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Oxley Highway: Port Macquarie to Walcha, Great Dividing Range, New South Wales
Photo: Cgoodwin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives New South Wales, Australia Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and New England

Oxley Highway: Port Macquarie to Walcha

Oxley Highway, B56 · Port Macquarie → Walcha

Sweeping112 mi3 hr 15 min9,600 ft climbHigh point ≈ 3,900 ftOne way
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The drive

The Oxley Highway climbs from the coast at Port Macquarie to the New England tablelands at Walcha: 180 km (112 mi), with about 9,600 feet of climbing and a high point near 3,900 feet. It leaves Port Macquarie through Wauchope, then works up the Great Dividing Range, passing along the northern boundary of Bago Bluff National Park.

Motorcyclists call the Wauchope to Walcha section "The Oxley", and rider guides count over 300 bends across the range, with many blind corners and sparse traffic. Higher up, the road opens onto tableland and runs on to Walcha. Apsley Falls, in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, is a short sealed turn-off about 20 km east of Walcha.

The highway continues past Walcha toward Tamworth, but this drive ends in Walcha. Riders allow about three hours each way for the Wauchope to Walcha section with stops, so plan more than the driving time shown.

Along the way

  1. Port Macquarie (Oxley Highway)
  2. Wauchope
  3. Walcha (Oxley Highway)
Elevation
9,600 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 3,900 ft
Port MacquarieWalcha
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
Port MacquarieWalcha
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • About 45 km of the Yarrowitch to Wauchope section is unfenced, so cattle and other livestock can be on the road, and kangaroos and wombats are common.
  • Logging trucks and blind corners are the main hazards, and speed limits on the range section have been reduced to 80 km/h in places and are enforced.
  • Flood damage and repair works near Mount Seaview have led to single-lane traffic and scheduled closures at times, so check Live Traffic NSW and plan for delays.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Live Traffic NSW.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Oxley Highway from Port Macquarie to Walcha take?

The Oxley Highway from Port Macquarie to Walcha is 180 km (112 mi) and takes about 3 hr 15 min without stops. Riders typically allow around three hours each way for the Wauchope to Walcha section alone.

Is the Oxley Highway twisty?

Yes, the climb from Wauchope across the Great Dividing Range has a long run of bends, over 300 by one count, with many blind corners. West of the range it is gentler.

Does the Oxley Highway close?

It can. Flood damage and repair works near Mount Seaview have caused single-lane conditions and scheduled closures at times. Check Live Traffic NSW before you drive.

What is the speed limit on the Oxley Highway?

Transport for NSW found a high crash rate on a 44 km section of the Oxley Highway and cut limits to 80 km/h in places. Obey the posted signs.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

All 25 drives in New South Wales, Australia ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Oxley Highway: Port Macquarie to Walcha, from Port Macquarie to Walcha