This route forms a principal north south route through the far mid west of NSW.
It continues into Queensland where it continues in a north easterly direction towards
St. George. It is sealed and dual lane.
0 km (525.9 km) GILGANDRA .. highway junction with Newell (also Oxley) Highways.
Town centre to the north.
[38.0 km]
38.0 km (487.9 km) Junction .. east side to Armatree.
[0.8 km]
38.8 km (487.1 km) REST AREA .. west side .. David Gillon Park .. small level circular sealed
turning area beside Castlereagh River and bridge.
Class 2-. 31° 13.607'S. 148° 28.131'E. Hema map 24, K 2.
Rubbish bins, some shade, OK big rigs, 25m max from 100 kph highway.
[13.0 km]
51.8 km (474.1 km) GULARGAMBONE.
[3.2 km]
55.0 km (470.9 km) REST AREA .. west side .. small level sealed loop off/on highway.
Class 2. 31° 18.318'S. 148² 28.131'E. Hema map 24, J 1.
Covered table, some shade, rubbish bins, OK big rigs, 20m max from 100 kph highway.
[9.2 km]
64.2 km (461.7 km) REST AREA .. east side .. level sealed loop. Signed "HISTORIC SITE"
.. John Oxley, 1818 .. who explored this area.
Class 2. 31° 13.607300'S. 148° 27.405'E. Hema map 24, J 1.
Covered table, rubbish bin, OK big rigs, 25m from 100 kph highway.
[32.9 km]
97.1 km (428.8 km) REST AREA ..west side .. between highway and Castlereagh River
sealed drive through loop. "NO CAMPING" sign.
Class 5. 30° 57.654'S. 148° 23.396'E. Hema map 24, H 1 .
Toilet near southern entrance with water tap on south east corner .. covered tables,
some shade, WATER near centre, fireplace, rubbish bins, OK medium size rigs, 25m max
from 50 kph highway.
[1.0 km estimated.]
98.1 km (427.8 km) COONAMBLE.
[2.1 km estimated.]
100.2 km (425.7 km) Small REST AREA .. west side .. adjacent to road.
[60.7 km]
160.9 km (365.0 km) REST AREA .. west side .. series of gravel loops off/on highway.
Class 2+ but dirty. 30° 28.101'S. 148° 11.661'E. Hema map 24, G 1.
Tables, some shade, rubbish bins, OK big rigs, 50m max from 100 kph highway.
OK medium size rigs, quiet, road continues to ? other possible spots.
[52.5 km]
213.4 km (312.5 km) Signed rest area (? no sign from south) .. east side .. Alex trevallion Park. Since our last visit, now signed
"NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING, by order General Mnager, Walgett Shire" .. dissapointing! We enquired at truck stop opposite
where the reaction was "people still stay, pull the sign out". Further enquiries at the Info Centre revealled the
towns caravan park was closed and they turn a blind eye to people parking there overnight, so we stayed again!
Walgett Rotary Club Project .. large sealed area .. nice trees .
* Class 3. 30° 02.005'S. 148° 06.955'E. Hema map 24, F 1.
Toilets, covered tables, shade, water + filtered water, BBQ now free + wood BBQ.
rubbish bins, OK big rigs, 80m max from 80 kph highway, good TV, good CDMA.
DUMP POINT .. in enclosure just past toilet block .. necessary to lift out plastic plug.
Council worker advised this area south of town is free of "hoon" problems.
[1.2 km]
214.6 km (311.3 km) Info Centre .. west side .. signed parking in front (facing north) for caravans etc.
[0.2 km]
214.8 km (311.1 km) WALGETT .. Post Office.
[0.9 km]
215.7 km (310.2 km) Namoi River.
[4.0 km]
219.7 km (306.2 km) Junction with Kamilaroi Highway .. east to Burrun Junction, Wee Waa, Narrabri etc.
Was hoping to find a nice camp spot near these rivers, but nothing noted.
[3.2 km]
222.9 km (303.0 km) Barwon River.
[60.1 km]
283 km (242.9 km) REST AREA .. Historic Site .. west side .. sealed loop off/on highway on
a slight rise .. which is actually Lightning Ridge, where someone was killed by lightning.
Class 2. 29° 29.601'S. 147° 58.245'E. Hema map 27, C 14.
Covered tables, no shade, non potable water, rubbish bins, OK big rigs, 40m max
from 100 kph highway. Possible to park behind shelter .. 80m max from highway.
[5.1 km]
288.1 km (237.8 km) LIGHTNING RIDGE turn off .. east side.
------------------------------
0 km turn off highway.
5.0 km Info Centre + Lions RSL Park .. right side.
Class 3?. 29° 25.900'S. 147° 58.315'E. Hema map 27, C 14.
Toilets, tables, some shade, wood BBQ, rubbish bins, OK big rigs, 30m max from road.
? gates shut at night. DUMP POINT near toilet, but this is also close to the actual
Info Centre. May be best used early or late in the day.
------------------------------
GILGANDRA TO St. GEORGE .. continued.
Lagoon noticed just west of junction to Lightning Ridge .. not investigated.
[23.6 km]
311.7 km (214.2 km) Junction .. GOODOOGA .. west side.
[8.0 km]
319.7 km (206.2 km) Truck stop.
[12.8 km]
332.5 km (193.4 km) Junction .. Angedool .. east side.
Investigated road for 2.5 km .. turned to gravel .. no likely parking spots noted.
[14.8 km]
347.3 km (178.6 km) Queensland - NSW border .. 29° latitude!
[24.2 km]
371.5 km (154.4 km) HEBEL .. Bicentennail Park .. west side, near library.
Class 4. 28° 58.3529'S. 147° 47.753'E. Hema map 6, K 3.
Toilets opposite beside Helel Hall, covered table, rubbish bins, playground,
OK big rigs, 15m max to 60 kph highway.
Immediately to the north .. store (with caravan park at rear) on corner .. pub opposite.
Highway has 90 degree turn at store.
[0.3 km]
371.8 km (154.1 km) REST AREA .. north side .."NO CAMPING" sign.
Class 5. 28° 58.171'S. 147° 47.833'E. Hema map 6, K 3.
Toilets, covered table, WATER, wood BBQ, rubbish bins, OK big rigs, 20m max from road.
[55.6 km]
427.4 km (98.5 km) Junction .. Dirranbandi - Bollon Road. East to Dirranbandi.
We took the turn to the west to a spot on Baloon Minor River .. north side of the highway,
just east of the bridge .. 0.9 km from above road junction.
* Class 2. 28° 35.947'S. 148° 12.558'E. Hema map 6, J 4.
Old shed, covered table, shade, bush BBQ, OK big rigs, 100m max from 100 kph highway,
good TV, but ABC poor.
[0.3 km]
427.7 km (98.2 km) Truck parking .. west side.
Class 3 to 4. 28° 35.255'S. 148° 13.427'E. Hema map 6, J 4.
Table, no shade, WATER, rubbish bin, OK big rigs, 20m max from 50 kph highway.
[1.4 km]
429.1km (96.8 km) DIRRANBANDI .. Post Office.
[20.2 km]
449.3km (76.6 km) 90 degree turn in highway.
[3.9 km]
453.2 km (72.7 km) Truck parking .. west side .. 25m off highway.
[65.4 km]
518.6 km (7.3 km) Junction .. Carnarvon Highway.
[7.3 km]
525.9 km ( 0 km) Junction .. main street .. St. GEORGE.
Lots of day (Class 5) parking along the Baloone River bank close to town. This water
is held by the Jack Taylor weir. The weir is on the western outskirts of the town.
The Ballone Highway to the west crosses the weir via the Anrdew Nixon bridge.
There are Class 5 areas on the town side of the bridge ..
28° 02.655'S. 148° 34.111'E. Hema map 6, H 4.
Update .. cross the above mentioned bridge, which is the road to Bollon and Cunnamulla,
after 1.1 km on south side is a truck inspection station .. large parking area with
adjoining gravel pit to south east .. leads to side road and thence back on highway.
Class 2 to 3. 28° 02.408'S. 148° 33.545'E. Hema map 6, H 4.
No facilities, no shade, OK big rigs, 75m max from 100 kph highway.
DUMP POINT near showgrounds .. for directions see Carnarvon Highway section.
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