Mackay to Port Augusta

[LindsayGT]

I'm interested in getting opinions of the best bike friendly route from Mackay to Port Augusta

Thanks

[johnnyYTED]

 
up the guts then turn right at 3 ways,,
 

[Bodø Glimt]

I think he's going in the opposite direction.

[johnnyYTED]

 
Bodo I just realized that  so
go north to Giru then left.Left again at Woodstock, keep going west til 3 way then left and follow he Stuart down to PA, 

[alans1100]

I 'd go cross country https://goo.gl/maps/MZTVRAtL9KL2

I used my Rider 450 which is set to avoid dirt roads to get the route.

[West Aussie Glen]

This is the route I think Mitch and I will take to get to Mackay.

https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Crossroads+Ecomotel,+43%2F47+Eyre+Hwy,+Port+Augusta+West+SA+5700/Warrawong+on+the+darling,+Wilcannia+NSW/Bourke+NSW/Chasin+Opal+Holiday+Park,+Morilla+Street,+Lightning+Ridge+NSW/The+Rolleston+Caravan+Park,+Comet+Street,+Rolleston+QLD/Clermont+QLD/BIG4+Mackay+Marine+Tourist+Park,+Harbour+Road,+Mackay+Harbour+QLD/@-27.2060333,139.4500276,5.63z/data=!4m44!4m43!1m5!1m1!1s0x6abcde22bed7e7ad:0xacb5040bdbf9a728!2m2!1d137.754852!2d-32.481346!1m5!1m1!1s0x6ae4d7d7cfe5744f:0xca95ed68770c375c!2m2!1d143.39132!2d-31.570221!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b00671dd4029055:0x40609b4904403e0!2m2!1d145.9381941!2d-30.090661!1m5!1m1!1s0x6ba8f2ed2a6c1f83:0x4b8e12107480e5d4!2m2!1d147.975863!2d-29.429571!1m5!1m1!1s0x6bc7cee7fa3ac0e9:0x725840b670db6b89!2m2!1d148.6231285!2d-24.4651884!1m5!1m1!1s0x6bce650f1e1616f9:0x400eef17f2099c0!2m2!1d147.6290307!2d-22.8318856!1m5!1m1!1s0x6bdbd69e50ff237d:0xaa34fda52f3ca98f!2m2!1d149.2068955!2d-21.1127442!3e0

I have had to enter Bourke and Clermont to force Google to avoid dirt roads.
Longer than Alan's but I haven't been to Lightning Ridge.

[West Aussie Glen]

Just had a look at my 2011 edition of the QLD Government map "Guide to QLD Roads" as as well as Google and it would appear that some of the Alpha to Clermont Road in Alan's suggested route maybe dirt.

This is the link to the 2016 Guide to QLD Roads, go to map 1.

https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/guide-to-queensland-roads/resource/7192389e-d0f1-4809-9270-3b8e83751c40

Alpha to Tambo may also have some dirt

[alans1100]

Just had a look at my 2011 edition of the QLD Government map "Guide to QLD Roads" as as well as Google and it would appear that some of the Alpha to Clermont Road in Alan's suggested route maybe dirt.

This is the link to the 2016 Guide to QLD Roads, go to map 1.

https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/guide-to-queensland-roads/resource/7192389e-d0f1-4809-9270-3b8e83751c40

Alpha to Tambo may also have some dirt

I hate it when information that is sent to who makes up the sat nav maps is wrong. Some roads that I have been on I get told to avoid because they're dirt when they aren't. Just as well there's a map change site with TomTom where users can advise of incorrect details.

This was the route I would have went to Mackay so I just reversed it.  https://goo.gl/maps/ayYjukYa7AS2

[Bodø Glimt]

Some roads that I have been on I get told to avoid because they're dirt when they aren't.

I found that when I did my Eyre Peninsula trip in 2015.  That said my maps were probably out of date as one of them looked like it had been freshly sealed.

[West Aussie Glen]

When I did my lap around Australia I spent hours with my GPS and Google maps and still ended up on dirt roads, trying to go the wrong way up one way streets, continuous roads that the GPS said there was a section missing, and one place where the GPS said turn left that was basically up the side of a mountain

[Biggles]

Here in Brisbane a Korean tourist blamed the GPS for causing him to enter the water to drive across to Stradbroke Island.     

[Bodø Glimt]

Here in Brisbane a Korean tourist blamed the GPS for causing him to enter the water to drive across to Stradbroke Island.     

That's how they get to Cheju

[LindsayGT]

Thanks everyone for your input. I have decided on this route.

https://goo.gl/maps/CDKpgKpkFLK2

[LindsayGT]

Upon review and the advice of others, I think I'll stick to farmland, rather than semi desert!

https://goo.gl/maps/deHwvDmacG42

Thanks to all for your good advice.

[Biggles]

It's 71 km further, but the countryside is certainly nicer with more refuelling and coffee options.
Having said that, the desert route should be ridden sometime when you don't want the soft option, just to see more of the country.