Craigieburn and the Hume
The bypass
The Craigieburn Bypass took the Hume Freeway east of the old route, opening in two stages in December 2004 and December 2005. It runs 17 km south to the Western and Metropolitan Ring Roads, and the old Sydney Road stopped being the main way north.
840 km to Sydney
North of here, the Hume runs all the way to Sydney, 840 km from Melbourne, with a 110 km/h limit for the full length. It serves Albury and Wodonga on the way and carries a lot of freight.
Victoria's rules
No general mechanic licence exists in Victoria, so ask about qualifications and insurance instead. A roadworthy for a sale is different: it must come from a licensed vehicle tester.
Before a run up the Hume
Hours at 110 km/h show up what a short suburban drive hides: a cooling system that can't keep up, tyres near the wear markers, a wheel bearing on its way out. If a long trip's coming, have the car checked a week or two ahead, so there's time to order parts. Wheel bearing noise is one to listen for.
If a red warning light comes on or the temperature gauge climbs on the freeway, pull over somewhere safe and switch off. Call roadside assistance if you have it, and keep everyone well away from the traffic.
Day to day, Craigieburn cars need what cars everywhere need: servicing, brakes, batteries. A mobile mechanic can do much of that at home.
Our take
We'd treat any trip up the Hume as a long drive, even if it's only as far as Wodonga: tyre pressures set for the load, coolant level checked on a cold engine, and the service done early if it's due within the next few thousand kilometres.