Planning an interstate grey nomad adventure has become an extremely complicated task in recent weeks and months … and there are fears that some regulations are putting lives in danger.
As things stand, travellers seeking to enter Victoria are allowed to transit through New South Wales, as long as they do so in less than 24 hours and follow strict Covid protocols.
However, some grey nomads who have made the ‘dash’ from Queensland through NSW to Victoria say they should be allowed longer to make the journey.
Retiree Leon van Es, 67, recently drove back to his Geelong home from the Gold Coast in 16 hours, with only quick stops to fill up at service stations.
He told the Geelong Independent that such a schedule could be ‘very dangerous for a lot of those older people’.
“It’s not too bad for us younger ones but, physically, many 80-year-olds, especially those towing caravans, can’t cope with more than six hours a day,” he told the newspaper. ““For the older generation it’s just impossible.”
Another Geelong retiree, 81-year-old Brian Edward, has also just rushed home from Queensland through NSW.
Mr Edward crossed the Queensland-NSW border at 5pm and stayed at Nambucca Heads in NSW, to get up early the next morning to give him and his wife the best chance of making the 24-hour deadline.
“I knew that I wouldn’t be able to do it in a single day,” he told the Independent.
Mr Edward has emailed Geelong MP Christine Couzens calling for the State Government to allow 36 hours to transit, especially given many of those returning must quarantine, and be tested for Covid.
Like many other long-term travellers, Mr Edward left his home state before the lockdowns were announced in NSW and Victoria.
The Victorian Government website says travellers can undertake direct and short-term transit through an interstate orange, red or extreme risk zone without the conditions of that zone applying to them as long as they are there for less than 24 hours.
It says that permit holders must minimise contact with others, wear a mask in all public places, keep detailed records of each stop (including accommodation), and stay in their vehicle or other mode of transport at all times, other than to:
A Victorian Government spokesperson told the Independent that the current permit requirements were ‘preceded by several weeks of warning to Victorians to not leave the state’.
It is crazy and irresponsible of governments to mandate such narrow time in a country as large as ours, and especially when they know the highest percentages of people travelling are in older age group. Be OK if you have 2 drivers but last thing we want are partners driving without any or much experience. Politicians wouldn’t have a clue as their travel is usually flights at taxpayers expense. 30 to 36 more reasonable.
To be safe and avoid wildlife early morning and late evening 36 hours is the safest way to transit Nsw ,motor homing or towing. Please consider, it’s common sense.
It’s not safe and some nomads were already away before restrictions were in place. To come back to Vic from Qld you either have to do the sprint or go via NT and SA adding many km’s. NT and SA have also had their covid problems and you could get stuck there as well considering the time it would take.
I couldn’t do it in 24 hours, that’s crazy. My minimum would be 3 days.
Toowoomba, Bogabilla, Moree, Narribri, Gilganra, Dubbo, Parkes, Forbes, West Wyalong, Jerilderie, Finley, Tocumwal and then you’re in Victoria. To go via Nambucca Heads is surely the long way and not the direct way.
Just use Google maps, it really isn’t difficult.
The Pacific Hgy is a much better road than coming home via the Newell Hgy . Less trucks etc. It’s a disgraceful decision by the Victorian government. We recently completed the trip and when arriving at Wodonga not one police representative to greet us.
This is why I haven’t taken off on a cycling tour with my dog. Normally I am in Far Nth QLD by now, but that is a 2 and a half week trip for me at speed. That was the best time for me , the last time, I had to make a dash, back home for an emergency, 24 hours for me is only 100km from the border.
What about all the. Grey Nomads stuck in NSW and not allowed to return home to Victoria because Dan Andrews has declared all of NSW an extreme red zone with not enough notice to return home . We have not been to any areas of risk and are fully vaccinated but still can’t return home
There’s a petition going about this. See https://www.change.org/VicVacHome
It’s under expert medical advice we now know that if you drive fast enough the virus can’t catch you, provided you don’t take longer than 24 hours travelling of course!
Oh, and the campaign of ‘rest every 2 hours’ and ‘fatigue kills’ has been suspended during this period because the adrenaline will keep you awake and alert.
Be sensible and take care folks.
There is another option – travel through NT & SA or stay in Qld. When we left Melbourne Sydney was not looking good but we hoped they would lockdown & control it but unfortunately that didn’t happen. Our plan B was NT & SA but there was also the chance that could be closed off. Victoria Government gave plenty of time for those wanting to come home to get through NSW before it was closed, probably a lot thought ‘we are away for 3 or 4 months it will be over by then’ and now NSW is worse rather than better. We monitored the situation & made the decision to cut out trip short and came home through NT & SA.
When doing the 24 hour dash through NSW, is it legal to drive through lockdown towns along the Newell?
The shortest route from Qld through NSW to Vic is the Silver City Hwy 685kms