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Bylong Valley Way, Bylong Valley, New South Wales
Photo: Mountain Ash · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Drives New South Wales, Australia Central West and the Southern Tablelands

Bylong Valley Way

Bylong Valley Way, Merriwa Road · Rylstone → Sandy Hollow

Sweeping70 mi1 hr 30 min3,500 ft climbHigh point ≈ 2,500 ftOne way
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The drive

The Bylong Valley Way links the Central Tablelands to the Hunter. This drive covers 113 km (70 mi) of it, from Rylstone, a town of 19th-century sandstone buildings, east through the Bylong Valley to Sandy Hollow, near the Golden Highway.

The road crosses Cox's Gap, a steep and winding crossing flanked by Wollemi National Park and Goulburn River National Park, and passes through Bylong, a village of about 20 residents in horse-stud country. The bends are gentle and steady, and the climb is modest, about 3,500 feet in all.

The road was only fully sealed in 2009. With the Sofala to Bathurst road, it forms a quiet, scenic alternative to travelling through Sydney between the Hunter and Bathurst.

Along the way

  1. Rylstone (Bylong Valley Way)
  2. Marker
  3. Sandy Hollow (Bylong Valley Way)
Elevation
3,500 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 2,500 ft
RylstoneSandy Hollow
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
RylstoneSandy Hollow
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Sandy Hollow has a hotel, caravan park and service station, and Bylong has only about 20 residents, so fill up before the valley.
  • Cox's Gap is steep and winding; take it slowly.
  • Wollemi and Goulburn River national parks flank the road, with camping and walking tracks off it.

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 Bylong Valley Way take?

The Bylong Valley Way from Rylstone to Sandy Hollow is 113 km (70 mi) and takes about 1 hr 30 min without stops.

Is the Bylong Valley Way sealed?

Yes. The Bylong Valley Way has been fully sealed since 2009, after sealing was completed in stages from 2007.

Is there fuel on the Bylong Valley Way?

Fuel is available at the ends of the drive; Sandy Hollow has a service station. There are few services in the valley itself, so fill up first.

Is the Bylong Valley Way twisty?

The Bylong Valley Way is mostly gentle curves, with a steep, winding crossing at Cox's Gap.

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 Bylong Valley Way, from Rylstone to Sandy Hollow