NSW 5th October (Sunday) Hunter Valley Cruise and lunch

Discussion in 'Coming Events' started by rob260, Aug 23, 2014.

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  1. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    Been a while since we had a cruise, and the other week I heard about this great driving road up north, so here we go...

    For starters a pic of the proposed cruise. The route has been chosen to include some of the best driving roads that the Northern Sydney/Hunter regions have to offer including
    • Old Pacific Highway
    • Peats Ridge Rd
    • Great North Rd
    • Payne's Crossing Rd

    [​IMG]

    You can find a link to the map here: https://goo.gl/maps/OvlMl

    Meet: At the 7-11 Service station (formerly Mobil) on the Northbound side of the Pacific Hwy, Berowra. The nearest cross street is Rickards Rd.

    Stage 1: Depart at 10am
    Follow the Pacific Hwy to Calga
    Take Peats Ridge Rd to the Springs
    Follow George Downes Dr to Bucketty
    Take the Great North Rd to Wollombi

    Rest Stop at Wollombi approximately 11:30am
    Turn onto Wollombi Rd to arrive at Cafe Wollombi at approximately 11:30
    More info on Cafe Wollombi can be found here https://www.facebook.com/CafeWollombi

    Stage 2: Depart at 12:15pm
    Follow Wollombi Rd back to Great North Rd
    Turn North onto Paynes Crossing Rd towards Broke
    Follow Broke-Cessnock Rd towards Pokolbin

    Destination Reached approximately 1:00pm
    Arrive at Harrigan's Irish Pub on Broke Cessnock Rd in Pokolbin for lunch at 1:00pm
    More information about Harrigans, including menus, can be found here http://www.harrigansirishpub.com.au/home -suffice to say they feature plenty of great food including Vegetarian and Gluten Free.

    Departure
    Departure is fairly much at your leisure; Harrigans is only a short drive to the Hunter Expressway and the M1 (formerly F3) for those heading North or South of the Hunter.

    This is a fairly big cruise, hence I've broken it up into stages. This gives us a chance to regroup if needed, or for others to join the group, and the chance to grab food/coffee/use the facilities/etc as needed.

    Things to Bring
    • Fuel -this is a long cruise, and we're meeting at a service station, so don't even THINK about starting out with less than a full tank of fuel
    • Good attitude! Cruises are meant to be fun for all participants -more on this closer to the date
    • Directions -it's not my job to make sure that you know where to go. If you're not 100% sure please follow the link to google maps and print out the route and directions for the cruise. These may NOT be the same directions as you get from your phone or GPS, so please familiarise yourself with the cruise route.
    • UHF if you have one
    • Mobile phone -be prepared to give your number to myself and other attendees, we NEED a means to get in touch with you if needed
    • GPS for backup

    Thanks guys; this should be a nice time of year to check out some truly awesome roads, and it should be an awesome day out if we can get a few of you to turn up.
     
  2. Liam Flint

    Liam Flint New Member

    I'm definitely keen, as i said on FB, provided my car is healthy and running by then I'll bring the Zed, otherwise i may have to show the A70 some love. As long as you guys don't mind having a toyota among you.
     
  3. ProckyZ89

    ProckyZ89 Senior Member

    I'll come , anyone wanna let me crash on couch the night before lol
     
  4. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    Hmmm maybe.....
     
  5. shineyzx

    shineyzx Member

    This is a fun route (better going south though) ill be trying my best to make the whole run, if not ill be there for lunch
     
  6. mholt

    mholt Member

    This is the same day they run the state hillclimb in Newcastle King Edward park and as a member of the MGCCN I am required to help as an official on this day so I cant come, can't you postpone it till after bathurst 1000 weekend say around 18 October then I could come
     
  7. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    Hi Matt, I understand where you're coming from but I'm not a fan of chopping and changing details once the event has been setup, especially not now that it has been "live" for a week. There will be more cruises etc in the future that I hope you can attend.

    Please note I have deleted your other post -while your kind offer is very much appreciated this is not the place (thread) to be discussing alternate events on the same date. Please PM me if you wish to discuss further.
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2014
  8. harty

    harty Member

    If I'm not working I will be there, will confirm closer to the date
     
  9. OldRedZed

    OldRedZed Member

    Same for me

    OldRedZed
     
  10. ZedXTT

    ZedXTT #TEAMROB

    I might have new wheels for this :D
     
  11. ZX301

    ZX301 Formerly known as

    Love to go...but im working again:(
     
  12. Mikey5555

    Mikey5555 Grid Runner

    Might come if a few of the boys are keen

    Will have to be sunny though, didn't buy a soft top for nothing
     
  13. ZX301

    ZX301 Formerly known as

    Put me down i can get a day off. Probably wont do the full run maybe just from wollombi cafe.
     
  14. ZedXTT

    ZedXTT #TEAMROB

    AwwwwYeeeeah

    Just confirmed, I will have new wheels and tyres for this cruise. :D
     
  15. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    Coming up sooner rather than later ladies and gentlemen -please continue to indicate your attendance so as I know whom to look out for at the meeting point.
     
  16. ZX301

    ZX301 Formerly known as

    Just looked through the full map. Ill drive down to the start point it looks like a good drive.

    Anyone else going down from hunter valley or newcastle and want to travel in a group??
     
  17. shineyzx

    shineyzx Member

    Me and mother will be..
    Pm sent
     
  18. ProckyZ89

    ProckyZ89 Senior Member

    Invading Sydney the night before lol
     
  19. rob260

    rob260 Administrator Staff Member

    More Info

    OK so I did some reconnaissance today under the guise of a romantic Sunday lunch and actually test-drove the route. I know that for some getting lost along the way has been the real highlight of previous events, but I'm hoping to have things run a little smoother this time around.

    Please see below for some little bits and pieces

    Meetup

    Details for the meeting point are posted in the original thread, but here's a pic from the street to help anyone pick the right spot.

    [​IMG]

    It's not the best pic but I think Tahli did OK grabbing it out the window as we drove past, and at very short notice. On the right hand side of the image is an area with lots of bikes that we'll aim to meet at. It can get pretty crowded on a Sunday morning (being the doorstep of the Old Pacific Highway) so be prepared to share the space.

    I'll be there from 9:30 and we are leaving at 10:00, no later. We'll have a quick briefing at 9:50 -don't miss it.

    Wollombi Rest/Catchup/ Point

    This is the first and only place that we'll be stopping between Sydney and the Hunter. I have allowed heaps of time between our anticipated arrival (11:30) and scheduled departure (12:15) to allow people to have a break and a chat and also for any stragglers to catchup as needed.

    If today was any indication Wollombi will be ****ing packed, so I am going to suggest that rather than turn right into Wollombi Rd as suggested we instead park beside Payne's Crossing Rd opposite the Wollombi Village Vineyard (at the location marked with the RED x below) and walk a couple of hundred metres to the Wollombi Cafe (the location marked with the blue x) for a coffee etc.

    [​IMG]

    The Wollombi Cafe is pictured below

    [​IMG]

    As you can see it is up a very well signposted driveway on the right hand side of Wollombi Rd. They take cash only so make sure you have some spending $$ with you if you plan to buy something.

    We will be leaving from Paynes Crossing Rd at 12:15, no later. I had no reception at Wollombi today, so I won't be able to call you if you're not at the right place at the right time. If you don't park on Payne's crossing Rd as I have suggested you will need to make it your business to be at the departure point (RED X on the map above) by 12:15.

    Travelling Wollombi to the Hunter Valley

    The road heading out of Wollombi was fairly shithouse for the first 10 kms. The road is sealed, but it is very narrow (no shoulders) and there were at least two dangerous potholes and two single lane wooden bridges. Accordingly we will need to be slow and careful through this section, but the good news is the road is absolutely magic once we make it through the first 10km -wide, open, and from all appearances recently resurfaced.

    Be wary of the right hand turn onto Broke-Cessnock Rd that starts the last leg of the journey; there is a big sign that says "Singleton" that you can't miss.

    OK cool I think that covers everything for now, see you next week :cool:
     
  20. ZX301

    ZX301 Formerly known as

    What two way channel will we be running with? 12?
     
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