Best road option

[nedskelly]

Sydney siders,
Next week I am going to travel from Ellalong (outside Cessnock) to Berry and am seeking best route. Remember I ama big rig with a toad.
Using Google maps I can
Option 1 Head west to Broke then head down The great north road-- Pacific Highway --- M1 -- Cumberland way and eventually onto F1
Option 2 Putty Road --- Richmond road --- M31 through Campbelltown -- Picton Rd --- back on the M1
Option 3 Lake Road --- M1 Pacific hwy --- Onto F3 --- M1 Pacific hwy -- harbour tunnel, out past airports southern cross drive --- onto M1 to Woolongong and then down to Berry

These routes might not be exactly correct but should give the general directions
Option 1 puts me on the Cumberland way which I am not keen on doing I have been this way in a car and I worry about GPS loosing me in the bowles of Sydney
Option 2 I prefer, scenic from Broke and then skirts around the outside of Sydney
Option 3 I have done as far as the airports and think it would be OK just concerned about height restrictions and cost of tolls

Any advice from others that know these roads and have done them in a big rig your input would be appreciated.
Regards
Gary

[pet-els]

Gary,
I would go
Putty Road [#69] to Windsor.
George Street to Richmond Road [#63] to M7 (toll)
M7 to Hume Hwy [#31] to Picton Road Wilton [#88] to Wollongong
Then Princess Hwy [#1] to Berry.

[Newcastle George]

I go from Newcastle to Wollongong on a regular basis and even in the bus (11.5M) I prefer your option 3 regardless of tolls (which I have not been charged when in the bus) as it is the most direct with the least traffic lights.

George

The route I take from Chatswood down: http://goo.gl/maps/yGVn7

[Kelvin12]

Forget anything to do with the Cumberland Highway. I am sure the electricity authorities have shares in the traffic lights. Luna Park has less lights than that goat track.

Putty road is a bit windy and steep as you get down to the Colo river, fair climb up the other side for a heavy vehicle if your m/h is one of them. Hardly any traffic these days, used to be a favorite overnighter track but they are long gone now but I would still travel only in daylight. Take it easy on this road and you will be OK just drive to conditions. Colo river can flood in heavy rain and the road closes.

Have a good trip.

Dirk

[T1 Terry]

I'd take the Putty Rd, through Windsor and head for Penrith, The Northern Rd to Narrelan, head towards Campbelltown till you cross the M31, down the M31 till the Wilton turn off, that will take you through to top of Mt Ousley, down on to the freeway and that will take you on to Berry. then you can come back in the toad for a visit and a cuppa
It's all negotiable in a semi so you should be fine, the Putty Rd is a second grade rd but semis used it for years till the Newcastle expressway was sorted, the Northern rd is a second grade rd but not much traffic, once you hit Narrelan it's multi lane road till the about 20km out of Berry, and no tolls.

[pet-els]

I travel the Putty road regular.

[wayneP]

Gary,
"Remember I am a big rig with a toad"
1/ If you have the 'grunt' and time and want to see some beautiful country, yes Putty road etc as per T1
But if you use Google maps Ellalong to Berry you will see two suggested routes,

287 km, 3 hours 43 mins basically straight through, but lots of lights in middle (Great at 12AM-3AM though very little traffic, thats why 3 hours). Day time in your rig add 1 hour+, plus 150 or so gear changes

319 km, 3 hours 45 mins 'yes' tolls but worth it me thinks. Except for about 8ks? at Pennant Hills you are on express way condition's all the way to the Picton road/Wollongong turn off. Obviously arriving at the end of that Newcasle free-way at 7-8AM will knock the time around.

294 km, 3 hours 49 mins - Newcastle George's route good but time of day and towing 'toad' can be stressful just to see harbour bridge or go under the harbour.
All depends on how early you leave home and what time you want to be in Berry

[pet-els]

I travel the Putty road regular.

I forgot I'm a 29' 5th wheeler [13m overall].

[nedskelly]

We did the Putty road route
Ellallong to Broke day 1 just to get an early start next day. ice camp area at Broke, plenty of room.
The Putty road was a great drive, somebody mentioned the road being grade 2, I thought it was a good road, I was expecting something like the Esk Hampton road. We stopped and had a coffee and apple pie at Grey Gum, another nice place to park up for a night. Made it to Berry around 13:30.
Might do the free way run on the return trip.
Thanks for the advice
Regards
Gary

[T1 Terry]

If you compare it to the rt of the run down the F3 the Putty Rd is a grade 2 rd Maybe we get a bit spoilt with good rds around here