THE SUMMER SCENE
Few of Australia's Greatest Road Trips
The sun is out. The water’s warm and the days are longer. What better time to load up the car and discover parts of Australia you always promised yourself you’d visit or return to one day. Here’s a few suggestions to get you thinking about the possibilities that lie around the next bend. VIC
The drive from Torquay to Adelaide is a well-trodden path by tourists and locals alike – and with good reason. The 857km takes in some iconic Australian landmarks like the Great Ocean Road with its Twelve Apostles. But if you explore further you’ll find little gems like the township of Port Fairy – voted world’s most liveable town in 2012 and home to the Port Fairy Folk Festival. If you venture in-land you’ll stumble across Dunkeld with its famous Royal Mail Restaurant. And if you continue just over the border you’ll discover Mt Gambier with its Piccaninnie Ponds – a snorkeler’s dream
NSW
Mt Kosciusko without the snow? The Kosciusko Express Chairlift is open 365 days a year and provides spectacular views across Thredbo as you ride to the highest point in Australia. There’s also plenty of summer activities to keep you busy including mountain biking, fly fishing, horse riding and bush walking. The Snowy Mountains region has a great selection of restaurants and cafés, from a la carte and menus offering regional selections to local bakeries. The trip from Sydney will take approximately 5 ½ hours as you transition from city to scenic country landscapes.
TAS
Tasmania has some truly spectacular coastline – none more so than the east coast stretch from Hobart to the stunning Bay of Fires. Picture perfect Freycinet Bay is a must see. Why not book yourself in to the Freycinet Experience guided walking tour. Recently voted Australia’s #1 walking holiday, this four-day tour takes you along 38km of breath-taking vistas and
national parks. The east coast of Tasmania is also a seafood lover’s delight. Try the famous oysters at the Salt Shaker Café & Restaurant in Swansea while you look out to the magnificent views across the bay.
SA
A drive around the Eyre Peninsula will put you in a seafood paradise. There’s plenty of notable restaurants coveted by chefs around Australia. Try the local blue swimmer crabs and the oysters from Coffin Bay or the flat-shelled angasi oysters from Smoky Bay. Test your nerve and enter the food chain for an exhilarating cage dive with the great white sharks of Neptune Island. The Calypso Star has been plunging divers in shark-proof cages since 2000 and now attracts 8000 excited divers a year.
QLD
Cape York Peninsula is Australia’s most northerly point. The 1028km drive from Cairns will take you through one of the largest unspoilt wilderness areas in Australia. The Daintree Rainforest is the
only place where two world heritage sites sit side by side – the rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Mossman Gorge and Lakefield National Park offer unforgettable scenery across wetlands, rivers and waterfalls. A 4WD vehicle is recommended for this trip and be wary of flood warnings during the wet season.
WA
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse at Augusta on the most westerly point in Australia is the tallest lighthouse on the mainland. It’s worth the 3 hour trip from Perth just for the views as the Southern and Indian Oceans meet. A drive through the stunning Boranup Karri Forest will provide some of the best sights in the Margaret river region. Make sure to stop at Karri Lookout for a memorable tourist shot and keep the kids entertained with a visit to the Naturaliste Reptile Park. No trip to Margaret River is complete without a visit to several of the outstanding wineries. You can enjoy some of Australia’s very best Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon over a delicious restaurant lunch at Leeuwin Estate.
5 HOTTEST CARS COMING IN 2017 The Australian car industry might be losing two of its home-grown heroes from Ford and Holden, but there is still plenty to look forward to this year.
1. Land Rover Discovery Starting with the serious off-road segment, Land Rover will be introducing the rather suave next-gen Discovery. The seven-seater is likely to set plenty of benchmarks in areas of allterrain capability and luxury finesse. Under the bonnet there’s going to be a big range of engine options, with outputs spanning from 132kW up to 190kW. Suffice to say, it is tipped to become one of Land Rover’s most popular models, especially as it wears a stylish new body which draws inspiration from Range Rover. It arrives in July.
2. Mazda CX-5 For the SUV lovers, the most popular SUV in Australia last year, the Mazda CX-5, will be getting a big update this year. The new model wears Mazda’s latest ‘Kodo’ design language, also seen on the recently introduced CX-9. Mazda is yet to confirm engine options, but the existing line-up is expected to carry over largely unchanged. For now, we’ll have to keep our fingers crossed in regards to the new 2.5-litre turbo from the CX-9 becoming available. It arrives before the middle of the year.
3. Hyundai i30 Hatch With the practical everyday stuff, Hyundai will be launching the vastly-updated, nextgeneration i30 hatch. It’s going to bring a fresh exterior design and a stronger body construction. There’s also some new, more efficient engines in store, and a suave interior packing in the latest technologies including a big touch-screen interface with comprehensive smart phone connectivity. It arrives in the second half of this year.
4. Mercedes GT R For the high-end sports car fans, Mercedes-Benz will be launching the insane GT R version of the AMG GT. This is the kind of car you need if your driveway is made like a racetrack. With active aero features and a mind-bending 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 churning out 430kW, the GT R will be like an instant coffee hit, just driving to work. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes just 3.6 seconds, and your heart rate is sure to accelerate just as quick when you read the price tag. Mercedes Australia will be launching the new model in July with a starting price of $349,000 (excluding on-road costs).
5. Kia Stinger If you’re not prepared to re-mortgage your house, Kia has something up its sleeve that might be right down your alley. It’s called the Stinger, and as the name suggests, this will be a feisty little number. Actually, it won’t be little. The Stinger will compete in the mid-to-large sedan segment, swooping in on what the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore leave behind. Yes, the Stinger is a rear-wheel drive sports sedan. Power, at the top of the range, comes from a new 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 belting out 272kW. You better get in line, as this is set to be a very popular one.
FIVE HOT BOOKS FOR SUMMER Summer is a great time to sit back, relax and laze by the pool or lie on the beach with a good book. Here’s five titles that are sure to take you away from the everyday.
1. Scholl case Anja Reich-Osang This gripping account will keep you on the edge of your banana lounge. Heinrich Scholl, a former mayor, is convicted for the brutal murder of his wife of fifty years. Can this charming, courteous man possibly be the killer? Journalist Anja ReichOsang followed the case from its beginning, talking to family, friends and Scholl himself. She seamlessly lays out the facts, allowing you to make up your own mind.
2. The rules of backyard cricket
3. We are all completely beside ourselves
Jock Serong
Karen Joy Fowler
It’s cricket season. But this tale covers more than what happens on the field. Darren has two big talents; cricket and trouble. No surprise that he becomes an Australian sporting star of the bad boy variety who always seems to get away with everything – until the day they meet him, middle aged, gagged in the boot of a car. This is literary crime at its best. Both funny and tragic, this is a brilliant read.
This is a clever, moving and thought provoking book, perfect for those who love to be taken on a journey. Rosemary is young, just at college, and she’s decided not to tell anyone about her family. She is an only child but she used to have a sister the same age as her, and an older brother. Both are now vanished from her life. Full of hilarious asides and brilliantly spiky lines, you won’t want to put it down.
"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one." George RR Martin
4. After you Jojo Moyes If you’ve ever felt your life was at the crossroads you can identify with this book. Lou Clark has lots of questions. Like how it is she’s ended up working in an airport bar, why her flat still doesn’t feel like home and whether her family will forgive her for what she did eighteen months ago. She knows something has to change. Then, one night, it does. But does the stranger on her doorstep hold the answers? A sequel to a best-selling novel, Me After You, this novel will touch your heart and leave you pondering.
5. The secret diary of Hendrick Groen, 83 ¼ year old
Hendrick Groen You are only as old as you think you are. Just ask Hendrick Groen. He may be old, but he is far from dead. A cultural phenomenon in his native Netherlands and now conquering the globe, Hendrick will not only delight older readers with his humour, wit and relevance, but will charm and inspire younger readers who are looking for something outside of the norm this summer.
THE BRIGHT SIDE OF A NOT AT-FAULT ACCIDENT It’s a beautiful summers day as you head off in the car for a weekend away. The traffic’s a little heavy but you’ll be out of the city and onto the coastal route soon enough. And then it happens. There’s a thud and the sound of crunching metal. You’ve just been rear-ended and your weekend plans have been thrown into disarray. As you exchange details with the at-fault driver, the only thing going through your head is, “What am I going to do now without my car?”
Every month tens of thousands of drivers have not at-fault accidents. Having a car accident is a traumatic experience, but a bad situation is often made worse by the inconvenience of not having a vehicle for what can end up being weeks.
What most Australian drivers don’t know is that they are legally entitled to a like-for-like replacement car with costs covered by the at-fault driver’s insurer.
Right2Drive moves swiftly to get you mobile again, in a like-for-like vehicle, at no cost to you, until your repairs are complete or you have been settled in the case of a total loss. With locations all across Australia, offering the broadest range of accident replacement vehicles, delivered straight to your door, Right2Drive gets you back on the road in no time. So if you’re not at fault in an accident, remember you have a Right2Drive.
Find out more at right2drive.com.au or like Right2Drive on Facebook to spread the word
BP Ultimate Busts dirt in just
Benefits of Ultimate Research shows that a clean engine is fundamental to maintaining optimum engine operation. Ordinary fuels have been shown to result in the formation of harmful engine deposits that can clog up your engine and reduce performance. BP Ultimate has been designed to bust the dirt in your engine and maximise and maintain its performance. With ongoing use, Ultimate 98 Unleaded and Ultimate Diesel are designed to deliver benefits including: • Busts dirt in just two tanks* • More kilometers per tank • A smoother drive • Restores performance • Protect your engine over the long term
For more information BP Australia Website http://www.bp.com.au Technical Assistance Helpline 1300 139 700 *Based on a vehicle range of at least 650km per tank for petrol and at least 850km per tank for diesel.
PERFECT SUMMER BBQ TIPS Summer is the perfect time for outdoor entertaining. But being a ‘tong master’ takes more than just burning a few snags on the barbie. Here’s a few tips to get your guest’s mouths watering.
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When setting out to cook steaks, preparation can make a big difference. About a half hour before cooking remove your steaks from the fridge and leave them covered on a plate to return them to room temperature. That way, the fibres won’t contract so much when placing them on the grill, resulting in a more tender steak. So, when is it time to remove your steak from the grill? Well, if you place your forefinger and thumb together and press on the muscle under your thumb it should simulate the same firmness of a rare steak. Use the second finger for medium rare, the third for medium and the pinky for well done. And always remember to let your steak rest before tucking in, allowing the fibres to relax again. Marinated meat is very popular, especially chicken wings, skewers and Asian style pork. But how do you keep your BBQ clean and how do you stop the sugars burning before the meat is cooked? It’s always better to cook your marinated meats on a lower temperature for a longer time. To protect your BBQ grill, use a Teflon sheet over the top of the grill. They are available in the BBQ section of most supermarkets. A great way to impress your guests with minimum fuss is to create a Korean style BBQ meal. Simply slice your beef or pork belly into thin slices and flame-grill on a medium heat. Serve on a lettuce leaf with finely sliced onion and garlic and Gochujang paste. Choose the milder, coarse paste usually found in the green container in Asian supermarkets. A side serve of kimchi also goes down a treat with a cold beer. When cooking larger cuts of meat like roasts and whole fish, a meat thermometer comes in very handy. The safe minimum internal temperatures are as follows - fish 63C, sausages 71C, beef, veal, lamb and pork 63C for medium rare. For whole chicken and turkey 74C.
2017 BMW 530E IPERFORMANCE UNVEILED, ON SALE IN AUSTRALIA Q2 BMW’s iPerformance sub-brand has helped add a new plug-in hybrid model of the latest G30 5 Series that will debut in Australia in the second quarter of 2017. The 530e iPerformance combines a 9.2kWh lithiumion battery pack with a 70kW/250Nm electric motor, plus a 2.0-litre turbo four that churns out 135kW and 320Nm. The system offers a combined nominal output of 185kW and 420Nm. This results in 1.9L/100km average fuel consumption on the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), while 0-100 km/h takes a respectable 6.2 seconds. Top whack is 235km/h.
Driving modes include Auto eDrive, Max eDrive and Battery Control, with Max eDrive providing electric power only at speeds of up to 140km/h. Battery control allows drivers to customise the level of battery charging that occurs during driving, including regenerative braking. Pricing will be revealed closer to Australian launch. As a guide, the BMW 320d starts from $63,800 while the 330e plug-in hybrid is $71,990. The 520d will start from $93,900.
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HURRY, OFFERS END 31 MARCH 2017 OR WHILE STOCKS LAST Enjoy FleetPartners’ latest discounts on these great vehicles PLUS all the benefits of a novated lease – everyday savings on fuel, tyres, maintenance, roadside assistance and insurance.
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TALK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY TEAM MEMBERS ON 1300 88 22 66 Important: Information is current as at 1 January 2017 and is subject to change. *The quoted weekly costs are for a 3 year fully maintained novated lease bases on 1) a residual value of 46.88% of the vehicle purchase price payable at the end of term 2) budgeted costs: fuel, tyres, maintenance, roadside assistance, accident management and comprehensive insurance 3) Average Adult Australian Salary between $80,000 - $120,000 PA ABS Nov 2014 statistics 4) Vehicle purchased in VIC 5) Annual km of 20,000 6) Salary Sacrifice using Employee Contribution Method (ECM). Weekly costs will vary depending on your individual circumstances. you are not obliged to acquire FleetPartners comprehensive insurance and can substitute your own. If you do, weekly costs will likely change. The novated lease offers are only available on the selected new vehicles and models shown, ordered before 31st March 2017 via the FleetPartners preferred dealer network. Offers are subject to manufacturer stock availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Credit Criteria. fees and charges, terms and conditions apply. This information is not intended as a substitute for any specific financial and tax advice which should obtain. FleetPartners reserves the right to vary, extend or withdraw this offer. FeetPartners Pty Ltd ABN 63 006 706 832. or redeemable for cash. All applications are subject to credit criteria. Fees and charges, terms and conditions apply. FleetPartners Pty Ltd reserves the right to vary, extend or withdraw this offer. FleetPartners Pty Ltd ABN 63 006 706 832.
FLEETPARTNERS DONATION ENSURES BETTER TOMORROWS FOR VULNERABLE VICTORIANS FleetPartners donated $35,000 to Anglicare Victoria at a small event held at the Broadmeadows Women’s House. The donation will go far to ensure Anglicare Victoria can continue to provide assistance to Victoria’s most vulnerable children, young people and families who turn to Anglicare Victoria each year for help across a variety of programs including family services, outof-home care programs, mental health assistance and many more vital services. FleetPartners has been a long-time supporter of Anglicare Victoria and has regularly supported Anglicare Victoria’s Dinner with the Angels gala event, as well as providing support to the Broadmeadows Women’s House last year by donating a bus. Anglicare Victoria Chief Executive Paul McDonald said, “We are so grateful to FleetPartners for their continued generosity and support of Anglicare Victoria.”
Managing Director of FleetPartners Dennis Kelly (right), handing over the cheque to Anglicare Victoria Chief Executive Paul McDonald (left).
“FLEETPARTNERS REALLY EMULATE THE WORD ‘PARTNER’ IN SUPPORTING ANGLICARE VICTORIA AND SEEING THE IMPACT AND WORK WE ARE DOING. THIS DONATION HELPS ENSURE WE CAN CONTINUE TO ASSIST VICTORIA’S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE BETTER TOMORROWS."
FleetPartners Managing Director Dennis Kelly spoke of FleetPartner’s Commitment to the Not-For-Profit space. “With a commitment to not-for-profit for over ten years and a six year relationship with Anglicare Victoria, we really appreciate this relationship and are delighted to be here today.” Broadmeadows Women’s House Team Leader Kerry Wise spoke of how the bus donation has opened up a brand new world for the house’s clients, enabling them to attend the many weekly programs on offer at the house and go on day trips. “Last week one of the groups who are supported by the bus were taken on a trip to Williamstown. They were excited, as for many this was further than they have ventured out before. This particular group includes women over 65 and by venturing out on day trips, it helps keep them in good health, both physically and mentally,” says Ms Wise. “The support of the bus also enabled the women to visit another member of the group, June, who has been very ill in palliative care. The group spent 15 minutes with her, which was absolutely special for her. Unfortunately June passed away recently. We were able to use the bus to drive the women to the funeral so they could be there on the day.” “That’s a little snapshot of how good the bus and the ongoing support of FleetPartners has been for our clients,” said Ms Wise. FleetPartners Not-For-Profit specialists provide support to over 300 charitable, disability service and not-for-profit entities throughout Australia. With an experienced team, the focus is to deliver cost benefits that can be re-invested into the organisation via unique customised fleet review strategy.
COMPETITION BEST CAR MOMENTS - YOU AND YOUR RIDE Your car is a big part of your life and we'd like to hear just some of your best experience. From your first driving lesson to your first accident, from the best road trip with friends to bringing home your first baby. Tell us about the best memory you have had in your car in less than 100 words for a chance to win one of two $200 Supercheap Auto Gift card. Terms and conditions apply. Competition ends 28.02.2017 Click here to enter the competition
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fleetpartners.com.au | 1300 88 22 66 Important information: Information is current as at 24.02.2017 and subject to change. Information is general and does not take into account your personal situation and needs. You should obtain your own independent financial/tax advice before making a decision. Credit criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply to credit applications. FleetPartners ABN 63 006 706 832