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So You Want to Drive an EV Around Australia

As of writing, this trip has been completed by a pure EV on at least 56 occasions, see the list here: https://www.tocwa.org.au/2021/07/07/around-australia-trips-in-a-pure-ev/
I won’t go in to a long detailed plan but rather provide dot points for you to plan a journey around.

  • A complete circumnavigation could be anywhere between 13,500kms and 26,000kms depending on how many sightseeing diversions you take. An average mainland trip would be 15,000kms, add in another 3000kms for a Tasmania tour. If you only have 4 weeks a mainland Australia journey is doable with shorter times spent at tourist attractions. 6 weeks is better, 8 weeks is perfect. Or, if you don’t have any commitments at home, take as much time as you want.
  • The best weather across the top end is May to August, this is when the roads and accommodation are full of tourists. September to November has far less tourists, is still dry with the daytime heat higher but still bearable. Avoid the top half of Australia from December to April.
  • To limit downtime sequence DC charging for daylight hours and keep AC charging for overnight. Keep in mind there is no shortage of charging options, most people get into trouble due to a shortage of patience.

Absolutes:

  • An EV with 260kms of range at 100kmh.
  • Study Plug-share constantly , do not rely on ABRP.
  • Always have a charging plan B.
  • Never be complacent.
  • Avoid fitting roof racks or cargo pods, these will significantly reduce the range of a vehicle with previously good aerodynamics.
  • Drive early (sunrise), arrive early (at least 2 hours before sunset).
  • Carry a full size spare wheel and tyre plus a repair kit that you have practiced using before departure.
  • Wear a diplomat hat, if you have any thoughts of being an entitled EV owner stay at home.
  • If you’re fussy about your choice of accommodation you need to shorten distances driven per day, one hold up during the day could result in a missed motel booking.
  • Flexibility makes the trip far more enjoyable.
  • Do NOT hyper-mile, there is absolutely no need. Driving too slow is dangerous and a hindrance to commercial vehicles.
  • Do not drive too fast, even during the day collisions with wildlife and cattle are possible. If you don’t have to overtake large trucks and they don’t have to overtake you there’s a good chance you’ve hit the sweet spot of speed.
  • Do not tailgate large vehicles, replacement windscreens and headlights are difficult to find in regional Australia.
  • Avoid continually referencing charging costs, over the whole trip charging per 1000kms will be cheaper than liquid fuel. Leave it at that and enjoy your holiday.
  • Carry insect repellent at all times, cover up when possible, Mosquito transmitted viruses in northern Australia are a real and present danger to your health.

Recommended:

  • Telstra phone, Starlink mini, and a hand held UHF to listen in (road works, wide loads).
  • The Windy app.
  • Emergency cash including plenty of $1 and $2 coins for laundry/showers.
  • An app such as Polarsteps, a great way to keep memories of your journey.
  • Spend at least 2 weeks in Tasmania, if short of time make a separate Tasmania trip.
  • Detour to Shark Bay, Lake Argyle, Karumba, Daintree, the Great Ocean Road, Port Lincoln and Albany.
  • At Norseman detour north to Kalgoorlie for a day or two then double back down to Esperance and continue along the south-west coast.

Lesser known overnight stops heading clockwise from Perth

  • Horrocks (instead of busy Kalbarri)
  • Wooramel River Homestead, no charging power but worth the 2 minute detour from the highway.
  • Point Samson, 56kms north-east of Karratha (Especially for Red Dog fans).
  • Warnum Roadhouse CV Park, between Halls Creek and Kununurra.
  • Timber Creek Tourist Park, between Kununurra and Katherine, I highly recommended arriving before 3.00pm NT time to secure a powered site.
  • Daly Waters.
  • Mount Surprise, if you take the Karumba to Cairns option this is a highly recommended stop.
  • Port Fairy, western end of the Great Ocean Road.
  • Streaky Bay.


Driving around Australia is far easier than it has been over the past decade but don’t expect everything to go to plan. If you stick to the above advice any hurdles should be easy to deal with and your journey will be a positive holiday rather than a negative grind.

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Half the fuel excise to save $624 or half your fuel bill to save $27,000. You choose.

As Australians head to the polls this Saturday to elect their federal government, the cost of driving has taken centre stage like never before. Both sides of politics are rolling out policies to ease the cost burden of motoring, but one proposal stands out: the temporary halving of the fuel excise tax, commonly known as the 25-cent fuel discount. It sounds irresistible, but how does it stack up against the savings you could unlock by switching to an electric vehicle (EV)?

Spoiler alert: while the fuel discount saves you about $624, an EV could save you between $27,000 and $50,000—or more—over the life of your car. Let’s break it down and see why the choice is clearer than you may think.

The Fuel Discount vs. EV Efficiency: A Stark Contrast

The 25-cent fuel excise cut sounds like a win, but let’s put it in perspective. At an average fuel price of $2 per litre, this discount trims your cost to $1.75 per litre. For the average Australian family, who burns through 52 litres of fuel weekly, that’s a modest $624 in savings over the twelve months the discount is promised to last. But here’s the catch: it’s temporary. Once those twelve months are up, you’re back to paying full price at the pump.

Now, consider an electric vehicle. EVs are game changers because they’re far more efficient than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. While ICE vehicles convert only 20-30% of their fuel’s energy into motion, EVs achieve 60-70% efficiency—making them two to three times more efficient. This means every dollar you spend on “fuel” for an EV goes much further. Plus, EV owners have a range of charging options that can slash costs even more, from fast DC chargers to home grid charging, effectively free solar power, or complimentary charging at shopping centres, restaurants, hotels, and beyond.

Two EV Scenarios: Savings for Every Lifestyle

To keep things fair, let’s look at two groups of EV owners and their potential savings compared to the fuel excise discount.

  • Group 1: The Worst-Case Scenario
    Imagine you live in an apartment with no access to home charging, no solar power, and no free charging nearby. You rely entirely on fast DC chargers, which are the most expensive EV charging option. Even then, these chargers cost about half as much as refuelling an ICE car. With fuel at $2 per litre, this group effectively “pays” the equivalent of $1 per litre —a saving of $1 per litre compared to an ICE car. That’s four times the savings of the 25-cent fuel discount.

  • Group 2: The Typical EV Owner
    Most EV owners fall into this group, blending home grid charging, free solar power, complimentary charging at businesses, and occasional fast charging on road trips. This mix can cut their “fuel” costs by up to 90%, equivalent to paying just 20 cents per litre. Compared to the $1.75 per litre after the fuel excise cut, this group saves a staggering $1.80 per litre. For the average Australian, that’s a massive reduction in driving costs.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: $624 vs. $27,000-$50,000

Let’s crunch the numbers. The temporary 25-cent fuel excise cut saves the average Australian family $624 over twelve months. But what about an EV? Assuming you drive the same 52 litres worth of distance per week and own your car for the Australian average of just over 10 years, here’s what you save:

  • Group 1 (Worst-Case Scenario): Saving $1 per litre equivalent translates to roughly $2,700 per year, or $27,000 over 10 years.
  • Group 2 (Typical EV Owner): Saving $1.80 per litre equivalent means about $4,800 per year, totalling nearly $50,000 over 10 years.

And here’s the kicker: a quality EV, like a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, can easily last longer than 10 years, pushing your savings even higher. Unlike the fleeting fuel excise cut, EV savings are ongoing for the life of your electric vehicle.

Why EVs Are the Smarter Choice

The 25-cent fuel excise cut is a short-term sugar-hit, offering a mere $624 in relief before it vanishes. In contrast, an EV delivers consistent, long-term savings that can transform your budget. Whether you’re saving $27,000 in the worst-case scenario or nearly $50,000 as a typical EV owner, the financial case is undeniable. Plus, with EVs, you’re not just saving money—you’re driving a safer, faster, cleaner, more convenient vehicle that’s also better for the planet.

As you contemplate the halving of the fuel excise cut think beyond the pump. The choice isn’t just about a temporary 25-cent discount. It’s about whether you want to pocket $624 or unlock tens of thousands in savings with an EV. The numbers speak for themselves. Why settle for a once-off drop in the bucket when you could drive toward a future of massive ongoing savings?

(I’ve updated this article because the original version published earlier today had the fuel excise incorrectly stated as being promised for 6 months.)

Pete Petrovsky is TOCWA (Tesla Owners Club of Western Australia) Treasurer, an active TOCWA committee member and a long-time EV enthusiast. In 2014, he placed a $6,000 deposit for a Model X (#39) but ended up purchasing two PHEVs—a Holden Volt and a Mitsubishi Outlander—while awaiting the Model 3. He reserved his Model 3 on its unveiling day in 2016 and took delivery of the Model 3 Performance in September 2019. Pete and his wife now own a total of five Teslas.

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WAEV Charging Network Status

Testing commenced 17th January 2025.

When providing updated charge station data please advise of the date tested and any other information such as: Display and/or PayWave working; if AC was used and working; DC working as expected; or any other tips that may be useful.

Thank you for your help in keeping this chart up to date.

LocationDC WorkingDCACDisplayPay WavePhone receptionNotesDate Tested
Kununurra🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎X✔︎19/01/2025
Warmun🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎X✔︎19/01/2025
Halls Creek🟥X✔︎XX✔︎Still broken after 25 weeks19/01/2025
Mueller Ranges🟩✔︎XCharging interrupted at 80%19/01/2025
Fitzroy Crossing🟥✔︎XXX✔︎Took multiple attempts to get DC charging to work correctly19/01/2025
Derby🟩✔︎✔︎XX✔︎Charger damaged but works, RFID reader works19/01/2025
Broome🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎18/01/2025
LaGrange🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎18/01/2025
Sandfire Roadhouse🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎X✔︎18/01/2025
Pardoo Roadhouse🟥XXManager said the charger is broken. AC kept tripping off29/01/2025
Port Hedland🟥XXXX✔︎All blank, not able to charge29/01/2025
Whim Creek🟥X✔︎✔︎X✔︎29/01/2025
Karratha🟩✔︎18/01/2025
Fortescue River🟩✔︎17/01/2025
Nanuturra🟩✔︎17/01/2025
ExmouthNot recently tested
Minilya🟨✔︎X17/01/2025
Carnarvon🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎17/01/2025
DenhamNot recently tested
Overlander Roadhouse🟥✔︎17/01/2025
Billabong Homestead🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎X✔︎17/01/2025
Kalbarri🟨✔︎✔︎✔︎Maxed out at about 40kW22/3/2025
Northampton🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎17/01/2025
Geraldton🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎17/01/2025
Jurien Bay🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎29/01/2025
LancelinNot recently tested
Kings Park
Bunbury🟩✔︎
Margaret River
Manjimup
Walpole🟩✔︎
Albany🟩✔︎
Jerramungup🟩✔︎✔︎✔︎✔︎24/01/2025
RavensthorpeOffline due to power restrictions13/02/2025
Esperance
Norseman🟩✔︎✔︎RFID reader not working20/01/2025
Mundrabilla🟥Trips off roadhouse power24/01/2025
Madura Pass🟥Canola Oil generated – Awaiting repair24/01/2025
Caiguna🟩Canola Oil generated24/01/2025
Balladonia🟩Canola Oil generated24/01/2025
Kalgoorlie
Coolgardie🟩25/01/2025
Southern Cross🟩25/01/2025
Merredin🟩25/01/2025
Northam🟩
Brookton🟩✔︎X20/01/2025
Hyden🟩✔︎X20/01/2025
Kojonup🟩✔︎
Williams🟩✔︎
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Perth to Sydney, which route is best?

Most people believe the challenging drive on this journey is the 1200km Nullarbor section between Norseman and Ceduna. As far as EV charging goes it requires patience and planning plus a relaxed attitude to food and accommodation choices. This article is not focussed on the Nullarbor, but driving from Port Augusta to Sydney which has 3 different routes with plenty of DC charging options but a whole different set of challenges. For Nullarbor information see So You Want to Drive an EV Across the Nullarbor.

The absolute almost failure proof route is in the Deep South via Tailem Bend and Ballarat, it’s far longer but has much better services along the way. For those that are a bit fussy take this route.

The most common route and shortest is via Mildura and Wagga Wagga, there’s no need to charge from anything but the reliable RAASA network and Tesla Superchargers thus avoiding the troubled NRMA network. The distance from Port Augusta to Sydney is 1546kms with a fairly reasonable choice of food and accommodation services, the downsides to this route is a large volume of traffic including time constrained heavy haulage plus the poor condition of various sections of highway that should be in far better condition. On this route you won’t get charger anxiety but may end up with pothole anxiety.

The 3rd and most northerly route is via Broken Hill and Dubbo, at 1556kms it’s only 10kms longer than the central route but has one potential hurdle so I’ll get to that first. The 414km drive between Port Augusta and Broken Hill is covered by reliable RAASA DC chargers at Wilmington and Peterborough, the last 392kms between Dubbo and Sydney is Tesla Supercharger territory, the potential tripping hazard is the 753kms between Broken Hill and Dubbo due to a need to rely on the NRMA DC network, most NRMA sites only have one charging cable, there’s no idle fees, and there’s no back up type 2 as is standard on the RAASA and WAEV networks. If you arrive at an NRMA DC charger and it’s out of service or blocked by an inconsiderate EV driver plugged in but not charging you have to find your own plan B. I don’t have much faith in the NRMA to make a few simple improvements but I do have hope that the Tesla Supercharger network will extend west of Dubbo, when that occurs it should be the preferred route.

Despite having to deal at some stage with the NRMA I highly recommend this route as a once-off opportunity to explore Peterborough, Broken Hill, Silverton, Cobar and Nyngan so here are a few tips to drive this route:

  • The NRMA app is poor, luckily charging can be started via the Chargefox app, I use this method always.
  • Plan at least one and possibly 2 nights at Broken Hill, there’s plenty to see including a short drive out to the Mad Max 2 museum at Silverton, the Pro Hart Gallery, Bells Milk Bar for a Lime Spider, the Palace Hotel for dinner, and of course the mining history of the area. Take note that Broken Hill is in NSW but operates on the SA time zone.
  • When departing east from Broken Hill leave as early as possible and make sure you have a 100% charge to reduce charging downtime at Wilcannia, from October to April Wilcannia can get extremely hot, the NRMA 50kW chargers are a bit too far from any shops and lack shade, a 30 minute charging stop at 9.00am is bearable, anything else in Summer is not.
  • Lunch at Cobar is recommended, plenty of history to take in.
  • Nyngan has an interesting Helicopter monument that’s worth visiting while charging. Also a handy overnight stop before a final day drive to Sydney. 

If your destination is the Central Coast or Brisbane rather than Sydney the route via Broken Hill is the better option.

If you have the time to plan ahead you could try the Broken Hill route heading east and the Central route on the return journey.

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Starlink Mini for Travel review – by James Maitland

For those wondering about portable internet on the go, we’ve been using the Starlink Mini (about $780) while travelling we were going to purchase the original as it is much cheaper and can get faster speeds, but the mini does not need a separate router and does fine for us. It runs on low voltage (20-60V DC), making it versatile with different power options. The default 5525 barrel connector cable is 15m long and works well, but it’s not always easy to find compatible power sources.

Luckily, we found a workaround with a third-party USB-C cable from Amazon (around $30), which runs off any USB-C Power Delivery (PD) socket. This has worked flawlessly to power our Starlink Mini from our car’s socket with a PD adaptor, which also we use to charge our MacBook or ipad with no need for any inverter. The Starlink only needs about 25W-50W, so the 100W-rated USB-C cable is more than enough. The trade-off is that the USB-C cord is only 3 meters, compared to the original 15 meters, but it’s perfect for use in the car.

To make the setup even better, we purchased a Starlink-specific waterproof USB-C cable for outdoor use when camping. As I have access to a 3D printer, I used SDeath’s suction cup mount design from Thingiverse and paired it with suction cups from Amazon. This allows us to easily secure the Starlink Mini to our car’s glass roof, and it has enough airflow between the glass and starlink to stay cool thanks to the airconditioning in the car. On the road, we’ve been consistently getting around 100 Mbps, even at high speeds.

One issue we ran into was the Starlink shutting off when the car’s 12V system cycles during starts and stops. To fix this, we added an EcoFlow River 2 Pro. It’s a bit overkill with 800W, but it’s been perfect for running our Starlink and a travel fridge when off-grid and it was on a 30% off at the time so cheaper than the smaller bluetti we had our eye on. The power pack charges via the car and provides uninterrupted power for Starlink. You could use any power pack (much smaller and cheaper ones) with 60W USB-C PD output, but we liked this one for its versatility.

We’ve tested this setup on WA’s wide-open roads without any signal issues, and I’m keen to see how it performs on more challenging terrain like the Great Ocean Road and Tasmania.

Links to the products we have used:

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Tesla O’Connor Official Opening

Celebrate With Us



You’re invited to celebrate the opening of Tesla O’Connor, our new Perth location for sales, service, and delivery—bring along your friends, family, and even your furry companions!

On the day, enjoy light bites alongside our Tesla team, pat some friendly dogs from Dog’s Refuge Home, learn about Tesla Modes and enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities, including Paint a Tesla.

When: Saturday 31 August 2024 
Time: 9:00AM – 1:00PM
Where: Tesla O’Connor

RSVP to confirm your interest or pre-schedule your test drive on the day.

RSVP Here
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Diesel vs EV Across the Nullarbor, Which is Cheaper in Fuel?

The best comparison is to use two vehicles that are likely to drive across the Nullarbor on any given day. I know a few dozen Tesla Model Y SUVs have done it, including my own 4 times, and I also have no doubt a similar size 2022-24 Hyundai Tucson diesel SUV has more than once crossed the country.

The Journey
The section between the towns of Ceduna in the east and Norseman in the west is generally seen as the Nullarbor drive, a total distance of 1201kms, a sealed surface, 1 lane each way, mostly flat, virtually all 110kmh.

The cheapest fuel in the middle section of the Nullarbor is $2.52 per litre (March 2024).

Driving the Hyundai Tucson Diesel
The claimed fuel consumption for the 1.6 litre diesel is 6.3 litres per 100kms. Our Hyundai driver is very experienced at getting the best fuel consumption so I’ll round that down to 6 litres per 100kms, it also makes the arithmetic a bit easier. The Hyundai driver is also wise with his fuel purchases and will make use of the 800km range fuel tank by filling right up on the cheapest fuel in Ceduna at $1.96 a litre.
Despite the good range per tank the Hyundai driver still needs to stop for fuel once between Border Village and Caiguna Roadhouse, luckily there are 6 different fuel stops on that 350km section. According to this week’s diesel prices the cheapest is Eucla at $2.52 a litre, luckily the Hyundai driver doesn’t need to fill up, it’s only necessary to add 400kms of fuel or 24 litres, enough to scrape through to Norseman.
Ceduna 48 litres at $1.96 = $94.08
Eucla 24 litres at $2.52 = $60.48
Trip total for diesel $154.56.
Why not use the cost to refill at the end of the trip instead of the start? Norseman diesel has averaged $2.14 during 2024, that would cost more, the Hyundai driver is smarter than that.

The EV SUV Using March 2024 Charging Options
My Model Y has averaged 15.3kWh per 100kms over the past 43,000kms, so to make the arithmetic easier I’ll round that up to 16kWh per 100kms.
At 16kWh per 100kms the Model Y range is limited to 460kms, this requires a minimum two charging stops after the initial charging at Ceduna. To make the journey without any compromise I’ll go for a more expensive 3 charging stops at Nullarbor, Mundrabilla and Caiguna. Despite paying a flat all you can charge fee of $32, $30 and $50 respectively I’ll only be adding 65-70% to the battery at each stop.
Ceduna 48kWh x 60 cents per unit = $28.20
Nullarbor flat fee $32
Mundrabilla flat fee $30
Caiguna flat fee $50
Trip total for electricity $140.20.

The EV SUV Using July 2024 Charging Options
From July onwards DC charging options will improve rapidly on the western side of the Nullarbor with 4 Horizon sites powered with solar energy. Any improvement on the eastern side of the Nullarbor in Q3 2024 will depend on the NRMA following through on another media release claiming the Nullarbor and Border Village Roadhouse will be getting DC charging soon, if that happens all fast DC charging from Ceduna to Norseman will be 60 cents per unit making the arithmetic easy.
192kWh x 60 cents per unit = $115.20

Unfortunately for the diesel vehicle owner there’s very little hope for an improvement in fuel costs, 5 competing fuel suppliers at 11 fuel stops are burdened with transporting fuel over long distances adding to the expense. On the other hand EV charging has two aces up its sleeve, first and foremost electricity can be made on site at a reasonable cost with renewable energy, a good example is the Horizon DC chargers being installed in remote areas of Western Australia that are solar powered. Secondly EV charging in Australia is still in its infancy, competition is yet to arrive.

The Horizon Power WAEV Network charger at Norseman is 60c/kWh.

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March Casual Meetup

Our next casual meetup (incorporating an in-person Ask Us Anything) is Wednesday 20 March 2024 at 6:30pm at:

Belmont Tavern – 174 Wright St, Cloverdale

https://www.belmonttavern.com.au/

Casual meetups are open to everyone including those who have never seen a Tesla before.

It’s an ideal opportunity to meet club members and to see the cars in the flesh which we are all passionate about.

It’s also a great way for new owners to learn more about their cars and to share in the vast pool of knowledge gained by other members.

We hope to see you there and look forward to chatting about all things Tesla.

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Is a Tesla more efficient in Summer? Yes but it’s a two edged sword.

The climate in the southern half of Western Australia is near perfect for a Tesla, warm and dry most of the time and winters where the temperature only drops below 5C for a few hours on the occasionally early morning, if you enjoy getting good Wh/km efficiency WA is the place to achieve it.

On the downside is the long hot summer of constant intense sunlight and high temperatures, this doesn’t generally harm the Wh/km figures recorded during longer drives but does put a serious dent in efficiency for those driving short (less than 15km) trips after being parked in an exposed area for even a short period during the day. Every time you drive off in a car with a hot interior the aircon is working hard to reduce the temperature, depending on conditions that could take anything from 10 to 30kms.

Teslas have an excellent feature known as cabin overheat protection, even on a 30C day this will consume up to 4% of the battery over 9 hours, personally I’ll happily accept a 4% loss each day over Summer but anyone who is not is free to turn cabin overheat protection off. Of course if car park designers who have a fetish for destroying trees allocated funds for solar panel canopies car parks wouldn’t be so hot.

So are all these hot Summer days killing your range?
Not really, it’s consuming far more energy between each charge but as this is caused by short drives and long parking sessions it’s not relevant unless you’re buying expensive electricity. Range is only a factor on very long drives away from reliable fast charging. When you go on a long drive the heat will have little effect on your Wh/km efficiency (it helps if you pre-cool the interior while plugged into shore power before departure).

Hot tips for a cool interior
Try to park in the shade even if it’s a 200 metre walk to your destination.
Get interior shades up, especially over the black dashboard.
Pre-cool the interior using the phone app about 5 minutes before arriving at your car.
If only parking for 45 minutes or less put the car in “keep” mode, this leaves the air-conditioner on and does not use any more energy than letting the car heat up then cooling it down again.

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Driving the Norseman to Hyden Unsealed Road

A word of caution first, despite being continually maintained by the shires of Dundas and Kondinin any medium to heavy rain could make this road difficult to navigate in a couple of sections. Always check the yellow road condition signs before planning any departure. The weight limit is 5 tonnes although you will likely see some heavy haulage servicing the handful of mines along the road.

Officially the drive is 297kms but it’s best to use the distance of 299kms between the Norseman and Hyden DC chargers.

Is it worth taking this route?
Although this direct route is 88kms shorter than driving the sealed road via Coolgardie and Merredin the total driving time will be no more than 10 minutes difference, driving the Norseman-Hyden road is more of an adventure plus a break from the constant flow of fuel tankers and over size mining equipment travelling being Perth and Kalgoorlie.

When to drive it?
This is an early morning road, firstly there’s almost no other traffic, secondly it’s cooler when you stop for photo opportunities, thirdly if an issue arises you have a full day of daylight ahead to sort it out.

What to carry?
The normal common sense equipment including plenty of water. A spare tyre is a must, if you depart Norseman or Hyden with anything less then you’re taking an unnecessary risk that will end up costing you a lot of wasted time and money.

To cover the 299kms with the focus on enjoying the scenery rather than constantly monitoring efficiency I recommend a standard range Tesla charge to 98% and a long range Tesla charge to 90%. Unsealed roads consume more energy than sealed roads at the same speeds, on our recent trip our Model Y consumed 45kWh at an average speed of 75kmh.

On departure from Norseman Tesla navigation will direct you to drive north towards Coolgardie for approximately 8kms before taking a left hand turn towards Hyden, a better option is to drive south from the DC charger towards the Norseman town centre, turn west on to Ramsey Street which then continues on to become Mort Haslett Drive, this takes you across Lake Cowan via a gravel causeway, thus providing some excellent photo opportunities. Continuing on for another 15kms will join you up with the Hyden Road via a T-Junction.

At the 103km mark is a handy stop called Lake Johnston, this location has basic toilets, picnic benches and shady trees, up until now the only other traffic you’ll likely see is the shire of Dundas employees maintaining the road. This first 103km section we comfortably sat on 70kmh keeping in mind there were still some early morning Roos on the road.

From Lake Johnston onwards the road has straight sections far into the distance, 80kmh was easily maintained right through to Marvel Loch-Forrestania cross road, don’t forget to keep heading west at this point. You’ll notice new power lines for the nearby mine site plus some large areas of cleared scrub acting as a fire break, from this point on the Norseman-Hyden road becomes some of the best quality unsealed surface you’re ever likely to see. Approximately 63kms from Hyden the sealed road begins, continuing all the way to the Hyden DC charger.

Our recent drive took us just over 4 hours with a few short stops along the way, potentially it could be driven faster than that but it’s better to allocate 5 hours and enjoy a 20 minute visit to Lake Johnson plus a few 5 minute photo stops on the way.

Check out the Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail for more information on the route.