Ahead of the upcoming Easter holiday period in April, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has released details on travel restrictions for heavy vehicles.
Some states and territories will have travel restrictions in place that limit travel for Class 1 heavy vehicles (agricultural, oversize/overmass and special purpose vehicles).
The regulator outlined the most common Easter restrictions, however advised operators to also check their permits and relevant notices for what restrictions are applicable and to confirm with their relevant state and territory road transport authority.
New South Wales
Travel restrictions apply for oversize load carrying vehicles during the Easter long weekend. These requirements are outlined in the New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Operator’s Guide (PDF, 1.18MB)
There are also additional requirements for vehicles under an access permit, in the Additional Access Conditions for oversize and overmass heavy vehicles and loads (PDF, 657.71 KB).
Transport for NSW provides an overview of these holiday travel requirements on their website under NSW State-wide oversize holiday curfews.
Travel requirements for agricultural vehicles during the Easter holiday period are outlined in the National Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle and Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide.
Queensland
An oversize vehicle or combination must not be driven on any road in Queensland from 12.01am Thursday April 17, 2025 to 11.59pm Tuesday April 22, 2025, unless the oversize heavy vehicle or combination is provided an exemption.
In Queensland, the following oversize heavy vehicles and combinations are provided an exemption to general Easter travel conditions in the following schedules of the Queensland Access Conditions Guide:
- Schedule 1 provides exemptions for Class 1 Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV).
- Schedule 2 provides exemptions for Class 1 Special Purpose Combinations.
- Schedule 3 provides exemptions for Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicles.
- Schedule 5 provides exemptions for Oversize conditionally registered vehicles.
There are no exemptions under Schedule 4 for Class 3 oversize vehicles.
Exemptions to the general Easter travel conditions in the Queensland Access Conditions Guide provide access for:
- Any oversize heavy vehicle and combination under notice or permit may be driven during the Easter holiday period in the Cooper Basin where travel is directly involved with, or in support of, Liquefied Natural Gas or mining activities as per Section 11.7 and Appendix B.
- A Class 1 load carrying vehicle carrying agricultural equipment in association with cotton harvesting is permitted to travel during daylight hours as per Schedule 3 Section 5 and Appendix C.
- Any Class 1 oversize heavy vehicle and combination under notice or permit operating on a Port of Brisbane roads listed in Appendix D, Table 25.
- A Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle complying with the conditions of operations between the Port of Brisbane or Mackay Ports and a Bond Store/Holding Yard Christmas and Easter holiday exemption under Schedule 3 Section 4.
In Queensland, a heavy agricultural vehicle and combination is provided an exemption to general Easter travel conditions in the National Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle and Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide.
Victoria
There are no specific Easter travel restrictions in place for Victoria. If you are operating under an access permit, please check for specific operating conditions that may apply.
As per the Multi-State Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) and the Multi-State Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Mass Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1), an eligible vehicle must not travel on the Melba Highway or Warburton Highway on a weekend or public holiday; or the day before the start of a holiday period; or the last day of a holiday period.
Western Australia
Curfew restrictions for operators of Oversize Restricted Access Vehicles (RAVs) apply during the Easter period. Operators must refer to the permit operating conditions that are relevant to the particular vehicle that they wish to operate for full details on the curfews that apply to them.
South Australia
Travel is not permitted during Easter for oversize loads that require a police escort.
Tasmania
The Department of State Growth’s Transport Safety & Investigation Officers will not be providing a service from Friday April 18, 2025 through to Tuesday April 22, 2025 (inclusive), or on Friday April 25, 2025 (Anzac Day). This will mean that any activities that have a condition of an escort (under permit or notice), will not be able to comply with those conditions and will not be able to operate over this period unless it is in the event of an emergency.
Australian Capital Territory
No specific Easter travel restrictions in place.
Northern Territory
No specific Easter travel restrictions in place.
Full details of travel restrictions during the Easter period can be found on the NHVR website.