Sydney - Melbourne - Sydney Road Trip Next Week - Flood Issues ? Good / Bad Idea ?

Lxyzabc123 on 20/10/2022 - 08:37
Last edited 20/10/2022 - 08:42

I have an upcoming family event in Melbourne next week, and our original plan was to drive from Sydney.

Having never driven Syd-Mel before, and with the rains / floods - Is driving still a good idea ?
Anyone has any idea if water over the Hume highway during such weather conditions is a concern ?

We have a sedan, so it sits low compared to SUV / UTE's - is this be something I should be concerned about ?

Or is it best to suck it up and buy the flight tickets (which seem to be double the usual fares per person) ?

Looking at livetraffic and vicroads websites - the Hume highway seems to be fine so far - its a bit tempting to stick to the road trip plans, but feels risky at the same time.

Keen to hear if anyone has done this route during recently / during heavy wet weather, and general suggestions.

Travel

Comments

  • jjjaar on 20/10/2022 - 08:55
    +1

    Have a look at the map at https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

    It shows you where all of the current warnings are. There’s quite a few along the Hume.

  • Caped Baldy on 20/10/2022 - 09:08
    +1

    Have you plotted the drive in google maps? I've received warnings about areas that are possibly impacted by flooding. Might be possible to map it and alternate routes.

  • KaTst3R on 20/10/2022 - 09:17

    Apparently this is a 1 in 1000 year event. How would anyone have experience on this previously? Whatever random strangers from the internet will say, it is your decision if you are willing to risk your family and your life to save some money which you can earn again next time.

    • netjock on 20/10/2022 - 09:23

      1 in 1000 year event

      Only for Echuca

      In Shepparton it was like 10cm off the 1974 flood (1 in 100 year, obviously not).

      • Lord Fart Bucket on 20/10/2022 - 12:10
        +1

        You realise they say 1 in a 100 year to show what a percentage chance would be. It is not some thing where if it happened in 1974, it will not happen until 2074.

        • netjock on 20/10/2022 - 13:00

          You realise they say 1 in a 100 year to show what a percentage chance would be

          Yeah 1% chance every year.

          But mass media would have you think differently and if you read careful it is exactly the point I am making. 1 in 1000 year even. That is just giving people sense of false hope. I heard today if you take out the worst 9 days of the share market for S&P500 then it would have been up 6%. 9 out of 200 trading days would imply 4.5% chance which is 1 in 25 year event.

      • [Deactivated] on 30/10/2022 - 16:24

        The Campaspe reached 1:1000 year levels, the murray there hit 1:200.

  • bdl on 20/10/2022 - 09:23
    -1

    Up to you

  • tabz on 20/10/2022 - 09:38
    +2

    I did the Sydney -> Melbourne trip on Sunday without issues. Unless there have been more flooding since then you should be fine.

    There's a couple of weird bugs on Google Maps where it wanted me to go via Shepparton from Benalla instead of straight through to Euroa on the Hume Fwy, and then some other strange route from Euroa into Melbourne instead of direct. I ignored those directions as the Hume Fwy wasn't closed and was okay.

    • xyzabc123 on 20/10/2022 - 09:42

      thank you for your reply - that's a bit reassuring.
      If you dont mind me asking - did you drive a SUV/Ute ? Or a sedan / lower vehicle ?

      Were there any stretches along the highway where a low riding sedan might run into issues ?

      • tabz on 20/10/2022 - 09:48
        +2

        Was driving a compact SUV (Honda HR-V).

        Were there any stretches along the highway where a low riding sedan might run into issues ?

        You mean lately (e.g. potholes etc) or just doing the trip in a sedan in general? You should be okay either way. There wasn't anything that stood out that could be an issue for a sedan. I've done that trip in a Mazda3 previously and was okay too.

        • xyzabc123 on 20/10/2022 - 09:51

          thank you - I was mostly thinking about any water on the road that might be risky for a car than a ute - but thats probably too specific of a question for you to answer. Just something I am thinking / curious about.

          Yeah potholes are another thing to keep an eye out for these days with the water washing away the roads.

      • hmac on 20/10/2022 - 09:50
        +3

        It's a highway lol, doesn't matter what car you take. You aren't going offroading or on dirt tracks

  • GG57 on 20/10/2022 - 09:39
    +1

    TBH, recent experiences will not be that relevant for your potential travel next week. There is heavy rain forecast again over the next day or so, although the situation is dynamic. Along with that is the ongoing floods or risk of floods from recent and upcoming rains.
    Totally your call what you do; just don't do anything stupid if you do drive.

    • xyzabc123 on 20/10/2022 - 09:49

      Yep totally agree - a lot depends on how the next week goes.

      While the risk-avoiding part of me wants to just book the flights - it adds a non-trivial expense for the flights for all and also will be needing a rental car there adding significantly more to expenses. Hence, I am starting to collect recent trip experiences as well as suggestion on what I might be missing to think about.

      If things look like improving over the next week, I might stick to the road trip.
      However if it looks any worse - then flights + rental car it is.

  • Darayus on 20/10/2022 - 10:15
    +2

    Did many road trips during peak season periods when fares hit the roof and you need to take your family.

    A few suggestions, carry extra bottles of water, and snacks and get your car serviced. I drive a sedan and I am comfortable with no issues. dont over pack with lot of people i mean keep only 2 person at rear seat as they need freedom for long drive.

    Get your car detailed logbook service as per schedule so that any issues with a car get resolved prior to the start of your trip and let the mechanic be aware that you are going for a long drive so he checks all parameters before you start your trip.

    Another piece of advice starts your trip Very early morning before the sun starts just before 4 am so that the roads are cold, no traffic on road and you are on the highway and you are ahead of the pack and also you reach your destination within time, by this you will be moving faster and reach fast.

    I had my friend who normally drives from Melbourne once a month every weekend and he does his trip in 7 hours as he only takes one step at Waga Waga to top up his fuel tank and empty his bladder and he leaves straight from work around 4 and reaches Sydney around midnight and straight to bed.

    • Presence on 20/10/2022 - 10:37
      -1

      Get your car detailed logbook service as per schedule so that any issues with a car get resolved prior to the start of your trip and let the mechanic be aware that you are going for a long drive so he checks all parameters before you start your trip.

      So get it serviced to the schedule, or do it for the trip?

      Most mechanics will laugh at you when you tell them it's a 'long trip' and youre doing Syd-Melb!!

    • GG57 on 20/10/2022 - 10:47
      +1

      7 hours? Seems hard to believe (depending on where in Melb and Syd are the start/finish points), particularly when Wagga Wagga isn't on the Hume Highway (the most direct route).

      Most advice is to not drive when you are usually asleep (i.e. not start "before 4am") and to take breaks (or change drivers) every two hours or so. OP hasn't driven between Syd and Melb before, so may have limited long distance driving experience. Micro sleeps happen.

    • xyzabc123 on 20/10/2022 - 10:55

      Thanks for the comments - quite thoughtful.
      Yes, It does quickly add up when its not just one person traveling.

      he does his trip in 7 hours as he only takes one step at Waga Waga

      Not sure I am going to be able to do that, lol. Probably at least 3 stops is what I have been planning for.
      My car is regularly serviced and well cared for - so that should be all good.

      We were originally planning for an evening start and overnight drive, given we intend to take multiple stops.
      But now we are discussing if a daytime drive is probably better given the situation. Haven't decided yet.

      • netjock on 20/10/2022 - 11:48
        +1

        Day drive. You have more stop options (not everything is open at night). Also because you have never done the drive (or not regular) you won't know the roads. Visibility is better in case animal stray onto the road.

        Not sure what mobile network you are on. You might also get areas with bad reception. Therefore day time is probably better in case you need assistance.

        • xyzabc123 on 20/10/2022 - 12:59

          thanks for that - yes that is exactly our thinking at the moment as well.

  • Seraphin7 on 20/10/2022 - 11:25
    +2

    Potholes and general road condition are likely to be far more problematic than anything else. Of course localised issues can occur at any time, but if you're sticking to the major highways/freeways you're unlikely to have problems with flooding so long as you are aware of any issues before setting out.

    The general state of roads in NSW is appalling at the moment. I last had a flat tyre maybe 25 years ago and in the last six months I've busted two rims and popped another tyre due to potholes/state of the roads.

    • xyzabc123 on 20/10/2022 - 12:58

      yep totally agree about the potholes situation on roads - can feel it just so much around the city where the impact may be less, or may be more maintained in / around the major cities.

      We were originally planning for an evening start and overnight drive, given we intend to take multiple (longer-ish) stops.
      But now we are discussing if a daytime drive is probably better especially because of potholes / road conditions.

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