It runs eastwards from Dubbo towards Newcastle on the coast, allowing road transport to avoid travelling over the Blue Mountains to Sydney, and is designated route B84.

Bylong Valley Way turns off Golden Highway 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east of Sandy Hollow.

Golden Highway and Putty Road are concurrent for around 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), east of the Mount Thorley industrial estate near Singleton.

[3] Golden Highway provides a fairly low altitude crossing of the Great Dividing Range.

[4] It runs through the Hunter Region[5] and gives access to the golden west of New South Wales.