Journeys Apr/May 2022 by ract-journeys

Journeys y YOUR RACT MEMBER MAGAZINE // APR / MAY 2022

Inside

Tassie’s low-to-no waste restaurants Cruising in the Audi e-tron Sportback 50 Quattro

ECO ISSUE THE

Low level speeding is contributing to deaths and serious injuries on our roads. And it’s something we’re all doing. We think there aren’t any consequences, but that’s simply not true. We’re passing our bad habits onto our children. We’re normalising it in our community. And we’re increasing the likelihood of a devastating crash. The reality is, if you drive just a few kms over the speed limit, it’s over.

ROAD SAFETY STARTS WITH GOOD VISION After months of lockdown and border closures many Australians are looking to escape on a road trip. The trouble is, many of us have neglected to get an up-to-date eye test over the break. RACT Exclusive Optical Partner OPSM commissioned research on Australian drivers and found that three quarters of drivers are planning a long road trip this year with an average length of 4 hours. Despite this, over 90% of Australian drivers and riders don’t get their eyes checked before their journey. OPSM Optometrist Elizabeth Kodari says: “Covid lockdowns resulted in a significant reduction of people getting their eyes tested. Reduced eye testing and increased road journeys is a concern which led us to commission the OPSM Driving and Eye Health Report 2021, to better understand Australians’ attitudes and behaviours towards vision and road safety.”

OPSM.COM.AU

We all know how important our vision is for road safety, but what is surprising is how many of us get behind the wheel with vision problems. A staggering 1 in 3 Australian riders and drivers don’t feel comfortable driving at night due to their vision, 9 in 10 drivers and riders are bothered by glare, and 84% of Australian drivers and riders admit their vision isn’t perfect. OPSM recommends regular visits with your optometrist based on your eye health needs for optimal road safety. OPSM optometrists strive to ensure you have the best possible vision to be safe on the road and provide innovative lenses that are built for comfort and road safety, so you can drive and ride with confidence and clarity.

Put an eye test on your road safety checklist, because road safety starts with good vision. To book an eye test, learn more about OPSM’s lenses range, or see which lenses might be right for your next road trip, visit opsm.com.au

RACT MEMBERS EXCLUSIVE OFFER

$100 OFF A COMPLETE PAIR OF PRESCRIPTION GLASSES AND PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES* *Minimum spend is $350 *When purchased as part of a complete pair (frame and lenses). Brand exclusions and further T&Cs apply. Visit special offers on OPSM website for details. Offer available from 11/04/22 to 08/05/22.

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APR / MAY 2022

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Welcome note A word from our Group CEO

Inbox

Our members share what’s on their minds

Lifestyle

What’s on

Low-impact wine

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inside

Road test

Photos: Stu Gibson; Alamy/Andrew Bain

We take the sleek Audi e-tron Sportback 50 Quattro on an indulgent road trip up Tassie’s East Coast.

on the cover

The Audi e-tron Sportback 50 Quattro shot at Piermont Retreat. Image: Stu Gibson

Our branches are open Mon–Fri 8.45am to 5pm For customer service, call 13 27 22 For roadside assistance, call 13 11 11 anytime Visit ract.com.au Email journeys@ract.com.au

Your new to-do list

Travel

Travel news

The pit stop

Meet the locals

Flinders Island

Great wine with sustainable chops

A mile in their shoes

Permaculturist Hannah Moloney

Low-waste restaurants

Sustainably dining out

Drive

Auto news

Changemakers

0–100 review

News in the car world The Good Car Co. Lexus’s first EV, the UX300e

In reverse

1957 Ford Thunderbird

Inspiration for exploring Charming Geeveston is worthy of a visit Tassie wildlife and where to spot it

Home to three Great Short Walks, it’s a walker’s paradise

Community

The latest

Changing gears

Spot the hazard

Member rewards

Puzzles

Rear view

News from the RACT community The big issues affecting RACT and our members A new test for learner drivers

Member savings available now

Crossword and quiz Snapshots of Tasmania

Have your say on Member Hub and social media

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Straight

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welcome. ABOUT YOUR RACT PRESIDENT Kathryn Westwood VICE PRESIDENTS Alison Flakemore Jenny Richardson BOARD Josephine Archer, Peter Dixon, Ralph Doedens, Jude Franks, Phil Jones, Risden Knightley, Pieter Kolkert, Sue Smith RACT GROUP CEO Mark Mugnaioni

A word from our Group CEO As we progress closer to mid-year and head towards a federal election, I’d like to highlight the work we have been doing to ensure we represent the views of every Tasmanian when it comes to road safety and transport, and the many ways in which we can improve. Our position is clear – we want to make our roads the safest in the country and adopt measures that will help us achieve just that. The National Road Safety Strategy 2011–20 aimed to reduce the number of deaths on our roads by 30%, but in the past 10 years fatalities and serious injury in Tasmania have remained stubbornly high. We have the worst road safety record of any Australian state – 6.6 deaths per 100,000 population compared with the best-performing state, Victoria, with 3.17. Our calls to the Federal Government include the need for more action on its national road safety plan, a greater take-up of vehicle technology that delivers reduced emissions such as electric vehicles, lowemission and ultra-low-fuel-consumption vehicles and a national standard for roaduser tax to replace fuel excise, as well as a Federal-State-funded 10-year plan for upgrades to the Tasman Highway – one of our main tourist routes. As well as lobbying federally, we have been advocating for change within our state government – firstly through our submission to the Legislative Inquiry into Road Safety

and our state budget submission. We made 38 recommendations to the Inquiry based on research we undertook with our membership. Our state budget submission calls for the government to create a sustainable, long-term vision for the future and ensure Tasmania has the right infrastructure to accommodate the rapid innovation in transport options including electric vehicles, e-scooters and autonomous vehicles, and to actively encourage these new forms of transport in order to reduce congestion. We are also calling for our road network to be safety-rated, to ensure speed limits are set to the physical limitations of the road and ensure road safety is an essential element in workplace health and safety across the public and private sectors. And we need to bring our technology for detecting mobile phone and seatbelt use in line with other states in order to save lives. We believe that every Tasmanian has the right to be safe on our roads and we are committed to our work to achieve that. Mark Mugnaioni // RACT Group CEO

JOURNEYS MANAGING EDITOR Amira Vaatstra

Journeys is published for The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania by Hardie Grant Media, Building 1, 658 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121 hardiegrant.com Managing Director Clare Brundle Managing Editor Sophie Al-Bassam Editor Constantina Demos Art Director Dallas Budde Design Sue Morony Advertising Sales and Partnerships Director Lauren Casalini laurencasalini@hardiegrant.com Senior Account Manager Amanda Travers amandatravers@hardiegrant.com Printer Ovato Mailhouse D&D Mailing Services Distribution Australia Post Australia Post No. 100003899

Competition terms and conditions can be found at ract.com.au/competitions. No part of Journeys may be reproduced without permission. Copyright 2021 RACT. The opinions contained in this publication may not be shared by The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania Limited or its related bodies corporate (together “RACT”) or any of its directors or employees. Advertisements in Journeys are the responsibility of the advertiser. No person should act or rely upon such opinions or advice and RACT accepts no liability for them. Any rewards or rights provided to a member cannot be transferred, assigned, sold or redeemed for cash. Inclusion of a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RACT.

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inbox. LETTERS

Reviewing speed limits Adhering to speed limits requires respect for those limits in that they are fair and logical. For example: Why is the 100km/h speed limit for the nearby Bass Highway the same as for our narrow and bendy rural road? Either the highway limit is too low or the rural road limit too high. Both cannot be right. How can a loaded truck and trailer be considered safe at 100km/h when it cannot possibly stop in the same distance as a passenger vehicle? Limiting trucks to 90km/h would enhance safety for all road users.

What’s an acceptable speed? As a 69-year-old motorcyclist, my open-road speed of 95–98km/h is apparently just not acceptable these days, judging by the number of tailgaters that I attract. My age, reflexes and common sense dictate that I obey the law. On many occasions I pull over to let the urgent speedsters in their utes and SUVs get out of my mirrors and race away. It would appear that the speed limit on the open road is the generally accepted slowest pace that we should drive at. The only way to stop this is by speed traps and highway patrols. Please make no mistake – the only way speeding will slow down is when it becomes a very heavy financial impost, because until then, people don’t really care, as there generally are no consequences. Steve Willett // Spring Beach

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

Mike Buky // Rocky Cape

Midland Highway upgrades Will this upgrade include four lanes with a camber and thicker road surface and with longer entrances and exit lanes, and cycling lanes? If not, send them back to the drawing board. These past upgrades are not up to the requirements for today’s traffic conditions; road thickness needs to be at least 70–80mm which is the thickness on the autobahn. The traffic and trucks are not the problem, it is road construction – and the lack of it. Nor the contractors, it is the tender system and not what is required. Rodney Chilcott (via Facebook)

SIGNS

Images: Austockphoto; iStockphoto

IN RESPONSE

In response to ‘Lessons on Safety from Switzerland’ (Journeys Dec 21–Jan 22), firstly I agree on the importance of good road design and signage. Both those aspects clearly need more effort in Tasmania. I must, however, strongly disagree with the expressed ideas that on Tasmania’s highways, “might is right ... most country roads should have an 80 limit”. As a parent, grandparent and responsible driver I am deeply concerned about road safety. Yet I must write against everdecreasing speed limits on roads outside built-up areas. Our fairly long drive distances and decent major highways require limits of 100 or 110 to mitigate against inattention, fatigue and frustration. It is folly to think while driving, ‘I’m driving slowly in a newish car, so everything is fine’. Together with improved car-crash safety and roadlaw enforcement, it is just as important to be an active and

WRITE TO US

perceptive driver with a defensive mentality. A driver who will not allow sat nav screens, mobile phones or other distractions to interfere with their key responsibility – to conduct a dangerous, everyday task with care and merit. John Voss (via email)

SPOT THE SIGNS

Most roundabouts are easy to spot and navigate but unfortunately that’s not always the case. The most recently built roundabout at Prospect Vale, when approaching from the east, is well-hidden around a blind corner so, unless you are familiar with the area, it is an accident waiting to happen for poor unsuspecting travellers. This could be easily avoided if some common sense was applied to signage. The only sign warning

of the roundabout is a small one right on the roundabout itself – too late to slow to an appropriate speed to navigate it safely. The second dangerous roundabout signage is at the new roundabout at the southern end of Perth. Approaching from the west, the speed sign slows you down to 80km/h to navigate the roundabout. As the approach is on a downhill slope and the roundabout is not clearly visible from a distance, heavy vehicles struggle to slow quickly enough before entering the roundabout. It is clear that no one has accurately assessed each roundabout approach prior to placing these signs. One size does not fit all. Virginia Smith // Summerhill

We’re keen to hear your thoughts on any motoring or travel-related topics and auto questions. Please keep them brief – we reserve the right to edit.

journeys@ract.com.au @ractofficial

Still proudly Tasmanian spiritsuper.com.au Consider the PDS and TMD available at spiritsuper.com.au/pds before making a decision. Issuer is Motor Trades Association of Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 238 718, ABN 14 008 650 628).

Sally and Anita Tasmanian members

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Dog day out This is Casey. Casey loves long walks, hunting bugs in bushes and, most of all, weekend adventures with her family. Hydro Tasmania is the caretaker for some of the best dog-friendly locations our island has to offer. So make your furry friend’s weekend at one of our lakes. hydro.com.au/things-to-do

lifestyle

Photo: BMW GS Safari

12/ 14/ 16/ 19/

Safari time

WHAT’S ON SUSTAINABLE WINES A MILE IN THEIR SHOES LOW-WASTE DINING

BMW GS owners, it’s time to rev your engines because the BMW GS Safari is coming to Tassie. It’s been eight long years since the exclusive and all-inclusive event has been hosted on our island state. Riders will spend five days navigating 1700 kilometres of off-road terrain and twisty bitumen roads. You’ll take off from Hobart and ride along both the east and west coasts uncovering hidden riding gems along the way. 8–13 May.

P For more, see bmwsafari.com

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

what’s on. YOUR NEW TO-DO LIST 23–24 April

BEST FROM THE WEST Foodies, rejoice! We’re happy to report Tasting Trail Cradle to Coast is launching a new event, TrailGraze. The weekend-long festival will see growers and producers in Tassie’s north west host workshops, behindthe-scenes tours, tastings, and guest chef collaborations.

8–10 APRIL

FEAST IN THE EAST

All event details are up-todate at time of print, but can change. For updates, consult organisers directly, and support Tassie’s events industry through these challenging times.

This April, Tassie’s east will play host to its weekend-long East Coast Harvest Odyssey. The diverse harvest festival features chefs, winemakers, producers and more. This year’s highlight is the Native Bounty Feast, which focuses on Aboriginal culinary traditions. 23–24 April

WHEEL GOOD FUN

15 May

LACE UP YOUR SNEAKERS

Derby, the mountain-biking capital of Tassie, is gearing up for its familyfriendly bike festival. DerbyFest will showcase live music, regional produce, craft beer and, of course, a range of two-wheel activities such as bike demons, competitions, skill sessions, trick shows and extreme bike stunts.

Time to start training for Tassie’s oldest fun run, the RACT City to Casino Fun Run. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or want to have some fun, there’s four events across three courses aimed at different ages and abilities.

9–10 April

Tassie’s top brewers will come together at Derwent Valley for the Fresh Hop Beer Festival. Here you’ll be able to sample new hops and see how the Aussie beer market is evolving. Home brewers will once again get the chance to enter the crowd-favourite Home Brew competition and potentially see their creation be crowned best. 12

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

Photos: iStock

HOP TO IT

Want to tell us about your event or product? Reach us at journeys@ ract.com.au

Made in Tas We’re obsessed with Sustomi’s cool and colourful beeswax wraps. Easy-to-use, washable, and made from 100% natural and organic cotton, these beeswax wraps are the sustainable alternative to cling film. The funky prints are the cherry on top. From $12.95, sustomi.com.au

Make a note

Read Tassie author Robbie Arnott’s emotionally charged second novel, The Rain Heron, was named Age Book of the Year 2021. Rooted in nature, the story is one of tragedy, trauma and redemption.

Make the change Earth Day, held on 22 April, is about inspiring people to enact change. As part of RACT’s 30-year Greater Hobart Mobility Plan, we’re calling on Tasmanians to embrace new mobility options. Did you know 84% of Tasmanians opt to take a private vehicle to work? Our initial aim in this plan is to achieve a 4% shift in traveller behaviour from private vehicle transport to alternative transport options in the first 10 years. This Earth Day we encourage Tassies to leave the car keys at home and opt for a more earthfriendly alternative. For more, visit hobartvision.ract.com.au

Listen Get Back to the Land (feat. Emma Donovan) is the first new music from The Teskey Brothers in 2022. A cover of Archie Roach’s song from his album Let Love Rule, it’s easy listening at its best.

See After a temporary closure for the construction of the new History and Interpretation Centre, The Cascades Female Factory Historic Site is open.

lifestyle

WHAT’S BLOOMING?

with SADIE CHRESTMAN from Fat Pig Farm We love slipping into the coolness and bounty of autumn. The tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and cucumbers are still going strong and the first large leeks are ready to be pulled and made into soup, or braised with lots of butter and a little white wine. Wash leeks by slicing them almost in half, lengthwise, and running your thumb over the furled layers under a running tap for a few seconds to ensure you get out all the grains of grit. If you can get your hands on healthy seedlings and have a sheltered spot, early April is your last chance to get in a late crop of broccoli or cauliflower. And there’s just enough time to sow winter kale and chard, turnips and swedes and a final row of carrots and beetroot to harvest in spring. Sow and plant Healthy brassica seedlings and direct sow carrots, swedes and turnips Harvest now The last summer veg, leeks, fennel, salad greens, coriander ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

lifestyle

The

lowdown on low-impact

reat wine begins in the vineyard, and sparkling wine master Andrew Pirie knows how to handle Tasmania’s inclement weather and complex soils. He’s been making wine on this island since the late ’70s (when he earned Australia’s first PhD in viticulture), and wine under the Apogee label on his Lebrina microsite since 2010. Andrew chose the location because it most closely resembled the Champagne region, meaning he can grow grapes with the least amount of environmental impact. “It’s the ability to do that year after year that makes it sustainable,” he says. “I use my scientific background to come up with a soft approach [to winemaking] that doesn’t turn its back on modern technology.” Samantha Connew at Stargazer Wines bought her five-hectare Coal River Valley site in 2016. Only part of the land was under vine, giving her freedom to establish sustainable systems from the outset, including organic production when weather permits. “One of the big attractions for

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

THREE TO TRY APOGEE 2017 DELUXE VINTAGE BRUT A very fine vintage: yeasty, lemon, red berries and oyster shell. From $63.

STARGAZER 2021 RIESLING Lime zest and lemon blossom, perfectly balanced by a gentle lick of residual sugar. From $35.

JOSEF CHROMY 2020 PEPIK PINOT NOIR Boisterous red fruit, pine needle and spice, with savoury complexity. From $26.

the property was that it’s on recycled water,” Sam says, which lets her grow juicy, crunchy riesling in a notoriously dry area. Get in quick – production is small so new releases sell out quickly. More widely available is Josef Chromy’s Pepik range. It’s bottled using lightweight glass to reduce the wine’s carbon footprint (the bottles used to be even lighter, but people had a hard time believing that they contained a great wine). Environmental concerns aside, you can’t do much better for $30 in this state. Chief winemaker Ockie Myburgh, who took on the role in January 2021, uses northern Tasmanian fruit for Pepik wines, and every effort is made in the vineyard so that minimal intervention is required in the winery. THIS PAGE

Josef Chromy’s chief winemaker Ockie Myburgh tasting one of his creations; auburn leaves on the vines of Stargazer Wines, which are nourished with recycled water.

Words: Nola James Photos: Stargazer Wines/Rose Hastie

wine

advertorial lifestyle

BACK IN ACTION THE NEW YEAR has been and gone and with it often comes a great many resolutions. For others this is merely a ‘wish’. A New Year’s Resolution is really a goal that we set at the beginning of the year and 5 out of 10 of these resolutions are related to health, fitness, and wellness. Then for others of us adversity can strike at any time, and we can be left with no choice but to commit to recovery and rehabilitation. Well, that is what Neil faced in April last year, when he was involved in a horrific bike accident. Neil is a keen cyclist, with several bikes who would ride 4+ times a week and think nothing of riding 50km+, together with regular gym work to maintain strength and good functional movement. Neil sustained significant life-threatening injuries resulting in him being transferred to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and having many intensive surgeries. “22 broken ribs, 2 punctured lungs, 2 major surgeries & 13ish titanium plates and who know how many pins in his chest, blood clots in his lungs and legs, 3 fractures in his pelvis, C5 fracture in neck, T3 fracture in back, broken clavicle, fractures in his eye socket & post traumatic amnesia” Kate his wife says. Neil overcame the odds and made an incredible recovery and was transferred back to the Royal Hobart Hospital in June of 2021.

Being so fit and healthy has been a definite and significant advantage in Neil’s recovery. In the last 6 months Neil has worked progressively and vigilantly with his medical team and he is now back at Personal Best, following this rehabilitation program and adding in some ‘extra’ exercises of his own on occasions. At the end of October Neil had his first bike ride, just a ‘lazy’ 10km and then progressed to 20km and 30km rides on the bike track. It’s incredible to think that just 6 weeks prior that Neil was on a walking frame, learning how to walk again. If you ask Neil how he is, he jokingly says, ‘everyday above the ground is a good day’, having starred death in the face. A doctor who attended the accident scene did not expect Neil to live. Neil credits his remarkable recover to being fit and having a strong heart. ‘When I was in a coma, it was as if my heart just took over and kept me going

while my body was fighting all of the other trauma.’ Neil’s doctors, physiotherapist and friends regularly comment on how advanced he is in his recovery, more than they were expecting. However, Neil has high expectations for himself, but is learning not to rush the recovery and rehabilitation as he works towards being able to ride his bike every day! We are all inspired by Neil’s inner strength and tenacity, an inspiration to us all as he continues his recovery. Often getting started in your journey is the biggest hurdle for us. Remember you have the power to change the way you look, feel and function. Personal Best Fitness have helped and inspired hundreds of people to feel, look and function better. Their certified Personal Trainers have simple tips and easy to understand advice that will give you amazing results.

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lifestyle

Modern wellbeing guru, author and TV presenter Hannah Moloney is the ultimate multi-hyphenate living the good life, writes Julia D’Orazio.

permaculturist A mile in THE SHOES OF A

aking up to Tasmania‘s c r isp a i r, g a rde n fresh scents and the soundtrack of chickens clucking away is what permaculturist Hannah Moloney considers the good life. She lives off the land with husband Anton and daughter Frida Maria in a hilltop property that overlooks the city and the Derwent River. Their home is a 1925-built Barbiepink hardwood timbre house on muwinina country in Hobart. The unusual choice of colour was intentional. “It’s an expression of who we are and what we want to put into the world, which is joy, hope and lots of goodness,” says Hannah, author of The Good Life (RRP $39.99). Hannah’s passion for sustainability and community is reflected in everything she does,

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

Photos: Natalie Mendham

lifestyle

including her version of a daily workout. “I spend at least two hours in the garden every morning with animals and plants, watering, feeding, checking if all is okay. “I’ll milk our two goats, Gerty and Gilly, which gives us around three litres of milk every day and then I’ll feed our chickens, ducks and rabbits.” The almost one-acre inner-city farm is also home to three beehives and a garden full of edible and native plants carefully selected for their resourcefulness. “All the things we grow have multiple functions,” Hannah says. “For example, our beautiful evergreen native hop bush screens the car park. It‘s also an amazing windbreak as a hedge, and goats love to eat its pruned bits.” Growing up on an urban herb nursery in Kurilpa, Brisbane’s West End, and being involved with her parents’ work with First Nations communities, instilled Hannah‘s commitment to making positive contributions. “Someone told me, ‘do what you love and make that useful’. I had a natural inclination towards farming, gardening and working with people around community development, and that helped shape everything from there.” Over the past two decades, Hannah has juggled various roles to support her values: permaculturist, author, TV presenter, landscape designer and community worker, as well as an advocate for climate action and First Nations justice. She admits it has sometimes been overwhelming. “I’m a naturally organised person, so I have to do a lot of planning as every day is very different,” Hannah says. “Some days or weeks, I’ll be doing landscape-design projects with different farms around Tassie, filming with Gardening Australia or running community projects in our local region. So it’s important to prioritise what I think is most impactful for the work that I can do.” Her guiding ethos is giving things a crack, especially in the face of climate change. “The saying‚ ‘the antidote to anxiety is action’ is something I very much embrace, and I like to take meaningful actions towards rectifying some of these challenges.” Those actions include grassroots initiatives such as teaching regenerative agriculture practices. “I do a lot of community composting workshops with councils, with an educational focus. I teach people how to compost food scraps instead of putting them into landfill,” she explains.

Hannah’s passion for sustainability and community is reflected in everything she does

CLOSWISE FROM TOP Hannah tending to her inner-city farm; this lucky duck calls Hannah’s farm home; Hannah tries to grow or make the majority of what she consumes.

Not one to sit around twiddling her thumbs, Hannah is now looking to create more projects surrounding climate resilience, like her partnership with the City of Hobart for its annual edible garden tours. The self-guided ‘open house day’ event allows people to visit a range of gardens in different landscapes to see how food can grow in various spaces. When all good deeds are done for the day, Hannah loves to unwind with backyard ukulele sessions and running. “I love exercising, so you’ll often see me trail running in bush around our place,” Hannah says. And it’s easy to spot Hannah on the go, since her hair shade mirrors her house. Of the bold colour choice, Hannah says, “It makes me happy, and I think the more joy we can bring to ourselves, we can bring to the world, and that’s super important.” ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

The Friends’ School is an IB World School. CRICOS Provider Code 00477G

lifestyle

5 low-to-no waste restaurants FOODIE finds

Nola James visits five local eateries that are making dining out (and ordering in) more sustainable.

Photos: Van Bone/@theramblerco; The Agrarian Kitchen

1 VAN BONE, MARION BAY At Van, Tim Hardy’s 12- to 14-course set menu changes four times a week, once for every day the restaurant is open. “The garden dictates what we cook, and when we cook it,” Tim says. He and partner Laura Stucken opened their high-end eco-restaurant in 2021 with a closed-loop philosophy: if it can’t be re-used, composted or fed to the chooks then it’s not allowed. The 20-seat venue sits on almost a hectare of mostly native garden (designed to boost biodiversity), with a small orchard and a veggie patch

that’s now so productive, excess produce is being sold at a nearby market. The restaurant runs on rainwater, the kitchen is powered by fire and the lunches are long.

2 ROUGH RICE, HOBART When miso-mastermind Adam James isn’t fermenting excess local veg and distributing it to restaurants in the form of vinegar, ferments and hot sauce, he’s grilling duck hearts and serving up congee at Hobart’s Farm Gate Market. The Sunday-only stall is the best place to shop for Adam’s

house-made condiments, which he makes in his Hobart kitchen, including an Angasi dashi teabag (just add hot water!) from oysters made surplus when most of Australia’s restaurants were closed during the pandemic.

2 THE AGRARIAN KITCHEN, NEW NORFOLK

“We couldn’t do what we do without our waste,” says Rodney Dunn of The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery and Cooking School in New Norfolk. Every offcut and scrap is repurposed into a umami-laden sauce that adds flavour to future dishes. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

lifestyle

Photos: The Agrarian Kitchen; Ella Marquis — Luelle Images

“The larder is mostly just jars of weird looking fermenting things; it’s just absolutely delicious,” Rodney says. The restaurant sources produce from its own farm, with around 95% of ingredients grown within metres of your table. If you fancy getting your hands dirty, Rodney will host gardening classes, as well as cooking classes, from mid-year.

4 TIMBRE KITCHEN, LEGANA At Timbre Kitchen, about 10 minutes’ drive north of Launceston at Velo Wines, fruit and vegetables are currency. About six months after opening in 2016, Matt Adams realised his neighbours were growing some

top-notch produce in their backyards and decided to offer them restaurant vouchers in exchange for their excess. Today, locals provide almost all the goods for his veg-focused (but not strictly vegetarian) menu – think: mini carrots with ‘nduja and labne, or sliced Scotch filet with cucumbers and pepper sauce. The fun doesn’t stop there – Matt drives a ute fuelled by biodiesel made from spent cooking oil, and there are plans to use it to power an on-site greenhouse.

5 DUBSY’S, BERRIEDALE Mona’s outdoor burger shack is almost entirely vegan and vegetarian (save for a smoked wallaby pita). The decision to remove farmed meat from

the menu across all Mona eateries was an environmental one, executive chef Vince Trim says. When Dubsy’s opened in early 2021, the burgers were made with wallaby mince, but within a couple of weeks the team decided to go all in with plant-based patties. There’s a cheeseburger made with soy-based V2 and Mona founder David Walsh’s favourite, a Beyond Meat burger with vegan bacon. “We don’t do takeaway,” Vince says, “and we got rid of singleuse containers years ago.” Even though the burgers are grab-and-go, they’re still served on tin plates with real cutlery and cloth napkins. “The reduction in what’s going to landfill is substantial.” ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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24 / AUTO NEWS 26 / CHANGEMAKERS: GOOD CAR CO. 29 / 0–100 REVIEW: LEXUS UX 300E 30 / ROAD TEST: AUDI E-TRON 37 / IN REVERSE: FORD THUNDERBIRD

One of Australia’s newest electric vehicles (EVs), the Polestar 2, has relied on chip fat to help it make the long-distance journey across the remote Nullarbor Plain. The stylish all-electric fastback launched here in February, priced from $59,900, and is available in a three-variant line-up with a choice of front or all-wheel drive and two battery sizes, the Long-Range single motor version boasting a range of 540km. The dedicated electric vehicle brand was founded by Volvo and Geely, and its first mass-market model, the Polestar 2, became one of the first EVs to trial a new bio-fuel EV charging station located at the Caiguna Roadhouse, 370km east of Norsemen and 370km west of the South Australian border. The BiØfil fast-charging point is designed to help plug the EV range gap between Western Australia and South Australia, and uses a generator powered by energy from waste cooking oil that’s recycled from the Roadhouse kitchen.

P For more visit polestar.com/au

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

auto news.

The latest developments in the car world

NUMBER CRUNCH

Toyota hybrid technology

2001

The year Toyota’s first hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the Prius, was released.

242,272 The number of HEVs Australian buyers have purchased since 2001.

72.3%

The percentage of RAV4 sales that were HEVs in 2021, amounting to 25,850 vehicles, making the mid-size SUV Australia’s top-selling hybridelectric vehicle.

30%

The percentage reduction in fuel consumption Toyota estimates its hybrids deliver on average, compared to the same vehicle with a conventional petrol engine.

Mini to the max

Created at the dawn of the Swinging Sixties, the original Mini rewrote the rule book for compact-car fuel consumption, space efficiency and performance. Fast-forward to today and the Mini is still a much loved and highly collectible classic, but its future in Europe is threatened by tightening emissions regulations and punitive congestion charges for internalcombustion-powered vehicles. Now, a dedicated team at Mini Plant in Oxford, UK, have found a way to ensure the hits keep coming for the Mini by adding an electric powertrain. The Mini Recharged project swaps out the original petrol engine and replaces it with a modern electric motor that generates up to 90kW and accelerates the Mini EV from 0–100km/h in around nine seconds. The high-voltage battery enables a range of approximately 160km. The bespoke upcycling of the classic Mini is carried out exclusively in the United Kingdom and a spokesperson for Mini Australia said there were no plans to introduce the initiative here. For more visit mini.com.au

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) & Highway Loss Data Institute USA

Last year marked Toyota’s 19th consecutive year as the best-selling automotive brand in Australia, with the Japanese giant delivering an industry-leading 223,642 new vehicles. The company chalked up a record 65,491 hybrid-electric vehicle sales. Here’s a snapshot of Toyota’s hybrid performance.

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Aussies embrace electrics Figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries in January show that a total of 1,049,831 vehicles were sold across Australia in 2021, representing a 14.5% increase on 2020. Toyota was once again the best-selling brand, with 223,642 sales for 21.3% market share. Battery electric vehicles saw a 191.1% increase on 2020 with 5149 sales, or 0.49% of the overall market. The FCAI also reported 3372 plug-in hybrid and 38 hydrogen fuel cell EV sales. Australia’s best-selling electric vehicle brand Tesla does not submit sales figures to the FCAI but did share its data with the Electric Vehicle Council, which later released more complete figures showing a total of 20,665 plug-in electrics were sold in 2021, or 1.95% of new vehicle sales. The stats confirm the Tesla Model 3 as easily the country’s best-selling EV with 12,0954 sales, comfortably ahead of the second-placed MG ZS EV’s 1388 sales (pictured). For more visit fcai.com.au

What range anxiety? Mercedes-Benz has unveiled what the company describes as the most efficient vehicle it has ever produced, an all-electric concept known as the Vision EQXX. With its low weight, low drag and sky-high efficiency the high-tech machine is said to be a clear pointer to where the German luxury car maker is headed with future production models. Boasting energy consumption of less than 10kWh per 100km, the Vision EQXX has a range of more than 1000km on a single charge, using a battery that has 50%t less volume and is 30% lighter than that of the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which has similar energy density. Translated into fossilfuel consumption, that is around 1.0L/100km, or put in distance terms, a single charge of the Vision EQXX will take you from Berlin to Paris, or closer to home, from Hobart to Burnie and back, via Queenstown, with 270km in reserve. For more visit mercedes-benz.com.au

Book at www.amtf.org.au or phone (03) 6331 0052

dev design The Australian Musical Theatre Festival is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.

AMTF_RACT_176x56.indd 1

18-22

MAY

2022

LAUNCESTON

TASMANIA 7/3/22 11:09 am

DEV DESIGN

AUSTRALIAN MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL

PERFORMANCES WORKSHOPS MASTERCLASSES FREE EVENTS SCHOOLS PROGRAM DANCE, ACT, SING ... & SO MUCH MORE!

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lifestyle

dreams When it comes to getting around on four wheels, electric dreams are now a reality for many – thanks to The Good Car Company, writes Brady Michaels.

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

s the price of petrol continues to rise, drivers are feeling the pinch and opening their minds to electric vehicles (EVs) that benefit both their bank balance and the environment. The cost of buying an electric car, however, is holding many people back. A Tasmanian-born enterprise is here to change that, one EV at a time. The Good Car Company was founded by Sam Whitehead, Anton Vikstrom and Anthony Broese van Groenou in 2019 to accelerate sales of electric vehicles in Australia and save thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions in the process. While a car sales business may seem an unlikely choice for three environmental scientists, that’s exactly why they started one. “A career in science is an incredibly valuable thing to contribute to society,” explains Sam. “Science collects the information that enables others to make good decisions. After working tirelessly to enable others, I decided I wanted to step up and apply my skills to actively addressing the climate crisis. And so began an experiment in using business as a tool for climate action.” The enterprising trio recognised the importance of switching to electric vehicles, but with no affordable options available, they created the world’s first community electric

Photos: The Good Car Company

A Electric

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vehicle bulk-buy. The business started by importing near-new electric vehicles from Japan and the UK to sell via regular bulk-buy events, email newsletters and directly from their website. This grassroots approach has so far resulted in the sales and delivery of hundreds of cars, with the Nissan Leaf proving most popular. Importing cars is no easy task, but the business carries the high administrative cost and burden by leveraging community finance to fund vehicle purchase and import costs plus reduce borrowing costs — which ultimately benefits their customers. “We work hard, we build smart systems to reduce costs and we don’t scrape off the cream for ourselves,” explains Sam. “While 2021 was a tough year for international and domestic logistics, we delivered to happy and supportive people – and that thought makes me tingle.” But why is owning an electric vehicle still a dream for so many? The main barrier is the high price point of EVs, in part due to economies of scale and a lack of federal policies to attract EV manufacturers. Sam says this will only improve when more EVs are produced and bought and we have the policies in place to attract EV manufacturers to bring more models to Australian shores. Purchasing secondhand EVs which compete on price with petrol-powered equivalents can help drive down prices and, more

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE

L–R Anthony, Anton and Sam from Good Car Co; making dreams come true for bulk-buying customers.

There is a revolution happening … the charging network is great and getting better importantly, send a strong message to the market and decision makers that Australians want EVs, he adds. Though, it’s not the only way. The trio recognised an appetite within their The Good Car Company community for new EVs and have adapted and evolved their business model. With the ability to bulk buy, The Good Car Company can negotiate a fleet discount on new cars directly with Australian car dealerships and offer its community members new EVs at a lower cost. “People are surprised that a 2016 Leaf is at price parity with a 2016 Corolla,” Sam says. “We are reducing that barrier for near-new vehicles from overseas, and using the power of our community network to negotiate significant discounts with some of the new car dealerships. Add to this the much cheaper operating costs of an EV and people are very happy indeed.” Sam communicates with a passion that reflects the big-picture vision he and his business partners share. “There is a revolution happening,” he enthuses. “This is being supported by all levels of government, and all levels of business. The charging network is great and getting better. Local mechanics are slowly getting tooled up to service EVs. Backyard enthusiasts are converting existing cars to electric. The scale of the climate crisis is enormous, and globally people want – and are taking – action. “We started The Good Car Company with the goal of creating a cleaner, safer and healthier Australia. So far, so good – we are successful, we are impactful and we are building something beautiful.” Get charging RACT members can save 20% at all Chargefox ultra-rapid EV charging stations. Visit ract.com.au/chargefox for details. See our EV charging chart in this issue’s Road Test (page 34) for more details on charging locations.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

drive

0 –100 review

LEXUS UX 300E SPORTS LUXURY Are legendary Lexus quality and an outstanding ownership package enough to sway buyers towards the Japanese luxury car maker’s first battery electric? Story Harry Weller

WITH ESTABLISHED prestige rivals like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz already aboard the EV bandwagon, and newcomers like Tesla and Polestar also muscling in, Lexus has arrived at the party fashionably late with its UX 300e. Available in two trim levels, Luxury and Sports Luxury, the battery electric UX 300e joins an existing line-up of four-cylinder petrol and hybrid-electric UX models. Lexus hasn’t gone out of its way to differentiate the new EV from its internalcombustion-powered stablemates, which may prove a turn-off to some buyers. Those who choose to dig a little deeper will find a richly appointed compact, albeit one that doesn’t so much move the EV meter, as get Lexus into the game. A front-mounted electric motor puts 150kW/ 300Nm to the front wheels in both versions, accelerating the little SUV from 0–100km/h in 7.5 seconds. That’s fast enough to see off Mercedes-Benz’s direct rival, the EQA 250, but is still chasing the coat-tails of a Tesla Model 3. Similarly, the 54.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack gives a respectable but not stellar driving range of 360km (NEDC), falling short of the electric Benz’s 480km and bettered also by the Model 3 and Polestar 2. Inside the stylish and high-tech cabin, driver and front passenger are well catered for but the rear seats won’t suit XL-sized frames. The handsomely trimmed interior features the attention to detail Lexus has become known for, including nods to the brand’s Japanese heritage, such as textured trim inspired by the grained-paper finish used on traditional sliding doors.

Standard features include a 10.3-inch widescreen multimedia display, paired with a 7-inch colour driver display and a colour headup display. Unfortunately, the infotainment system’s user interface is not the most intuitive and the touch-pad is fiddly. Out on the road the Lexus is eerily quiet and can be quickly hustled from corner to corner with the slingshot acceleration EVs are known for. A low centre of gravity keeps handling tidy with minimal body roll, but it ultimately lacks the sort of connection through steering and brakes that rewards enthusiast driving. Where the UX 300e comes whirring back into contention is via an excellent ownership package, including a fiveyear vehicle warranty, a 10-year battery guarantee, three-year Encore Platinum membership, a complimentary JET Charge home charger with installation, and threeyear complimentary on-road recharging with Chargefox.

THE SPECS DRIVEAWAY PRICE • $86,847 (Stamp duty exempt in TAS) BODY STYLE • Compact SUV SEATING • 5 ENERGY CONSUMPTION • 15.0kWh/100km SAFETY • ANCAP 5-Star (2019) ENGINE TYPE • Single frontmounted permanent magnet synchronous electric BATTERY • 54.3kWh lithium-ion polymer RANGE • 360km (NEDC) TRANSMISSION • 2-stage reduction gear DRIVE TYPE • Front-wheel drive MAX. POWER • 150kW MAX. TORQUE • 300Nm 0-100KM/H • 7.5 seconds

For more visit lexus.com.au

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

EVER WONDERED what a road trip in an EV would be like?

Elspeth Callender attempts to answer all your questions as she gets behind the wheel of the sleek Audi e-tron Sportback 50 Quattro.

ROAD Images Stu Gibson

test

drive

CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT

The e-tron Sportback 50 Quattro takes on the winding road at Mayfields Bay; admiring The Hazards during a coffee break; arriving at the Piermont Retreat grounds.

t seems fitting that my first EV experience is testing a car from Audi’s first all-electric range. I have an e-tron Sportback 50 Quattro for the day but do start to wonder, walking into Audi Centre Hobart, how much brain reprogramming is required for this leap. Concerns soon dissipate. Although its little electric charging-port doors fulfil some of my childhood sci-fi dreams, the e-tron is no spaceship. Its gear shifter is the only unfamiliar feature I should recognise. Audi has even retained the brand’s classic large grill despite it being functionally superfluous, which is a fancy way of saying ‘purely decorative’. The e-tron Sportback 50 Quattro has a coupe-style roofline. Pair that with 21-inch 15-spoke alloy wheels and you’ve got a sleeker SUV to the regular e-tron 50 and 55. Mine is white with chrome trim but the black styling package buys you next-level exterior aesthetics. A sunroof is optional. I slide into the Valcona sport driver’s seat for a comprehensive journey the sales executive calls “getting you set up”. The black-saturated cabin lives up to Audi’s reputation for interior design and finish. Without a driveshaft there’s legroom galore. Virtually all adjustments, apart from the steering column, are electric. I push the keyless start button and information glows my way from two touchscreens, a ‘virtual cockpit’ dash and a windscreen display. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

Audi Centre Hobart

Designed, engineered and even built in Germany (not all Audis are), this award-winning EV has an impressive list of standard features. Unexpected pleasures include heated rearvision mirrors, adaptive air suspension, auto wipers, a 3D sound system and a wireless charging pad. A rear bumper sensor closes the tailgate with a foot-wave. A phone app remotely controls locking and cabin temperature. Personal favourite: it’s impossible to lock the ‘key’ in the car. This practical vehicle is well-equipped for transporting humans of all sizes and can tow 1800kg. Spare leads under the bonnet are easy to access. Its sophisticated safety features and driver assistance systems remind me we’re very much in that vehicle-technology stage between us driving the car and the car driving us. While heading north on the Tasman Hwy (A3) I switch between drive select modes (comfort, dynamic, efficiency, offroad, allroad) and note variations in accelerator response, steering-wheel weight and suspension height and stiffness. In dynamic, for instance, throttle response is sharper and the steering wheel more sensitive. At nearly 2.5 tonnes this is a heavy car and, even at the lowest clearance in dynamic mode, the weight is obvious on bends, though my cornering improves when I use the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, which simulates gear changing. Downshifting eliminates brakes and recuperates battery power. It’s very smart. From Mayfield Beach we’re right on Oyster Bay – the traditional homeland of the Oyster

We forego music for the car’s calming quietness … acceleration is near silent Bay nation. We forego music for the car’s calming quietness. Even acceleration is near silent. Although there’s power on tap, nudging the gear shifter from D to S-for-sport mode releases even more. Overtaking, I really appreciate the absence of that kick-down time of combustion vehicles. Overall it doesn’t feel particularly different to driving a conventional top-of-the-range SUV. That is, until we roll into Swansea with a low-ish battery and zero experience recharging an EV between us. “Wouldn’t it be funny if there were people sitting up there in the RSL club right now laughing at us,” says my travelling companion while he and I re-enact a scene from The Comedy of Errors as we fumble our way into the future. I call Audi. “Have you pulled the plug out and pushed it back in again?” they ask.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Sleek and techy interiors; the e-tron Sportback 50 Quattro can handle varying

terrain; heading into Piermont Retreat.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

drive

Range anxiety dispelled BURNIE DEVONPORT

ST HELENS

LAUNCESTON ZEEHAN

BICHENO

QUEENSTOWN ROSS

STRAHAN

DERWENT BRIDGE

SWANSEA

TRIABUNNA

HOBART

LEGEND Public EV charging stations Private EV charging points

Once we get it together, it takes 25 minutes and $10 for the battery to climb from 30% to 70%. We’re too hungry to fully recharge. The e-tron is a luxury vehicle with a premium price tag but comes with six years of free Chargefox network charging and other more valuable perks. Plus there’s no stamp duty on EVs in Tasmania. Instead of continuing up the East Coast, as many do, we turn off into Dolphin Sands. At Melshell Oyster Shack we park beside a colourful awninged caravan and buy fresh oysters and cold beverages from friendly people. We eat in the sun overlooking the lagoon. Backtracking to nipaluna/Hobart we stop in at Piermont Retreat, swim at Cressy Beach and do some cheese-eating and wine-tasting at Boomer Creek Vineyard. We stop at Me & Mum’s in Little Swanport where we buy coffee and homemade biscuits for the road, and end up meeting the owners and their friends. “We saw you in Swansea,” someone says. Fifty kilometres out of Hobart we’re down to 50km of battery range. No problem; I shift from dynamic into efficiency drive mode, rapidly flap the appropriate paddle shift and roll into Audi with 17km to spare.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT

The e-tron Sportback 50 Quattro is the perfect weekend getaway car; charging up is easy and familiar; the newly opened Electric Highway will ease any range anxiety you may have.

Say goodbye to range anxiety. There’s public and private EV chargers throughout Tassie. Just find one that’s right for your EV. Visit myelectriccar.com.au

THE SPECS PRICING • $162,990 drive away BODY STYLE • 5-door SUV SEATING • 5 ENERGY CONSUMPTION • 23.2kWh/ 100km (combined) SAFETY • ANCAP 5-Star ENGINE TYPE • Dual-motor electric BATTERY • 71kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion CHARGING/PLUG • Type 2 / CCS RANGE • 341km TRANSMISSION • Single speed DRIVE TYPE • Quattro all-wheel MAX. POWER • 230kW MAX. TORQUE • 540Nm 0-100KM/H • 6.8 seconds

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

Get charging RACT members can save 20% at all Chargefox ultra-rapid EV charging stations. Visit ract.com.au/chargefox for details. Test drive the Audi e-tron Sportback 50 Quattro at Audi Centre Hobart. Learn more at audicentrehobart.com.au

L Pu ayer re ed Go in ld

NATIONAL COMMEMORATION ANNOUNCEMENT

SAVE $50.00 Yours for just

$29.99+ P&H

Phar Lap 90th Anniversary

Limitation: 9,999 worldwide | Finish: Layered in Pure Gold | Quality: Proof | Edition: Uniquely Numbered | Diameter: 38.6mm 1926 - 1932: In the darkest years of the Great Depression, one light illuminated the hopes of a nation: Phar Lap, the Red Terror. His wins were legendary; his records, still amazing. This impact on the Australian psyche cannot be over estimated. Against sometimes overwhelming odds, he succeeded and gave rise to the dream of a brighter tomorrow. Over 90 years after his birth, Phar Lap is still the racehorse against which all others are judged. A new commemorative has been released to honour this icon of Australian racing. Struck to a high specification, only 9,999 are available.

Limited Edition With Individual Numbering Each commemorative is individually numbered – meaning that no two are the same. Limited to 9,999 worldwide, yours is the one and only issue of its kind – the ultimate collectors’ item. Fully layered in pure 24-carat gold Befitting an event of such cultural importance, the commemorative is fully layered with pure 24-carat gold.

The earliest orders will receive the lowest edition numbers. For this reason applications will be processed on a strictly first-come, first-served basis and are limited Struck to the highest-quality Proof finish to one per Australian household. Successful applicants also qualify to view the next coin Expertly struck not once but twice onto a specially in the Legends of Australian Horse Racing Collection for only $79.99 (plus $9.99 postage prepared mirrored surface reserved only for the and handling) sent entirely without obligation on our 14-day home approval service. most important commemorative issues. Applicants may cancel at any time and all purchases are covered by The Bradford Exchange 14-Day Money-Back Guarantee. Each issue is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity which is supplied, free of charge. An elegant presentation case to house the golden commemorative issues will accompany a future delivery and is supplied to you FREE, as part of your collection.

SEND NO MONEY NOW – save $50.00 – yours for just $29.99 + P&H The fastest way to own this touching tribute is to order online at www.bradford.com.au/horses or call on (02) 9841 3311 alternatively complete and post the application form below. 403-COM35.01

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in reverse

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO! MODEL

1957 Thunderbird

ENGINE

312 cubic inch (5.1lt) V8

Hobart’s Blair Bryant has spent the past five decades cruising around the world in his 1957 Ford Thunderbird. Story Harry Weller Photo Chris Crerar

ord’s two-door, two-seat Thunderbird convertible launched in October 1954 in response to Chevrolet’s Corvette and the British and European sports cars flooding the US after WWII. With its low-slung, futuristic looks, luxurious interior and 4.8-litre V8, it proved an instant sales success. Hobart consultant Blair Bryant’s 1957 model is among the most collectible of all T-Birds, with its race-inspired ‘E-Type’

FAMOUSLY DRIVEN BY

Marilyn Monroe & Clarke Gable

performance options, including larger capacity 312 cubic inch (5.1-litre) V8, alloy intake manifold and twin Holley four-barrel carburettors. Growing up in Southern California, Blair was attracted by the T-Bird’s relative rarity, the fact “it looked cool and really performed”, and because it was driven by movie stars including Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. “I purchased the car when I was 16 years old. It was the first car I ever purchased. The car was not in good shape, it had been raced hard, which is a good thing (as) because of that I could afford it.” Blair recalls that most of his spare time was spent tuning and polishing the ‘Bird’ and on Saturdays he and his mates would drive on LA’s Sunset Boulevard. “During [those] days I had 13 car fires, because if the two carburettors got a little bit out of sync, one would backfire

and set the other one on fire,” he says. In the 80s Blair restored the T-Bird to its original concours condition, before shipping it to Sydney when he and his wife Ingrid relocated there in 2008. Over the next decade the classic coupe followed the globetrotting couple to Wellington, New Zealand, back to Sydney, then to Seattle, and finally in 2020 to Hobart, where the now-naturalised car enthusiast has set down roots. As for the T-Bird, it’s undergoing another major restoration, this time with a view to competing in Targa Tasmania. “I made a decision after 50 years of going all-original concours, to now change everything and go for maximum performance again,” says Blair, adding that he and the Bird are running in the touring class under race number 257, for anyone who wants to keep an eye out for them. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

travel Turning of the fagus

40 / TRAVEL NEWS 43 / THE PIT STOP

44 / TASSIE WILDLIFE

48 / FLINDERS ISLAND

From late April through May Mt Field National Park and the northern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park morph into an autumnal beacon thanks to fagus trees. The leaves turn a rusty red and rich gold, blanketing the landscape. This cold-climate winter-deciduous tree is found nowhere else in the world except our island state. Like Japan’s cherry blossoms, there’s no telling exactly what dates this natural phenomenon will take place annually. We suggest giving the national park visitor centre a call before heading out.

Photo: Tourism Tasmania/Emilie Ristevski

P For more, visit parks.tas.gov.au

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

travel news.

Inspiration for exploring our state

3 TO TRY

must-visit list

Tassie souvenir

SEVEN AND A HALF Offering a long lunch on Sundays (and some Saturdays) for just 10 people, it’s no wonder nabbing a seat at this restaurant is no easy feat. Everyone is seated and served together and the lunch is paired with drinks.

Family owned and operated Tassie farm, Grandvewe, has launched Australia’s first home-compostable skincare brand, Ewe Care. Housed in refillable and handcrafted ceramic vessels, the morning and evening creams include locally harvested Awassi sheep milk which is rich in vitamins A, C, D and E and has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Perfect for sensitive skin. From $165 (for refillable ceramic vessels), ewecare.com.au

WINE, NOT?

LAUNCESTON KAYAK TOURS See Launceston from the water by taking a 90-minute kayak tour along the Tamar River. If kayaking is a challenge, the Hobie kayaks use pedal power, so your hands are free to steer, photograph or fish.

THE ARC PAVILION Small but mighty, this sustainable seven-metre tiny house sits on a certified organic farm on the north west coast. Guests at this self-contained accommodation can help themselves to a daily harvest from the veggie garden. 40

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

Mewstone Wines has opened itsHELLO, new cellarLUXURY! door just 40 minutes south of Hobart in Flowerpot farmland overlooking the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. The Rox has brought a new era of luxury to Hobart. The cellar door showcases winemaker Jonny’s (formerly the assistant A mixed-use enclave within heart of MidTown it offers four winemaker at Moorilla) pinot noir, withthe chardonnay and riesling grapes self-contained apartments including the jewel in the crown, grown onsite. Tastings are by appointment only to ensure the intimate The Rox Penthouse. The rooftop sanctuary is architecturally space is never crowded.

designed and styled with furniture by local makers. The private terrace seats up to 10 guests. And if you want to order room service, food comes from the kitchen of Hobart’s most coveted wine bar, Sonny, straight to your door. Now that’s service.

travel

Wine not? Mewstone Wines has opened its new cellar door just 40 minutes south of Hobart in Flowerpot farmland, overlooking the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. The cellar door showcases winemaker Jonny’s (formerly the assistant winemaker at Moorilla) pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling. Tastings are by appointment only to ensure the intimate space is never crowded.

Photos: The Truffle Farm; Penguin Beer; Melshell Oyster Shack; Tasmania Boat Charters

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW Triabunna Barracks is an 1840s sandstone building redeveloped into a contemporary high-end bed and breakfast. Each room is fitted with heated floors, lush bathrooms and plush beds. Truly thrusting this property into the 21st century is the CCS2 electric vehicle charging point in the carpark.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

travel Blending forestry heritage with small-screen fame as the setting for the ABC’s Rosehaven comedy series, Geeveston sits on the cusp of the World Heritage wilderness, but has its own inherent charms, writes Andrew Bain.

Geeveston The PIT STOP

EAT Get in fast if you want to catch a feed at Masaaki’s Sushi. Regularly touted as Australia’s best sushi, it’s found in Geeveston’s former Anglican church from midday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but only until the sushi, sashimi and nigiri is sold out, which tends to happen rather quickly.

ESSENTIAL STOPS

• • • • •

Photos: Tahune Adventures; The Little Black Fridge/Richard Jupe

SHOP The Little Black Fridge is one of Tasmania’s most enticing roadside stalls. Set at the edge of town, it’s a literal little black fridge stocked with baked goodies – cookies, brownies, hummingbird cake – from April Matusik, the former owner and pastry chef of Hobart’s Small-fry cafe. DRINK The Old Bank of Geeveston is primarily a restaurant, but the beautifully shaded outdoor deck lends a European touch to a morning coffee, while the restaurant was the judges’ choice for best regional wine list at the 2021 Tasmanian Wine List of the Year Awards. STAY Tahune Adventures is one of Geeveston’s principal attractions, and the experience needn’t end when the sun sets. Tahune has onsite accommodation in a cabin and a large lodge. Guests stay among the towering forest, but also have the chance to wander and stargaze from the elevated AirWalk at night.

Masaaki’s Sushi Little Black Fridge Platypus Walk The Old Bank of Geeveston Tahune Adventures

TAHUNE ADVENTURES

GEEVESTON

SEE Geeveston is the natural gateway to Hartz Mountains National Park, but you don’t need to leave town to get an enticing shot of nature. Trailing along the bank of the Kermandie River through Heritage Park is the Platypus Walk, providing glimpses at the river and its resident monotremes. The 600-metre-long walk’s name isn’t hyperbole – I spied a platypus within five minutes of setting out along the sealed path.

TOP TO BOTTOM

Tahune Adventures; Old Bank; Little Black Fridge.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

Meet the

locals

Spend any time in Tasmania and you will quickly see that the island state is teeming with wildlife. Some are relatively easy to find. Others are more difficult to locate, unless you know where to look, says Grace Heathcote.

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

travel

LEFT TO RIGHT

Get up close to wildlife at Devils @ Cradle; the Eastern quoll is also known as the native cat; the Tassie devil is known for the unique noise it makes when feeding.

Photo: Tourism Tasmania/Laura Helle, Tourism Tasmania/Ash Thomson Photography, Tourism Tasmania/Rob Burnett

Find the Tasmanian devil in Tarkine Once found all over Australia, the Tasmanian devil is now restricted to its namesake state. Numbers have plummeted in recent years due to the impact of a facial tumour disease, landing these carnivorous marsupials on the endangered species list. One of the best chances of seeing a wild Tasmanian devil is in the Tarkine region, the second-largest temperate rainforest in the world. Listen after dusk for the distinctive snarls and screeches as these scavengers squabble over food. It was this noise that earned them their name from early European colonialists. You can also get up close to a devil in the unique Devil Den at Unzoo on the Tasman Peninsula or watch all the action of feed time in the 360-degree viewing enclosure at Devils @ Cradle.

Listen after dusk for the distinctive snarls and screeches as these scavengers squabble Uncover the Eastern quoll in Mt Field National Park Like their cousins the devils, the eastern quoll once roamed on mainland Australia. The introduction foxes and cats quickly reduced their numbers and the last mainland sighting was in Sydney in the early 1960s. Now, wild populations occur only in Tasmania. Pack your torch and stay the night in Mt Field National Park for a good chance of seeing this nocturnal marsupial hunt for dinner. Feed a quoll yourself on a Night Tour at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary just outside Hobart. Or, tuck into your own four-course campfire dinner while the wildlife feed nearby on a Quoll Patrol Wildlife Tour. ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

travel

Spot iconic parrots in the south-west

ABOVE

Your best shot at spotting a wild swift parrot is on the Southwest Wilderness Experience with Par Avion.

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

The relatively cooler temperatures in Tasmania make the state ideal for wombat-spotting. Unlike their mostly nocturnal mainland cousins, wombats in Tasmania can often be found out and about during the day foraging on grasses and shrubs. They must also chew on tough material like bark to wear down their incisor teeth which, like those of rodents, grow continuously. The teddybear-like marsupial is known for its characteristic waddle but could pass an Olympic sprinter, running at up to 40km/hr. So if you see one, keep your distance and get that camera out before they disappear. Head to Maria Island, Mt William or Cradle Mountain– Lake St Clair National Parks and you’re almost guaranteed to see several of these endearing animals grazing in the sun (or snow!).

Photo: Tourism Tasmania xxxxxx

Witness a wombat run

Photo: Tourism Tasmania / Matt Glastonbury, Tourism Tasmania / Dan Fellow, Tourism Tasmania, iStockphoto

Need more convincing that Tasmania is a wildlife haven? There are only three species of migrating parrot in the world and two of them choose to breed solely in Tasmania. Unfortunately, both are critically endangered. There are fewer than 100 orange-bellied parrots remaining in the wild. They breed in south-west Tasmania every summer before making the dangerous journey across Bass Strait to their mainland wintering grounds. Join a Southwest Wilderness Experience with Par Avion for your best chance of seeing these rare birds in one of Tasmania’s most beautiful and remote regions. Swift parrots, as the name suggests, are the world’s fastest parrots. After wintering on the Australian mainland they migrate to Tasmania to feed on the nectar of the flowering blue gum between September and March. A reliable place to see these colourful parrots is with Inala Nature Tours on Bruny Island, home to all of Tasmania’s 12 endemic birds.

travel

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT

Why not make a weekend of it? Par Avion Wilderness Tours invites you to explore the remote south-west wilderness; a trio of little penguins; wombats are aplenty at Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park.

Watch little penguin’s waddle

THIS PAGE

(From top) The pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters are a drawcard for Mount William; camping at Darlington in the heart of Maria Island; Spring Bay Mill glamping.

The world’s smallest penguin species, and the only one that breeds in Australia, lives around the coastline of Tasmania. After foraging at sea during the day, little penguin parents return to shore at dusk each evening, crossing the beach and approaching their burrows in small groups. This daily routine makes the little penguin perfect for bird watching. There are several sites in Tasmania where you can watch them come ashore without disturbing them. View the parade from boardwalks and elevated platforms at the Bruny Island Neck, join a guided Bicheno Penguin Tour or take a photo with the three-metre-high statue in the town of Penguin itself. On the road? Roadside assistance is here 24/7, on 13 11 11.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

best WALKING Is this Tasmania’s

DESTINATION? Andrew Bain takes on Flinders Island by foot to answer this question.

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

travel travel

t the eastern edge of Bass Strait, an island rises dramatically from the sea. Granite peaks bubble up from whitesand beaches. Wildlife blithely ambles about, and boulders blazed in orange lichen are strewn along the coast like art installations. The largest of the 52 islands in the Furneaux Group, Flinders Island is like the best bits of natural Tasmania – Freycinet’s peaks, the Bay of Fires’ beaches and colours – distilled into an even smaller island. It’s little wonder that it harbours some of Tasmania’s finest walks, with three of the state’s 60 Great Short Walks on the island. Every beach and mountain on this wondrous island is an invitation to step out and explore.

Photos: Photos: Barnbougle/Jacob Alamy/Andrew Bain Sjoman

Taking on the mountain

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT

On the trail to Castle Rock, one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks; a hiker ascends the Strzelecki Peaks Walk with Trousers Point in the background; the fern-lined gullies of Strzelecki National Park.

Dominating Flinders Island’s south are the Strzelecki Peaks, which rise directly and dramatically out of Bass Strait. Armoured in bare granite cliffs and underlined by beaches and farmland, the 756-metre-high mountains are the island’s ultimate day out in boots. The climb to the range’s summit is steep, transitioning from tea-tree thickets into fern-lined gullies, damp mossy glades and wind-pruned scrub around the exposed summit. The rewards for effort on the four- to five-hour Strzelecki Peaks Great Short Walk are ample, with the wind-whipped summit – and various points along the climb – unveiling some of Tasmania’s best coastal views. Trousers Point is splayed out below, bookended by two of the island’s most beautiful beaches, and Bass Strait is dotted with a constellation of islands. On a fine day, over the top of neighbouring Cape Barren Island, the Tasmanian mainland is visible 60 kilometres away.

On a fine day, over the top of neighbouring Cape Barren Island, the Tasmanian mainland is visible 60 kilometres away

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

travel

Taking up the trousers

If you’ve only seen one photo of Flinders Island, it’s likely to have been of Trousers Point, the southern headland that presents a classic scene of white sand, blue seas and lichen-covered granite, set to a backdrop of the Strzelecki Peaks. Trousers Point Great Short Walk – the second of the island’s Great Short Walks – loops around the hook-shaped point, beginning at Trousers Point Beach, where granite boulders bulge like knuckles along the water’s edge. As the 90-minute walk threads north along the rocky coast, Mt Chappell Island – home to the world’s largest tiger snakes – hovers offshore, looking like a sombrero atop the sea, before the trail turns into Fotheringate Bay. Less celebrated than Trousers Point Beach, this long beach is no less fascinating or beautiful, with shallow limestone caves lining its southern end, granite boulders littering its sands and the Strzelecki Peaks towering above. The loop walk swings back to Trousers Point Beach along a quiet dirt road, but the more interesting return is to retrace your steps along the ragged and rugged coast.

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

King of the castle

Cast your eye along Flinders Island’s west coast and one enormous rock dominates. Ballooning out of the sand on Marshall Bay, Castle Rock is the star feature of the third of the island’s Great Short Walks. Castle Rock Great Short Walk sets out from beside Allports Beach. The 90-minute walk hops between beaches, rounding tussock-covered headlands, and finally striding out on long Marshall Beach to the base of the granite boulder, which towers over everything but the dunes behind it. The rockpools around the base of the rock are like mini marine worlds, and the granite slabs invite lounging, so plan to stick around a while before wandering back to Allports Beach.

CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT

Hikers take a break; walking over the lichen-covered rocks to Trousers Point; granite slabs on the way to Castle Rock; Stacky’s Bight; Old Man’s Head; and hikers crossing a stream at Killiecrankie Bay.

F L I N D E R S

I S L A N D

WHITEMARK LEGEND

1 Killiecrankie to The Dock 2 Castle Rock Great Short Walk 3 Trousers Point Great Short Walk 4 Strzelecki Peaks Great Short Walk

Photos: Alamy/Chris Howarth; Alamy/Andrew Bain; Tourism Tasmania/Stu Gibson

There’s nothing to regret about walking here, except the need to eventually leave

LADY BARRON Strzelecki National Park

Rock at The Dock

In the island’s north, the coastal traverse from Killiecrankie to The Dock (or vice versa) isn’t a Great Short Walk, and yet it might well be the island’s best walk. From Killiecrankie, the five- to six-hour return walk rounds the long beach on Killiecrankie Bay. Just before leaving the bay, the track drops onto the sands of Stackys Bight, where a limestone arch curls off the tiny beach into the sea, looking like something transplanted from the tropics. At the tip of the bay, the walk rounds Old Man’s Head, a massive, sentinel-like boulder, before skirting coastal rock slabs, with the imposing cliffs of Mt Killiecrankie – favourites with rock climbers – towering overhead. Past a rustic climbers’ camp, the walk drops into The Dock, where Flinders Island turns natural design into artistry. Granite islets dot the bay, boulders sit piled in mounds, and the cliffs of Mt Killiecrankie and Split Rock form a fortress-like surround. There’s nothing to regret about walking here, except the need to eventually leave. Plan Head to visitflindersisland.com.au to curate your own trip to Flinders Island.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

Colour Tip Pale blue tones evoke calm

and relaxation. Combine with off-whites and beige for complete peace and simplicity.

RACT

MEMBERS GET

30% OFF paints & stains & 15% off accessories*

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Find a Wattyl Paint Centre near you wattyl.com.au *Discount running for the month of April 2022 only. Exclusions apply – see in store for full details at all Wattyl Paint Centres. Online promo code: RACTA22. Colours featured: Lower wall, texture and top coat Wattyl GranoImpact in ‘Driftwood’. Upper wall, texture and top coat Wattyl GranoImpact in ‘Invisibility Cloak’. Leaning wall panel, Wattyl I.D Advanced in ‘Vitesse’.

54/ 56/

COMMUNITY NEWS CHANGING GEARS

61/

65/ 66/

MEMBER REWARDS PUZZLES

community 59/

STATE GROWTH

REAR VIEW

Photo: Unsplash

Is it time for the Tasman?

The RACT has campaigned vigorously for a 10-year plan for the Midland Hwy, with the Bass Hwy now subject to the same approach. With the next stage of upgrades planned for the Midland Hwy, the RACT would like to see a similar plan for the Tasman Hwy. Tourism, agriculture and aquaculture are major industries on the East Coast. The Tasman Hwy is a vital part of this. Every driver needs a safe and efficient highway. A firm 10-year plan will provide certainty to plan and invest. RACT welcomes the important safety improvements to the Tasman Hwy at key tourism turn-off points and the decisions to lower some speed limits – this commitment to safety now needs to be the foundation for a whole-of-corridor vision.

P For more, visit ract.com.au/community/advocating-change

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

the latest. Electric-vehicle sales booming Results released from the Electric Vehicle Council on 31 January 2022 have shown electric-vehicle sales have tripled over the last year.

20,665

20,665 EVs in 2021, compared with 6,900 in 2020. This equates to 1.95% market share of new vehicles, up from 0.78% in 2020. While some state governments have introduced rebates, the Electric Vehicle Council believes Australia desperately needs the federal government to jump on board in order to see a bigger uptake in EV sales. Encouraging the use of EVs from a government level will see communities enjoying cleaner air, reduced respiratory illness, a smaller carbon footprint and quieter roads, the council says. It could also see the return of a thriving manufacturing industry supporting thousands of jobs. RACT’s Low and Zero Emission 54

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

Mobility policy fully supports the growth of Tasmania’s public charging network, including slow, fast and ultra-fast chargers, as well as increases in electric fleets. RACT encourages a range of subsidies for electric-vehicle charging and network upgrades, as well as other financial incentives to encourage people to buy electric vehicles. RACT also supports electric public transport, e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards as well as hydrogen technologies. While Australia is lagging behind the rest of the world in sales figures, as a wealthy, car-loving nation it is not too late to see us become an EV leader in the nottoo-distant future.

EVs were bought in Australia in 2021

Top 5 EVs* in Australia MODEL

TOTAL SALES

1 Tesla Model 3 12,094 2 MG ZS 1388 3 Mitsubishi Outlander 592 4 MG HS 580 5 Porsche Taycan 531 *Sales are reflective of EVs and plug-in EVs.

PICTURED

Telsa’s Model 3

Source: Electric Vehicle Council; Scooter images: Beam

FIGURES SHOW Australians bought

community

E-scooter trial highlights infrastructure shortfall

CAR

MEDIC

More than 50,000 Tasmanians have embraced the e-scooter trial so far, which shows there’s clearly a demand for this type of transport option. The next step is ensuring our cities are ready to respond. The RACT always been committed to improving mobility options in Tasmania and the current e-scooter trial is providing valuable insights into transport options in our major cities. For mobility options like e-scooters to remain viable in Tasmania, our infrastructure will need to evolve and adapt. It is vital that the community has that conversation and that all levels of government are prepared to play their part. Micromobility and active travel will play an increasingly significant role in the future of transport, with people looking to more versatile and sustainable transport options for commuting and moving around cities. It is encouraging to see that the City of Hobart Council is already looking into the potential for new separated cycleways that will also cater for micromobility devices. The RACT looks forward to continuing to work with other levels of government to identify, prioritise and Tasmanians embraced the invest in sustainable transport infrastructure to meet 12-month e-scooter trial the evolving transport needs of our community.

50,000

with City of Hobart and operators Beam and Neuron.

Q How do I check

my tyres for wear?

Winter’s wet roads are just around the corner so it’s the perfect time to check tyre condition. As a patrolman I often see cars with very worn tyres, which often leads to accidents. In Australia the legal minimum tread depth is 1.5mm. Measuring your car’s tyre tread is easy, simply by turning your steering all the way to the side and switching off the car. Inspect the tyre by running your finger forwards or backwards around the groove until you find a little bar which runs across the tyre. When the tread is getting close to the bar new tyres are required. Ensure that you check the entire width of the tyre. Front tyres often wear in the inner and outer edges. Rear tyres are more difficult to access; you will need to get down on the ground to inspect them. Julian McGarry // Patrolman

Changing gears

a budget for

CHANGE RACT’S STATE BUDGET submission urges the government to focus on road safety, writes Garry Bailey.

asmania has an unprecedented opportunity in 2022 to set new benchmarks in making our island state the safest in the nation. The state budget to be handed down in May comes at a pivotal time – the emergence (hopefully) from the two years of the pandemic, when keeping Tasmanians safe was paramount, and a long-overdue focus on tackling death and serious injury on our roads.

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

The pandemic changed our thinking: it was not just the government’s responsibility to keep us safe, it was everyone’s. The much-anticipated report by the Legislative Council Select Committee on Road Safet y will g ive Tasmania the opportunity to sheet home the message that keeping Tasmanians safe on our roads is also everyone’s responsibility. The RACT, on behalf of the 210,000 members we advocate for, has seized this opportunity – first through its submission to the inquiry and

Photos: iStockphoto; Austock

community

its 38 recommendations, and also in its state budget submission – to urge the government to do things differently. As we say in our budget submission, Tasmanians want to be safe on our roads. They want better, safer roads, better driver education and better enforcement. Tasmania has the worst road-safety record of any state but, if all Tasmanians and all levels of government strive to look after each other on our roads and support the evidence-based initiatives to achieve that, we can be nation-leading. Already there are steps in the right direction by the state government in renewing Tasmania’s mobile speed-camera network with eight new cameras, improving driver training and making our major highways safer. But the RACT, in its budget submission, has urged the state government to do much more. We should directly fund automated speed enforcement using the fines from the network. This will ensure we keep pace with the technology that is now detecting mobilephone use and seatbelt use in other states, and to bring our fleet of mobile cameras up to 16. As speed is the biggest killer on our roads, we need to safety-rate Tasmania’s entire road network – state and council roads – to ensure speed limits are consistent with the physical limitations of those roads.

We need to ensure road safety is an essential element in workplace health and safety regimens across the public and private sector. We need an expanded maintenance budget for both state and local government roads to ensure our roads remain safe. That’s a Civil Construction Federation call the RACT strongly endorses. This budget should also prepare for the longterm challenges in the way we all get around in the next decade. It will be a time of rapid innovation in transport as the electric-vehicle revolution gathers pace. It will mean changes in the way we fund our roads, how we provide the infrastructure to charge the new generation of EVs, how we deal with the environmental impacts, how we encourage new forms of transport from the simple e-scooter to the autonomous vehicle, how we deal with congestion, and how we ensure these changes deliver equity and opportunity, not disadvantage. The RACT sees the state budget for 2022–23 as the launching pad for change.

Online Keep up to date with road safety at ract.com.au/community/advocating-change

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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Spot the

hazard A new Hazard Perception Test will ensure learner drivers have the skills they need.

oad trauma is the second-leading cause of death among 17 to 25-year-olds in Tasmania. The P1 licence period is when novice drivers are most at risk of being injured or killed in a car crash. Since December 2020, the Tasmanian Government has introduced a suite of enhancements to the graduated licensing system (GLS) to make young and novice drivers as safe as possible on our roads. A licensing Young drivers who system where driving restrictions, such as used a computer-based maximum speed limits, limiting the use of HPT tool were mobile phones and zero alcohol, are eased 72% BETTER over time has been proven to be highly at hazard scanning effective at reducing road trauma among and perception young and new drivers. The last element in the latest improvements to Tasmania’s GLS is the computer-based Hazard Perception Test (HPT), introduced in March 2022. Evidence has shown that poor hazardperception skill increases the chances of novice drivers crashing. The HPT ensures that drivers have the level of skill needed to reduce this risk and safely progress to driving solo. Research also shows that young drivers who used a computer-based HPT tool were 72% better at hazard scanning and perception while driving than those who had not. The HPT features high-quality 3D clips that have been developed with road safety expert advice from the Centre for Automotive Safety

Research (CASR). Real crash data from Australia was used to identify the most dangerous driving scenarios for novice drivers. The scenarios include giving way at intersections and responding to unexpected traffic hazards. An online HPT allows users to be exposed to different situations they may not face during their practical driving assessment, including varied weather conditions and both day and night situations. It is also a safe environment where the user can learn from mistakes and improve their perception and judgement. Users can attempt the test as many times as they need to pass. There is no lockout period between attempts and there are optional practice questions to help prepare for the test. Learners will now be required to pass the HPT before they can book a practical driving assessment. This includes returning ‘non-novice drivers’ and interstate learners transferring to Tasmania. The HPT is also required for some people converting an overseas licence. This ensures a consistent and robust licensing system that will better prepare drivers whether they are new or returning to Tasmania’s roads.

The HPT is free and now available from platesplus.tas.gov.au. It can be accessed on a phone, tablet or desktop with internet access. For more information on who needs to complete the HPT please visit platesplus.tas.gov.au/hpt.

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

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Do you like to post to social media about your #holiday? So do we. But it’s best you wait until you get home to share photos as thieves can use this information to target your home. Did you know thieves can use long grass and overgrown shrubbery as cover? A few days before you leave, make sure the lawn is mown. Who’s looking after the house while you’re away? No one? It might be best to organise a house sitter who can collect your mail or any free newspapers, so they don’t stack up and give the game away. Do you keep valuable items in a garden shed? If you do, make sure you lock it up. Thieves steal tools and use them to smash through home windows. Have you locked all the windows and screen doors? Security screens are great deterrents. You can also install a deadbolt on your back door so it can be locked from the inside. Can your garage be opened with a universal remote? If so, try turning off its power supply to be on the safe side.

Keep your home safe Photo: iStockphoto

We understand that things can slip through the cracks when you’re busy planning a trip away. But with homes unoccupied over the holiday period, thieves can view this as the perfect opportunity to break in and steal valuable items. Here is a handy security checklist to help keep your home and belongings safe while you’re away:

Have you thought about a smart security system? You can access some surveillance cameras with your smartphone and have alerts sent to you if alarms have been triggered. Do you have a smartphone? Try turning on lights from your phone at different times during the day and night so it looks like someone is home. Want to leave a spare key behind? Opt for a trusted friend or relative. Don’t hide it around the outside of them. Thieves know of every hiding place.

Unplug all electronics. This will protect you from any power surges that may happen. Is your home and contents insurance policy up to date? This can ease the worry of the financial burden of a theft or break in.

Be prepared Organise your home and contents insurance before you depart. For more, visit ract.com.au

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RACT February for April-May 2022 Half page 120 24-02-2022.indd 1

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puzzles

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Down Across

Photos: iStock

4 In what area can the biggest single-span suspension bridge in the southern hemisphere be found?

vehicle (5)

haired breed (6)

26 Major river in France (5)

8 Stop doing something; cease or abstain (6)

23 Far-away (6) 9 Wonderful or 9 Wonderful or astonishing astonishing person or thing (6) 28 Denoting a fruit that has 25 Fishing and Simultaneous 4 Field under cultivation (8) 15 Sound vaguely familiar no seeds (8) person or thing oyster capital discharge (colloq.) (4,1,4) of 10 Famous Wiggles of song (3,6) 29 Activities in which a particular (6) 17 After or as a or result of this (8) person engages (6) 11 Hot drink containing Tasmania (2,6) port artillery other and spices (5) 18 Excessive irrational 15 Sound vaguely guns in and a battle anxiety or obsession (8) Precede in time 12 A large house or hotel (5) Down (colloq.) (5) familiar 20 Ornamental grounds laid 13 Grapevine plantations (9) (8) 1 Fishing and oyster capital of out for public enjoyment and (4,1,4) 14 Derived from nature (7) Tasmania (2,6) recreation (7) Basic 16 Highmonetary temperature (4) 2 Precede 21 Divide in two parts (6) 17 After orin time as a(8) 19 Small town south of unit of coastal Denmark 3 Basic monetary unit of 22 Intense low-pressure result of this (8) Hobart (4) Denmark and Norway (5) and Norway (5) weather systems (6) 21 Surround a place with armed 5 Rural locality on Bruny 23 Far-away (6) 18 Excessive and forces (7) Island (7) Rural locality on 25 Simultaneous discharge 24 Word lists in groups of irrational anxiety 6 A wealthy person (colloq.) (9) of artillery or other guns in a Bruny Island (7) synonyms (9) battle (5) or (8) 7 A obsession cat, goat, or rabbit of a long25 Guide the movement of a A wealthy 20 Ornamental person (colloq.) JOURNEYS FEBRUARY–MARCH CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS grounds laid out (9) Across: 1 Hyphen, 4 Clubland, 10 Geeveston, 11 Adios, 12 Husky, 13 Estate car, 14 Applied, 16 Cafe, 19 Scan, 21 Sell out, 24 Outnumber, for public 25 Ocean, 26 Quasi, 27 Lune River, 28 Energise, 29 Osprey. Down: 1 Hogshead, 2 Press-ups, 3 Elegy, 5 Lunatic, 6 Beautiful, 7 Apiece, 8 Descry, Moreover, 18 Stingray, 20and Nybbles, 21 Sprint, 22 Mosque, 23 Strafe, 25 Ogres. A cat, goat, or9 Attend, 15 Including, 17 enjoyment rabbit of a longrecreation (7) haired breed (6) 21 Divide in two Stop doing parts (6) 1 The ocean‘s apex predators (6)

2 Where in Tasmania would you find Australia's oldest stone bridge?

5 Which car is considered to be the first “muscle car”?

Crossword

1 What are the colours of the Northern Territory’s flag?

3 What is the chemical symbol of sodium?

Quiz

27 Evergreen Australasian tree (9)

6 What is Don Bradman’s batting average? 7 Who had the hit “Sadie the Cleaning Lady” in the 1960s? 8 What sort of creature is an opah? 9 What does the rhyming slang “plates of meat” mean? 10 What is the most famous Tasmanian animal that is now extinct?

Want to find out how you did? Find the answers online at

ract.com.au/puzzles

ract.com.au // JOURNEYS

rear view.

Tasmania as captured by our talented members

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP // Cooee turning it on for Mason Doherty (@masondoherty.co); Roadside by RACT is in good company as Paul Caston (@pandancharlie) shows off

his car stickers; some Stanley cows shot by Emily Joseph (@a_hungry_story); @theoldbankofgeeveston producing delicious goods (flick to p43 for more).

Want to see your photo here? Send your shots of our beautiful island to journeys@ract.com.au or tag us with both @ractofficial and #yourjourneys on lnstagram, Facebook or Twitter.

JOURNEYS // APR / MAY 2022

THE

IRONWOOD COOK WITH WOOD

AT THE PUSH OF A BUTTON THE ORIGINAL WOOD PELLET GRILL

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEB SITE LIST OF RETAILERS

WWW.TRAEGERGRILLS.COM.AU

SOME CONSEQUENCES HAPPEN IN A MOMENT. Low level speeding is contributing to deaths and serious injuries on our roads. It’s something we’re all doing. We think there aren’t any consequences, but that’s simply not true. We’re normalising it in our community. And we’re increasing the likelihood of a devastating crash. If you drive just a few kms over the speed limit, it’s over.

Journeys Apr/May 2022

Articles inside

Changing gears

Member rewards

Flinders Island

Rear view

Spot the hazard

Travel news

Meet the locals

In reverse

A mile in their shoes

Inbox

Low-impact wine

0–100 review

Welcome note

Changemakers

Auto news

What’s on