Bucketts Way
Encyclopedia
Bucketts Way is a country road linking Gloucester
to Taree
and Raymond Terrace
, in New South Wales
, Australia
. It was named after the Bucketts, a prominent range near Gloucester. At the length of about 149 kilometres (93 mi), it was the former alignment of the Pacific Highway
between Raymond Terrace and Taree
from 1928 until 1952.
On the south, the Bucketts Way branches off to the west of the Pacific Highway 14 km (9 mi) north of the Raymond Terrace bypass. Heading north, it crosses the Karuah River
about 8.5 km (5.3 mi) south of Stroud
and then roughly follows the course of the Karuah River upstream in a west-north-westerly direction for approximately 25 km (16 mi). It then turns north-north-east and then north for 32 km (20 mi) until it reaches Gloucester, crossing the Wards
and Avon rivers on the way. The North Coast Railway line
runs parallel with it from just north-east of Stroud Road to Gloucester. At Gloucester, taking Thunderbolts Way
leads to the Northern Tablelands
and various other national park
s and riverside camping reserves along the way. The Bucketts Way continues to eastwards to Krambach
and then to Taree where it rejoins the Pacific Highway.
It provides access to the Barrington Tops National Park
, and is used by tourists as a very scenic alternative to the Pacific Highway. The Bucketts Way travels through four council areas: Port Stephens, Great Lakes, Gloucester
and Greater Taree
. Some Gloucester Shire councillors have proposed renaming the section of Bucketts Way south of Gloucester to Thunderbolts Way, as is shown on some tourist maps. This would result in one continuously named road stretching from the Pacific Highway near Raymond Terrace to the New England Highway
at Uralla and beyond. However, there is significant community opposition to a name change.
Gloucester, New South Wales
Gloucester is a town in the dairy and beef cattle country of the Manning district on the Mid North Coast of the state of New South Wales, Australia in the Gloucester Shire....
to Taree
Taree, New South Wales
Taree is a city on the Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia. Taree and nearby Cundletown were settled in 1831 by William Wynter. Since then Taree has grown to a population of around 20,000 people and is the centre of a significant agricultural district. It is 16 km from the sea coast,...
and Raymond Terrace
Raymond Terrace, New South Wales
Raymond Terrace is a town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, about by road north of Newcastle on the Pacific Highway. Established in 1837 it is situated at the confluence of the Hunter and Williams rivers and has about 12,600 residents. It is the administrative centre of the Port...
, in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was named after the Bucketts, a prominent range near Gloucester. At the length of about 149 kilometres (93 mi), it was the former alignment of the Pacific Highway
Pacific Highway (Australia)
The Pacific Highway is a major transport route along part of the east coast of Australia and is part of Australia's national route 1.It is 960 km long and links Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, along the coast, via Gosford, Newcastle, Taree, Port...
between Raymond Terrace and Taree
Taree, New South Wales
Taree is a city on the Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia. Taree and nearby Cundletown were settled in 1831 by William Wynter. Since then Taree has grown to a population of around 20,000 people and is the centre of a significant agricultural district. It is 16 km from the sea coast,...
from 1928 until 1952.
On the south, the Bucketts Way branches off to the west of the Pacific Highway 14 km (9 mi) north of the Raymond Terrace bypass. Heading north, it crosses the Karuah River
Karuah River
The Karuah River is a major river in the Great Lakes Area of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is fed by numerous creeks and streams on the south side of the Gloucester Tops Ranges which makes up part of the Great Dividing Range....
about 8.5 km (5.3 mi) south of Stroud
Stroud, New South Wales
Stroud is a small country town one hour north of Newcastle, New South Wales. It is part of the Great Lakes Council area. The major road through Stroud is the Bucketts Way...
and then roughly follows the course of the Karuah River upstream in a west-north-westerly direction for approximately 25 km (16 mi). It then turns north-north-east and then north for 32 km (20 mi) until it reaches Gloucester, crossing the Wards
Wards River
-References:...
and Avon rivers on the way. The North Coast Railway line
North Coast railway line, New South Wales
The North Coast Line is the primary rail route in the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales, and forms a major part of the Sydney-Brisbane rail corridor....
runs parallel with it from just north-east of Stroud Road to Gloucester. At Gloucester, taking Thunderbolts Way
Thunderbolts Way
Thunderbolts Way is a New South Wales country road linking Gloucester to Walcha , Uralla, where it very briefly joins the New England Highway and, to Copes Creek, south of the Gwydir Highway intersection at Inverell...
leads to the Northern Tablelands
Northern Tablelands, New South Wales
The Northern Tablelands, also known as the New England Tableland, is a plateau and a region of the Great Dividing Range in northern New South Wales, Australia. It includes the New England Range, the narrow highlands area of the New England region, stretching from the Moonbi Range in the south to...
and various other national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
s and riverside camping reserves along the way. The Bucketts Way continues to eastwards to Krambach
Krambach, New South Wales
Krambach is a village in New South Wales, Australia in the City of Greater Taree. The village lies on the Bucketts Way, southwest of Taree on the Mid North Coast. Its population in the 2006 census was 137....
and then to Taree where it rejoins the Pacific Highway.
It provides access to the Barrington Tops National Park
Barrington Tops National Park
Barrington Tops is a National Park in the Hunter Valley, approximately north of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The nearest towns are Scone, Singleton, Dungog, Gloucester and East Gresford....
, and is used by tourists as a very scenic alternative to the Pacific Highway. The Bucketts Way travels through four council areas: Port Stephens, Great Lakes, Gloucester
Gloucester Shire
Gloucester Shire is a Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia on the Mid North Coast. It is on the Bucketts Way and the North Coast railway line.- Incomes :According to the during 2003-04, there:...
and Greater Taree
City of Greater Taree
The City of Greater Taree is a Local Government Area on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, centered on Taree. It is on the Manning River, the Pacific Highway and the North Coast railway line.- History :...
. Some Gloucester Shire councillors have proposed renaming the section of Bucketts Way south of Gloucester to Thunderbolts Way, as is shown on some tourist maps. This would result in one continuously named road stretching from the Pacific Highway near Raymond Terrace to the New England Highway
New England Highway
The New England Highway is a highway in Australia running from Hexham near Newcastle at its southern end to Yarraman near Toowoomba at its northern end. At its southern end it connects to the Pacific Highway and at its northern end it connects to the D'Aguilar Highway. It traverses the Hunter...
at Uralla and beyond. However, there is significant community opposition to a name change.