This is a principal east west route travelling from Bathurst westwards via Blayney, Cowra and Grenfell to the Newell
Highway. There is a common section with the Newell Highway south. It then runs further west to Hay.
That section isn't covered at this stage in time.
It is 2.6 km west from the centre of Bathurst to the start of the Mid Western Highway. That spot is also taken as
the western extremity of the Great Western Highway and the eastern exremity of the Mitchell Highway.
------------------------------
There are numerous signed routes from in and around Bathurst to Mt. Panorama .. about 5km south of the city.
Travel to the entrance gates, enter onto the actual speedway track and travel in either direction to the top of the track
(turn right to follow the direction the racing cars use). At the top, there is a signed gateway "Mc Phillamy Park".
Extensive series of tracks amongst woods with level camp spots adjoining. Gates currently closed 9pm till 7am ..
keeps the hoons out!
* Class 2+. 33° 27.43'S. 149° 32.94'E. Hema map 22, G 5.
Toilets, showers, covered tables, shade, a few threaded town WATER taps, rubbish bins, quiet OK big rigs, no apparent
time limit apart from when race track is used, excellent TV, good CDMA, great views, playground.
------------------------------
0 km (231.5 km) Mid Western Highway commences 2.6 km west of the centre of Bathurst.
[7.3 km]
7.3 km (224.2 km) Signed parking .. south east side. Small sealed bay adjacent to highway.
Class 2-. 33° 26.08' S. 149° 31.96' E. Hema map 22, G 5.
Covered table, some shade, rubbish bins, 20m max to highway, OK big rigs.
[10.1 km]
17.4 km (214.1 km) Old highway section noted .. south side .. ? parking possibilities.
[19.0 km]
36.4 km (195.1 km) Blayney Post Office. We found parallel parking in side streets, including near IGA .. where we found
shopping to be convenient and friendly. Also, good counter meals at pub closest to northern end of town.
[10.1 km]
46.5 km (185.0 km) Junction .. south eastern side .. to Carcoar Dam.
-------------------------------
0 km taking signed turn off to Carcoar Dam.
[2.5 km] Passing viewing area for windfarm.
2.5 km Entry to Carcoar rest area .. gravel tracks in large sloping area between road and water .. parking adjacent.
* Class 2+. 33° 36.68' S. 149° 10.90' E. Hema map 22, G 5.
Toilets and cold showers (very clean), tables, non potable dam WATER, potable (at our visit) rain WATER, rubbish bins,
100m from road, OK big rigs, no apparent time limit, good TV, good CDMA. Dam level quite low.
-------------------------------
BATHURST TO MARSDEN .. continued.
[2.1 km]
48.6 km (182.9 km) Signed rest area .. south east side .. gravel track into parking spots .. Fullers Lane at south western
entrance .. thus two entrances.
* Class 2. 33° 35.93'S. 149° 09.95'E. Hema map 22, G 4.
Broken table, shade, rubbish bins, 40m max from highway, just OK big rigs, good TV, good CDMA.
[2.8 km]
51.4 km (180.1 km) Junction .. north side .. to Carcoar Village.
[5.4 km]
56.8 km (174.7 km) Rest area noted .. south side .. appeared similiar to above rest area, but closer to road.
[2.8 km]
59.6 km (171.9 km) Mandurama Post Office.
[5.9 km]
65.5 km (166.0 km) Signed parking .. south side. Sealed parking bay adjacent to highway with small extra loop at rear.
Class 2-. 33° 40.46'S. 149° 01.52'E. Hema map 22, F 6.
Covered table, some shade, rubbish bins, 10m from highway, OK big rigs in front area, 25m from highway, OK small
rigs at rear, weak CDMA.
[38.3 km]
103.8 km (127.7 km) Picnic bay noted .. north side .. 10m from highway.
[1.1 km]
104.9 km (126.6 km) Rest area noted .. south side.
[2.1 km]
107.0 km (124.5 km) Junction .. first set of traffic lights in Cowra .. also Post Office.
-------------------------------
0 km taking turn off north to Japanese Gradens.
[1.4 km] Following signs.
1.4 km Parking area (sloping) for Japanese Gardens. Signed caravan/bus parking along lower edge.
Class 3 to 4. 33° 49.56' S. 148° 41.74' E. Hema map 22, H 3.
No real facilities, rubbish bins, OK big rigs, good TV, good CDMA.
-------------------------------
BATHURST TO MARSDEN .. continued.
[0.4 km]
107.4 km (124.1 km) Junction .. north south .. signed to Canowindra .. Lachlan Valley Way .. north.
[0.7 km] Across bridge.
108.1 km (123.4 km) Junction .. south side .. signed to Boorowa etc. .. Lachlan Valley Way .. south.
[1.3 km]
109.4 km (122.1 km) Junction .. south side .. signed to Young. (Olympic Highway).
[1.6 km]
111.0 km (120.5 km) Northern end Cowra airstrip adjacent to highway with gravel track running between highway and fence.
Class 3. 33° 50.14' S. 148° 39.07' E. Hema map 22, H 3.
Some shade, 30m from highway, OK big rigs, good TV, good CDMA.
[2.7 km]
113.7 km (117.8 km) Junction .. north side .. to Gooloogong, Forbes .. which we took.
-------------------------------
0 km (85.7 km) Taking turn off north to Gooloogong.
[33.3 km]
33.3 km (52.4 ) Cross Roads .. Eugowra to north, Grenfell (which we eventually took) to south.
100m past the cross roads, opposite store, is the entrance to the free caravan park. Pass west of toilet block
and turn right into area which has power box in the centre .. level grassy area.
* Class 1. Forgot to take lat. and long. Hema map 22, G 3.
Toilets, hot showers, covered tables, little shade, threaded (bore) water taps (potable), free electric BBQ, rubbish
bins, 40m from roads, OK big rigs, signed 3 nights max., good TV, weak CDMA, free power, playground.
Store, pub, public phone opposite. Great spot!
[22.2 km] taking Grenfell Road.
55.5 km (30.2 km) Gravel pit noted .. east side .. about 20m from road.
[29.8 km]
85.3 km (0.4 km) Road turns south into Grenfell. Ahead is signed caravan parking .. close to rear of main street.
[0.4 km] Crossing end of main street.
85.7 km (0 km) Junction with Mid Western Highway 100m west of Post Office.
-------------------------------
BATHURST TO MARSDEN .. continued.
[49.9 km] Taken from a map .. section of Mid Western Highway not travelled .. Gooloogong turn off to Grenfell Post Office.
163.6 km (67.9 km) Grenfell Post Office.
[1.7 km]
165.3 km (66.2 km) Signed rest area .. north side. Sealed bay agjacent to highway (OK big rigs) plus sealed turning area adjacent.
Class 2-. 33° 53.42'S. 148° 05.71'E. Hema map 22, H 2.
Toilets, covered tables, some shade, WATER, rubbish bins, 20m max from highway, OK medium size rigs, no apparent
time limit apart from when race track is used, excellent TV, good CDMA, great views, playground.
NOTE .. another traveller advised that Company Dam (in this area) wasn't a good spot due to poor access around dam.
[7.4 km]
172.7 km (58.8 km) Signed rest area .. north side .. sealed loop off/on highway with extra small sealed loop at rear. To the
rear again .. series of level dirt tracks in open wooded country.
* Class 2. 33° 50.96'S. 148° 05.46'E. Hema map 22, H 2.
Covered table, shade, bush fireplace, rubbish bins, 60m from highway in rear area, OK big rigs, good TV, good CDMA.
[0.2 km]
172.9 km (58.6 km) Junction .. north side .. to Forbes.
[14.0 km]
186.9 km (44.6 km) Signed fireplace noted .. north side .. covered table.
[15.4 km]
203.2 km (29.2 km) Signed fireplace noted .. north side .. rubbish bin.
[6.1 km]
208.4 km (23.1 km) Junction .. south side .. to Quandialla .. which we eventually took.
-------------------------------
We travelled south to near Quandialla, the west via Bland to the Junction with the Newell Highway 6 km from West
Wyalong.
0 km Turning south at above junction at Caragabal.
[20.7 km]
20.7 km "T" junction. Quandialla to the east. We turned west.
[21.8 km]
42.5 km East side of Bland Creek .. tracks to creek .. north side of road. Possible camp spots along creek??
Class 2. 33° 58.84' S. 147° 33.76' E. (taken from road adjacent). Hema map 29, E 13.
No facilities, some shade, 60m from road, OK big rigs.
[0.1 km]
42.6 km Centre of bridge .. Bland Creek.
[25.7 km]
68.3 km Gravel Pit noted .. top of rise .. south side.
[4.7 km]
73.0 km Junction with Newell Highway 6 km from West Wyalong.
-------------------------------
BATHURST TO MARSDEN .. continued.
[0.1 km]
208.5km (23.0 km) Signed rest area at Caragabal .. north side. Sealed parking on service road to north near closed down pub.
Town, including closed down shop and pub appeared almost deserted!
Class 2-. 33° 50.62'S. 147° 44.38'E. Hema map 22, H 1.
Toilets, playground to east, tables, no shade, dirty non potable water, rubbish bins, 15m from highway, OK big rigs,
very weak CDMA, public phone opposite.
[23.0 km] This section not tarvelled .. distance taken from a map.
231.5 km (0 km) Junction with Newell Highway at Marsden.
NOTE. There is a common section of the Mid Western Highway with the Newell Highway south. It then runs further west
to Hay. That section isn't covered at this stage in time.
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