Event date: 2-12 June 2023
Day one
This is a trip we have been planning for quite a few months and the lead up to this trip was a little rocky for me as I have my 84 years mum in hospital unwell.
A quick drive up to Ringwood to make sure all the trip booklets (70 pages thank you Peter Williams) would get to the travellers on time if we were running a few days late.
Lucky mum was released from hospital on Thursday evening and after a late-night pack of the race car and our own personal items we managed to set off at 9.40am which was a nice change for us.
The rest of the convoy were meeting at Caroline Springs, and another two from Cranbourne, so we thought we would try to catch them up at lunch along the way.
A quick call to the boys from Cranbourne and realising they were still about 30 minutes away we kept going and knew we would catch them up somewhere along the road.
Surprisingly, the roads were great, no major hold ups, a nice run through the city to get on the main highway heading to Ballarat then West towards Mt Gambia.
Its amazing the difference in the landscape as you travel along our roads throughout Australia, it is quite diverse but very beautiful.
With several phone calls and WhatsApp messages we worked out the main group were having lunch in Dunkeld and were 1.15 hours in front of us and this was very possibly for us to catch up with them.
We couldn’t have asked for better travelling weather the sun was out and it was a nice cool 16c perfect driving weather.
As we approached Dunkeld my phone rang, and it was Peter asking where we were and lucky, we were just approaching the group.
We still didn’t have the boys behind but knew they were not that far behind (but using a different drive route) so we pushed on.
Quick toilets stop and then we were soon crossing the border not SA and that’s when we hit a little drizzle but not too bad.
Continuing as a group minus 2 we arrived at our motel at 3.15 SA time, did a quick unload and the others were with us within 15 minutes which was great driving by them.
Off to the Umpherston sink hole which was incredible. The Floral and Fauna in these gardens was just amazing and as we left the bottom, we were greeted by some local brush tail possums which were very friendly and even eat out of our hands. Very special indeed.
After a quick stop at Repco for a car cover for the race car, we headed up to the blue lake which as a very dark inky blue at this time of year. Apparently, the lighter blue is from November to March, which makes perfect sense. We had a bit of a drive around the lake but the light was fading so we had to head back to the motel.
Back to the motel for a quick freshen up, some quick emails, life still goes on even though we are away, and then off to the Barn for dinner recommended by one of our members who didn’t make this trip.
The Barn was 10 klm out of town but worth the drive. The interior was amazing with a wall of fame, plates signed by celebrities and dignitaries who had passed through an dine here.
Beautiful chandeliers greeted us as we walked in, and we noted that there is accommodation here too so worth a stay next time we come past.
The food was amazing and so accommodating seeing I have so many allergies.
It had been many years since visiting Mt Gambia and I really enjoyed our quick tour but would definitely stay longer next time.
Fun night catching up with old and new friends and hearing some hilarious stories.
This is going to be a fun week and I cant wait for day 2.
Jo Mawson | Member #2
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Day two
On a cool and sunny morning our excited band of nine travellers departed Mt Gambier at 9.00am sharp for a 484km drive to Adelaide via the coast rather than the inland route.
The limestone coast of south- east South Australia treated us to extensive stretches of pine forests, happy grazing sheep and cattle, black cockatoos and soaring pelicans along the 200km stretch of the Coorong and beautiful examples of South Australian architecture in Robe.
At Kingston S.E. Jo and Graeme left the group to deliver the E30 to The Bend and then met us at Tailem Bend for a peak hour run down the motorway to our motel in Glenelg. The Adelaide International Motel was our “home” for the next nine nights.
Later that evening the BMW Drivers Club of SA arranged a welcome dinner at the Holdfast Hotel (aka The Holdy) in Glenelg. A very convivial evening was had by all.
Allison Cotter
BMW Drivers Club of NSW
Day three
Day 3 was planned to be an easier day with a sleep in and heading our own different ways after a late start. John and I thought we would test the mountain roads and head to mount Lofty to take in the view offed over Adelaide arriving there at midday.
The trick then was what to do next so I asked the attendant in the souvenir shop what could offered in say a 30-minute range of where we were and all the ideas that immediately came to mind like Hahndorf were to be done later in trip so the more experienced attendant came over and recommended Port Adelaide and the museums there. While we pondered this, we thought we would have lunch so asked the attendant for a recommendation and she recommended the pub at Stirling as the food is good and has a good vibe.
John S found a couple of mountain roads to stretch his legs on and Margarette took us in the wrong direction and this gave John S a few more klms to play with but the drive was also scenic.
We stopped, engaged google and headed for Stirling. We found the pub and fortunately there is quite a bit of parking under the supermarket opposite and went in for lunch. The place was packed so we ended in some low springy chairs near the fire place and ordered lunch. As we were eating a guy stopped and dropped off a backpack and then came with a trolley and he was setting up to play music right in front of our table. Name was Nic Hutton if interested and he played several sets across the course of the afternoon as a guitar soloist. We enjoyed the music and the banter with him including how his foot pedals worked and only returned to Glenelg after his sets had finished.
It was a very pleasant afternoon but we did not make it to Port Adelaide today.
Dinner was at the Watermark which is a former Woolworths business now under ALH. The surroundings were airy and there was adequate supplies of whatever you wanted including seafoods. We had a good meal and good company and left as the venue was closing for the night.
Adrian White | Member #606
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Day four
It was an atmospheric day for a scenic cruise, drizzly , grey and softly misty. The convoy made its way through the CBD peak time commuting traffic at a very leisurely pace, the locals did not abide by the speed limit it seemed, they tended to go lower. Rolling greens hills loomed invitingly in the distance and trim streets were peppered with churches and almost as many of gas stations. OTR BP is huge in Adelaide apparently.
Driving through the twisty back roads of Adelaide Hills was spirited and much fun when you are in a front-wheel drive like a MINI. It’s even more fun tailing a professional driver like JC in a M2 Competition while admiring its shapely and illuminated behind. There is something infinitely pleasant about the watching the cars expertly gliding through corners in a veil of mist, surrounded by feathery greenery on either side.
For motor enthusiasts the Birdwood Mill Motor Museum is a must see. The museum wasn’t crowded on a Monday and was featuring a special exhibit featuring a collection of rare Holdens 1948-2017. My favorite? The “Marilyn”, a non-production cabriolet version of the Monaro. Marilyn is in a sophisticate shade of indigo blue, maybe with a hint of subtle metallic glitter. Understated elegance embodied, if ever a Holden can be called elegant?
You know there are destinations where you haven’t been for a while and the second time you see it, it has much improved and bloomed? Sadly Hahndorf isn’t one of those places, at least in my book. my previous trip to Hanhdorf was in the height of summer, and the tree-lined historic town felt a few degree cooler than the CBD, refreshing and hospital, quirky but substantial. That was my memory five years ago. This time around though it seemed the town has leaned heavily towards catering for the tourist flavor of the month, which is east and south Asian at the moment. The Germanic essence seemed to have been diluted somewhat. Still, if you are looking for a haircut and a quick blow dry, there are many options available. As are scented candles and opals of dubious origin.
The German Bakery where we had a quick bite to eat I cannot recommend again, the ownership has changed hand and perhaps the recipes too. What I can recommend though, at the time of writing is a little hidden gem in the form of Gallery & Wine Museum displaying Wolf Blass’ personal achievements and records of 60 years of wine making – Adelaide Hills Wine Bar, 62 Main Street, 62 Mount Barker Rd. It was bright, warm and a considered space with several plush seating areas and an open fire. The bar was well stocked and the menu carefully curated.
Do not dismiss the Visitor Information Centre and the Hahndorf Academy, where a zebra (again with a shapely behind also a back story) greets the visitors, and where one can really delve into the local history and channel the pioneering spirit. It is hard to imagine how physically tough and different life was barely 200 years ago. There is also a gallery upstairs but it was closed for change over when I visited.
Day four’s driving concluded with a straight zoom zoom to the homebase, taking nowhere near as long and admittedly nowhere near as fun. We sampled the local seafood restaurant ‘SheShell’, which proved to be interesting enough for us to return to Wednesday with a much larger appetite.
It was a full moon.
Sally Lu
ClubMINI
Day five
We headed to the Clare Valley wine district on the Tuesday, after swapping our itinerary around to take advantage of a warm, sunny day. We had already planned a later start, so the Clare Valley trip meant we would return after dark (with sunset just 5pm), but it was worth it. The newish northern expressway got us out of Adelaide efficiently, and our trip took us through countryside of increasingly rolling hills until we reached the Clare Valley.
I had searched out 4 or 5 of the best rated wineries in the district, but the first two we tried to visit, in Auburn, were closed for the winter in one case and on weekdays in the other case. We continued north to a long-time favourite of mine, Crabtree in the village of Watervale. Robert Crabtree sold the winery a few years back, a syndicate had it for a while and now a young couple owns it. The wife hosted us to a tasting of their full range of wines, all produced from their own small vineyard. The muscat was very popular and their unusual fortified shiraz was very good too. I liked a Shiraz-Cabernet dating from Robert Crabtree’s time, but their other reds, whites and a rose dated from the syndicate era and weren’t so great. I’ll be interested to see what the new couple, with their new wine maker, achieve from here on. It was a pleasant visit with an outdoor tasting overlooking part of the valley – the sort of interaction you don’t get with the larger wineries. The Clare Valley is a shallow, broad valley surrounded by low hills, but it was explained to us that that’s enough for it to have a significantly cooler climate during the critical growing season than the other South Australia wine districts, leading to it having cool climate wines even though the valley gets hot in summer.
Our next stop was Sevenhill, which produces communion wines for the Roman Catholic Church throughout Australia, along with a range of other wines. While some tasted the wines, others of us explored the underground cellars, the imposing and rather beautiful church, and the crypt underneath the church. First time I’ve been in a crypt – not something that happens very often (while alive, anyway).
Sevenhill was a very leisurely visit, meaning we had quite a late lunch in a café in Clare. Clare itself surprised us with its size – clearly a busy regional centre. While it had a few old buildings, it was mainly the little villages in the valley which had buildings dating from the mid 1800s. All in all, the valley is a scenic and historical delight, as well as having so many small and medium-sized wineries which are more enjoyable and informative to visit than the large wineries in places like the Barossa Valley.
From Clare, we headed East, with a short stop at Farrell Flat to observe its excellent silo art. About 30 minutes from Clare is the historic mining town of Burra, also known for its historic stone buildings. In fact, many of the houses are of stone, as well as the shops and official buildings. We only had a brief visit due to the time; it would be easy to stay a couple of nights and fill in a complete day exploring the history of the place. Leaving town, we detoured briefly to see the open cut copper mine that was the reason for the town’s existence – an impressively deep mine for its time, now with a lake in the bottom.
Our journey South from Burra took us along the scarily-named Worlds End Highway in a slow twilight, with a long line of low, rounded hills to our right and vast flat plains stretching to the horizon on our left. It was dark by the time we reached Eudunda so we couldn’t see its silo art; we simply kept heading back towards Adelaide, with just one enforced detour due to a road closure for roadworks.
Driving-wise, this was a cruising day on good quality roads (mostly), appreciating South Australia’s 110km/h limit on most of the rural roads. Cruising meant we had plenty of time to appreciate the scenery, especially in the Clare Valley. Definitely a recommended place to visit for anyone finding themselves with some time in Adelaide.
Peter Williams | Member #36
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Day eight
Those of us not at the track took a long day-trip to Victor Harbor (spelt without a “u”), which is a family weekend/holiday town on the coast south from Adelaide – think Rye if it was a town on its own. Mick and Sue from the SA club joined us on the drive – and took note of how we use the radio on our drives so they can do likewise on theirs.
We started off along the coastline in Glenelg and points south – the first time some of our group had seen the ocean here (although technically it’s Spencers Gulf) on this trip. Adelaide has a long line of beaches for most of its coastal length; they are sheltered from the open ocean much like the Port Phillip beaches, but open to the cold westerly winds today. We continued south on the enjoyable Myponga Reservoir road, which includes driving across the reservoir’s dam wall. Next was the Inman Valley, with a great if lumpy road winding and sweeping through a green, scenic valley. That brought us to Victor Harbor.
Several of the crew jumped on the horse-drawn tram to ride along the new jetty to Granite Island, a little offshore from the mainland. The island Is a safe habitat for various types of wildlife. We had lunch at various places in the town, and some shopping took place too. We headed a short distance to Encounter Bay and The Bluff, for pleasant scenery to Victor Harbor and wild scenery on the shore of the Southern Ocean. Next was a run to Goolwa and onto Hindmarsh Island, to view where the Murray River empties into the ocean. The veracity of this was debated – the river empties into Lake Alexandrina, which connects (again via the river) to the top end of the Coorong which opens to the ocean. A series of barrages and locks controls the flow, to keep adequate water in the lake systems and to prevent the ingress of too much salty water into the freshwater lakes.
A short drive took us to SA club members Mike and Jill Keene’s home on the banks of the lakes and waterways. Mike kindly hosted us to a barbecue dinner, but first we admired the scenic location of their home and the views to be taken in. It was a convivial late afternoon and evening that was greatly enjoyed by all, and the hospitality was very much appreciated. We finished the day with a night-time run back to Adelaide, on which BMW’s adaptive headlights showed their worth. We enlivened the trip with a short but careful fang down the Old Willunga Road hill, and entered Adelaide on the relatively new M2 expressway.
Peter Williams | Member #36
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Day nine
Day 9 was our second last day and considering that we would need to be on the road very early to make Tailem Bend for the first E30 race so the reduced group decided that we would go to Tailem Bend for the second and last race and looking at the track schedule this meant that we needed to leave Glenelg at 11.00am which was to the delight of the Shreeve.
We had breakfast and the five of us lined up at 11.00 to head off with John S happy and smiling departure. The three cars then loaded and headed for the Bend and as we had gone the day before took a direct route in time for the race. We were already aware of this mornings first race and Royce Lyne had improved but had been delayed by a competitor in another category so his time had improved but not as much as hoped.
We got to the track and met up with E30 group as they were starting to prepare for their last race then went and watched the Hyundai Excel race which was red flagged due to a car rolling over a number of times which needed to be recovered on a flat bed truck and this delayed the E30 race a little.
Then the E30s took to the track and the grid up was different with the E30s first and the other category further down the grid to start later giving the E30s a chance to race in clear air at least initially so it was hoped that there would be some good results and hopefully some better times. Jo & Graeme were watching the times and we were receiving updates on how they were doing standing on the Skydeck on the 4th floor with a view of the entire track. The biggest news initially was that Royce had just scrapped into the 14s and was leading the race. Royce then slowed a little to recover the tyres before trying again on the last lap and this allowed Royce to post his fastest time which was a record for this category.
We were talking to Royce afterwards when a young fellow stopped by and asked Royce for his autograph which was a bit of a shock for Royce.
After the race, the touring group split with Peter travelling back on the old Princes Highway and the other 2 cars deciding to head back to the Barossa Valley in a more direct way to visit the Kalleske Wines Cellar Door in Greenock. It was good to do the second trip as the different route gave a different view of the valley although we got to the cellar door later than optimal although we were still able to try their more than ample array of wines before purchasing with 2 boxes of wines to be transported back to the eastern states.
The cellar door closed at 5 so we headed back to Glenelg for our last dinner which was Phuket Thai which the members enjoyed before retiring.
Adrian White | Member #606
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
