MaxzmusSC Posted 1January, 2014 Report Share Posted 1January, 2014 Hey Guys, A friend and I are heading up tomorrow afternoon to Taree to stay overnight and do the Thunderbolt way drive the following morning. Was curious if anyone on here as driven those roads before? Oh anyone with a free day to join from up that way are free to join us. Cheers, Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webrest Posted 1January, 2014 Report Share Posted 1January, 2014 Have driven it a few years back in a Clio Sport. Nice drive, certainly any info I have though would be far out of date. Say hello to the Captain for me if you go. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TINGY Posted 1January, 2014 Report Share Posted 1January, 2014 My dad dropped a couple of hints that he wants to do a run to Walcha so in the next couple of weeks I am going. I heard they were repairing part of that road out of Gloucester way, I think Peter M did a run up there not too long ago. So your going Friday? Could almost make that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter M Posted 1January, 2014 Report Share Posted 1January, 2014 Funny you mention this.... Often rough but overall a wonderful drive. The section north of Gloucester is tight, often steep, narrow and winding and can be a pain if you get caught behind traffic. Once up on top of the plateau the road improves, the corners open up and speeds increase right through to Walcha. Also expect some road works as the pavement is continually disintegrating. I've probably driven it a couple times a year for the last 20 years and take it in preference to the New England Highway every time. Count me in if you intend going via Gloucester from Taree as I've been tossing up between doing a run this week to Walcha or Bulahdelah (via Booral on Buckett's Way to visit Wootton Way). Alternatively you could go via Wauchope, Oxley Highway and connect with Thunderbolts Way at Walcha and heading south to home. Haven't been on the Oxley since the mid eighties but remember the road fondly on my '84 VF750FD...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TINGY Posted 1January, 2014 Report Share Posted 1January, 2014 I have a great route in mind to come from Dungog and out on the Buckets way at Stroud and on to Gloucester then Thunderbolt's but it's a big day out and I don't think anyone would want to do it, lot's of k's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter M Posted 1January, 2014 Report Share Posted 1January, 2014 Via Stroud Hill Road? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxzmusSC Posted 1January, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 1January, 2014 We're planning on heading up oxley and coming down thunderbolt then dungog. Starting at 6am'ish so that leg should take us to lunch. We're not sure if we want to fit anything else in at this stage. So looking forward to this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter M Posted 1January, 2014 Report Share Posted 1January, 2014 I'll give you a wave! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter M Posted 3January, 2014 Report Share Posted 3January, 2014 Ah, I also forgot to say the last 30km into Walcha is rough too! Funny how you notice the road surface more when you're in a car you actually own rather than just lease...... Anyway, after leaving a slightly perplexed spouse at 6.45am I was at Gloucester at 8 for breakfast. Traffic was also almost non-existent too for the run up onto the plateau and a stop for photos at the lookout that's about halfway between Gloucester and Nowendoc: and finally at Walcha:and then back home for lunch after covering 560km in total. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxzmusSC Posted 4January, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 4January, 2014 11hrs of driving…..oxley hwy, thunderbolt and putty rd……what an awesome day. Oxley was my fav. EPIC!! : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxzmusSC Posted 4January, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 4January, 2014 Missed each other by thaaat much……hehehhe. We were heading down thunderbolt around 9am I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter M Posted 4January, 2014 Report Share Posted 4January, 2014 Don't know how we didn't see each other as I got to Walcha at quarter to 10! You didn't stop at Nowendoc for some trinkets did you? LOLSounds like the Oxley should be my next trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxzmusSC Posted 4January, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 4January, 2014 I was actually looking out for you the whole time…….couldn't reply to your last msg the night before as my mobile logged me out of this forum and I didn't remember my password lol. Oxley is way awesome….and pretty tight. God imagine how good thunderbolt would be if the road was good. Both my friends MX5 and the P struggled on the bumpy bits…….abit rough for our spirited damper settings : ). I might be doing a long trip westward around march - april…..so awesome seeing abit of country Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgy Posted 6January, 2014 Report Share Posted 6January, 2014 Ah, I also forgot to say the last 30km into Walcha is rough too! Funny how you notice the road surface more when you're in a car you actually own rather than just lease...... Anyway, after leaving a slightly perplexed spouse at 6.45am I was at Gloucester at 8 for breakfast. Traffic was also almost non-existent too for the run up onto the plateau and a stop for photos at the lookout that's about halfway between Gloucester and Nowendoc: ha! I knew that spot looked familiar! Great drive, lots of nice scenery... too rough in some spots, it'll be a while before I go back, maybe when the macan arrives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted 8January, 2014 Report Share Posted 8January, 2014 I'm on it now! Lol lovely overcast cool day and no traffic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenS Posted 22September, 2014 Report Share Posted 22September, 2014 Can anyone comment on the road condition between Thunderbolts Way and Tamworth per the map below? (From google maps Ogunbil Rd, Post Office St, Topdale Rd) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutch-monkey Posted 22September, 2014 Report Share Posted 22September, 2014 ha! I knew that spot looked familiar! Great drive, lots of nice scenery... too rough in some spots, it'll be a while before I go back, maybe when the macan arrives heh.. looks like everyone stops there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgy Posted 22September, 2014 Report Share Posted 22September, 2014 heh.. looks like everyone stops there! Looks like they've sealed it? How is thunderbolts way now? When I took it over a year ago the amount of roadworks was very painful!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clutch-monkey Posted 22September, 2014 Report Share Posted 22September, 2014 i was there in july and it was all sealed, bit rough in spots i wouldn't want to be in anything lower. but otherwise fine. just don't hit a cow.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted 22September, 2014 Report Share Posted 22September, 2014 they're always moving cattle on that road, and grazing them. they're normally well signposted though some of the undulations closer to tamworth are enough to scrape mudflaps on aussie sedans, i was fine in a 911 though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenS Posted 22September, 2014 Report Share Posted 22September, 2014 they're always moving cattle on that road, and grazing them. they're normally well signposted though some of the undulations closer to tamworth are enough to scrape mudflaps on aussie sedans, i was fine in a 911 though Russ did you drive the route I was asking about above to Tamworth from Thunderbolts Way? or did you go via Walcha using the Oxley Highway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted 22September, 2014 Report Share Posted 22September, 2014 about a year ago, if it's the road past nundle. I don't remember what it's like though apart from damp around the barrington tops. that photo clutch-monkey posted looked alot like the road into Guyra or Uralla, that's the one the cattle are usually on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenS Posted 9October, 2014 Report Share Posted 9October, 2014 I have been keen to drive through this area for quite a while and today got a chance! Wow! Great driving roads! I wasn't sure on the road quality so decided not to take the P car this time, but will certainly on the next run in this direction. Have to agree with MaxzmusSC the Oxley Highway from Walcha to Port Macquarie is a highlight. I just loved the long straights and curves that tightened into many kilometres of twist on twist along the mountain face. And the road surface along the highway for the most part is excellent. ( give or take a few land slip areas... Ok we are in OZ) First pit stop from Sydney was to break the diet I'm supposed to be on...... Next was to soak up the views of our great country Great driving. Would be good fodder for a planned PFA run at some stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
09ELF Posted 5November, 2014 Report Share Posted 5November, 2014 I did the run with Maxumus. To be honest, it was probabaly one of the worst roads I've driven on. There were sections which were great. Unfortunately the bad outweighed the good =( I want to do the Oberon loop next.. anyone interested? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
09ELF Posted 5November, 2014 Report Share Posted 5November, 2014 I believe this could be the loop, but i might get lost and do a triangle - http://www.motowhere.com/maps/route/Jenolan-Loop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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