Old Pacific Highway

The Old Pacific Highway is the winding original route of the Pacific Highway between Cowan, on Sydney's northern edge, and Kariong near Gosford on the Central Coast of New South Wales. The M1 Pacific Motorway now carries the through traffic beside it.

The road crosses the Hawkesbury River on the Hawkesbury River Bridge at Brooklyn and climbs through bushland past Mount White and Calga before reaching Brisbane Waters.

Transport for NSW features it as a trip on its Ride to Live motorcycle safety site.

• From Cowan the road winds north through bushland to the Hawkesbury River and crosses the Hawkesbury River Bridge.
• North of the river the climb up to Mount White has older, less predictable corners, which Ride to Live singles out.
• The road carries on through Calga to Brisbane Waters Lookout at the Central Coast end.
• Ride to Live lists Pie in the Sky at Cowan and The Old Road Cafe as food stops on the road.
• Best way to experience it: drive or ride it yourself, in your own vehicle or a hire car, or join one of the guided tours that run on it.

• Speed limits change along the road. Transport for NSW cut the limit between Berowra and Kangaroo Point near Brooklyn from 80 to 70 km/h, with 60 km/h zones at Cowan.
• Ride to Live names Mooney Mooney as the rest area and Brisbane Waters Lookout as a scenic stop.
• Ride to Live lists fuel at Hornsby at the south end and West Gosford at the north end.
• Live Traffic NSW lists closures and incidents.
• Cowan sits at the south end and Kariong near Gosford at the north end, with the M1 Pacific Motorway running parallel.

• Last verified: 8 November 2026
• Official link: https://ridetolive.nsw.gov.au/trips/old-pacific-highway