Oxley Highway, NSW: Length, key towns and intersections
The 653km-long Oxley Highway links Port Macquarie to the Mitchell Highway in western NSW. Key towns on the highway include Walcha, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Coonabarabran and Gilgandra.
The Oxley Highway in northern New South Wales links the Pacific Highway on the coast to the Mitchell Highway inland. It is one of the main east to west routes in the state, and carries the B56 badge throughout the journey.
The Oxley Highway is 653km long.
Where does the Oxley Highway start?
The Oxley Highway begins in Port Macquarie, and very quickly intersects with the Pacific Highway in Sancrox, home of the Billabong Zoo. It then climbs across the Great Dividing Range, crossing several rivers on the way to Walcha and Bendemeer, where you’ll find the junction with the New England Highway.
The road from Bendemeer to Tamworth is, confusingly, both the Oxley Highway and the New England Highway. The New England Highway peels off at either end, however, running north to Armidale and south to Scone.
Oxley Highway towns: Tamworth to Gilgandra
The Oxley Highway, however, continues west after Tamworth. The next stop of any reasonable size is Gunnedah, where you’ll find the intersection with the Kamilaroi Highway.
After Gunnedah, the epic country drive continues towards Coonabarabran, where the confusing duplexing system comes in again.
Coonabarabran accommodation options include the pool-equipped Country Gardens Motel Inn and the well-rated Acacia Motor Lodge.
From Coonabarabran to Gilgandra, the Oxley Highway and Newell Highway are the same thing.
Western section of the Oxley Highway
They go their separate ways in Gilgandra, where the Oxley Highway ploughs on to the west for another 105km. Before it does so, it meets the Castlereagh Highway, another key north to south route.
The Oxley then continues through Warren before meeting the Mitchell Highway at Nevertire. If you’re wondering where the hell Nevertire is, it’s about halfway between Narromine and Nyngan.
For live traffic conditions on the highway, visit the Service NSW website.
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