For our 50th episode of Drive TV, we continue our journey around the nation's capital in our reigning Drive Car of the Year. Here's the route in detail.
Drive Season 5 screens on Channel 9 at 1pm each Sunday. The full episode will be available to video on 9Now after it airs.
This week's drive is the second and final chapter of our tour around the Australian Capital Territory. It begins at the top of the ACT in Mt Coree, one of the tallest peaks in the Brindabella Range.
Brindabella is a stunning valley on the edge of the Snowy Mountains. For literature lovers, the valley is the birthplace of Miles Franklin, one of the nation's iconic writers.
Thankfully, we took a vehicle more than capable for the first part of this tour, as the first leg contains a narrow dirt track through the captivating mountains. The track isn't particularly difficult but is incredibly engaging, climbing in altitude, very high, rather quickly, giving a different perspective of the land around you. The best part – it's not far from the centre of Canberra (around an hour).
After this, we visited Tharwa Valley Forge, which is the largest bladesmithing school in the southern hemisphere. The school provides people with the opportunity to experience traditional crafts and to learn new skills. The 10-acre campus is set in bushland on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River and is adjacent to Namadgi National Park. Heritage-listed accommodation is available on site at historic Cuppacumbalong Homestead.
From Tharwa, the Ford Ranger hugs the southern end of the nation's capital towards the small town of Burra. Here, Trent discovers the impressive independent alpaca wool mill of Boston Fine Fibres. The specialty fibre-processing mill is located in the Southern Tablelands and situated 20 kilometres to the south of Queanbeyan.
From Burra, Trent heads towards the final destination of Braidwood. Perched high in the Southern Tablelands, this location is famous for its prized rare truffles and holds the title of one of the prettiest towns in the state.
The halfway point between Canberra and the NSW South Coast, the streets are bustling with travellers keen to explore the history, great eateries, and antique stores on offer. Be sure to check out the Monga National Park, Farmers Markets, and the Mona Farm.
All up, our tour through the ACT took around eight hours and 560km. If you missed part one, you can see the full episode here.
Google Maps link for this route (from Canberra)