Nice short, twisty climbing part of the road with a few climbing hairpins

When gold was discovered on the Turon River in 1851, Sofala became one of the first places in Australia to experience a gold rush. In the following 2 decades as many as 40,000 people, about 1/4 of them Chinese, crammed onto the Turon Goldfield. Some say that the Turon River bank between Sofala and Hill End resembled a 40 Km long town during the gold rush days of the 1850s and 60s Now, a small peaceful town 250km north west of Sydney, Sofala retains much of the character of its boom days. The twisting and narrow main street is lined with two-storey buildings, most of them more than a century old. In addition to the local residences, Sofala has a rustic Pub, General Store, Café/ Milk-bar and a Sweet Shop/ Café and a couple of Restaurants. There are a number of heritage listed properties and historically significant buildings, including the old Hospital and the still operational Public School.

From Sofala, you will wind your way up out of the Turon River Valley through a reasonable winding section of road. The next major stop being Ilford at the intersection of the Sofala Road with the Castlereagh Highway joining Lithgow with Mudgee. Approaching Ilford, the road follows the ridgeline above the valley that seperates the Wollemi and Gardens of Stone National Parks in the east from the Turon National Park and Central Tablelands to the west. The view as you approach Ilford into the valley to the east and north is magnificent, with fantastic rock formations and hills making up the Great Dividing Range and Gardens of Stone National Park

Turn right here and head towards Lithgow

Some great views of the Gardens of Stone National Park and the associated mountains. very much like the formations found in the Blue Mountains National Park

A local store, park, BBQs and a public toilet

between Ben Bullen and Cullen Bullen you cross the highest part of the highway at 1100m

Approaching Lithgow you pass by the huge cooling towers and coal fired Power Station at Mt. Piper. Outside the station is an excellent visitors, information and education centre with picnic facilities.

End of the electric train line which is part of the City Rail suburban line. Hub of the local coal mining area and the gateway to the Blue Mountains. Lithgow has a number of pubs, cafes, parks and tourist attractions, including the Small Arms Factory Museum. The Zig Zag Railway is about 10 kms east of Lithgow on the Bells Line or Road

This highway is heavily patrolled by Traffic Police. There is a seperated dual carriage way just outside Lithgow that has a 110kph speedlimitm but beware as the speedlimit is only 100kph for the remaining part of the highway to Bathurst and beyond.

At Mt. Lambie you cross the Great Dividing Range and the highest part of the Great Western Highway at 1100 m. In winter this part of the road can become closed because of ice and snow.

A fuel stop and highway services is located here at Yetholme. You start the descent here into the valley surrounding Bathurst.