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Bowman River Road

NSWUnclassified road15.7 km41 segments
2.3Sports
15.7 kmTotal length
41Segments
50Grey spot segments
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Bowman River Road is a 16 km sealed road in New South Wales, Australia. It scores 8.3/10 for 4WDs with highly technical corners and fair surface.

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Vehicle scores
2.3/10
SPTSportsSealed roads, curviness, mountain passes
5.9/10
MOTMotoTight bends, switchbacks, technical roads
4.0/10
EVEVSmooth surface, sealed roads, range-friendly
8.3/10
4WD4WDGravel access, off-road suitability
2.5/10
VANCaravanSmooth sealed, gentle grades, no steep passes
Segment quality distribution
Sports score - 41 segments
Fair (4-6)24%Poor (<4)76%

Sports score IQR: 2.3 - 3.5

Surface
Surface coverage
Sealed40%Unsealed60%
Score breakdown
Median component scores across all segments
Surface
5.0
Median surface quality. Smooth sealed asphalt scores 10. Chipseal 8. Gravel 5.
Curviness
9.2
Median curviness. Higher scores mean more bends per kilometre.
Speed
7.0
Speed limit suitability. Sweet spot is 60-110 km/h.
Road classUnclassified road
8.0
Road classification. Motorways score zero. Tertiary roads score 9.
Traffic
9.0
Estimated traffic density. Lower traffic = higher score.
Elevation
9.0
Elevation change per kilometre. More climbing = higher score.
Crash history
Aggregated across all 41 segments· 10 years of data
50
Grey spots

Crash record linkage not yet available for NSW. Grey spots are segments where curvature geometry mismatches the posted speed limit - these are flagged regardless of crash history.

When is this road risky?
Crash conditions - share of recorded crashes by circumstance

Wet road crashes

Crashes that occurred in wet conditions

0%

Night crashes

Crashes that occurred after dark

0%

Based on 10 years of crash records linked to road geometry. Crash breakdown (night, wet, weekends): VIC data 2012-2024. Other states show aggregate counts only.

Road environment
Geometry and climate-derived risk indicators
7.1/10 safety score - higher is safer
Wet road exposure61%
Night driving risk72%
Wind exposure63%
Sun glare risk73%
Wildlife strike risk11%

Risk values derived from road geometry, orientation, weather station data, and satellite canopy cover. 0 = minimal risk, 1 = maximum risk.

Segments
Top 55 segments by sports score
IDSurfaceLengthSportsMotoEV
#110880889Asphalt0.38 km5.28.29.1#110880892Asphalt0.36 km5.28.29.0#110880883Asphalt0.36 km5.28.29.0#110880887Asphalt0.30 km5.28.29.0#110880888Asphalt0.35 km5.28.29.0#110880884Asphalt0.36 km5.28.29.0#110880885Asphalt0.38 km5.28.29.0#110880886Asphalt0.40 km5.28.29.0#110880891Asphalt0.38 km5.18.19.0#112041053Asphalt0.42 km5.18.18.9#110880896Asphalt0.38 km5.08.08.8#110880894Asphalt0.37 km5.07.98.8#110880893Asphalt0.40 km4.97.88.5#110880890Asphalt0.37 km4.87.68.4#112041054Asphalt0.42 km4.67.38.1#110880895Asphalt0.36 km4.57.18.0#112041055Asphalt0.33 km3.75.76.6#110880877Gravel0.49 km2.35.74.0#110683282Gravel0.33 km2.35.94.0#110880851Gravel0.37 km2.35.94.0#110880852Gravel0.35 km2.35.94.0#112041007Gravel0.14 km2.35.94.0#110880853Gravel0.52 km2.35.94.0#110880871Gravel0.41 km2.35.94.0#110880854Gravel0.41 km2.35.94.0#110880856Gravel0.40 km2.35.94.0#110880857Gravel0.35 km2.35.94.0#110880858Gravel0.41 km2.35.94.0#112041016Gravel0.14 km2.35.94.0#110880866Gravel0.02 km2.34.14.0#110880868Gravel0.03 km2.34.74.0#110880872Gravel0.19 km2.35.94.0#110880873Gravel0.56 km2.35.94.0#110880874Gravel0.41 km2.35.94.0#110880875Gravel0.41 km2.35.94.0#110880876Gravel0.37 km2.35.94.0#110880878Gravel0.21 km2.35.94.0#110880879Unpaved0.19 km2.35.94.0#110880870Gravel0.37 km2.35.94.0#110880863Gravel0.02 km2.34.14.0#110880867Gravel0.03 km2.34.84.0#110880869Gravel0.03 km2.34.54.0#110880855Gravel0.09 km2.35.84.0#110880862Gravel0.03 km2.34.84.0#110880864Unpaved0.02 km2.34.54.0#110880859Gravel0.36 km2.35.94.0#110880860Gravel0.14 km2.35.94.0#110880861Unpaved0.02 km2.34.54.0#110880881Gravel0.61 km2.35.94.0#110880880Unpaved0.17 km2.35.94.0#110880848Gravel0.20 km2.35.94.0#110880882Gravel0.11 km2.35.04.0#110880865Gravel0.03 km2.34.84.0#110880849Gravel0.45 km2.35.94.0#110880850Gravel0.30 km2.35.44.0
API reference
Road aggregate data via the Contour API
GET/api/v1/roads/bowman-river-road-nswRoad aggregate - scores, stats, risk profile, activity, segment list
GET/api/v1/roads/search?q=Bowman%20River%20Road&state=NSWSearch roads by name

Councils & Government

This road is part of NSW's road network. Contour scores every road in Australia for surface condition, curviness, grey spot classification, and 4WD track passability. If your organisation manages this road or promotes tourism in the region, this data is available via API.

Enquire about council data access →
Frequently asked questions
How long is Bowman River Road?+

Bowman River Road is approximately 16 km long. At typical touring speeds, expect around 1 hour of driving end to end, excluding stops.

Is Bowman River Road sealed?+

Yes. Bowman River Road is fully sealed for its entire length.

Is Bowman River Road good for motorcycles?+

It is passable. Bowman River Road scores 5.9/10 for motorcycles. Consider it a connector rather than a destination ride.

Can I drive Bowman River Road in a caravan?+

Not recommended. Bowman River Road scores 2.5/10 for caravans due to geometry, surface or gradient. Consider an alternative route if towing.

Are there any dangerous sections on Bowman River Road?+

Contour has identified 50 grey spots on Bowman River Road - sections where the road geometry does not match the posted speed limit. Take extra care in wet or low-visibility conditions.

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Road data last updated: 21 April 2026. Scores are based on road geometry, surface, and traffic data. Always drive to conditions and follow local road rules.

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