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Paterson River Road

NSWUnclassified road39.0 km86 segments
4.1Sports
39.0 kmTotal length
86Segments
88Grey spot segments
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Paterson River Road is a 39 km sealed road in New South Wales, Australia. It scores 8.5/10 for 4WDs with highly technical corners and excellent surface. It also rates well for EVs.

Explore more roads near Newcastle75 km

Full route guide available

This road has a curated T1 route guide with driving notes, highlights, and turn-by-turn context.

Read the route guide →

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Vehicle scores
4.1/10
SPTSportsSealed roads, curviness, mountain passes
6.2/10
MOTMotoTight bends, switchbacks, technical roads
7.2/10
EVEVSmooth surface, sealed roads, range-friendly
8.5/10
4WD4WDGravel access, off-road suitability
2.6/10
VANCaravanSmooth sealed, gentle grades, no steep passes
Segment quality distribution
Sports score - 86 segments
Fair (4-6)50%Poor (<4)50%

Sports score IQR: 2.4 - 5.4

Surface
Surface coverage
Sealed53%Unsealed47%
Score breakdown
Median component scores across all segments
Surface
10.0
Median surface quality. Smooth sealed asphalt scores 10. Chipseal 8. Gravel 5.
Curviness
10.0
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 86 segments· 10 years of data
88
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
6.5/10 safety score - higher is safer
Wet road exposure63%
Night driving risk73%
Wind exposure64%
Sun glare risk59%
Wildlife strike risk19%

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

Segments
Top 97 segments by sports score
IDSurfaceLengthSportsMotoEV
#110894009Asphalt0.65 km5.78.79.5#110894018Asphalt0.65 km5.78.79.5#110894017Asphalt0.50 km5.78.79.5#110894013Asphalt0.43 km5.68.79.5#110894016Asphalt0.61 km5.68.79.4#110894019Asphalt0.47 km5.68.79.4#110894012Asphalt0.43 km5.68.79.4#110894011Asphalt0.42 km5.68.79.4#110894010Asphalt0.36 km5.68.79.4#110894015Asphalt0.46 km5.68.69.4#110894064Asphalt0.47 km5.48.49.2#110894071Asphalt0.37 km5.48.49.2#110894008Asphalt0.37 km5.48.39.1#110894067Asphalt0.40 km5.48.49.2#110894066Asphalt0.38 km5.48.49.2#110894060Asphalt0.52 km5.48.49.2#110894059Asphalt0.35 km5.48.49.2#110894058Asphalt0.46 km5.48.49.2#110894068Asphalt0.39 km5.48.49.2#110894070Asphalt0.37 km5.48.49.2#112068355Asphalt0.52 km5.48.39.2#112068354Asphalt0.62 km5.48.39.1#110894057Asphalt0.37 km5.48.39.1#110894062Asphalt0.36 km5.48.39.1#110894063Asphalt0.37 km5.48.39.1#110894078Asphalt0.39 km5.48.39.1#110894061Asphalt0.37 km5.48.39.1#110894077Asphalt0.31 km5.48.39.1#110894076Asphalt0.37 km5.48.39.1#110894073Asphalt0.31 km5.48.39.1#110894020Asphalt0.48 km5.48.28.9#112068357Asphalt0.41 km5.48.39.1#111308525Asphalt0.36 km5.38.39.0#110894069Asphalt0.36 km5.38.39.0#111308526Asphalt0.32 km5.38.39.0#110894074Asphalt0.35 km5.38.29.1#110894052Asphalt0.39 km5.38.39.0#110894075Asphalt0.36 km5.38.29.0#112068356Asphalt0.40 km5.38.29.0#110894014Asphalt0.36 km5.38.18.8#110894051Asphalt0.49 km5.38.18.9#110894056Asphalt0.38 km5.28.08.9#110894053Asphalt0.36 km5.28.08.8#112068358Asphalt0.38 km5.28.08.8#110894006Asphalt0.43 km5.27.98.6#111459459Asphalt0.22 km5.28.08.8#110894065Asphalt0.38 km5.17.98.6#110894072Asphalt0.36 km5.17.98.6#110894007Asphalt0.09 km4.87.48.3#110894050Asphalt0.12 km4.56.87.7#110894054Asphalt0.37 km4.36.47.4#112068359Asphalt0.05 km4.36.47.5#110894055Asphalt0.04 km4.06.07.1#112068329Asphalt0.08 km3.75.56.7#110894079Paved0.06 km3.75.56.8#110894040Asphalt0.07 km3.75.46.6#110894122Unpaved0.35 km2.46.04.0#110894123Unpaved0.37 km2.46.04.0#110894124Unpaved0.40 km2.46.04.0#110894125Unpaved0.38 km2.46.04.0#110894126Unpaved0.35 km2.46.04.0#110894127Unpaved0.40 km2.46.04.0#110894128Unpaved0.36 km2.46.04.0#110894129Unpaved0.37 km2.46.04.0#110894130Unpaved0.55 km2.46.04.0#110894131Unpaved0.65 km2.46.04.0#110894133Unpaved0.50 km2.46.04.0#110894134Unpaved0.35 km2.46.04.0#110894137Unpaved0.40 km2.46.04.0#110894138Unpaved0.42 km2.46.04.0#110894139Unpaved0.58 km2.46.04.0#110894140Unpaved0.50 km2.46.04.0#112068422Unpaved0.65 km2.46.04.0#110894132Unpaved0.59 km2.46.04.0#110894136Unpaved0.49 km2.46.04.0#110894135Unpaved0.03 km2.45.34.0#112068423Unpaved0.27 km2.46.04.0#110894102Unpaved0.65 km2.46.04.0#110894103Unpaved0.65 km2.46.04.0#110894104Unpaved0.53 km2.46.04.0#110894105Unpaved0.65 km2.46.04.0#110894106Unpaved0.65 km2.46.04.0#110894107Unpaved0.58 km2.46.04.0#110894108Unpaved0.46 km2.46.04.0#110894109Unpaved0.52 km2.46.04.0#110894110Unpaved0.37 km2.46.04.0#110894111Unpaved0.38 km2.46.04.0#110894112Unpaved0.38 km2.46.04.0#110894113Unpaved0.36 km2.46.04.0#110894114Unpaved0.35 km2.46.04.0#110894115Unpaved0.44 km2.46.04.0#110894116Unpaved0.39 km2.46.04.0#110894117Unpaved0.39 km2.46.04.0#110894118Unpaved0.37 km2.46.04.0#110894119Unpaved0.37 km2.46.04.0#110894120Unpaved0.55 km2.46.04.0#110894121Unpaved0.39 km2.46.04.0
API reference
Road aggregate data via the Contour API
GET/api/v1/roads/paterson-river-road-nswRoad aggregate - scores, stats, risk profile, activity, segment list
GET/api/v1/roads/search?q=Paterson%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 Paterson River Road?+

Paterson River Road is approximately 39 km long. At typical touring speeds, expect around 1 hour of driving end to end, excluding stops.

Is Paterson River Road sealed?+

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

Is Paterson River Road good for motorcycles?+

It rates well. Paterson River Road scores 6.2/10 for motorcycles, with enough character to be worth the trip for most riders.

Can I drive Paterson River Road in a caravan?+

Not recommended. Paterson River Road scores 2.6/10 for caravans due to geometry, surface or gradient. Consider an alternative route if towing.

Is Paterson River Road good for an EV?+

Yes. Paterson River Road scores 7.2/10 for EVs. Regenerative braking on any elevation changes and smooth throttle control on the corners will both feel at home here.

Are there any dangerous sections on Paterson River Road?+

Contour has identified 88 grey spots on Paterson 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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