Safest Melbourne to Atherton Tablelands route while Pregnant?
Submitted: Monday, Jun 20, 2022 at 09:27
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George C
Some friends are coming up to
Cairns from
Melbourne and one is about 2 months. Just wondering what the safest route as far as access to hospitals and all bitumen is concerned?
1 - via Cobar/Bourke/cross into QLD at Barringun/Charleville/Barkaldine/Muttaburra/Hughden/Lynd
Is the
Muttaburra section and Lynd section still mostly gravel?
2 - via Dubbo/cross into QLD at Hebel/St George/Roma/Rolleston/Emerald/Charters/Lynd (or
Townsville)
It's about a 200km difference (3h) but is the eastern route safer/better road condition?
They are looking at doing this in 2 or 3 nights.
Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Jun 20, 2022 at 10:25
Monday, Jun 20, 2022 at 10:25
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Hi George,
To my mind, they would do better to stick with main routes.
Melbourne to Dubbo up the Newell Hwy then through
Miles,
Rockhampton to
Cairns on the Bruce Hwy. Taking shorter (?) back routes maybe OK if you are a rally driver but the average motorist will do better on highways. Besides, there are amenities all along the main route.
If you dislike the Bruce Hwy, then from
Miles go through
Emerald to
Cairns.... it is actually my preferred route to
Cairns from the Sunshine Coast.
I have recently done
Brisbane to
Bendigo using the Newell and it was a very good road. Not a lot of traffic and mostly trucks that maintain the speed limit.
As for time, it is about 3000km no matter which way, which would require at least 5 full days driving in my book. It's not much fun driving 10+ hrs/day, pregnant or not.
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Reply By: Member - David H72 - Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022 at 03:23
Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022 at 03:23
Hi George
I reckon your second option is by far the best. Driving out to the coast adds
miles to the trip and there are considerable delays on the Bruce Hwy due to rebuilding at the moment apparently.
The road through the Lynd from
Hughenden to Oasis Roadhouse still has sections unsealed and being rebuilt. I’m pretty sure the
Muttaburra section is still unsealed so out to
Roma etc would be better for her.
Cheers
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