Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: New England Highway (NSW)

New England Highway (NSW)

The New England Highway starts at the Pacific Highway, 15km north-west of Newcastle at the small town of Hexham. The highway heads north-west and initially follows the Hunter River through the Hunter Valley to reach Singleton and further north-west into the coal mining centre of Muswellbrook. The highway climbs into the Great Dividing Range and heads north through rich dairying and sheep country to the major regional centre of Tamworth. Continuing north from Tamworth, the Oxley Highway joins the New England Hwy for 40km before climbing up Moonbi Hill into the New England region, bypassing the city of Armidale before reaching Glen Innes. The highway continues north across the ridge tops and enters the rich northern regions to reach the picturesque town of Tenterfield before reaching the QLD border at Wallangarra.

State: New South Wales
Name Origin: The New England Highway is named after the New England region, of which a significant length of the highway passes through.
Pronunciation: New In-gland Highway
Start: Pacific Highway (Hexham)
Principal Towns: Newcastle, Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Scone, Tamworth, Uralla, Armidale *, Guyra, Glen Innes, Tenterfield, Wallangarra
Finish: Wallangarra (QLD border)
Length: 595km
Road Standard: Bitumen
Road Quality: Generall good. While arguably not at National Highway standard, continual improvements have been made to rectify this. Dual carriageway from Hexham to Maitland. Single carriageway thereafter with numerous overtaking lanes throughout. Windy sections between Scone and Armidale with several steep ascents/descents.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 100km/hr (80km/hr on the Moombi Hill ascend/descend)
Road Continuation: Click here for the New England Highway in QLD, Click here for the Pacific Highway
* - denotes towns/cities bypassed by the New England Highway

Photos from the New England Highway (NSW) (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Heading north on the Pacific Highway in Hexham approaching the start of the New England Highway (2005).

Directional sign, heading north-west on the New England Highway, Beresfield (2005).

Distance sign, heading north-west on the New England Highway between Beresfield and Maitland (2005).

Heading south on the New England Highway from Scone (2006).

Looking north on the New England Highway as it departs Scone (2006).

Heading south on the New England Highway from Tamworth (2002).

The New England Hwy, heading north approaching Kooringal (2002).

View south from Moonbi Hill over the New England Hwy. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2004).

Heading south on the New England Highway as it approaches the northern Oxley Hwy junction, Bendemeer. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004).

The New England Hwy, looking south between Tenterfield and Glen Innes (2003).

Heading south on the New England Highway from Tenterfield (2004).

View south along the New England Hwy approaching the southern Bruxner Hwy junction, Tenterfield (2004).

Looking south-east along the New England Hwy between Tenterfield and Wallangarra (2004).

Approaching the northern Bruxner Hwy junction on the New England Hwy (2004).

Heading north on the New England Highway between Tenterfield and Wallangarra (2004).

Distance sign, heading south from Wallangarra on the New England Hwy (2004).

	Heading north on the Pacific Highway in Hexham approaching the start of the New England Highway (2005).
	Directional sign, heading north-west on the New England Highway, Beresfield (2005).
	Distance sign, heading north-west on the New England Highway between Beresfield and Maitland (2005).
	Heading south on the New England Highway from Scone (2006).
	Looking north on the New England Highway as it departs Scone (2006).
	Heading south on the New England Highway from Tamworth (2002).
	The New England Hwy, heading north approaching Kooringal (2002).
	View south from Moonbi Hill over the New England Hwy. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2004).
	Heading south on the New England Highway as it approaches the northern Oxley Hwy junction, Bendemeer. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004).
	The New England Hwy, looking south between Tenterfield and Glen Innes (2003).
	Heading south on the New England Highway from Tenterfield (2004).
	View south along the New England Hwy approaching the southern Bruxner Hwy junction, Tenterfield (2004).
	Looking south-east along the New England Hwy between Tenterfield and Wallangarra (2004).
	Approaching the northern Bruxner Hwy junction on the New England Hwy (2004).
	Heading north on the New England Highway between Tenterfield and Wallangarra (2004).
	Distance sign, heading south from Wallangarra on the New England Hwy (2004).