Can anyone give me directions from Blue Mountains to Port Stephens? Are there any detours which I can take without needing to go pass Sydney centre?

Thanks!

Hi - never done that exact journey - only Blue Mts to Hunter Valley. However, same principles apply. And certainly you do not need to travel into the CBD (and go over the Harbour Bridge) unless you want to!!

If you are travelling midweek, time yr departure from BM to miss the flow of people travelling into the city to work, then the quickest way between your 2 points is probably to head toward the city and turn off before you get to Parramatta - the Cumberland Highway I think - which links up with Pennants Hills Road, and eventually with the Pacific Highway heading north.

I lost my Greater Sydney street map book the other day so this is from memory.

Alternatively, if you like to wander you might turn off before that at Springwood and go via Hawkesbury Heights and Windsor to Wisemans's Ferry. From there you can cut across to the Pacific Highway. But it is a long and meandering road. Very worthwhile if you want to spend a day on the journey - great views at Hawkesbury Heights; Windsor has a nice town centre with historic buildings and good eateries. Then the drive down to Wiseman's Ferry is amazing. And I am a sucker for ferries - this one is a chain ferry!

Depends what you want to do really.
Sources of info via google - try NRMA the motoring organisation in NSW. They have a trip planner.

Happy travels.

I second fuzzylogic. From Windsor you also have the choice of heading north through Wilberforce on the Putty Road to Singleton, then making your way across to Port Stephens. Just make sure you have a good road map. But the Wisemans Ferry route is definitely more scenic. Either will be slower, but minimise the stress of driving in heavy traffic in an unfamiliar city.

To put it as kindly as I can, Sydney does not have a particularly straightforward or well-planned road network.

I haven't driven this way since the new M7 tollway opened, but if you take fuzzylogic's first option the idea is to follow the Great Western Hwy/M4 down the Blue Mountains. Eventually you'll reach the intersection with the M7, where you take a left (north) exit. The tollway peters out after a while but should provide you with signs to Hornsby-Newcastle. You can see route maps at www.westlinkm7.com.au.

Be aware that the private operator's convenience and bottom line, rather than the road user's convenience, is the major consideration. Accordingly the M7 operates on electronic tolling only, with no manual payment option. The above website will give you your options for paying the toll.

I came down the Putty Road to the Blue Mountains about 6 weeks or so ago and wished that I had used that road before. Also meant to do a trip report but time just got away from me.
I came down through Singleton then got on the Putty Road and continued on to Windsor where I met up with Mr Fodor himself ( Alan ) and my husband and I had a lovely lunch with Alan at the Library there and a nice long chat.
The Putty Road is lovely, hardly any traffic and scenic - although the only wildlife I saw was a small deer but then I was running late and wanted to get to Windsor.
The directions to Windsor from any part of the Blue Mountains is easy and then you really cannot go wrong - head north and give yourself time to do the drive. If you are coming from the northern side of the Blue Mountains then you would not go into Windsor at all but turn north at the Putty Road. At Singleton you can head east and then north where you will be around the Port Stephens area.
Its a nice drive and a very pleasant way from getting from A - B

Thanks all. Your advice are of great help!