Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Gwydir Highway

Gwydir Highway (incl Fossickers Way)

The Gwydir Highway, an east-west highway in northern New South Wales, links the cattle districts of Walgett and Moree with the New England region and the coast via Grafton. The highway begins at the Castlereagh Highway, 15km north of Walgett and heads north-east towards the small northern NSW town of Collarenebri. It then heads east, following the Barwon, Gwydir and Mehi Rivers through typical sheep and cattle farming districts to reach the important centre of Moree. From Moree, the Gwydir Highway heads east towards Warialda, then enters the northern goldfields region, joining with the Fossickers Way before reaching Inverell. Continuing east from Inverell, the highway enters into the New England region, through the town of Glen Innes before winding through Gibraltar Range and Washpool National Parks as it descends into the rich Clarence Valley to reach the Pacific Highway at Grafton.

State: New South Wales
Name Origin: The Gwydir Highway is named after the Gwydir River, which was named by explorer Allan Cunningham after his benefactor Lord Gwydir. The highway follows the Gwydir River for a significant length.
Pronunciation: Gwy-der Highway
Start: Castlereagh Highway (15km north of Walgett)
Principal Towns: Walgett, Collarenebri, Moree, Warialda, Inverell, Glen Innes, Grafton
Finish: Pacific Highway (South Grafton)
Length: 554km
Road Standard: Bitumen
Road Quality: Generally good. Open and flat from Walgett to Warialda. Variable from Warialda to Grafton with some steep and windy sections between Glen Innes and Grafton.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 100km/hr
Road Continuation: Click here for the Castlereagh Highway, Click here for the Pacific Highway

Photos from the Gwydir Highway (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Heading south along the Castlereagh Highway as it approaches the start of the Gwydir Highway (2003).

First distance sign on the Gwydir Highway, heading east from the Castlereagh Hwy (2003).

Distance sign, heading west from Moree. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2004).

View east along the Gwydir Highway as it approaches Moree (2003).

Heading east along the Gwydir Highway from Moree. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004)

Looking west along the Gwydir Highway from the Fossickers Way junction, Warialda (2006).

Distance sign, heading west along the Gwydir Highway/Fossickers Way from Warialda (2006).

Intersection sign at the junction of State Route 95 and Gwydir Highway/Fossickers Way in Warialda (2006).

Looking west along Geddes Stret (Gwydir Hwy/Fossickers Way) as it approaches the Yetman Road junction, Warialda (2006).

Heading east along the Gwydir Highway/Fossickers Way from Warialda (2006).

Distance sign, heading west from Inverell on the Gwydir Highway/Fossickers Way. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2004).

View east along the Gwydir Highway as it passes through Inverell. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004)

Looking east along the Gwydir Highway/Fossickers Way from Inverell. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004)

Unusual brown distance sign, heading east from Glen Innes on the Gwydir Highway (2002).

Looking east along Ryan Street (Gwydir Hwy) as it approaches South Grafton (2005).

Looking west along the Gwydir Highway as it approaches the Summerland Way junction, South Grafton (2005).

Looking east along the Gwydir Highway as it approaches the Summerland Way with the Pacific Hwy junction (Route 1) only a short distance further, South Grafton (2005).

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	Heading south along the Castlereagh Highway as it approaches the start of the Gwydir Highway (2003).
	First distance sign on the Gwydir Highway, heading east from the Castlereagh Hwy (2003).
	Distance sign, heading west from Moree. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2004).
	View east along the Gwydir Highway as it approaches Moree (2003).
	Heading east along the Gwydir Highway from Moree. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004)
	Looking west along the Gwydir Highway from the Fossickers Way junction, Warialda (2006).
	Distance sign, heading west along the Gwydir Highway/Fossickers Way from Warialda (2006).
	Intersection sign at the junction of State Route 95 and Gwydir Highway/Fossickers Way in Warialda (2006).
	Looking west along Geddes Stret (Gwydir Hwy/Fossickers Way) as it approaches the Yetman Road junction, Warialda (2006).
	Heading east along the Gwydir Highway/Fossickers Way from Warialda (2006).
	Distance sign, heading west from Inverell on the Gwydir Highway/Fossickers Way. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2004).
	View east along the Gwydir Highway as it passes through Inverell. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004)
	Looking east along the Gwydir Highway/Fossickers Way from Inverell. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004)
	Unusual brown distance sign, heading east from Glen Innes on the Gwydir Highway (2002).
	Looking east along Ryan Street (Gwydir Hwy) as it approaches South Grafton (2005).
	Looking west along the Gwydir Highway as it approaches the Summerland Way junction, South Grafton (2005).
	Looking east along the Gwydir Highway as it approaches the Summerland Way with the Pacific Hwy junction (Route 1) only a short distance further, South Grafton (2005).