 hrs.

[Spada]

The road works on the pacific are up the northern end. It can become bit of a snarl between Ballina and Port Macquarie as a lot of that area is still single lane with road works to expand it to dual lane (and with school holidays, it'll have a lot of holiday traffic).

For an inland option to Vic, I'd suggest the Pacific down to Bangalow, then across to Lismore, Casino, follow the Bruxner Hwy to Tenterfield, New England to Tamworth, then Oxley Hwy across to Coonabarabran, then south on the Newell to Vic.

[Robbo]

I usually go Goldie, Murwillumbah, Uki, Kyogle, Tenterfield myself. It is about 3.5 hrs.

X2 What plusnq said. Better roads too.

[edz]

For us from Tweed to Armidale .. Normal times are with a 3.30 am  get away ... Beats road works snarls at Byron through  to Woodburn etc [ still have slow down  though ]...
Usualy 2hrs 20 Tweed to Grafton feed and fuel  then roughly 2 hr 30 to Armidale .. We go out through Nymboida on the Armidale / Grafton road and up through the range ..It is a bit off a windy road  but not to bad traffic wise in the AM hours, probably less on week ends..

[tryagain]

It probably depends somewhat on what time you will be leaving but roadwork's on the Pacific Hwy are nothing new. Google maps shows that the Pacific Hwy is about 1hr45min quicker at the moment (night time so no actual roadwork's happening but still reduced speed limits etc) and I cant imagine the road works slowing you down anywhere near that.

[oldmate]

It probably depends somewhat on what time you will be leaving but roadwork's on the Pacific Hwy are nothing new. Google maps shows that the Pacific Hwy is about 1hr45min quicker at the moment (night time so no actual roadwork's happening but still reduced speed limits etc) and I cant imagine the road works slowing you down anywhere near that.

I actually don't mind the PAC hwy.  yes you may sit in some roadworks here and there, but generally it 2 lane now and quite a good run.

[macca]

  I will be leaving the airport at about 2:00 on Friday 18th so might give  the Pacific a miss. Thanks for the replies  guys

[DaveR]

The road will be conjested near Byron, and then getting to Bangalo turn of can take time.
Go the Kyogle way. Its a plesant drive to.

[macca]

Thanks Dave,  that was the way I was thinking too. Won't have any time to smell the roses tho got to be back I'm Mexico for work on Monday

[tryagain]

I actually don't mind the PAC hwy.  yes you may sit in some roadworks here and there, but generally it 2 lane now and quite a good run.

This, generally I would rather get stuck in a little bit of roadwork traffic and then be able to overtake on the dual carriageway than constantly getting stuck behind slow vehicles for the whole trip. The New England Hwy is a probably a nicer drive but the Pacific Hwy will almost certainly be quicker.