'No idea what's coming': Hunter motorists' verdict on M1 Motorway extension

Hunter motorists have wasted no time putting the new M1 extension through its paces.

The Newcastle Herald drove the stretch on Friday in both directions with plenty of drivers in trucks, motorcycles and some classic cars taking the new bypass.

They were also joined by a heavy police presence as drivers got up to speed with the fresh stretch of tarmac.

Central Coast resident Ben Holden and his family put some rubber on the road on Friday as they travelled from Toukley to Forster for a weekend away with their caravan, topping up with some fuel in Raymond Terrace.

"We've had the camper for three months and haven't got a chance to use it yet, so we thought we'd take the chance," Mr Holden said.

Mr Holden, who has been working in road construction himself around Jesmond, said the new stretch was "a breeze" and took out the only headache on the route.

"We have a house in Forster so this will make the trip much easier and quicker especially in the summer when it used to get bad through the Hexam stretch," he said.

"We travel up this way quite often so it's great for us."

Northern Beaches resident Michelle Spicer said she was surprised by the new stretch as she drove up from Sydney to Taree.

"I didn't know about it when I set off, but it was a nice surprise, very smooth and quick and I know it can be a pinch point here after you pass Newcastle," she said.

"Hopefully it makes the summer trips north quicker this year."

Some commuters reported cuts to their commute time of between seven and 30 minutes since the road progressively opened this week.

While many gave it an overwhelming thumbs up, there were a few surprises for drivers still finding their way around new exits.

Ms Spicer said the only thing that caught her out was the exits as she stopped to find an electric vehicle charging station.

"Because it was different and my maps haven't updated, I went past the spot i was planning to plug in."

Hunter social media groups lit up within hours of the northbound road opening on Thursday, filled with drivers comparing notes on their first runs.

One wrote he was surprised to find the northbound section open a day ahead of the official opening.

He said the extension had transformed his regular run to Port Stephens.

"I drove up from Spring Farm to Salamander Bay... absolutely brilliant. It will cut 30 minutes off the commute for me to and from Camden," he posted.

Other drivers reported similarly dramatic time savings.

One said her Cameron Park to Medowie run at peak hour dropped to 25 minutes, saving her 15 minutes, while another said she'd saved 20 minutes on an evening drive.

One driver said the extension had shaved 10 minutes off his commute from North Rothbury to Tomago, and said the Hexham to Medowie trip was now a 20-minute job.

The praise was not unanimous.

Several drivers flagged confusion around the new Williamtown interchange, with one questioning why traffic now detours via Old Punt Road and Tomago Road to reach the airport turn-off.

Others reported patchy signs.

"Signs are just as bad as ever, you've no idea what's coming ahead and the maps haven't updated," one driver said.

The extension does little for drivers heading to Nelson Bay via the old Hexham Bridge route, with several commenters pointing out the benefit is mainly for traffic continuing north past Raymond Terrace or cutting across to Medowie and Port Stephens via the Richardson Road off-ramp.