YOUR VOTE MATTERS ere elo RCL tal ic) ‘Meeting (see page 36) MUDGEE MEANDERING The scenic route to NSW's food and wine capitalCredit: ch MOTORING CLUBS BUY CHARGEFOX EV charging network set fo expand further under new ownership AUSTRALIAN MOTORING SERVICES (AMS) has acquired Chargefox, further cementing the NRMA'S leadership role in the electrification of Australia's transport [AMS is made up of Australian motoring clubs that include the NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAC, RAA and RACT. After increasing its shareholding position, AMS is now the sole owner of Chargefox. AAs Australia's largest EV charging network, Chargefox will continue to pursue its ambitious target of more than NRMA'S NEW EV CHAMPION ‘The NRMA has announced Carly Irving-Dolan will join the organisation as executive general manager of eneray and infrastructure. She comes to the NRMA from the government-owned Energy Queensland, where she was executive general manager ofits ‘commercial arm, Yurika Reporting to group CEO Rohan Lund, Ms Irving-Dolan will ead the strategy ‘and deployment of the NRMA’s EV fast-charaing network across Australia, working with various stakeholders such as governments, financiers, communities, utilities and construction firms. 5000 EV plugs across the country by the end af 2025, helping to reduce vehicle emissions, The NRMA is the largest member of AMS and continues to expand its investment in fast-charging infrastructure. Its existing fast-charging network, spread throughout NSW and the ACT is set to ‘grow even further, as the NRMA works with the federal government to build 177 fast-charging sites across the national highway network A SUCCESSFUL BID for funding from the NSW government's electric vehicle fleet incentive program will support addition of 20 Tesla electric ve Sixt Australia's rental fleet ‘Sixt launched in 2021 with the largest fleet of electric vehicles available for hire in Australia, and we're pleased to see this fleet of EVs continue to grow with the support of the NSW government,” says Sixt Australia CEO, Matthew Beattie. This initiative will support our goal of electric vehicles for hire making up 10 peer cent of our fleet by the end of this NEWS. The NRMA continues to expand its fast-charging infrastructure The NRMA's electrification footprint across Australia is developing through all its businesses. Investment in Electric Highway Tasmania aims to provide 27 charging locations across the island by mid-2023; the NRMA\s car and truck rental company, Sixt Australia, is ‘committing to convert half its 16,000-strong rental fleet to electric within five years; and NRMA el ferries are revolutionising the future of transport on Sydney Harbour. Group CEO, Rohan Lund, says the NRMA is ideally placed to play a key leadership role in transitioning the nation's transport sector to electric vehicles. ‘Australia is not immune to th , Still no eggs. Perhaps the kid staying in The Lodge beat us toit. Thwarted, OPENROAD 27ROAD TRIP The restaurant specialises in tea and dumplings and we finish off our meal with a custard bun we have breakfast and hit the road. Lue is much closer to Rylstone than Mudgee, so we backtrack alittle on our second day to see what Rylstone has to offer. The kids insist our first port of call should be Rylstone Lollypop Shap and then, after browsing the town's quaint streets, we take an early yum cha lunch at 29 Nine 99. The unusual name derives from the husband-and-wife owners’ marriage date. The restaurant specialises in tea and dumplings and we finish off our meal with ‘a custard bun. | dan't know what a mouthful of heaven tastes like, but l imagine it’s similar to a custard bun from 29 Nine 99. If someone tells you “Mudgee has gone to the dogs" don’t worry - they've probably just done a winery tour. It seems every cellar door has a canine mascot. At Rabert Stein it was a brown and tan kelpie and at Moothi Estate there's not only a winery dog but also a number of visitors enjoying a tasting with their canine companions at their feet, Well, everyone's enjoying a tasting except me; 've picked up a case of the sniffles and the wine might ‘as well be apple juice or tap water. Kelie remains unafflicted, however, and the X-Trail tinkles like Christmas bells as we depart While stores with “old wares” can be a euphemism for “junk no ane wants" and museums have cool stuff on display but none available for purchase, Brett Niven Ceramics finds a pleasing ‘midpoint between the two. It's set out ike a museum, with loads of diverting displays and historic objects, but everythings for sale. My daughter tests out an old rotary dial phone, the exact, ‘model (God help me) that sat upon the telephone bench in my childhood home. When | point out a wood-veneer television set from the late 1950s, my kids are bemused - they can't see anything that resembles a television as they understand i. My wife doesn’t share my obsession with history, fortunately, which is why we leave 10 minutes instead of 10 hours later. The kids and | decide we need a break from wineries, so Kellie agrees to visit Baker Wiliams... gin distillery. But following atasting there we're off to another winery. This one, di Lusso Estate, specialises in italian varietals and the mandatory winery dog is Maestro, a brontosaurus-sized golden retriever witha ‘golden’s typical interests: pats and food. We return to our lodgings for a short rest and to unload the day's vino before crossing Lawson Creek once more to callin at Lue Hotel, where a handful of locals are seated at the front bar. The hotel is laid out rather like an old house and we take our drinks into one of the back rooms to enjoy them before the roaring open fire, We consider eating there as well, bt Wednesdays are a hamburgers-only affair, so we reluctantly pull on our coats and beanies and head on into Mudgee. Upon Fi's recommendation we dine at the Oriental Hotel ‘Amore marked contrast to Lue Hotel ishard to imagine. The 28 OPENROAD Fresh eggs for breakfast? Sadly not on this occasion ytene ‘Sheep graze among the vines| near Vinifers Wines and 9 Baker Willams DstileryOriental is Mudgee's modern face: huge, with up-to-the-minute renovations anda gently upmarket menu. It's commensurately popular, too, and we're there on the State of Origin decider night inrugby-league-mad Mudgee ~ the place is jammed with patrons. We head home around 7.30pm and, as we round a bend on Lue Road, my high beams pick out an imposing figure standing ‘on the road. t's a kangaroo, one of the biggest eastern greys I've ever seen, and I'm grateful he isn’t in my lane. With the road otherwise deserted, | hit the anchors just in case Mr Roo decides to leap in front of us at the last minute. But he stays stock-still and once we're alongside him | toot the horn, which sends him hopping back into the safety of the bush. Final morning nest box check: still no eggs. Perhaps the hens’ ovaries are frozen. We feed them bread and other kitchen scraps, then pack up the car, bid Fi farewell, and set out on the return journey to Sydney. On a whim! stop at Pearsons Lookout ~a turnoff we've driven past a dozen times. The region between Bathurst and Mudgee is best known for its arable plains, yet this spontaneity reveals a view over the Capertee Valley you could otherwise only get by helicopter. Just like Lue, it proves the odd detour can deliver unexpected treasures. «9 ROAD TRIP ‘THE FROG ROCK CONNECTION Early in our travel writing days, my wife and | visited a winery on the north-western outskirts of Mudgee called Frog Rock, named for @ nearby rock formation which, when viewed from the right angle, bore a striking resemblance tothe amphibian in question. It's the first thing | think of when we're invited to experience Odd Frog Lodges and, asit turns out, it’s no coincidence. The winery was Fiona Lydiard’s family business, and she worked there in various capacities for 18 years until it shut, its doors in 2012, about a year after our visit. Her parents, Rick and Jenny Turner, had been operating Frog Rock since the late 1960s but chose to retire after a worldwide glut ‘commencing in 2008 made grape growing increasingly unprofitable for many Australian vineyards. Odd Frog Lodges first opened its doors in 2009 and the property has expanded in recent times after Fi and her husband purchased the neighbouring farm, If you're interested in staying at Odd Frog, visit oddfroglodges.com.au. Highlights: &unigueralljourneys-Tit Tai, tack, Glflander& Savannanlander; Capricorn C Longreach attractions; Krenosaurus Korner; Gulf Sunset wery Centre; Cobbald Gorge Cruise & Tour; Undara Lava Tubes; Woodlegh Station Cruise; Barramunci Inclusions: Al accommodation, meas, touring, Te ain prt of the Outback Emerald to Brisbane to Rockhampton tices Coorg PLO—pmwese realdinet return economy fights from Sycney Departs 24 Aor 08 & 22 May; 19 un; 17 & 31 Jul 148.28 ug; 11 Sep 2023 seraidine KEG ec Highlights: Daintre Rainforest & Discovery Cente; Bana ‘iri rt & Cultural Centre; Bloomfels Track; James Cook Museum Split Rock Galeries Guided Tour; Gulf Eco Cruise; Moreton Telegraph station; Fruit dat alls; The Tipo Cape York: Horn & Thursday sland: Torres StraitCultural | Heritage Experiences Inclusions: A accommodation, meals, touring, one way fight Horn sland to Cain pus return economy lights rom Sydney Departs: 07 & 21 Jun; 05 Jul; 02 & 30 Aug; 13827 Sep2023 Call 07 4658 3000 outbackaussietours.com.au ey Es ocepereneneansteett:Devoted to volts The spacious Hyundai loniq5 was built from the ground up to be an EV Engine singe electric motor (RWD) Battery: ‘Teak h Powers 120} Torques 350N™ Range: 4Sikmn ANCAP: #4 Pree: From (pls RC) LAUNCHED LATE LAST year, the lonigS is Hyundai's first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV), as opposed to an electrified conventional model such as the Kona €¥. It spearheads a raft of models to be built on Hyundai's dedicated Electric Global Model Platform (E-GMP), which also underpins the Kia EV6. Two lonig5 models are available: the RWD Dynamic ($69,900) and the AWD Techniq ($77,500). A 160kW/350Nm electric motor powers the Dynamic anda recent tech upgrade has increased range. to.48Ikm, The AWD Technig has rear and front axle electric motors, delivering a total output of 225kW and 605Nm, while using the same 72.6kWh battery as the Dynamic. The extra grunt gives a shorter range of 430km but a very un-SUV-Ike (0-100km/h time of just 5.2 seconds. The lonigS can support both 400-volt, ‘and 800-volt charging infrastructure. Using a 350KW fast charging station (still scarce in Australia), Hyundai claims ‘a 10-80 per cent charge in 18 minutes, while the more readily available SOkW fast charger takes around one hour. Gaing ‘low and slow’ with a domestic three-pin cable will provide an overnight top-up. The lonigS now supports vehicle-to load charging functionality, which means you can power an electrical appliance up to 250V/15A on the move, while camping equipment, electric bikes and scooters can be charged using the external system. Key standard features in the Dynamic Include 10-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, Bose premium audio, leather appointed interior, an augmented head-up display, and surround view monitoring. The Techni gains ventilated front seats, two-way power-adjustable rear seats, and larger 20-inch alloys. Hyundai's SmartSense safety suite includes forward collision avoidance, blind spot collision assistance, lane departure warning and seven airbags, delivering a five-star ANCAP rating, The lonig5 is a chunky-iooking unit, with designers using Hyundai's sarp-lined Pony from the eariy 1980s as inspiration. The wheelbase is now comparable to the seven-seat Palisade SUV (see page 57) {and opening the door reveals an interior cof massive proportions. This enabled designers to do things differently, the obvious example being the moveable centre console, with 140mm of fore/att travel allowing more freedom of movement inside. Controls usually housed con the console, such as the gear selector, ‘are mounted on a stalk behind the steering wheel and the electric handbrake switch is on the dash, While the finishes don't exactly sing out ‘premium’ and many FN sworonme Opening the door reveals an interior of massive proportions of the interior touchpoints feature recycled materials, everything combines seamlessly and there are several colour options available, Onroad, the E-GMP platform pays dividends in the Techniq we drove, providing a low centre of gravity and ‘900d weight distribution - an ideal starting point to optimise ride and handling characteristics. The ride around townis on the firm side, but it’s not jigaly and the package absorbs bumps and corrugations nicely at higher speeds. There's little body roll and the large tyres Give lots of grip to keep the huge amount of torque in check, shooting you rapidly from corner to corner without fuss. Despite the sizzle that sport mode offers through the bends, we found t still suited day-to-day driving. Flicking to eco and one-pedal mode maximises range and softens the package slightly Asis the case with all newcomers to the EV space, supply is limited, but JoniaS is well worth the wait. Get your order in early. - Tim Pomroy Interior space; forward vision; performance of AWD Techniq Weird external door handles