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

New South Wales

Photo Gallery

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

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 Kempsey and Nambucca Heads include Kempsey, Fredrickton, Belimbopinni, Clybucca, Eungai Rail, Warrell Creek, Macksville, Nambucca Heads.

Kempsey to Nambucca Heads History:

1931: the MRB built a bridge over the Nambucca River at Macksville, which replaced a vehicular ferry
1980: Bellwod Deviation, bypassing Nambucca Heads CBD, opens to traffic
1989: Two major coach accidents on the Pacific Highway near Grafton (in which 20 people died) and at Clybucca near Kempsey (in which 35 people died) prompting an accelerated upgrade program to the highway

Click here for photos of the former alignment at Nambucca Heads.

Length (NR1):	679 km
Length (Hexham to Bulahdelah):	63 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 (Kempsey to Nambucca Heads)

Southbound (Nambucca Heads to Kempsey)

	Typical Conditions through Clybucca Photo showing typical road surface and surrounds in the Clybucca area. January 2005. Image © David Whiteman
	Typical Conditions through Clybucca Photo showing typical road surface and surrounds in the Clybucca area. January 2005. Image © David Whiteman
	Pacific Highway Access Sign Sign on the corner of Wallace & Princess Streets at Macksville directing traffic to a safer right turn to the Pacific Highway. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Pacific Highway Access Sign Sign on Wallace Street at Macksville directing traffic to a safer right turn to the Pacific Highway. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	The Macksville Bridge West facing shot of the Nambucca River and Macksville Bridge from River Street, June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Northbound approach to Macksville Bridge Showing the narrowness of the bridge as you approach it from the town centre. January 2005. Image © David Whiteman
	MRB Plaque on Macksville Bridge Dating back to 1931, the Macksville Bridge was erected by the NSW Main Roads Board. This plaque details this information. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign Macksville Northbound distance sign at Macksville. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Newee Creek at Macksville Northbound on the Pacific Highway at Macksville, this is the bridge over Newee Creek. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Speed Camera Sign Heading northbound near Nambucca Heads is another speed camera. This is typical of RTA signage. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Truck Stopping Bay A parking area for truck drivers to stop and sleep or rest. More of these are appearing as more trucks use the Pacific Highway instead of the New England Highway (NH15). June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Roadworks Sign This is the special roadworks sign used on the Pacific Highway, this time as we head north through the Nambucca Heads area. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Flooding Sign This section of the highway is also subject to flooding, which means for some periods it can be closed to traffic, the RTA may move the highway for upgrading as a result, but businesses like the fruit store here may be affected. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Single Carriageway After the divided section as you're heading north, you return to standard 2 lane road, two way signs are dotted along this section to remind drivers to keep left. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Divided Section at Nambucca Heading northbound along the once single carriageway section of highway. For added safety until the road is upgraded, the RTA have divided this section with wire rope fencing. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Overtaking Lane Merge Nortbound merge at Nambucca heads, June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Overtaking Lane Merge Nortbound merge at Nambucca heads, June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Roadworks Zone As we get closer to the roadworks zone, the speed limit drops with these new fluoro surround speed limit signs. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands

	Southbound as you're leaving Bellwood Typical 1960s road conditions through the Bellwood area immediately south of the Nambucca Heads by-pass, which was completed in 2 stages in the late 1970s and early 1980s. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Signage Southbound RD sign indicating various distances to up locations. Bellwood. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound at Bellwood Passing local businesses in Bellwood. To the left of the shot (off frame) is the Nambucca River. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound as you enter Bellwood Heading into Bellwood from Nambucca Heads. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Divided Section at Nambucca Heading southbound along the once single carriageway section of highway. For added safety until the road is upgraded, the RTA have divided this section with wire rope fencing. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Tourist Drive Sign at Macksville Tourist Drive sign, southbound near Macksville. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Approach to Ferry Street Macksville Southbound approach to Ferry Street on the northern side of the Nambucca River at Macksville. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Macksville Bridge Approach Southbound approach to the Macksville Bridge & Ferry Street at Macksville. June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Macksville Bridge & Signage This photo was taken June 2005 on the corner of Egan Street and the Pacific Highway as you drive south onto the Macksville Bridge. Note the unusual directional sign with traffic signal pictograms. Image © Paul Rands
	Close up of the previously highlighted sign Southbound as you cross the Nambucca River at Macksville. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound Approach to Macksville Bridge Photo of the Macksville Bridge as you head south, June 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Pacific Highway Macksville Taken March 2006, this photo is facing southbound as you approach the corner of the Pacific Highway and Partridge Street. Image © Paul Rands
	Pacific Highway Macksville Taken June 2005, this photo is facing southbound on the corner of the Pacific Highway and Partridge Street. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound through Macksville Typical view through the CBD of Macksville. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Taylors Arm Turn Off Intersection with Taylors Arm Road at Macksville. Taylor's Arm was made famous by the song "Pub With No Beer" sung by Slim Dusty, who incidentally hailed from the Kempsey region. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign Distance sign as you leave the built-up area of Macksville. March 2006, southbound. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound near Macksville Still in Macksville, this heavily forested area had this section of road upgraded to motorway standards in the mid 1960s. Image © Paul Rands
	Crossing Wardell Creek Crossing Wardell Creek & Scotts Heads Road, southbound. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Turn off to Scotts Head Road Southbound approaching Scotts Head Road. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Scotts Head Road Junction Southbound at Scotts Head Road near Macksville. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Rosewood Creek Heading south at Warrell Creek, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound at Warrell Creek Typical view of the highway at Warrell Creek, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Crossing Upper Warrell Creek Southbound over the old bridge at Warrell Creek, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Eungai Creek Deviation Southbound as you enter the dual carriageways at Eungai Creek, completed December 1998. Image taken March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Heavily Forested Area Passing through a heavy wooded area at Eungai Creek, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Typical View of the Eungai Deviation Southbound at Eungai Creek, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign Southbound AD sign for the by-passed town of Eungai Creek (northern end). March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Typical View of the Eungai Deviation Southbound at Eungai Creek, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign Southbound AD sign for the by-passed town of Eungai Creek (southern end). March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Crossing to single carriageway Southbound at the southern end of the Eungai Creek Deviation, March 2006. It's at this point the dual carriageways return to one lane each way, single carriageway. Note the concrete surface to the left, designed to join the upgrade proposed for Eungai Rail. Image © Paul Rands
	Station Street Junction Intersection with Station Street at Eungai Rail, southbound March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound at Eungai Rail Signage for local services, 10km south. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign AD sign for the Stuarts Point turn off (Stuarts Point Link Road) at Barraganyatti, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Clybucca Southbound as you enter the town of Clybucca. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Typical view at Clybucca South as you head into the motorway standard section of the highway. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Typical view at Clybucca South as you head into the motorway standard section of the highway. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Tourist Route Signage Diagrammatic AD sign for towns not along the highway. Many of the towns are popular with tourists over the school holiday periods. Southbound at Clybucca, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Tourist Services Sign Southbound at Clybucca, this sign indicates local services. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	South West Rocks AD Sign Southbound at Clybucca, this sign indicates the upcoming intersection with Plummers Lane. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Plummers Lane Junction Southbound at Clybucca. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Clybucca Overtaking Lanes Southbound, a somewhat rare chance for safer overtaking. This entire section is due to upgraded with a flood free route in the next couple of years. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching the Clybucca Memorial Southbound as you near the monument to an horrific traffic accident, which prompted a motorway style upgrade of the highway from Kempsey to Clybucca. On December 22 1989, two tourist coaches collided on the Pacific Highway in this area. 35 were killed and 39 injured. Image taken March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign for Smithtown Road Southbound advance directional sign for the turn to Smith Town and South West Rocks at Belimbopinni. March 2006.
	Smithtown Road Intersection Intersection conditions with Smithtown Road, Belimbopinni. March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	School Zone During school hours at Belimbopinni, the 100 km/h speed limit drops to 40 for the local primary school. Southbound, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Belimbopinni Southbound as you leave the town of Belimbopinni, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Fredrickton Southbound as you come into the town of Fredrickton, famous for its pie shop! March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Fredrickton Town Centre It's almost back to 1950s style roadway as you pass through the town of Fredrickton. Southbound, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Fredrickton Town Centre It's almost back to 1950s style roadway as you pass through the town of Fredrickton. Southbound, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound at Fredrickton Looking south as you pass the pie shop, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands

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