New South Wales Road Photo Gallery: National Route 1 (Pacific Highway) (Taree to Kempsey)

New South Wales

Photo Gallery

New South Wales Road Photo Gallery:
National Route 1 (Pacific Highway) (Taree to Kempsey)

The Pacific Highway, one of Australia’s busiest and most important road links, passes through the heart of residential, farming and retail areas of many towns along the New South Wales coast between Hexham, northwest of the industrial city of Newcastle, to the NSW-QLD Border at Tweed Heads, about 90 minutes south of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland.

The route's southern terminus is located at the junction of the Pacific Highway (SR111) and the New England Highway (NH1) at Hexham, 16 km northwest of Newcastle, which is north of Sydney. The northern terminus is at the New South Wales / Queensland border, just west of the town centre of Tweed Heads. The route itself is a mix of freeway, arterial and rural highway standards. The highway has been progressively upgraded over the years, however since the late 1980s, an accelerated upgrade program has been undertaken. Despite the acceleration program, only approximately 40% of the highway is of dual carriageway.

Towns and localities along or near the route between Taree and Kempsey include Taree, Coopernook, Moorland, Kew, Laurieton, Wauchope, Port Macquarie and Kempsey. Major routes branching off this section include Manning River Drive (former Pacific Highway) in the Taree area and Oxley Highway (NR34) in the Port Macquarie region.

Taree to Kempsey History:

1936: Timber suspension bridge opened to traffic over the Hastings River near Port Macquarie
1950s: Bridge constructed over the Macleay River in Kempsey.
1961: Port Macquarie bypassed
December 1997: Taree Bypass partially opened
July 1998: Herons Creek Deviation Duplication
May 2000: Taree Bypasscompletely opened
August 2005: Taree to Coopernook
March 2006: Coopernook Bypass

Click here for photos of the former alignment in the Coopernook area.
Click here for the former highway alignment (now Hastings River Drive) at Port Macquarie.

Length (NR1):	679 km
Length (Taree to Kempsey):	119 km
Internal RTA Classification:	State Highway 10
Route Number:
Forthcoming Alphanumerics:
Information courtesy of the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, DMR's "The Roadmakers" book, and Sam Laybutt (OzRoads)

Northbound (Taree to Kempsey)

Southbound (Kempsey to Taree)

	Cundletown Interchange Northbound at Cundletown where the current highway alignment connects with the old one (left of shot). March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Distance Sign Northbound RD sign after Cundletown interchange with the Carlton Park Dam bridge in the distance, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Services Sign Northbound services sign for the town of Coopernook, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Advance Directional Sign Northbound AD sign at Coopernook for the at-grade junction with Coopernook and Harrington Roads, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Coopernook / Harrington Road Junction Northbound at Coopernook, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Distance Sign Northern RD sign after Coopernook & Harrington Roads, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	George Gibson Drive Intersection Northbound passing the intersection for George Gibson Drive at Coopernook, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	End Divided Highway End of upgrade highway at Coopernook, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Johns River Entering the town of Johns River, northbound, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Rest Area Sign Northbound rest area AD sign, near Pipe Clay Creek and Hannan Vale Road at Johns River, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Kew Safe-T-Cam Heading north at Kew as you pass under the Safe-T-Cam. A device for monitoring the movements of heavy vehicles. March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Kew Town Centre Once an important stop along the highway between Sydney and Brisbane, this is Kew, March 2007, northbound. Image © David Whiteman
	Northbound at Herons Creek Typical two way highway at Herons Creek, March 2007 Image © David Whiteman
	Herons Creek Upgrade Approaching the upgrade works to Herons Creek. A 10 km upgrade that opened to traffic July 1998, March 2007. Note old pavement left of shot. Image © David Whiteman
	Northbound Carriageway Former single alignment now the northbound carriageway of the Pacific Highway in the Herons Creek area. It's hard to tell this is for northbound traffic only. March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Advance Directional Sign Northbound AD sign approaching Bago Road at Herons Creek, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Advance Directional Sign Northbound diagrammatic sign for the Oxley Highway Interchange. Lake Innes, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Services Sign Northbound services sign at Thrumster for the service station and McDonalds located on the Oxley Highway interchange. The interchange is a volleyball style setup which was opened in 1990. Image taken March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Port Macquarie Exit Northbound at Thrumster at the Oxley Highway (NR34) interchange, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Oxley Hwy Interchange Nice shot as you pull through the Oxley Highway Interchange at Thrumster, near Port Macquarie, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Distance Sign Northbound RD sign, after the Hastings River Drive intersection at Fernbank Creek, with Dennis Bridge in the distance. March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Hastings River Drive Intersection Northbound at Fernbank, March 2007. Image © David Whiteman
	Overhead Speed Limit Signs Northbound at Fernbank Creek. These speed limit signs are mounted on traffic signal gantries. They are used this way to highlight the speed limit change. March 2007. Image © David Whiteman

	5km north of Kempsey CBD Southbound on the Pacific Highway at Kempsey, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Typical Conditions Standard road conditions, southbound as you enter Kempsey. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Signage Advance directional sign for West Kempsey and Armidale, via Second Lane. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Welcome to Kempsey! Southbound approach to Kempsey from the north. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Smith Street (Pacific Hwy) Kempsey Southbound through the Kempsey CBD, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Northbound in Kempsey Typical conditions as you head out of the Kempsey CBD, January 2005. Image © David Whiteman
	Stewart Street Approach Southbound as you approach the intersection with Stewart Street in the Kempsey CBD. Image © Paul Rands
	Lane allocation gantry Massive sign allocating lanes for through traffic and local traffic, as you head south through the Kempsey CBD, approaching Belgrave Street. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound Approach to Macleay River Bridge Photo of the Macleay River Bridge as you head south at Kempsey, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Macleay River Bridge Photo of the Macleay Bridge which opened to traffic on 21st November 1959, southbound. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Macleay River Bridge Photo of the Macleay Bridge which opened to traffic on 21st November 1959, southbound. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound at Kempsey Southbound as you head through the southern side of the river at Kempsey, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Lachlan Street South Kempsey Heading past the many car dealers and mini industrial lots along Lachlan Street (Pacific Hwy), South Kempsey. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Crescent Head AD Sign Sign indicating the turn off to Crescent Head (Crescent Head Road), March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Crescent Head Road Junction Looking south as you pass through the Crescent Head Road intersection at South Kempsey. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Pacific Highway South Kempsey Taken March 2006, this photo is facing southbound as you leave Kempsey's built-up area. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign Southbound RD sign as you depart from the built-up area around Kempsey. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Dual Carriageways Divided highway at South Kempsey. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Typical Conditions Average stretch of highway south of Kempsey. March 2006, southbound. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound entering Kundabung Cruising south into the town of Kundabung, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Kundabung Speed Camera Typical roadway style, southbound. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Turn off to Smith's Creek Road Southbound approaching the Smith's Creek Road at Kundabung. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Leaving Kundabung Southbound as you travel from Kundabung to Cooperabung. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Cooperabung Heading south into the Cooperabung area. This roadway is typical of the stretch between Port Macquarie and Kempsey, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Crossing Cooperabung Range Southbound sign indicating that we are crossing over the Cooperabung range, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound off the Cooperabung Range Southbound at Cooperabung heading towards Telegraph Point, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound through Telegraph Point Good surfacing along the Pacific Highway at Telegraph Point. Image taken March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Telegraph Point Area Nice scenery and typical road conditions through Telegraph Point, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Welcome to Telegraph Point Southbound with official signage announcing the town as you cross over Cooperabung Drive, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Crossing Wilson River Southbound on the Wilson River bridge at Telegraph Point. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Crossing Wilson River Southbound on the Wilson River bridge at Telegraph Point. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign Southbound AD sign for Pembrooke Road at Telegraph Point. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Pembrooke Road Intersection Southbound as you head through the Pembrooke Road intersection. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Signage RD sign at Telegraph Point after the Pembrooke Road junction, southbound March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound leaving Telegraph Point Typical scenery in the Telegraph Point area. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign Southbound RD sign in the Fernbank Creek area, north of Port Macquarie, November 2005. Image © Nicholas Whiteman
	Tourist Sign Tourist signage as you head south through Pembrooke, March 2006. The sign details locations available via Port Macquarie / Hastings River Drive (former Pacific Hwy). Image © Paul Rands
	Crossing the Hastings River Southbound as you cross over the river from Pembrooke to Fernbank Creek. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Hastings River South as you head the Dennis Bridge at Fernbank Creek. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign Southbound AD sign for Hastings River Drive (former Pacific Hwy, which was by-passed in 1961) at Fernbank Creek. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Moorland Just north of Taree & Coopernook at Moorland and just south of Coralville Road. This truck stop / roadhouse is open 24 hours except Saturday night, so no fuel available after hours along this stretch. Good truckies food here too! January 2005. Image © David Whiteman

For continuation of the Pacific Highway between Kempsey and Nambucca Heads, click here.
For continuation of the Pacific Highway between Bulahdelah and Taree, click here.