A ? for the Mexicans - driving Syd to PI

[ducati_paul]

I'm driving down on the Wednesday afterwork to Gundagai for a stopover then will carry on down to the Island thursday morning, seeing as I'm in the car I'll be taking the Hume but what I'd like to know is .... Google Maps shows to stay on the hume basically all the way into Melb then take the freeway around to the Island, is it any quicker to cut through say Yea/Saville/Cockatoo? Google says no but I don't always trust it, also I think this may be bushfire affected but given that it's 2 weeks until I leave I anticipate it will be ok to drive through at that time. I'd like to be at the island by 2pm so we can take part in a 4pm Flagmarshalls excercise.

[Cwidova]

it might be quicker depending on what time you get through melbourne (peak hour on the freeway can add over an hour to the trip) but on the other hand you might not be able to get through some areas going down thorugh yea due to the fires?

[Benno]

Looking at the map, it'd send you straight through the King Lake national park, where the majority of the deaths have been. I know it's boring, but sticking to the highway is probably your best bet. You can check the CFA & DSE websites for details


http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/

http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/index.htm

[Smitty]

with most of the bushfire areas declared crime scenes
and estimates of maybe 4 weeks, maybe more before residents are let
back to whats left of these places, I suggest you stay away from the
areas of Yea Buxton Healesville Kinglake Yarra Glen Flowerdale and so on

its the boring route Im afraid
although these days now with the Hume bypass not that much slower
than the other routes...just not much to look at

[ducati_paul]

with most of the bushfire areas declared crime scenes
and estimates of maybe 4 weeks, maybe more before residents are let
back to whats left of these places

Ahh! Hadn't heard that! I was thinking in 2 weeks time it'd probably be ok, oh well I guess that settles it ... the Hume for me! Thanks all

[Glen]

If you avoid afternoon peak hour from the City to Dandenong you'll get a pretty good run though

[Smitty]

with most of the bushfire areas declared crime scenes
and estimates of maybe 4 weeks, maybe more before residents are let
back to whats left of these places

Ahh! Hadn't heard that! I was thinking in 2 weeks time it'd probably be ok, oh well I guess that settles it ... the Hume for me! Thanks all

good because....
I also forgot to add...most (just about all I thinK) of these fires are still burning

The one that took out Kinglake and surrounds is still burning and heading in a NE direction
towards Yea and Alexandra..Its a big bugger (a 100km wide ) and todays paper
says the CFA reckon it could a couple of months to existinguish (unless we get a huge dump
of rain which is unlikely)

this may help ..its a day old though

[Smitty]

and this REALLY shows the effect of the fires to date.............

[ducati_paul]

good because....
I also forgot to add...most (just about all I thinK) of these fires are still burning

The one that took out Kinglake and surrounds is still burning and heading in a NE direction
towards Yea and Alexandra..Its a big bugger (a 100km wide ) and todays paper
says the CFA reckon it could a couple of months to existinguish (unless we get a huge dump
of rain which is unlikely)

Yeah I know they're still burning, I've just sent an email to my Boss and his boss asking for a week off so I can put my name down to go down and fight them, there are already 200 RFS personel down there and with any luck I'll be joining them next week, but no holiday pay means no money means no firefighting for me! We have a meeting tomorrow night where the brigade will be collecting expressions of interest from us.


Yeah that last map really shows it! ... right where I was thinking I'd maybe go!

[Strika]

As far as the route goes, it is far quicker to go Hume/Ring rd/Tulla/South eastern car park and onto the bass (or whatever it's called) Hwy than it is to cut through the hills. Even without the fires, unless you are on a bike, or in a Porsche, the hills is a slower route.

[dilligaf]

As far as the route goes, it is far quicker to go Hume/Ring rd/Tulla/South eastern car park and onto the bass (or whatever it's called) Hwy than it is to cut through the hills. Even without the fires, unless you are on a bike, or in a Porsche, the hills is a slower route.

drove between canberra and melb a lot a few years back and the freeway is much faster. just avoid the peak and get your day pass for citilink.

[ducati_paul]

get your day pass for citilink.

Ooh! good point, I better check my RTA Toll gadget thingy works down there!

[6maniac]

Yep Paul.... RTA should work everywhere.

[Smitty]

As far as the route goes, it is far quicker to go Hume/Ring rd/Tulla/South eastern car park and onto the bass (or whatever it's called) Hwy than it is to cut through the hills. Even without the fires, unless you are on a bike, or in a Porsche, the hills is a slower route.

besides there are LOTS of road closures
roads we know..and ride

some are -
Healesville - Kinglake Rd (Chum Creek Rd) at Healesville
Healesville-Kinglake Road at Kinglake West
Heidelberg - Kinglake Road
Maroondah Highway between Taggerty and Healesville (including Black Spur)
Marysville Road
Marysville - Woods Point Road
Melba Highway from Yea to Dixon Creek
Myers Creek Rd at Valley Farm Road
Warburton - Woods Point Road between Cumberland Junction and Matlock
Whittlesea-Kinglake Road
Whittlesea-Yea Road

too many others to list
check here -
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/New ... dClosures/