Horizons March-May 2024 by The Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc.)

March-May 2024

Your RAC member magazine

Head south this autumn ENJOY CALM DAYS AND CRISP NIGHTS ON THESE FIVE ROAD TRIPS

RAC’s Best Drives 10 of the best cars we drove in 2023

The rise of Chinese car manufacturing How it will shape our roads in years to come

The psychology of road rage What happens inside the mind of a raging driver?

Member benefits + Your feedback + Ten of the best

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10:40am tuesday. the sweet spot.

Road trips can be exhausting for little passengers. Stuck inside, staring out the window while Mum and Dad talk about grown up stuff, it can feel like days on end. So, there’s nothing better than pulling in for a pit stop to get one of your favourite treats. It may be messy, but boy it’s worth it. You’ll be back on the road before you know it, so you’ve got to savour every sip. For the sweet taste of freedom, there’s no place like Dôme. Perth Metro, WA Regional: Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Katanning, Newman, Northam, Port Hedland, Rottnest.

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Your RAC member magazine HORIZONS® Published by RAC WA EDITOR Vanessa Pogorelic GRAPHIC DESIGNER Renee Smith ADVERTISING Ruth Leyland-Cowan (WA only) T: 08 9388 7844 E: ruth@mediatonic.com.au Colin Ritchie T: 03 8520 6451 E: colinritchie@hardiegrant.com CHANGE OF ADDRESS For change of address requests, please visit rac.com.au/myrac, phone 13 17 03 or visit your local Member Service Centre. CONTACT US facebook.com/RACWA instagram.com/RACWA editor@rac.com.au rac.com.au 13 11 11 Roadside Assistance, Battery Services 13 17 03 Membership, Motoring Advice, Insurance, Finance, Travel, Touring, Security Services 1300 797 078 Vehicle Condition Appraisals 1300 135 667 RAC Auto Services 1300 651 042 RAC Tyres 9436 4111 Corporate Enquiries For deaf, hearing or speech impaired members: Emergency Roadside Assistance SMS number 0434 182 877 All queries relayservice.gov.au See page 81 for more contact details

ON THE COVER Boranup Karri Forest IMAGE CREDIT Tourism Western Australia

CAB AUDITED AS AT SEPTEMBER 2023 IS 756,763 HOUSEHOLDS OUR PLASTIC WRAPPER IS BIODEGRADABLE AUSTRALIA POST ISSN NO 0810 8285 The opinions contained in this publication may not be shared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc) or its related bodies corporate (together “RAC”) or any of its or their councillors, directors or employees. Advertisements in Horizons are the responsibility of the advertiser. No person should act or rely upon such opinions or advice and RAC 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 RAC.

Inside this issue MARCH-MAY 2024

Our State, People+Future

Travel +Touring

Car +Motoring

Home +Life

President's message

Five autumn road trips from Perth Long drive or short take your pick

The rise of Chinese car manufacturing How it will reshape Australian roads

Member lounge

08 Your feedback

10 Snapshot

53 Future moves

WA travel brief

RAC’s best drives of 2023 10 of the best cars we drove last year

38 Camping + caravanning

82 Ten best

Membership +Benefits 63

Hiking in the Kimberley Your step-by-step guide

The psychology of road rage What happens when someone snaps behind the wheel?

Member benefits

New MTB trails in and around Perth See what’s in store for mountain bikers in 2024

Test drive

59 Car doctor

You’re helping us drive for the better As a member of RAC, we’d like to thank you. Your membership helps us drive real change through advocating for safer roads, speeds, vehicles and drivers. It also means we can deliver ground-breaking projects like the RAC Air Health Monitor, which helps our understanding of changes in air quality. And every year, your membership helps us teach over 50,000 school children how to stay safe around roads. Together, we’re ensuring WA’s future drivers learn the importance of road safety. Discover more about the ways your membership benefits WA.

RAC Better WA

Our State, People+Future

President's message STUDENTS’ JOURNEY INTO THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT

Powered by wind turbines, hydroelectricity and kinetic energy tiles, “The Hive” would play host to a ‘fleet of the future’ which included a cable car and self-driving electric scooters.

What’s the next big idea that could change how we move around in Western Australia?

The winning teams

That’s the question we posed to 100 Year 5 and 6 students from 12 Perth schools as part of the recent RAC Imagine Program™ Futures Challenge. Delivered in partnership with BOP Industries, the RAC Futures Challenge saw teams of students tasked with thinking big, with imagining life in 2050, and with designing unique solutions to real-life transport challenges in WA. Over the course of an intensive one-day hack-a-thon, and seven virtual masterclass sessions, the students developed their knowledge of smart cities and neighbourhood design, road safety, driverless technology, and sustainable transport. Informed by real world research and case studies, including projects like the RAC Intellibus and RAC Air Health Monitor, their ideas were pitched to a judging panel I was privileged to be part of. From flying pods to cars that cleaned the air as they drove, students embraced creativity and innovation. Above all else they demonstrated a passion for the future of our state. The winning idea came from the Presbyterian Ladies’ College team, who proposed a sustainable, multi-use transport hub linking Perth, Fremantle and Mandurah.

> First place The Eco Warriors, Presbyterian Ladies’ College > Second place E-Flora, Helena College > Third place The Zero Foot Prints, Harrisdale Primary School > Creative Award Future Fixers, St Anthony’s Wanneroo > RAC President’s Award Cavemen from the Future, Regent College Over recent decades our cities have changed dramatically. As our population continues to grow, our transport system needs to evolve with it. These are big challenges which demand bold, fresh perspectives.

RAC Council President Allan Blagaich Senior Vice President John Driscoll Vice President Professor Donna Cross OAM Members of Council Leanne Bishop Jill Darby Tony Evans Roger Farley Dalton Gooding Kerry Harris Kelly Hick Sarah Kepert Jody Nunn Marie Redman Jacqueline Ronchi Jim Walker

Together we all have an important opportunity to develop better-connected communities with safer, cleaner and greener streets. We can make WA an even better place to live for generations to come. The RAC Imagine™ Program Futures Challenge will run annually as we continue to engage students in RAC’s vision for a safe, sustainable, and connected future for all Western Australians. Allan Blagaich RAC President

LEFT: Students participating in the hack-a-thon event at RAC Arena

Our State, People+Future

Your feedback Our ‘supersized’ cars

WINNING FEEDBACK

Thanks for your article in December-February Horizons (Why are we supersizing our cars?). As Australia becomes progressively more urbanised, it makes no sense that its (largely metropolitan) population is choosing oversized work vehicles for everyday use. As a kid growing up in rural Australia in the 1970s and 1980s, most families (like ours) drove 2WD sedans around the district, even on gravel roads. Utes and 4WD vehicles were rarer and generally for off-road farm work. As an adult I do confess to owning a 4WD dual cab ute and love its practicality when I return to the family farm, both on gravel roads and for off-road work. But it spends most of its time in the garage until needed, because my ordinary 2WD sedan is the preferred choice, even for most trips out of the city. Its comfort, fuel efficiency and safety win hands down and is light years ahead of the cars of my childhood. Michael

SHARING THE VIEW I was writing to contribute to the letter ‘Big cars block the view’ (Horizons, October-November). I’m a driver of a bigger vehicle and have often caught myself blocking the view of a smaller car turning left when I’m turning right. I have found if I sit back a bit from the intersection it doesn’t impede me and allows the front vehicle to my left a less obstructed view of traffic to the right. Perhaps other big vehicle drivers could do similar. Chris

SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK AND WIN Send us your opinions and feedback and you could win a year’s Classic Roadside Assistance.

GETTING TRAFFIC PRIORITIES RIGHT Why is it that walking or cycling around a European city, you feel so safe, but not so in Perth? I was fortunate enough to travel to Europe twice last year. The main thing I noticed was that European drivers are far more skillful – much greater situational and spatial awareness. They are considerate towards all

@RACWA editor@rac.com.au Terms and conditions on page 81. Published letters may be edited for style and length. While we try to respond to all letters we receive, a response cannot be guaranteed.

Dutch_Photos / Shutterstock.com

@RACWA

pedestrians, cyclists and cars around them. The second thing was how the management of traffic is strictly in the order of pedestrians, cyclists, public transport, and cars last. It would not be hard to substantially improve our local traffic system, making it better, safer and more friendly, just by working with what we already have. Bryan

Our State, People+Future

IN-CAR SCREENS A DISTRACTION I remember something I recently read discussing how some big auto manufacturers were moving away from touch screens to other instrumentation as a result of consumer feedback. It seems to me that the increase in the use of touch screens in cars might be part of the explanation for the increase in crashes. In the last five years or more, most new cars come with screens and as people upgrade or buy new cars, more cars on the road have screens. Perhaps there’s a statistical correlation between the number of new cars on the road with touch screens, and the increase in road crashes? We know screens can be very distracting. Personally, I sometimes find that I change something on the screen, music or a map or whatever, and 10 seconds or so later I realise I’ve had my eyes off the road. Enough time for anything to happen. We are not allowed to use our phones in the car, so why are in built touch screens any different? Ed

Scam warning

CHARGING TROUBLES My wife and I bought an Ioniq 5 (electric vehicle). In October last year we took the car and fully loaded cage trailer to Albany and had a dream drive down. Our return was not as easy. We arrived in Kojonup with only 40km of range remaining. Unfortunately, the fast charger had stopped working that morning and the remote support team could not restart it. The nearest fast charger at Katanning had been out of order since August! On another trip a few weeks later without the trailer, I ran into other difficulties. This time at Williams, it took us four goes before the charging station would start. When I tried the slower Tesla charger at the hardware store, nothing happened. In my enthusiasm I’d not thought to take a 3-phase adapter which would have helped. So lessons learnt for regional EV travel are: always check PlugShare for the latest charging station status, carry every possible charging cable, allow for the possibility of lengthy delays, babysit each charging session in case it fails. Justin

Scam messages are becoming more sophisticated and difficult to detect. RAC reminds members to be mindful of anyone who contacts you direct via social media or email asking you to click a link or provide any personal details. Cybercriminals often use email, SMS, phone calls and direct messages via social media to scam people. They usually do this by contacting you pretending to be an organisation you know and trust. If you are ever suspicious about a message you receive that appears to be from RAC, go direct to our official website rac.com.au and use the ‘Contact us’ link on the home page, or call RAC direct on 13 17 03. For more information on identifying scam messages, visit scamwatch.gov.au 

Kinematapro / Shutterstock.com

VOICE YOUR OPINION Join RAC’s Members’ Voice, an online community where members can share their views on a range of topics. Visit rac.com.au/opinion

News in brief from RAC and beyond

Snapshot

What to do after a crash As a party to a crash, you have a number of duties and obligations to fulfil. WA law mandates that drivers involved in a crash must stop and supply their name and address. They should also collect phone numbers, email addresses, and driver’s licence numbers of all parties involved in the crash. Where the driver is not the vehicle’s owner, they must provide the owner’s name and address.

the street names and position of vehicles involved. Diagrams can help. Take photos of the incident and damage to other vehicles or property, if it’s safe to do so. You must report a traffic crash to WA Police when the incident occurs on a road or any place commonly used by the public (such as a carpark) and where: > the incident resulted in bodily harm to a person; or

Note the registration number, make and model of all vehicles involved and the names of the insurance companies other drivers are covered by.

> the total value of property damage to all involved parties exceeds $3000; or

Record the time, date, and precise location of the crash and everything you can remember about what happened. Note

When someone has been injured, you must also report the crash to the Insurance Commission of WA.

> the owner or representative of the damaged property isn’t present.

In a minor incident where cars involved can be moved, take them out of the traffic flow. If cars can’t be moved, leave them with hazard lights on and stay off the road somewhere safe. If you have vehicle insurance with RAC and a tow truck is needed, you should first call 13 17 03 for assistance. Only you or the police can authorise for your vehicle to be towed. Check that any tow truck operator arriving at the scene has the same business name provided to you by RAC or your insurer. Remember, you’re not obliged to engage the first tow truck operator on the scene, even where traffic flow is impacted (unless the police instruct otherwise). Towing services included in RAC Roadside Assistance membership cannot be used after a vehicle crash due to different towing procedures being employed in a breakdown.

Our State, People+Future

WA’S MOST CONGESTED INTERSECTIONS Intersections carry a high crash risk and account for approximately 40 per cent of all fatal and serious injury crashes on WA roads. Heavy traffic movements through intersections increase this risk. In WA, the Reid Highway and Erindale Road intersection was the most congested in the state in the year to June 2023. RAC has called for the Reid Highway and Erindale Road intersection to be grade

separated as it has a history of serious crashes and is currently ranked second worst in the state for crash frequency. WA’s second-most congested intersection at Tonkin Highway and Welshpool Road East will be grade separated as part of the fully funded Tonkin Highway Corridor Project, due for completion in mid-2025. This intersection currently ranks fifth in the state for crash frequency. Adwo / Shutterstock.com

WHEN BICYCLE RACKS OBSCURE NUMBER PLATES Ensuring the number plates on both the front and rear of a vehicle are visible when it is in use, is the responsibility of every vehicle owner. But there can be some confusion about the placement of bicycle racks on the rear of vehicles where they obscure the registration plate. While the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014 state that a person responsible for a vehicle must ensure “the whole of each character on a plate on the vehicle can be read whenever the vehicle is used or driven,” there is an exception where a bicycle rack is fitted. It is not an offence if the number plate is being obscured by a bicycle rack fitted to the rear of a vehicle or a bicycle being held in the rack, however, it is recommended in these instances to fit auxiliary plates. The Department of Transport provides auxiliary plates for drivers to purchase via a DoTDirect account. These can be displayed if a bicycle rack or a bike in a rack obstructs the view of the rear number plate. An auxiliary plate will display the same characters as the number plate issued for the vehicle. Be aware that auxiliary plates can take four weeks to arrive once ordered. To ensure the plates are correctly fitted, visit transport.wa.gov.au and search for ‘auxiliary plates.’ 

WA’s 10 most congested intersections for 2022 – 2023

1. Reid Highway and Erindale Road 2. Tonkin Highway and Welshpool Road East 3. Leach Highway and Manning Road 4. Graham Farmer Freeway and Loftus Street Interchange 5. Roe Highway and Great Eastern Highway Bypass 6. Charles Street and Vincent Street 7. Mitchell Freeway and Hutton Street Interchange 8. Graham Farmer Freeway and East Parade Interchange 9. Wanneroo Road and Hepburn Avenue 10. Canning Highway and Kwinana Freeway Interchange

Our State, People+Future

HOW MUCH PERTH HOUSEHOLDS SPEND ON TRANSPORT Perth households spend an average of $21,500 per year on transport or around 14 per cent of their income, according to the Australian Automobile Association’s Transport Affordability Index. In Bunbury, WA’s secondlargest city, household spend on transport is 15 per cent, representing more than $20,500 per year. The cost of transport is rapidly growing, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting a 27 per cent increase in Perth from June 2020 to June 2023. In the last five years, on average, Perth households have paid nearly $15,500 for public transport. This is at least $4300 more than the average figure within Australian capital cities.

Mobile electric vehicle charging trial Electric vehicle (EV) owners who run out of charge while on the road will now be able to access an emergency top-up charge.

public charger. All current passenger EV models will be covered by the service.

A new electric RAC Roadside Assistance Patrol has been equipped with a mobile EV charger as part of a six-month trial that will operate in parts of the Perth metropolitan area. The van is also the first in our fleet of electric patrol vehicles.

Emergency charging will only be available for Roadside Assistance members and BusinessWise customers and only for vehicles that are out of charge; a towing service may be offered if more suitable for your breakdown. Non-members who would like to use the service can join RAC’s Roadside Assistance on the spot, which will include an additional fee.

The service provides enough charge to give an EV approximately 15km of range in 20 minutes – enough to allow the vehicle owner to either get home or to the nearest

If you run out of charge and require an emergency top-up charge for your EV, contact RAC’s Roadside Assistance on 13 11 11.

WA’s motor vehicle registration fees have increased by around 70 per cent in the last 10 years – around three times the rate of inflation. RAC members have told us that rising transport costs are having an impact on household budgets, with more than six in ten RAC members saying they have taken action in the last year to try to reduce their motoring costs. RAC welcomed the decision by the WA Government to freeze motor vehiclerelated fees in 2020-21 and public transport fares from 2020-21 to 2021-22 – proving it can be done. 

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Driving for the road ahead If you currently own an electric vehicle, or would like to one day, we’re here to help you transition to an electric future. For those already on the road, our services are evolving to meet your EV needs. In fact, RAC Roadside Assistance now includes emergency ‘top up’ charging for stranded EVs. Members also save on EV servicing through our Auto Services centres and discounted interest rates on electric car loans. Together with our members, we’re driving change for the road ahead — one EV at a time.

RAC EV Services

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Car+Motoring

The rise of Chinese car manufacturing A DECADE AGO, CARS COMING OUT OF CHINA WERE POORLY BUILT WITH INADEQUATE SAFETY FEATURES. TODAY, CHINA HAS BECOME A POWERHOUSE IN VEHICLE MANUFACTURING. By Toby Hagon

Someone perusing a Volvo showroom may not expect their Swedish-designed luxury vehicle to come from anywhere but Scandinavia. And while the driftwood trim and crystal gear lever may give every indication it’s from the Nordic depths, the reality is most Volvos sold here these days come from the People’s Republic of China. It’s indicative of a shift that is changing the makeup of auto-

Scaling up

motive manufacturing around the world, and shaping the mix of cars on Australian roads.

China’s growth comes from scale. A population of about 1.3 billion and a governmentled desire to manufacture cars has transformed the country.

Whereas once China produced budget cars predominantly for its domestic market, mainstream brands are increasingly using China as a manufacturing base, while a handful of Chinese domestic brands are forging beyond their homeland. That momentum will only grow as the world goes electric.

In 2009, China became the world’s biggest consumer and manufacturer of new vehicles. The rise of the Chinese middle class has seen car sales boom from a trickle to now account for about 27 million sales

ismishko / Shutterstock.com

annually, almost one third of global production. But Chinese vehicle ownership rates still pale compared with countries such as ours. In Australia, there are about 20 million registered vehicles for a population just north of 25 million, representing almost eight vehicles for every 10 people. In China less than one in four people own a car. Clearly there’s a lot more growth potential. 

Car+Motoring

Heading down under China is also emerging as an automotive giant in the Australian market. Until 2019, cars sourced from China accounted for about 1 per cent or less of the 1.1-million-odd new vehicles sold here each year. But as Chinese manufacturers started refocusing their attention on Australia around 2019, that number started growing: 3.4 per cent in 2019, 11.4 per cent in 2021 and 15.9 per cent in 2023. Only Japan (28 per cent) and Thailand (22 per cent) sent more cars to Australia. Sales of cars sourced from China in 2023 were up by more than 57 per cent compared to sales in 2022. Dinesh Chinnappa is the general manager of LDV Australia, which was the first brand to introduce an electric ute in Australia. Chinnappa was also involved in early efforts to sell Great Wall Motors and Chery in Australia. He says it’s only a matter of time until

Chinese brands gaining a foothold Over the past few years, a handful of Chinese brands have made big inroads on the Australian market.

Taking the electric lead There’s one area where China is already leading the world electric vehicles (EV).

LDV - known as Maxus in other parts of the world - is part of the massive SAIC group that also transformed MG from a brand known for its quaint British sports cars to one that is mass manufacturing SUVs and hatchbacks for buyers on a budget. LDV now accounts for almost 2 per cent of Australian new car sales - and growing. MG is nearly at 5 per cent of the market, also with healthy growth.

The nation’s industry is well advanced in electric propulsion and EV-only brands, something that was a strategic decision led by the government well before Tesla transformed the industry more than a decade ago. LDV’s Chinnappa says the focus on electric was “absolutely strategic, absolutely planned” and sees the emergence of the new technology as pivotal to the charge of the Chinese car industry.

Great Wall Motors has rebranded as GWM and pulled the Haval, Tank and Ora sub-brands in under the same banner. While each

“Electrification has allowed China to leapfrog vehicle

testing / Shutterstock.com

THERE’S ONE AREA WHERE CHINA IS ALREADY LEADING THE WORLD - ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EV).

has different badges on the bonnet, the combined might of the models means GWM is among the fastest-growing brands on the market, with 2023 sales up 45 per cent compared to sales in 2022, in turn carving a healthy 3 per cent share.

China is the top supplier of vehicles to the Australian market. “I don’t know when it’s going to happen but it’s going to happen. It’s just a question of timing.”

development timeframes,” he says. “It takes a brand 10 or 15 years to get brand equity. What electrification has done – because it’s a new technology – it’s almost allowed China to do what Apple did to Nokia and Blackberry.” Chinnappa believes Chinese manufacturers are “leaders in the electrification of transport and the others are playing catch-up.”

World-class products A decade ago, it wasn’t difficult to find an excuse not to buy a Chinese-branded car. Build quality often didn’t match the meticulous attention to detail from Japanese and South Korean brands and safety was sometimes not high on the priority list. A 2012 recall of 23,000 Chery and Great Wall models for asbestos gaskets under the bonnet also hurt sales and confidence in the brands. The asbestos issue is a distant memory and other hangovers are fading fast.

Car+Motoring

Jenson / Shutterstock.com

Many modern Chinese cars have stylish designs, high levels of equipment and fivestar ANCAP safety ratings. And quality is light years ahead of those early models.

But there are challenges There’s no doubt cars from Chinese brands are getting closer to the best on the road. Whether it’s design, technology or quality, the likes of GWM, Chery and LDV are improving swiftly. But there are still areas to improve. Some don’t have the crispness and driver engagement that we’ve come to expect from the likes of Mazda, Kia, Hyundai and Toyota. And GWM and Chery have been criticised for lacklustre driver assist systems and drivetrain tuning. Chinnappa says head offices are listening and improve-

acceptance has been similar: identify a market segment, undercut key rivals and play the long game.

ments will come. “They enjoy the volume that Australia represents. They want the business, and they like the accolades that go with being successful in Australia, a mature, sophisticated market.”

If the product lives up to expectations, then word soon gets around. Long warranties help with peace of mind. And the longer a brand is in the country, the more chance it has of catching the eye of buyers.

A familiar path The rise of Chinese-made vehicles is no different to the path taken by car makers from other countries.

A decades-long plan

In the 1970s and 1980s we learnt to love Japanese cars, which have since gone on to be the most prolific on Australian roads. In the 1990s and 2000s it was Korean brands muscling into a busy and competitive market. There are parallels with the Chinese car makers today.

The Chinese automotive success story is far from an overnight sensation. China’s car industry has been building and maturing for decades, with plenty of government assistance. More than 100 brands exist in China, most of which have little recognition outside their homeland.

In each instance there has been early reluctance from some buyers. And in each instance the path to

Many of those brands have formed joint ventures with existing manufacturers,  17

SALES OF CARS SOURCED FROM CHINA IN 2023 WERE UP BY MORE THAN 57 PER CENT COMPARED TO SALES IN 2022.

Car+Motoring

B.Zhou / Shutterstock.com

including Toyota, Volkswagen, General Motors and others. It was a savvy move that allowed those big global manufacturers to join in on the booming domestic market while giving fledgling brands an insight into global manufacturing best practices.

CHINA’S CAR INDUSTRY HAS BEEN BUILDING AND MATURING FOR DECADES, WITH PLENTY OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

factory in 2020 and swiftly switched all Australiabound production to the new facility. Tesla is now a top 10 selling brand and one that has benefited from Chinese manufacturing. Volvo, too, started sourcing cars sold in Australia from China. Volvo Car Australia director, Stephen Connor, says there was some internal pushback early on, but following the first batch of XC60s to come from China there’s been no looking back.

Tesla was the first outside brand allowed to set up a factory in China without such a joint venture.

Western European brands increasingly turning to China Until 2021, almost all cars sent to Australia from China were from Chinese brands; they included LDV, Great Wall, Chery, Haval and Foton.

“I don’t think the customer minds,” says Connor. “As long as they know they’ve got the aftersales care if anything goes wrong with the car.”

But in 2022, brands from Europe and America started turning to China. Chief among them was Tesla, which ramped up its Shanghai

There are other advantages, too. Australia has a free trade agreement with China, which removes a 5 per cent additional cost. Plus, geography plays 18

a role. Volvos sourced from China take about three weeks to be shipped here, whereas those from further afield take between six and nine weeks.

More to come from China The Chinese brands already on the Australian market are almost certainly just the start. Others, including JAC and Nio, are likely to make the plunge down under over the next few years. Some of the existing Chinese brands also have grander plans to expand their ranges. Chery and BYD, for example, are currently developing utes aimed at the heartland of the market. Throw in traditional manufacturers increasingly open to manufacturing in China and it’s certain we’ll soon see more Chinese-made cars on Australian roads. 

ALL OPEN FOR RING YOUR HEA S D CARE NEE

Life is so much easier

I’m so happy with my first pair of hearing aids that I want to tell everyone my story. I’ve known about my tinnitus and hearing loss for something like 15 years, and I’d been to two companies over the last four years, but the feeling I got was they just wanted to sell me something. Their service wasn’t personalised and didn’t seem thorough enough. I was talking with a client, Jeff Peek who has been with Brad for years, and he told me that this company is completely different, he has had absolutely personalised service and he doesn’t know why people go anywhere else. And that is my experience too. With Brad, at no stage did I feel he was trying to sell me anything. He gave me choices, made recommendations, and what I was fitted with has made a massive difference to my life. What I hear now allows me to be myself and join in on conversations. Life is so much easier. I’m a lot more relaxed, not having to try to decipher what’s being said, which

anyone in that position knows takes up a lot of energy. In the past I’ve felt it hardly worth going where I’d be expected to have a conversation in a crowd. It was painful for me and annoying for others constantly having to ask for repeats of what had been said. The kicker to this is that I can now actually join in, be part of the conversation and pretty often have a laugh with everyone else. My wife Lisa loves our new life. She thinks it is a new world because we can actually have meaningful conversations. And she doesn’t have to put up with the television at a ridiculously loud level. Our quality of life is much better, more meaningful generally. Even my work in sales is about 10 times easier because I don’t have to stress over people’s responses. I love my hearing aids, and feel it’s the best thing I have done for myself in a very long time. I do recommend that people come and see one of the hearing professionals at Brad’s clinic. Then you’ll see what I mean. Paul Dixon.

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Car+Motoring

RAC’s Best Drives 2023

WE ROAD TESTED MORE THAN 60 NEW CARS IN 2023. HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS. By Alex Forrest

New car deliveries surged back towards pre-pandemic levels and beyond in 2023. This was largely thanks to increased production at factories, which enabled long-standing orders for many new cars to finally be filled. Adding to the increased flow through showrooms were price reductions on some models. 2023 was also the first full year of the Federal Government’s fringe benefits tax exemption for electric vehicles (EV), at a time when the market also experienced a significant increase in the number of affordable EVs to choose from. It wasn’t all rosy though – continuing interest rate rises through 2023 made it more expensive to finance a new car, while fuel prices and broader cost-of-living pressures all tempered new car sales to some extent.

But those negatives weren’t enough to stop Australian car sales reaching more than one million by October 2023. It was the first time a million had been reached so early in the year, and 100,000 more cars than the amount sold at the same point in 2022. Nowhere was this increase more prominent than in Western Australia. In the 10 months to the end of October 2023, car sales here were up by 17.7 per cent when compared to the same period in 2022. That’s the biggest percentage increase of all Australian states and territories. We didn’t sell as many cars as the bigger states, but we had the most dramatic increase.

New electric vehicles, particularly affordable ones, increased their presence in Australia significantly in 2023. The arrival of the GWM Ora (from $38,200 drive away), the MG4 ($42,630) and the BYD Dolphin ($41,760) led the charge in bringing EV prices down to earth. Those looking to get a little more amped up from their EV experience had little resistance against current models such as the Kia EV6 GT and Hyundai Ioniq 6. Here are some of the standout vehicles we drove in 2023.

Small Car

Medium Car

MG MG4

MAZDA6

PRICE (drive away from) ANCAP SAFETY RATING BODY TYPE FUEL ECONOMY/FUEL TYPE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION

 WATCH VIDEO

A range of new models entered the Australian market in 2023, including the new and long-awaited Subaru Outback XT turbo, the new Nissan X-Trail and the frenetic and furious Toyota Corolla GR.

PRICE (drive away from) ANCAP SAFETY RATING BODY TYPE FUEL ECONOMY/FUEL TYPE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION

$43,690 

Hatch 184Wh/km; electricity Electric motor; single-speed reduction gear

Compared to other MG products like the ZS small SUV and the ancient MG3, the MG4 is a huge leap forward in safety, handling prowess, build quality and infotainment system user friendliness. First and foremost, the MG4 is an up-todate, fun-to-drive and highly practical small car. It just happens to also be electric. For all the reasons above, the MG4 is one EV that thoroughly deserves to play a major role in bringing EVs to the masses.

Scan the QR code to watch the video of this year's standout cars.

$40,730 

Sedan 7.0L/100km; petrol 2.5L four cyl; 6-speed auto

Medium-sized cars may be an often-overlooked category nowadays, but if you decide to forgo an SUV in favour of a conventional car, there are benefits to be had. Compared to the equivalent Mazda CX-5 SUV, a Mazda6 G25 Touring wagon will cost about $2500 less, use less fuel and handle more sharply while keeping a comfortable ride. Driving the Mazda6 in 2023 was an excellent reminder of how much value, practicality and driving enjoyment can be crammed into this triedand-true format. Go for the wagon for extra style and practicality.

Car+Motoring

Sports Car Under $80,000

Small SUV

TOYOTA GR COROLLA

MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS PHEV

PRICE (drive away from) ANCAP SAFETY RATING BODY TYPE FUEL ECONOMY/FUEL TYPE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION

PRICE (drive away from) $51,290  ANCAP SAFETY RATING BODY TYPE SUV FUEL ECONOMY/FUEL TYPE 1.9L/100km; unleaded 91 ENGINE/TRANSMISSION 2.4-litre four cyl/plug-in hybrid; single-speed transaxle

$71,245 Not rated Hatch 8.4L/100km; premium 98 1.6L three cyl; 6-speed manual

After the usual level of fevered anticipation among enthusiasts, the most unCorolla-like Corolla ever made by Toyota was finally launched in late 2022. We drove it in early 2023 and can confirm it is absolutely sensational at plastering a smile on your dial that lasts quite a while. Gone are the 1.8-litre hybrid and 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines of regular Corollas, replaced by a small and raucous 1.6-litre turbo three-cylinder engine mated to a full-time four-wheel drive system that you can adjust to suit your driving desires. It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is one of the cheapest PHEVs on the Australian market, so while its name is a mouthful, it can also help keep your wallet full. Be diligent with recharging it after every use, and you’ll hardly have to buy any petrol at all. New for 2023 was the addition of a 240-volt power point in the boot, which is supplied by the drive battery. It’s a comfortable, compact and affordable electrified vehicle with the safety net of petrol power if you need it.

Medium SUV

Large SUV Under $70,000

NISSAN X-TRAIL ST

SUBARU OUTBACK XT TURBO

PRICE (drive away from) ANCAP SAFETY RATING BODY TYPE FUEL ECONOMY/FUEL TYPE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION

$41,475 

SUV 7.4L/100km; unleaded 91 2.5L four cyl; CVT

Among all the utes, EVs and small SUVs we drove this year, mid-sized SUVs were fighting for our attention. But we did get some seat time in the new Nissan X-Trail – the first new one in nine years. The still-competitively priced and long-overdue new X-Trail brought an all-new body design, plus an interior that refreshingly had retained physical buttons for the main controls rather than embedding them in the screen. It has no shortage of strong rivals, but the entry-level X-Trail is a wiser choice over the cheaper, bargain-basement alternatives.

$57,625 

SUV/wagon 9.0L/100km; unleaded 95 2.4L turbo four cyl; CVT

Ever since the launch of the updated Outback in early 2021, buyers had been yearning for the one option they knew was missing from the Outback range – the turbocharged XT, which was already available in the USA. By early 2023, the XT was finally available here. With markedly stronger outputs (183kW/350Nm) from a slightly smaller engine (2.4 litres), the XT completes the Outback range and makes it one of the best large SUV/wagon buys out there. 

Car+Motoring

SUV $70,000 - $150,000

All-Terrain SUV

HYUNDAI PALISADE

MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT

PRICE (drive away from) $73,760 ANCAP SAFETY RATING  BODY TYPE SUV FUEL ECONOMY/FUEL TYPE 10.7L/100km; unleaded 91 ENGINE/TRANSMISSION 3.8L V6; 8-speed auto Roomy, refined and really quite affordable luxury are the three Rs of the Hyundai Palisade, and these have continued in the current model which received a mid-life update in late 2022. Despite a price rise of between $3700 and $5700 depending on the variant, it’s still a tremendous amount of size and tech for the money which was further expanded with another update in October 2023. We strongly recommend stretching for the diesel all-wheel drive versions, which are lighter on fuel and tyre wear.

PRICE (drive away from) $52,740 (4WD) ANCAP SAFETY RATING Not rated BODY TYPE SUV FUEL ECONOMY/FUEL TYPE 8.0L/100km; diesel ENGINE/TRANSMISSION 2.4L turbo diesel; 8-speed auto The Pajero Sport deservedly was first in its class in our annual Car Running Costs survey, and it gets a mention as one of our Best Drives because it’s also great value. The model will be nine years old in 2024, and there’s a new one expected in early 2025. While not as new and refined as a Ford Everest, it is more accessible with a proven track record, and offers excellent warranty options. Four-wheel drive versions can be had with the Super Select system, which allows drivers to select 4x4 on sealed roads without damaging the drive system, which not all rivals offer.

4x4 Twin Cab Ute

Electric Car

TOYOTA HILUX GR SPORT

KIA EV6 GT

PRICE (drive away from) $82,015 ANCAP SAFETY RATING Not rated BODY TYPE Twin-cab ute FUEL ECONOMY/FUEL TYPE 8.1L/100km; diesel ENGINE/TRANSMISSION 2.8L diesel 4 cyl; 6-speed auto A bump in power, some extra bulk to the bodywork and beefed-up suspension means the Toyota Hilux GR Sport is much more than just a wheel and sticker pack. As unconvincing as it might be to describe one of the most expensive nonAmerican utes as good value, extra gear such as the underbody protection, KYB shock absorbers, a wider track, overall taller ride height and of course the 10 per cent extra power and torque all make the Hilux GR Sport an extremely capable off-roader straight out of the box.

PRICE (drive away from) ANCAP SAFETY RATING BODY TYPE FUEL ECONOMY/FUEL TYPE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION

$113,140 

Large hatch/SUV 206Wh/km (combined); electricity 1 speed (reduction gear)

The Kia EV6 GT won’t be responsible for getting as many people behind the wheel of an EV as the sub-$43,000 MG4 recognised under small cars in this feature. But as with any expensive technology, the EV6 GT shows what is possible and what might become more affordable in coming years. The EV6 GT can, on a racetrack, move the flesh on your face around with its acceleration. But it’s also completely docile driving around town with no tailpipe emissions. Those three things together in the same car were unheard-of just a few years ago. 

EUROPE 2025 1

Coach Cruise Rocky Mountaineer Stay (no. of nights)

Coach Cruise Optional Rocky Mountaineer Flight (not included in tour pric Stay (no. of nights)

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Coach Cruise Stay (no. of nights)

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Cologne

Miltenberg

Coach Cruise Stay (no. of nights) Optional Helicopter tour

Coach Ferry Optional extensions Stay (no. of nights)

Travelmarvel River Ship

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Coach Cruise *Conditions apply. SEE: Travelmarvel.com.au/specialdeals for full conditions. Book by 31 May 2024, unless sold out prior. Prices are per person (pp), AUD, twin share and include port charges and savings. Prices correct as at 2 February 2024. Price based on EUTC15:Optional 10 NovemberVIA 2025Rail (Cat. LD). OFFERS: Offers valid for new bookings only and may be withdrawn at any time. EUTC15 price inclusive of an Early Payment Discount of $500 pp, which is valid when paying in full 10 months prior to departure. FLIGHTS INCLUDED: Offer valid when booking EUTC15 departing year round in 2025 Stay (no. of nights) 1 in all cabin categories. Offer includes airfare and taxes up to the value of $2,200 per person. Offer is based on wholesale airfares in economy class with an airline of Travelmavel’s choosing depending on routing. Flights are available from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane or Perth. All offers are subject to availability of airline and booking class. Once class is sold out, surcharges apply. Should you choose to depart earlier than your scheduled tour/cruise departure, or make variations to airline routings, surcharges may apply. DEPOSITS: A $1,000 pp non-refundable deposit is due within 7 days of booking. A second non-refundable deposit of $2,000 pp is due on 31 October 2024. Final payment is due 100 days before departure. Australian Pacific Touring Pty Ltd. ABN 44 004 684 619. ATAS accreditation #A10825. TM-2539-RACW-HORIZONS

Coach Cruise Enhance your journey Stay (no. of nights)

Car+Motoring

What causes road rage? WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE SNAPS BEHIND THE WHEEL AND WHY DOES THIS BEHAVIOUR APPEAR TO BE INCREASING? By Ruth Callaghan

In a social media thread on Reddit, drivers swap strategies for combatting road rage. One driver believes changing his music selection reduced the volume of anger he would experience behind the wheel. Another says that by forcing himself to drive a few days a week in the slow lane, he is reminded that aggressive driving doesn’t necessarily mean arriving earlier. While the confession thread

is largely positive, it’s striking how the drivers report being overwhelmed by emotions that have spilled out into anger on the road.

anyone who drives regularly on WA roads, honking, tailgating and intimidation are all-toofamiliar sights. “We're seeing increased levels of aggressive behaviour on the roads, where people are getting frustrated and that has a lot of impacts,” says Will Golsby, RAC’s general manager External Relations.

In swapping their strategies for calmer commutes, these recovering road ragers offer each other support in addressing what can be a dangerous mix of anxiety, frustration and fury.

“Firstly, from a road safety perspective, it’s extremely dangerous because people

But not all aggressive drivers are as willing to change, and for

who are angry can make poor decisions on the road and that can have an impact on everyone else, whether that’s the driver of another car, a pedestrian, a cyclist or those working on the side of the road — really all road users. “But you also start to see people moving in and out of lanes, cutting off other cars while trying to get ahead, as well as more tailgating and the frustration that comes with that.

Car+Motoring

LCV / Shutterstock.com

“It’s counterproductive, because you can get ‘phantom’ traffic jams, where the stopstart behaviour of drivers is as disruptive to the flow of traffic as a crash. All that does is heighten the frustration and annoyance of everyone.”

More drivers admit to rage on the roads The incidence of road rage appears to be on the rise. Will Golsby says that in 2022, 80 per cent of RAC members reported having witnessed drivers being aggressive towards others on WA roads, an increase from 69 per cent in 2021. In August 2023, one in 10 RAC members reported being a victim of a road rage incident in the past year. And perhaps more concerning is the high proportion of drivers who admit engaging in aggressive driving. An Australian study conducted

two cars in Nedlands after a brawl between drivers on a major street.

in 2019 of nearly 3000 drivers found 60 per cent reported making angry gestures at other drivers, 70 per cent conceded sounding their horn in anger and 18 per cent admitted engaging in more extreme behaviour, such as chasing someone on the road.

Early in 2023, a Perth man was stabbed multiple times and hospitalised after an altercation with another driver. It came just a few days after a man was fined for arming himself with a pole and attempting to assault a delivery driver.

Among younger male drivers, extreme aggression was reported by more than one in three.

What triggers violent outbursts?

While most encounters are minor, leaving bad feelings rather than bent fenders, some of those extreme incidents spiral into deliberate collisions, physical altercations, assault and even worse.

Dr Steven Love, of the University of the Sunshine Coast, has spent years studying aggressive behaviour on the roads and says understanding the reasons for aggressive driving can be complex.

In August 2023, a 70-yearold motorcycle rider was charged over allegations that he assaulted a 91-yearold car driver in Perth’s south, allegedly accusing the older man of cutting him off in traffic.

It can range from behaviours like speeding or breaking of road rules, which might be motivated by frustration, to more reactive behaviours like tailgating, which occurs in response to other drivers 

In the same month, a man’s leg was crushed between 25

IN AUGUST 2023, ONE IN 10 RAC MEMBERS REPORTED BEING A VICTIM OF A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT IN THE PAST YEAR.

Car+Motoring

can be triggered by slow or thoughtless drivers.

on the road, to interpersonal aggression, such as pursuing another car, or assault.

FOR OTHER ROAD USERS, FEELING THE FURY OF AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER CAN BE TERRIFYING.

Depending on their mood, the circumstance and the environment, such as whether there is heavy traffic, the likelihood of one of these drivers acting aggressively, and the level of that aggression, can sharply increase.

“The road is a place where people hold differing beliefs about speeding, attitudes towards laws, perceptions of risk, experiences with driving, road cultures, and driving capabilities, and this creates friction,” he says.

Far from being worried about their aggressive actions, though, many of these drivers believe they are justified in their angry response, given a perceived error of someone else on the road.

“One of the primary issues with aggressive driving is that the behaviours are initiated instantaneously and can be an unconscious response to emotional impulses.

“The three interactive traits that stand out are antisocial tendencies, poor selfawareness, and impulsivity,” Dr Love says.

“Therefore, the ability to manage anger is largely dependent on how well you can recognise and self-regulate the impulses and thoughts that are driving the behaviour.”

“It’s been found that those who exhibit anti-social traits are more likely to attribute their aggression towards others as justified and a necessary method of teaching others a lesson.

His work has included looking at so-called ‘trait aggressive drivers’, who tend to exhibit low patience, are more prone to speeding, and who

“People with these traits have also been demonstrated to be more likely to lack insight into their anger, in that they are more likely to engage in aggressive driving behaviour without awareness, and without inhibition. “Having an awareness of one’s thoughts and feelings can help people identify when their behaviour is being negatively influenced and implement strategies to selfregulate their anger.”

Digging in on aggression While some aggressive drivers become remorseful when confronted with their actions, those with poor selfawareness do not. They instead dwell on all the things the other person is thought to have done wrong, which ‘forced’ them to act in this aggressive way.

Car+Motoring

“In our recent study, a lot of people reported that they reflected on their behaviour following aggressive driving incidents and used this to help improve their reactions in the future,” Dr Love says.

road rage speak of being afraid to venture back to the location where it happened or being more nervous about getting back on the road. Some describe depression or trauma after the event.

“In contrast, trait-aggressive drivers, who tended to hold anti-social beliefs, appeared to be less likely to reflect on their own aggressive behaviours but more likely to ruminate on how others made them feel angry.

Dr Love says everyone should be aware that even minor mistakes on the road can be viewed by some as a provocation.

“Rumination can be quite harmful because it strengthens the justification for anger and increases the propensity for out-of-control anger the next time a trigger is presented.”

Becoming a victim For other road users, feeling the fury of an aggressive driver can be terrifying. Those who have encountered

the best thing to do is simply move out of their way.

for aggressive drivers to leave their anger behind.

“Even if you are in the right, it’s sometimes better to concede, as responding in a way that doesn’t de-escalate a situation can lead to further aggression.”

“Essentially, making an effort to identify and understand one’s own thoughts and feelings is a good first step, as it’s quite difficult to manage a behaviour that’s driven by processes we aren’t even aware of or understand,” he says.

RAC’s Will Golsby agrees that de-escalation is the right response, wherever possible. “There’s a good reason just to stay calm and not get caught up in what’s happening in the traffic around you.

“Anger can be caused by a feeling of injustice, and aggression is a way of communicating that. If you’ve made a mistake that has triggered another driver, a simple acknowledgement of your error should help de-escalate someone’s anger, as they’ll feel heard.

“You don’t want to make things worse, and you need to be aware that frustration and anger will lead to bad decisions, which can have a ripple effect across traffic.”

Dialling down the rage

“However, if you’re in a situation where another driver is putting pressure on you, such as tailgating, I believe

Dr Love says that with better self-regulation, it is possible 27

“There are currently a lot of mindfulness-based practices and apps that can help foster this sort of learning. “Alternatively, a strategy known as positive reappraisal is considered very helpful. Drivers who have success in regulating their anger on the road have reported just ‘letting it go’, taking on the perspective that they have no control over events like this and that there is no point letting the event affect them any further.” 

All-inclusive Small Group 4WD Adventures

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No. of nights Start point

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Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, QLD

No. of nights Start point End point

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Weipa 1

Moreton 2 Telegraph Station Lotusbird Lodge 2

Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)

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Uluru –

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• Journey to Pajinka, the northernmost tip of the Australian mainland

• Visit Kings Canyon for a guided scenic walk and journey through the West MacDonnell Ranges, visiting Standley Chasm and Ormiston Gorge

• Experience the ancient Daintree Rainforest along the Bloomfield Track

• Visit World Heritage Listed Uluru and enjoy a guided base tour

• Take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of Fruit Bat Falls

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*For Red Centre Explorer, prices are per person, twin share, based on “The Time Is Now” sale fare when booked by 30/04/2024 for travel between 03/09/2024-12/10/2024. For Cape York Wilderness Adventure, prices are per person, twin share, based on “The Time Is Now” sale fare when booked by 30/04/2024 for travel between 30/05/2024-09/07/2024. If departure date is within 100 days full payment is due within 7 days. Full cancellation fees applied if booking is cancelled within 100 days of tour departure. Tours are subject to availability. Prices and availability correct as at 19 January 2024. Visit outbackspirittours.com.au for full terms and conditions.

$2,200 * pc

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No. of Nights Stay Off Train Experience

• 2 nights aboard The Ghan, Adelaide to Darwin, including all meals, Train Journey beverages and Off Train Experiences in Marla, Alice Springs and Outback Spirit Touring Katherine • Transfer from Darwin Rail Terminal to hotel • 1 night’s accommodation in Darwin, including breakfast • 2 nights of intimate small-group Kakadu, East Alligator River and Litchfield touring with Outback Spirit, travelling on board a stateof-the-art 4WD Mercedes- Benz vehicle, including accommodation, guided touring, meals and beverages • 2 nights’ accommodation in Darwin, including breakfast daily • Darwin Harbour sunset dinner cruise

• NEW ITINERARY – 4 nights aboard the Indian Pacific, Perth to Sydney, including all meals, beverages and Off Train Experiences in Kalgoorlie, Cook, Barossa Valley, Broken Hill, and the Blue Mountains • Enjoy a signature dining experience at Seppeltsfield Winery • Travel through the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains to Sydney • Transfer from Sydney Central Station to hotel • 3 nights’ accommodation in Sydney, including breakfast daily • Sydney Harbour Lunch Cruise • Cruise Sydney Harbour aboard Migloo, a 78ft luxury vessel, while enjoying a premium lunch

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*Top End Explorer: Advertised Gold Twin prices are per person, based on the Advanced Saver Holiday fare on the Ghan in March-April 2025 and September-October 2025. Advertised Gold Premium Twin Cabin prices are per person, based on the Everyday Holiday fare on the Ghan in March-April 2025 and September-October 2025. Sydney Discovery: Advertised Gold Twin prices are per person, based on the Advanced Saver Holiday fare on the Indian Pacific in January-May 2025, August 2025, and December 2025. Advertised Gold Premium Twin Cabin prices are per person, based on the Everyday Holiday fare on the Indian Pacific in January-May 2025, August 2025, and December 2025. RAC members save 5% off the rail portion only of Everyday fare prices on new Gold Twin, Gold Single, Gold Access, and Gold Suite Cabin bookings. 25% deposit due at time of booking with full payment due at 45 days from departure date. Full cancellation fees apply if booking is cancelled within 45 days of departure date. Tours are subject to availability. Prices and availability correct as at 30 January 2024. Visit https:// www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/ for full terms and conditions.

Travel+Touring

Tourism Western Australia

Five autumn road trips from Perth We’ve compiled itineraries and highlights for five autumn road trips from Perth that you can find on our website by scanning the QR code on page 33 with your mobile phone’s camera. Some are old favourites, others may be places you haven’t visited for a while. So, if you’re looking for some inspiration and maybe some new reasons to consider making the trip, here are some highlights to tempt you.

Perth to Dwellingup 1hr 35min 102km Not being a long haul from Perth and with an abundance of outdoor activities and forest scenery, this is a great trip for families who want the atmosphere of a holiday in the far south without a long drive. Already well known as a camping destination, Dwellingup has a good number of other accommodation options, including chalets, cottages and farm stays. There’s plenty to keep kids of all ages busy, including a high ropes course with

WITH THE STRONG SUMMER WINDS SUBSIDING AND STILL PLENTY OF WARMTH AND SUNSHINE, AUTUMN IS A GREAT TIME TO TOUR THE SOUTHERN HALF OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. By Vanessa Pogorelic

Treetops Adventure, kayaking on the Murray River or having an up-close animal encounter at Ranger Redz Zoo. Drop by Vergones Fruit Stall for fresh fruit and amazing sweets in the cakes cabinet. Garden Eats is a popular café where you order from a converted horse float and sit in the shade of the leafy courtyard. The cafe is on the site of the Lost Eden Art Gallery. Blue Wren Café is another favourite with locals. Redgum Wine Estate opened a cellar door late last year. Located just outside of the town, it’s open for tastings and lunch. For mountain biking enthusiasts, just on the edge of Dwellingup town, a network of mountain bike trails wind through the forest, with trails for all skill levels. At Lane Poole Reserve, the renowned Murray Valley trails open up a further 50km of exhilarating forest rides. Whatever the pace you want to travel at, there’s lots to love about autumn in Dwellingup. rac.com.au/DwellingupRoadtrip 30

Perth to Margaret River 3hr 30min 275km Yes, you probably know enough about this place that it doesn’t need a mention but stay with us – this is not about the usual Margaret River drawcards. Wineries, fine dining and breathtaking coastline without doubt define this region but there’s a lot more you may not yet have uncovered. The Margaret River Discovery Tour is a wine tour with a difference, combining a canoe trip down the Margaret River, a four-wheel drive adventure to the spectacular Wilyabrup Cliffs and exclusive behind-the-scenes winery access. Away from the wineries, at the Eagles Heritage raptor sanctuary, you can watch flight displays of hawks, eagles and falcons and get a selfie with one of the resident owls. For a very different nature experience, visit Discover Deadly, where you can come (safely) face-to-face with snakes, 

Tourism Australia

Tourism Western Australia

Tourism Australia

Travel+Touring

TOP: Margaret River Adventure Co. is the only coasteering tour company in Australia; LEFT: Murray Valley Mountain Bike Trail in Lane Poole Reserve, Dwellingup; ABOVE: Canoe trip down the Margaret River with The Margaret River Discovery Tour.

Travel+Touring spiders and frilled neck lizards. Discover Deadly’s mission is to change attitudes towards many of these misunderstood creatures. They can also teach you about keeping reptiles as pets.

Perth to Albany 4hr 40min 418km The Great Southern region is brimming with spectacular sights all year round but visiting while it’s blanketed in autumn shades is extra special.

There’s a new self-guided tour of Ngilgi Cave where you’ll learn about local Aboriginal peoples’ cultural connections to Wadandi and Bibbulman country. Or go on a self-guided torchlight tour deep into Giants Cave, the region’s biggest cave.

To break up the drive down Albany Highway, The Kodja Place interpretive centre and its giant maze is well worth a stop. It also has a café and outdoor play spaces. Once in Albany, you can enjoy the atmosphere and amenities of this bustling regional city while still being surrounded by stunning natural wonders.

Back up at ground level, a coasteering adventure will take you to parts of the Margaret River coast that most people never see. This fast-growing sport blends rock climbing, abseiling and cliff jumping along coastal stretches, into one adrenaline-filled experience. Margaret River Adventure Co. is the only coasteering tour company in Australia.

Attractions not to miss include the award-winning National Anzac Centre and the Historic Whaling Station. The vibrant Albany Farmers Market is also a must-do for visitors. Albany’s food scene is impressive, from the harbourside pub Due South, to nationally acclaimed bar-restaurant Liberté.

And there are many more reasons to spend some calm autumn days uncovering a new side of Margs. rac.com.au/MargsRoadtrip

For those planning on tackling some

hiking trails, the Castle Rock Trail in Porongurup National Park will reward you with spectacular views from the skywalk, which winds around the summit’s granite outcrop. And further north, in the Stirling Range National Park, for those who’ve already conquered Bluff Knoll, consider ticking the Mount Toolbrunup hike off your list. It’s the park’s second-highest peak but with equally breathtaking views. rac.com.au/AlbanyRoadtrip

Perth to Denmark 4hr 30min 422km Mild days with clear blue skies make autumn a great time for bush walks on forest trails, mountain biking, wine tasting and fishing in and around Denmark. The Taste Great Southern Food and Wine Festival is also on from 2-12 May with acclaimed national chefs coming to town and the region’s fresh produce in the spotlight.

National Anzac Centre ©

EA Given / Shutterstock.com

Amazing Albany

LEFT: Enjoy fresh produce from across the Great Southern region; BOTTOM LEFT: The Valley of the Giant’s Tree Top Walk; BELOW: The National Anzac Centre in Albany’s Heritage Park.

Tourism Western Australia

Tourism Australia

Travel+Touring

ABOVE: Taking in the aerial views of Esperance by helicopter; TOP RIGHT: Floating in the saltwater pool near Wave Rock Resort; RIGHT: Greens Pool, Denmark.

For the kids, the Denmark Animal Farm has a petting zoo where the little ones can also help bottle-feed some of the animals. It’s also a working alpaca farm with a gift shop that sells items made with alpaca fleece. For little dinosaur fans, Denmark Dinosaur World is not to be missed. To get a bird’s-eye view of the lush forest, head for the Tree Top Walk in the Valley of the Giants and take a walk high up in the tree canopy. rac.com.au/DenmarkRoadtrip

the destination and includes stops at some iconic landmarks, and also some hidden gems. One of the more unexpected discoveries you’ll make along the way is the saltwater pool not far from Wave Rock, where you can float weightlessly in water that is six times saltier than the ocean. Finding a yabby farm in the middle of the Wheatbelt is also a little unexpected, as is WA’s most inland winery, Walkers Hill. Once in Esperance, the dazzling snowwhite beaches and coastal scenery are the main event. You can take a cruise out to the offshore islands or get there via helicopter, with new helicopter tours now operating from the Esperance foreshore.

755km total

In addition to immersing yourself in the coast, you can also take a tour of a working farm, join a glass making workshop or visit the cellar door of a local gin distillery.

The drive from Perth to Esperance is a long one, so breaking it up is a good idea. You’ll also be surprised at how much there is to see on the way there. Our itinerary is as much about the drive as it is about

Mild autumn temperatures are perfect for the drive with the days still warm enough to enjoy all of those famous Esperance beaches. rac.com.au/EsperanceRoadtrip 

Perth to Esperance with stops

Tourism Western Australia

Even if it’s too cool to swim, make sure you get to Greens Pool in William Bay National Park. The small, calm bay is enclosed by giant, rounded boulders. Just around the corner at Elephant Rocks those boulders take on the shape of a herd of elephants looking out over the ocean.

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To see the full itineraries for these road trips, scan the QR code with your mobile phone’s camera.

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News and info for WA travellers

WA travel brief An off-road adventure that’s ready when you are The time and effort required to prepare for an off-road camping trip, including the outlay for equipment and accessories, can be a barrier to many would-be off-road adventurers. Now Perth-based company 4xploring Rentals is providing four-wheel drives for hire that are fully kitted out and ready to go. Their range includes vehicles with rooftop tents, awnings, and other camping accessories. You can choose from a Toyota Hilux camper, a Prado camper or a 300 series four-wheel drive. 4xploring also offer personalised packages that include food and other supplies pre-loaded in the vehicle. Add-ons such as fishing rods, swags and camp toilets can be included as well. So, all you need to do is start the ignition and drive off. To see all the options available and to book, visit 4xploringrentals.au

SAVE ON A TALL TIMBERS TASTING EXPERIENCE Manjimup’s renowned Tall Timbers restaurant is a beacon for food lovers visiting the Southern Forests region, showcasing some of the best local seasonal produce. Right now, RAC members can receive an exclusive 12 per cent discount on the Tall Timbers Tasting Experience. You’ll enjoy a selection of benchmark wines paired with delicious gourmet bites that hero the flavours of the region. Choose from the Taste Tall experience or the Ultimate Taste Tall experience, which includes a specialty main course. If you’re staying at RAC Karri Valley Resort, Tall Timbers is approximately 30 minutes north-east in the heart of truffle country. To get your 12 per cent discount code and to buy your tickets, visit racparksandresorts.com.au/tall-timbers

Travel+Touring

MINI GOLF COMES TO BURSWOOD PARK Burswood Park’s latest attraction is a full 18-hole mini golf course inspired by the Western Australian landscape.

Matagarup Zip + Climb, and is located between The Camfield and the Zip + Climb office in Burswood Park.

Located on the banks of the Swan River with the city skyline as a backdrop, Perth’s newest mini-golf features locally made sculptures, a large stream, and mature native trees.

The course has been designed to be accessible to all, with nine of the 18 holes wheelchair accessible. The site also includes an event space and a kiosk.

Matagarup Mini Golf has been developed by the team behind

You can find more details at perthminigolf.com.au

SPECTACULAR AUTUMN COLOURS NOW ON SHOW IN BALINGUP More than 100 years ago the first trees were planted at a site in Balingup that is now Western Australia’s largest arboretum. If you’ve never seen it, autumn is one of the best times to visit. Balingup’s Golden Valley Tree Park boasts the most diverse botanic collection of trees in WA. Set on a massive 60-hectare landscaped park in Balingup’s hills, the heritage-listed park is divided into two sections, one with native Australian trees and the other is the World Collection.

Eco Abrolhos Stargazing Cruise

Altogether, the park features more than 3000 individual trees.

Spend five days cruising the stunning Abrolhos Islands by day and exploring the sparkling skies at night on the Eco Abrolhos Stargazing Cruise. Free from light pollution, the night skies around the islands are quite simply dazzling and among the best locations for viewing details such as Saturn’s rings. By night, guest astronomer Donna Vanzetti will provide some fascinating insights into modern and ancient Aboriginal astronomy with a powerful telescope also on board. And by day, you can snorkel through the turquoise waters,

enjoy a fishing experience and watch the crew pull in some fresh crays for an ocean-to-plate feast. The Stargazing Cruise on board the Eco Abrolhos departs from Geraldton and includes a fully airconditioned en-suite cabin, all meals and a return flight to Geraldton from East Wallaby Island. For more details, visit ecoabrolhos.com.au

You can wind your way through the site on one of the many walk trails. There are also barbeques and picnic tables if you’d like to stay longer. Dogs are permitted but should be kept on lead. Golden Valley Tree Park is just south of Balingup and is sign-posted from South Western Highway. 

News, tips, reviews and how-tos

Camping + caravanning Perth Caravan and Camping Show The biggest expo of its kind in Western Australia, the Perth Caravan and Camping Show returns to the Claremont Showground from 21-24 March. This is your opportunity to take a look inside a huge range of caravans, campers and motorhomes, explore new caravan and camping products and discover interesting accessories and gadgets. In addition to live demonstrations, there will also be a range of informative seminars to attend over the four days. You can also come and say ‘hi’ to the RAC team at stand 259 and find out more about our nine Parks and Resorts across WA, plus the many other RAC products and services that can support your travels around the state. For more details and opening times, visit caravanandcampingshow.com.au

MAINTAINING YOUR CARAVAN IN STORAGE In between road trips, the best thing you can do to maintain your caravan is to store it under cover. Constant exposure to the elements will cause rubber seals to gradually perish. When that happens, water can find its way in, which is especially problematic when it gets into the roof. If you can’t store it under cover, invest in

a good-quality caravan cover that’s the correct size. Before fitting it, wash your caravan’s exterior to prevent mould and mildew buildup while stored and to wash off any dust and damaging salt. Then make sure the cover is well secured so wind can’t get under it and damage the cover, and possibly scuff your van.

When parking up your caravan for extended periods, also make sure it’s on a level surface and that the tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure to prevent flat spots. Caravan wheel covers can help extend the life of your tyres by keeping the sun off when not in use. They’re inexpensive and relatively easy to fit.

Whether your caravan is stored under cover or not, you should regularly check all rubber seals and repair where needed.

For more details about storing your caravan, including where you can and can’t park it, visit rac.com.au/CaravanStorage

Travel+Touring

How to reverse your caravan The one thing so many firsttime caravan owners tell us they struggle with is reversing their caravan. Watch our instructional videos to get some important pointers on how to master the art of reversing your van, both with and without a spotter. To watch the videos, scan the QR code with your mobile phone’s camera.

 WATCH VIDEO

STICKYBEAK INSIDE BEC AND WAYNE’S CARAVAN Bec and Wayne take us on a stickybeak through their Design RV CRX 22ft Semi-Off Road caravan. They’ve made quite a few modifications to the van, including adding a lithium-ion battery and inverter system so they can go completely off-grid, and a telescopic table leg that allows the table to be moved and also turned into another bed. To have a stickybeak through Bec and Wayne’s caravan, watch the video walk-through by scanning the QR code with your mobile phone’s camera.

TIP: CHECK YOUR GAS CYLINDER FOR LEAKS Periodically you should check the connections and hoses on all of your gas cylinders for leaks. All you’ll need is a spray bottle with a 50/50 mix of water and detergent in it. Spray the connections and look for any bubbles. Seeing no bubbles indicates the connections are well sealed and safe. If you do see bubbles, shut the gas off immediately. Try tightening the hose by hand and check again with the soapy water. If you continue to see bubbles, keep the gas shut off. The O ring on the connection may need replacing, in which case you’ll need to take it to a licensed gas appliance repairer. To keep your van and campsite safe, it’s a good idea to keep a small, portable gas leak detector on hand.

Like to share a stickybeak through your caravan? Contact us at horizons@rac.com.au

 WATCH VIDEO

WHAT DO YOU THINK? This is the first edition of our new caravan and camping section. To ensure we’re including the information you want most, take our short survey and let us know what you’d like to see covered here. Visit rac.com.au/caravan-survey 

Do you have a tip or hack you’d like to share? Email horizons@rac.com.au

Travel+Touring

Walking tours in the Kimberley A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Life’s An Adventure

By Mark Daffey

Travel+Touring

Inspiration Outdoors

LEFT: Hiking at the Bungle Bungle Range; BELOW: Camping on the Gibb River Road.

Much of Western Australia’s Kimberley region is best seen by four-wheel drive. But there are plenty of opportunities to park the vehicle in favour of exploring the region on foot, either as part of an organised tour or independently. There’s no doubt that the Kimberley region contains some of Australia’s most spectacular scenery. Brittle mountain ranges resembling banded beehives mask shadowy gorges wearied by time. Ferny rock holes fed by trickling waterfalls create refreshing pools for swimming.

With few exceptions, most hiking tours focus on sights along the Gibb River Road and Bungle Bungle Range. Tours depart almost exclusively during the Dry Season, from May to September. Hiking outside those months can be uncomfortably hot, while roads flood regularly, impacting access.

To see its coastline, you’ll almost certainly need to jump on board a cruise, while to explore its rugged interior properly requires four-wheel-drive expertise. But motorised vehicles only get you so far. To really see the best of the Kimberley, you have to go by foot.

If you opt for an organised hike, there are options to suit different interests, budgets and fitness levels, accommodating those who want some luxury, all the way to hardcore hikers. Here are just some of the tours on offer and their highlights, along with some must-do hikes in the region for those who prefer to create their own adventure.

By far, the easiest way to do that – though, by no means is it essential – is by joining a commercial hiking tour.

For hardcore hikers Departing once a year, Willis’s Walkabouts’ 15-day ‘Mitchell Plateau No. 2’ itinerary requires hikers to carry seven days of food on their backs. This is hardcore hiking at its most extreme, requiring rockhopping and bush-bashing around the lower falls region of the Mitchell River. So, why do it? Because you’ll probably see no one else the entire time as you camp on sandy riverbanks or rock ledges – always beside refreshing waterholes. And you’ll explore little-visited gorges and waterfalls, as well as seeing Aboriginal rock art that’s many thousands of years old. The company also hosts hiking trips around the Drysdale River, and – unusually – wet season hikes from January to March. bushwalkingholidays.com.au 

Travel+Touring

If reward for effort features high on your list of hiking criteria, it doesn’t get any better than Walk Into Luxury’s 5-day ‘Kimberley Walk at El Questro Homestead’ tour. Bring your swimmers on private guided walks to Emma and El Questro gorges and Zebedee Springs. Champagne toasts, sunset drinks at a scenic lookout, a clifftop dinner and a full-day heli-hiking experience to Purnululu National Park are all part of the package. Even better is the opportunity to bunk down at the end of the day in a Gorge View Room at the fabled El Questro Homestead, overlooking Chamberlain Gorge. Optional upgrades include heli-hikes to Mitchell Falls or Miri Miri Falls. walkintoluxury.com

For those who want to see it all Want to see as much as possible during a Kimberley hiking holiday? Australian Walking Holidays’ 13-day ‘Kimberley Explorer’ covers all bases along the Gibb River Road and Great Northern Highway, between Broome and Kununurra. Hikes to waterfalls, swimming holes and lookouts at Mt Hart, Mt Barnett, Manning Creek, El Questro, Kununurra, Purnululu National Park and Larrawa Station are included. No hikes exceed 9km, with only daypacks required. Accommodation is in tents at national parks and station campgrounds. australianwalkingholidays.com

For high-flyers Life’s An Adventure offers guided pack-free walks across Australia and abroad, distinguishing itself from other operators by always adding what they call a ‘wow factor’.

In the case of their 6-day ‘Kimberley, Bungles & Beyond Walk’, that comes in the form of a scenic flight from Kununurra to the Bungle Bungle Range. There’s also an option to add a heli-hiking experience to the upper reaches of the Piccaninny Gorge. The trip focuses on the East Kimberley’s attractions on a round-trip route from Kununurra. Accommodation is in comfortable hotels, lodges and resort cabins. Departures are scheduled during May and June only. lifesanadventure.com.au

For survivalists Want to know how to survive in the harsh Australian bush? Adventure Out’s 7-day ‘Bushcraft Skills Trek’ ventures into remote country bordering El Questro Station, 100km from the nearest road or track. Hikers can leave their phones at home as they develop navigational skills and recognise dangers while traversing the dramatic landscapes of the Chamberlain Valley on a 65km route, carrying all equipment on their backs. Trips can be tailored to your liking to include four-wheeldrive support or backpack expedition-style treks. adventureout.com.au

For budgetconscious trekkers Inspiration Outdoors’ 13-day ‘Kimberley Walking Tour’ ticks off all the big-ticket hiking attractions – Bell Creek Gorge, El Questro and the Bungle Bungle Range. Accommodation is in semi-permanent tented camps that help reduce tour fees, with two-night Kununurra stays included at The Cambridge. Transport is by air-conditioned, custombuilt four-wheel-drive coach.

Life’s An Adventure

For luxury lovers

Travel+Touring For culture vultures

Mark Daffey

Kingfisher Tours have been operating small-group tours out of Kununurra for 30 years. Their one-night ‘Purnululu Experience’ tours are led by Aboriginal Custodian for Country guides, whose stories of the land and Dreamtime fables are sure to leave a lasting impression. Included is one night at the APT-owned Bungle Bungle Wilderness Lodge with a three-course meal, open fire and stargazing assured. Most other meals are included in the package, as well as a sunset drink at the Piccaninny Creek Lookout. kingfishertours.com.au

Walk Into Luxury

Independent travel

Inspiration Outdoors

Prefer to avoid commercial hiking tours? You won’t be alone. Plenty of independent travellers head to the Kimberley to explore the region in their own time. Most make the journey in four-wheel drives in order to tackle the 660km Gibb River Road, home to gorges, waterfalls, river crossings and ranges. If you’ve got time, stop at every single one of them; you won’t regret it. Entrance fees and camping fees apply for most sights, though none will break the bank.

Inspiration Outdoors

The alternative is to stick to the blacktop Great Northern Highway – the gateway to Purnululu National Park and the Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater. A popular route includes both roads on a loop from Kununurra or Broome.

El Questro At El Questro, Zebedee Springs is an easy 600m return hike to a natural oasis set amongst lush livistona palm trees. Other popular

TOP TO BOTTOM: Taking in the views from the banks of the Gibb River; Walk Into Luxury’s heli-hike to Mitchell Falls; Exploring the giant banded domes of the Bungle Bungle Range; Hikers make their way through Tunnel Creek; LEFT: Life’s An Adventure’s Kimberley, Bungles & Beyond Walk.

hikes on the station include a 3.2km return hike to Emma Gorge, at the base of a 65m-tall waterfall, or a 5km loop to a beautiful swimming hole at Moonshine Gorge. The hike to Amalia Gorge requires some rock scrambling over large sandstone slabs and passes clearwater pools and multi-tiered cascades. It’s necessary to cross a creek before you reach the trailhead to El Questro Gorge and the amount of sweat required to continue on increases the further you go. The 5km hike up to the Champagne Springs pool is the longest designated walk at El Questro and includes tough terrain, loose rocks and little shade.

Mirima National Park Four walking trails spread out across the Mirima National Park, on the outskirts of Kununurra. These range from a 400m hike to the Demboong Banan lookout over town to the 3.5km Yoorrnging Geranyem Banan loop that descends through a natural waterway system, traversing open woodlands, passing Aboriginal rock art sites and incorporating stairs and a ladder.

Mt Hart and Mt Barnett stations In the West Kimberley, Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) is a 2km return walk. Dalmanyi (Bell Gorge) forms part of the Wunaamin Conservation Park on Mt Hart Station and is an easy 1km walk down a marked trail. The hike to the main swimming hole at Matthew Gorge – also on Mt Hart Station – will take one hour from the car park. Galvans Gorge is the most accessible gorge along the Gibb River Road. 

The 3km hike into Manning Gorge on Mt Barnett Station begins at the campground. It requires hikers to swim across Manning Creek or, alternatively, make use of a rope-guided dinghy. The trail is mostly unshaded and uneven, requiring a rock scramble at the end. The reward is one of the best swimming holes in the Kimberley. Longer trails include the 8.6km return hike to Mitchell Falls in the Mitchell River National Park, following the Punamii-Uunpuu walking trail. Road access is via the fourwheel-drive-only Kalumburu Road. Further along the trail is the Mertens Gorge waterfall. View Aboriginal rock art along the way.

Mt Elizabeth and Home Valley stations Mt Elizabeth Station is located midway along the Gibb River Road, so it makes an ideal stopover. It contains numerous hiking trails to gorges and sandy beaches. Wunnamurra Gorge is the star attraction, requiring a bumpy 90-minute drive then a 1.5km walk to a lookout point next to a waterfall. Ladders allow access down to the pool and there are two known Aboriginal rock art sites. Closer to Kununurra, Home

ABOVE: Trekkers pass through a rocky gorge; BELOW: Manning Gorge is one of the best swimming holes in the Kimberley.

Valley Station contains walking trails to lookouts, gorges, waterfalls and the Nyarli Lagoon that’s popular with birdwatchers. If you’ve got the time and energy, tackle the Bindoola Gorge Lookout Trail, where the views over the Bindoola Gorge, Cockburn Range and Pentecost River never disappoint.

Purnululu National Park You’ll find the Kimberley region’s most spectacular scenery in Purnululu National Park – a fact recognised by UNESCO in 2003 when it bestowed World Heritage status upon the park for its exceptional beauty. The striped, 350-million-year-old sandstone domes of the Bungle Bungle Range evaded detection for hundreds of years but must be seen on any trip to this region. You could spend days hiking around here, including the overnight hike through Piccaninny Gorge. Cathedral Gorge, Echidna Chasm and the Piccaninny Creek Lookout are all stunning hikes. 

Inspiration Outdoors

The return hike along the sandy trail through Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge), which is often combined with a visit to Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek), measures 7km. It follows the course of the Lennard River as it carves a path through a 375-million-yearold Devonian reef system. Shine a torch over the water here at night and hundreds of freshwater crocodile eyes will stare back at you.

Australian Walking Holidays

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Travel+Touring

LEFT: Getting some air at Dianella Regional Open Space.

New mountain bike trails for 2024 By Travis Deane

Western Australia continues to develop as a premier destination for mountain biking, with a diverse range of MTB parks in some amazing locations, including new parks and trails around Perth. 2023 closed out with some exciting new additions to WA’s already flourishing MTB scene. We saw the opening of Booyeembara Park in Fremantle, featuring WA’s first micro downhill trails. Extra trails were added to the ever-popular Kalamunda network and improvements and additions were made to the Collie region’s ever-growing network of trails. With even more trail development in the works both in Perth and the regions, there will be plenty to keep MTB enthusiasts busy in 2024. Here’s what riders have to look forward to in and around Perth in the year ahead.

Dianella Regional Open Space Adding to the existing facilities, which were great for beginners and kids, some new jumps have been included. There was already a pump track located at the northern end of the park, with various lines offering riders easy to more advanced options. There’s also an interesting skills loop with some basic and fun structures, including skinny planks to ride along to test your balance. The skills loop is great for riders who are new to mountain biking and are nervous about hitting the trails as it provides the opportunity to try some common features encountered on MTB trails in a controlled environment.

Three jump lines from beginner to advanced were added in November 2023, each consisting of three jumps and a berm to hook you back around towards the start. These are tabletop jumps, allowing you to take small steps in your jumping journey. This sort of introductory jump line has largely been missing around Perth, with John Dunn Reserve in Kelmscott being the notable exception. With three jumps designed specifically for repetition, these new jumps should prove to be a great asset for Perth.

Booyeembara Park, Fremantle ‘Boo’ Park in Fremantle has always had kids on bicycles scratching around on a thin sliver of land between the golf course and the regional park. That terrain, on the southern boundary of the park, has a 

Travel+Touring

ABOVE: Ben Connor descending the final stretch of the southern loop of the Noolbenger Trail; RIGHT: Booyeembara Park in Fremantle is a unique riding experience in WA.

nice, consistent gradient making it perfect for jumps. Steps were made to formalise this area last year, and what has been produced is a unique riding experience in WA. Boo Park MTB facilities are unlike anything else in Western Australia. It can perhaps best be described as an urban downhill jump flow line. There is a pump track at the bottom next to the carpark and an easy fire road to ride to the top, right next to the two downhill lines, giving riders an opportunity to inspect the structures they will soon try to conquer. The dirt has been treated with a resin that makes it as hard as concrete. It also makes it very fast. There are two lines, with the right line having a range of tabletop jumps and berms that are about 400m long. The left line is around the same length but with more advanced and bigger structures. With the hard surface and challenging features, additional protection is advised. Since opening in July 2023, this pocket park has been a popular destination for riders of all ages and abilities who want to get their bikes in the air.

John Forrest National Park On Perth’s doorstep, John Forrest National Park has been enjoyed by cyclists riding on the long 40km+ Railway Heritage Loop, which loops from the suburbs up to Mount Helena and back down through the park, with the option of riding through a disused tunnel. There had been ongoing work in 2023 to existing walking trails in the park and a focus on making an easy (green) offroad cycling trail for all the family to use. The resulting trail has been called Noolbenger (the Noongar name for honey possum) and is now available to ride, with (hopefully) another more technical trail being added in 2024. The Noolbenger Trail is designed for cyclists but intended for shared use, so trail runners can enjoy the trail as well. Unlike Dianella and Booyeembara, this ride is less about testing skill levels and more about getting out into the beautiful scenery of the national park. The complete loop is 16km which may be too far for some. The Railway Heritage Loop trail bisects this loop, meaning you can choose to complete the 16km loop, or only the northern or

Travel+Touring

Scan the QR code to see these new MTB trails in action.

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ABOVE: Rohin Adams racing in the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Master World Championship crossing the new bridge linking the trails at Dwellingup to the day use facilities.

southern half, returning on the Railway Heritage Trail, which cuts through the middle. With it being predominately a cycling trail, other users are asked to yield to cyclists.

Kalamunda Mountain Bike Trails The Kalamunda trail network is Western Australia’s most popular mountain biking trail network and last year it got some new trails and reboots. For those who like technical trails, Lancaster received a reboot with some interesting new challenges. The ever-popular Flaccid Ashback got a refresh. From the top shuttle point on Mt. Gunjin, another downhill trail, Blind Snake, was added to the network. It has a large (and blind) stepdown jump just after the powerlines. So make sure you sight it first. Other new trails include a descending trail from halfway up Mt. Gunjin called Nearly New and several connecting trails: Winjin (a climb), Spinebill, Wynning and Camelman. The naming of Camelman was to pay respect to local camel farm owner and much-loved friend of the mountain bike community, Chris O’Hora, who passed away in 2022. 49

Dwellingup 2023 saw the addition of the pedestrian bridge at the old Baden Powell Campground area. Both the campground and the bridge have been renamed the traditional name of Dwaarlindjirraap. The Dwaarlindjirraap day use area provides relatively easy access to the water for a post-ride swim. From the swimming area, the new 108m long suspension bridge now takes you across to the trails. The trails and the bridge were used in the UCI MTB Marathon Masters World Championship last year and are a great addition as they come out next to the popular trails of Bam Bam and Boom Boom at the bottom mountain biking carpark. The Downhill trails at Toms Crossing were a big part of the racing scene. Work has been underway to rebirth this legendary spot for riders, which will be another riding attraction in the region. The trail’s hub visitor centre in Dwellingup is a good place to drop in to discover which trails are open.

Langford Park The long-established cross-country network of trails at Langford Park 

Travel+Touring

received some love in 2023 with significant upgrades and some new trails added. Not as far from Perth as Dwellingup, it’s a great place to rediscover, especially after some rain which helps the tracks roll faster with more grip on the pea gravel.

Collie The options for Collie keep growing. The Wellington Dam area has been popular since it was opened, but 2023 saw some favourite trails like Dam It, Pipe N Hot, and the challenging Black Glove get a refresh to improve the trails. Also, several connecting trails and a new climbing trail were added to this popular network. A trail joining west to the Honeymoon Pool area was also completed. You have the option to skip out onto the Sika trail or get stuck into a memorable descent down to the valley floor and onto the Honeymoon Pool/ River Road area. But it is west of the river, towards the Pile Road/ Mt Lennard trail network, that the biggest changes have taken place. A new carpark halfway along River Road grants access to a new area of trails between the river and the existing network. Several blue descents and a couple of really challenging black diamond lines, all dropping significant height, will have experienced riders salivating. The climb back has lots of switchbacks to make it manageable, but it is also possible to shuttle these tracks from River Road. This is a whole new area just behind the historic and much-loved trails on Pile Road such as Grizzly trail, which also had a bit of a refresh last year.

Bindoon MTB Park Mountain bike riders in the northern suburbs have always had a long drive to the trails east of Perth to get their fix. That’s about to change with the Bindoon Mountain Bike Park stage one due to be completed by April 2024 offering a completely new area and 13km of trails. The 13km is spread over eight trails, ranging from a green loop to an advanced black downhill trail. Stage two has already been approved, which will see more mountain bike trails added. With the green loop trail 5km long and another fun green downhill trail of 1.5km, the new trail network promises to be attractive to riders of all ability levels. 

TOP: Mountain bike rider Cody Brown on the Bindoon track; ABOVE: Jane Deane on one of the many technical trails now available around the Wellington Dam area near Collie.

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Our State, People+Future

Future moves BATTERY-FREE E-BIKES Electric bikes have made cycling even more appealing as a form of transport and now an even more appealing e-bike has emerged: it’s the e-bike you don’t have to charge. Even better, this bike is claimed to be even kinder to the environment than battery-powered e-bikes. A French entrepreneur named Adrien Lelièvre, who has a background in electronics, has come up with an e-bike that utilises a supercapacitor instead of a battery. The bike stores energy when going down hills, braking or when the rider is pedalling, and releases it when the need arises, such as when starting off and going up hills. The bikes are being sold under the brand name Pi-Pop. While the storage capacity of this system is much lower than that of regular e-bike batteries, its lifespan is significantly longer (10-15 years).

EV BATTERY RECYCLING PLAN Electric vehicle battery recycling isn’t mandated yet in Australia, but that hasn’t stopped one business from charging ahead in this space. Infinitev, which specialises in maximising the life of EV batteries and then eventually recycling them, has joined forces with the car maker Kia to help reduce the impact of EV batteries on the environment. Kia said refurbishing or recycling batteries was important to EV buyers, making this a significant program. Infinitev says it’s able to remanufacture battery packs to extend their useful life in cars or repurpose EV batteries for use as energy storage at homes and businesses. When that’s not possible, they say they can recycle the batteries to recover the valuable materials in them.

DRIVING ON BROKEN GLASS The road to recovery is a long one when it comes to our impact on finite resources, but the builders of one Australian road have made a start by paving the way for recycled glass and reclaimed asphalt to be used in the road surface. The City of Sydney said that about 1km of Clarence Street, in the city’s centre, has used a mix of crushed glass from 120,000 old glass jars (which couldn’t be recycled into new glass products) and asphalt ripped up from other Sydney streets. The recycled component makes up almost a quarter of the road material.  53

Car+Motoring

Test drive

DUAL CAB UTES GO BACK-TO-BACK We compare the Toyota Hilux GR with the GWM Cannon XSR By Alex Forrest

If you want a top-of-the-range Toyota Hilux GR Sport, you’ll need almost $30,000 more than you’d pay if you chose the top of the GWM ute range, the Cannon XSR.

TOP AND ABOVE: The Hilux not only gets the driveline and safety basics right, but this GR Sport variant brings extras such as upgraded suspension, twin recovery points in the rear and more power and torque from the engine; LEFT: The GWM Cannon is one of the cheapest ways to get into a brand-new ute with a well-finished interior and plenty of features.

Car+Motoring It’s about the same size, designed for doing similar jobs, and yet it’s an almost 55 per cent price increase to go from the Chinese built GWM Cannon XSR ($52,990), to the Hilux GR ($82,015). The Hilux is one of the most popular vehicles in the country, whereas the GWM is one of Australia’s most affordable new utes. Today’s Chinese-built vehicles are notably better than they were five years ago, and the build quality gap between these two is closer than you may think. But there are some big differences between them which do reflect the price differential. For some buyers, those differences might not be enough to justify that price. For others there’ll be no substitute for the Hilux. Value for money

With many emerging brands being marketed on value, it’s easy for buyers of vehicles such as the GWM Cannon to infer that they’re getting more for their money than with other utes. In some ways, that’s true – the Cannon XSR does demonstrate great value in areas such as the interior fit and finish, which is approaching that of a premium Japanese saloon. But there’s still room for improvement in big, important systems such as the engine, transmission and suspension, which need significant investment in research and development to get right. The Hilux not only gets the driveline and safety basics right, but this GR Sport variant brings extras such as upgraded suspension, a wider track and taller ride height, and more power and torque from the engine, over and above the SR5, though the Rogue shares some similarities.

ABOVE: The GWM Cannon XSR does demonstrate great value in areas such as the interior fit and finish, which is approaching that of a premium Japanese saloon.

Toyota Hilux GR Sport

On the road

There are marked differences in the engine outputs of these two, with the GWM making 120kW and 400Nm compared to the Hilux’s 165kW and 550Nm. If there’s a single improvement that’d lift the appeal of the Cannon, more grunt would be it. Its engine is quiet though. Despite the Hilux being more powerful than the Cannon, it still uses less fuel. All dual cab utes will have a somewhat jiggly ride when unladen, but it was more pronounced in the Cannon than the Hilux. The Cannon also has an overly aggressive hill hold feature, which on steep inclines needed over 2000rpm before it would release the vehicle, making for unnecessarily noisy and somewhat unnerving hill starts.

ENGINE 2.8-litre turbo diesel POWER 165kW @ 3000rpm TORQUE 550Nm @ 1600-2800rpm CLAIMED FUEL ECONOMY 8.1L/100km PRICE $82,015 drive away ANCAP SAFETY RATING Not rated

The Hilux is more responsive and predictable to drive, but its extra width can make some streets seem narrow. Safety and practicality

The Cannon’s XSR variant doesn’t have an ANCAP safety rating, however other variants of the Cannon ute – such as the Cannon-L and Cannon-X – do have 5-star ratings which were awarded in 2021. Note though, that the cab-chassis versions of the Cannon ute also do not have ratings. It’s a similar situation with the Hilux GR Sport, where all Hilux variants also have 5 stars, with the exception of the GR Sport. The Cannon has a higher maximum payload at 875kg against the Hilux’s 750kg. But the Hilux is rated to tow a 3500kg braked trailer (but hardly anything more), against the Cannon’s 3000kg trailer limit. Staying well away from these limits is the safer bet though. Verdict

The GWM Cannon is one of the cheapest ways to get into a brand-new ute with a well-finished interior and plenty of features. However, we did experience some issues with the diesel particulate filter requiring regeneration, which limited engine power until it could be sorted at a dealer. The current Hilux may be getting on in years, but it is proven. It doesn’t have a clean history with DPF issues either, but that’s been addressed. We’d consider a Hilux SR at $61,200. Or a second hand SR5.  55

GWM Cannon XSR

ENGINE 2.0-litre diesel POWER 120kW @ 3600rpm TORQUE 400Nm @ 1500rpm CLAIMED FUEL ECONOMY 9.4L/100km PRICE $52,990 drive away ANCAP SAFETY RATING Not rated

Car+Motoring

VOLVO XC40 B4 MILD HYBRID As Australia’s biggest-selling luxury small SUV, the Volvo XC40 has helped the brand achieve a presence on Australian roads not seen since the boxy, big-bumpered Volvos that dominated in the 1980s. The XC40 has struck a chord with WA buyers too, with sales of the designfocused SUV rising by 39 per cent in 2023 when compared with 2022, making it the most popular in its class here, too. So, what is making the XC40 the ‘it’ car of little luxury SUVs? Well, the XC40 has carved itself a niche by becoming a worthy competitor against the mainstream luxury small SUVs, but by retaining some points of difference and not (yet) becoming one of them. It does also help that there’s a fully electric version in the XC40 range, whereas some other brands have their EVs as separate models, so electric XC40 sales are counted in the total. Volvo has dropped the plug-in hybrid XC40 from the range, leaving only mild hybrid and fully electric options in the XC40 line-up. We drove the mild hybrid, which Volvo calls either the B4 or B5, depending on whether you choose the luxury version. The entry level one comes with front-wheel drive, pricier models get all-wheel drive. ENGINE 2.0-litre turbo petrol POWER 170kW @ 4800-5400rpm TORQUE 300Nm @ 1500-4200rpm CLAIMED FUEL ECONOMY 7.1L/100km PRICE from $62,000 drive away ANCAP SAFETY RATING 

The mild hybrid system works by recovering energy from the car’s braking system and feeding it into a 48-volt battery. That electricity is then used to start the petrol engine, and to assist in acceleration, according to Volvo. We’d still prefer physical buttons for regularly used controls like the ventilation controls, rather than them being within the central screen. If you’re EV-curious, the Mild Hybrid B4 may be the XC40 you try ahead of going for the full EV version. Making it the XC40 B4, so to speak.

Car+Motoring

MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS PHEV The Eclipse Cross was a strong player in the small SUV category when it arrived back in 2017, with its perky and up-to-date 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, high-riding styling and innocuous, if not especially sporty, handling. It’s still just in the top ten sellers (10th) of the 24-model category of small affordable SUVs. When the Eclipse Cross PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) arrived in 2021, it brought a new option for buyers of small SUVs looking to save a little fuel and drive more on electricity. Apart from providing buyers with the opportunity to spend another $15,000, the PHEV is different from its regular petrol-only sibling in that it rides better, is quieter and more peppy off the mark. Now though, the Eclipse Cross is offering more. In 2023, it was given vehicle-to-load capability, meaning it can be used as an electricity source. In the luggage area is a three-pin, 240-volt power outlet which is supplied by the vehicle’s drive battery. It has an output of 1500 Watts, meaning it could handle most power tools but probably not a four-slice toaster. As with other PHEVs, the Eclipse Cross has a larger battery than a conventional hybrid that allows it to be driven for about 40km in real-world driving. After that, the petrol engine will run more often in normal driving to keep some residual charge in the battery and contribute to forward motion. The interior screens and their functionality aren’t in their first flush of youth, but this was largely offset by the pleasing number of physical buttons (rather than on a screen) and overall familiarity of a proven layout. The Eclipse Cross PHEV may be ready for a revamp, but it’s also proven. And if you diligently charge it and run on electricity as often as possible, you’ll use hardly any petrol at all. 

ENGINE 2.4-litre petrol / electric POWER 94kW @ 4500rpm TORQUE 199Nm @ 4500rpm CLAIMED FUEL ECONOMY 1.9L/100km PRICE from $51,290 drive away ANCAP SAFETY RATING Not rated

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Car+Motoring

Car doctor RAC members can take advantage of our Auto Advice Line. If you have a motoring question, call 6150 6199 Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm to speak to one of our experts.

Q I recently bought a 2022

Kia Stonic. This was from a second-hand dealer and it had a seven-year manufacturer’s warranty. The dealer bombarded us with pressure to buy paint protection. We refused and were told that was a bad decision. Our grounds of refusal were that, if anything goes wrong with the paint then the manufacturer should cover that under the warranty. Was that a good decision? Artwell, Byford

A While paint protection

may provide some benefit in protecting your car’s paint from the elements, this is usually an expensive purchase from dealers. You are correct in that any major paint defects such as peeling or major degradation that occur during the warranty period should be covered, providing the vehicle

has been used normally. The Australian Consumer Law has requirements for products to be reasonably durable, and it is likely you would be covered under these provisions also.

recommend having the vehicle thoroughly checked before committing to a purchase.

Q I have a 2012 VW Polo

1.4 petrol with 88,000km on the clock. I travel less than 5000km per year, and as I’m not meeting the annual distance threshold for servicing, should I still conduct an annual service or wait a couple of years until the recommended log service kilometres are reached? Jonathan, Bedford

Q I am contemplating the

purchase of Toyota Hilux dual cab ute at auction that was formerly used in the mining industry, however I have received varying opinions on whether it’d be a wise acquisition. What does the Car Doctor think? Tim, Attadale

A Vehicle servicing is based

A There is an increased

on both time and distance intervals, with servicing required when whichever of those intervals is reached first. So if you get to 12 months but don’t reach the specified distance, then you should still have your car serviced when that 12-month period is reached. 

risk that these vehicles could have more wear-andtear issues than vehicles of similar age that have avoided harsh environments and usage. Though they are likely to have been serviced on time, we would

WIN FREE FUEL Send us your question for the Car Doctor and if it’s published, you’ll receive a $50 fuel voucher to use at any Puma and Caltex locations Australia-wide, thanks to RAC Member Benefits. Send your questions to editor@rac.com.au or post to The Car Doctor, Horizons, GPO Box C140, Perth WA 6839 Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number with your question. If your question is chosen for publication, please allow up to eight weeks for delivery. See page 81 for terms and conditions of entry.

People, places, prizes and RAC news

Member lounge

IF IT’S ANYTHING AUTO, WE’LL KNOW THE ANSWER

Why small ship cruising may be more your speed The world’s mega cruise ships have some truly impressive on-board facilities, but there are many advantages to being small and nimble in the world of cruising, too. Small ship cruising offers a far more personalised experience and small ships generally have a more relaxed atmosphere on board. They can also take you to ports that are a little more off the beaten track - places that larger ships simply can’t reach. Often, they are more focused on the destinations themselves too, rather than the experience of being on the ship.

Fewer passengers also means less queueing at mealtimes and to get on and off the ship at different destinations. Because it is quite a different experience to being on a large cruise liner, small ship cruising can often appeal more to non-cruisers.

at one of our in-person Travel Talks, where you can also hear from some of our cruising partners. For details about upcoming Travel Talks and to register, visit rac.com.au/traveltalks or scan the QR code below with your mobile phone’s camera.

If you need help navigating through the many different cruise types, come and chat with RAC’s Travel team 60

If you have a motoring question you need answered, whether it’s about a mechanical issue or advice about buying or selling a car, give our Auto Advice Line a call. Our team of technical experts can advise you on almost anything related to vehicles and the automotive industry, whether it’s about maintenance and repairs, upgrades and modifications, electric vehicles, vehicle safety, fuel and much more. Our Auto Advice Line is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm. Call us on 6150 6199 or fill out the form online at rac.com.au/autoadvice

Home+Life

Short on time? Let us come to you Delaying regular car servicing and other vehicle maintenance is detrimental to your car and, in some instances, may compromise your safety, especially if you’re planning on some longer drives over the Easter break. Remember, RAC can come to you for car servicing plus tyre and battery replacements. Our mobile services can be booked to come to your home or workplace, with the service

available in selected parts of the Perth metropolitan area. We’ll fit into your plans, and you can book it all online at any time or give us a call. You don't have to be a member to use our mobile services, but if you are, you'll save 10 per cent off batteries and tyres, and 10 per cent off labour when using our mobile car servicing. To book, call 1300 135 667 or visit rac.com.au/mobileservices

WHO TO TRUST WHEN CHOOSING A HOME SECURITY SYSTEM Before choosing a security system to protect your family and property, you should first ensure your security provider ticks all the right boxes. The most important thing to check is whether they are a licensed security provider. In WA, a business or individual providing security services must hold the appropriate Security Consultant or Security Installer licence with WA Police, so ask to see their security licence and identification. If you’re buying a package that includes a contracted period of alarm monitoring, check the terms of the contract to see if you’ll own the hardware at the end of the monitoring contract or if it’s part of a lease. Also ask what type of warranty you’ll be provided with and look for an established company that is able to support you for the lifetime of your product. Choosing the right people to support you will ensure that your home and family are protected by security that you can rely on. For a free security consultation with one of RAC’s home security experts, call 1300 131 578 or visit rac.com.au/security

SUPPORTING KIDS IMPACTED BY CANCER RAC’s Parks & Resorts have been working with Camp Quality, Australia’s children’s cancer charity, to help support families impacted by a cancer diagnosis, by sponsoring Camp Quality’s Family Retreat Program. As a sponsor of the program, we provide some precious and much-needed time away for families at RAC Busselton Holiday Park and RAC Karri Valley Resort. It’s estimated that 85 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in WA. Currently, 554 families are registered with Camp Quality across the state. We’re proud to be able to provide some welcome relief to the brave kids who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis and their families, by giving them quality time together to create lasting memories.  61

ALL THE S IG H TS AND IN S IG H TS Up Close and Personal There’s more to travel than simply visiting new places – join us for experiences that enrich the mind, stylish hotels that rest the soul and premium dining that nourishes the body. Scan me to find your next adventure.

Make the most of the great everyday savings you get as an RAC member. Whether it’s discounts on travel, fuel, gas for your home, pharmacy, groceries, entertainment, dining or RAC products and services – RAC members save every day.

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1300 798 776

Stand #89, Homebase Subiaco

*^T&Cs apply. Available only on new purchases. Offer ends 31.5.24. Visit our website for more information. Security Agents License no. 20818

WINDOW TINTING HOMES, OFFICES, CARS & MORE...

ENSURING QUALITY, AFFORDABILITY AND GREAT ADVICE.

RAC members save

Our 3M tinting products are quality guaranteed with a LIFETIME manufacturer’s warranty to ensure you’re receiving the best window tinting. We stand by our tinting products and craftsmanship 100% and always go above and beyond to ensure we meet the unique needs of our valued customers.

up to

100% WA OWNED AND OPERATED JOONDALUP: 9425 5200 MANDURAH: 9582 8053 MYAREE: 9317 1010 OSBORNE PARK: 9444 2327 ROCKINGHAM: 9582 8053 CANNINGTON: 9317 1010 ALBANY: 9842 9215 WANGARA: 9444 2327

totaltintsolutions.com.au

Membership+Benefits

Save at these partners everyday visit rac.com.au/mb for more

RAC MEMBERS SAVE UP TO 25%* WITH RAC members save up to

25%*

Rottnest Express

D A I LY D E PA R T U R E S F R O M 3 C O N V E N I E N T L O C AT I O N S LEARN MORE AT RAC.COM.AU/ROTTNESTEXPRESS *T&Cs apply. Purchase before 311st May 2024. Travel dates until 311st May 2024.

R19405

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Other offers

Do you hear conversations but can’t understand the words? FREE In-Clinic Hearing Test, Consultation & Demonstration.

$600 OFF* Every Hearing Aid Purchased.

Hearing Test, Consultation & Demonstration.*

ORIGINAL PRICE

You can now stream

FOR RAC MEMBERS

Enjoy your life with improved hearing! You will be able to hear your family, your friends, the TV & telephone and in group settings much more clearly with this new 2024 hearing aid technology.

$2,199

NOW AFTER DISCOUNT

$1,599ea Less Private Health Insurance Refunds

This New Invisible Hearing Aid is virtually undetectable!

Home Visits

No one will know that you are wearing a hearing aid Introducing our brand-new 2024 hearing aid technology that was designed in Europe and is made for your exact ear size and hearing loss. It’s so small it can fit deep inside your ear canal, it begins where other hearing aids end. This makes it virtually invisible to anyone else.

With our new 2024 voice clarifying hearing aids, you will absolutely hear the difference! Not sure if you require a hearing aid or which one is right for you? Want to know how they look and feel? Why not request an appointment for a FREE hearing test and hearing aid consultation with an in-clinic demonstration? You will instantly be able to hear clearly.

Directly from your mobile phone to some models of hearing aids giving you crystal clear hearing. *Conditions Apply.

Book in today to receive your Special RAC Discount

9350 6311

Cannington Nedlands

Duncraig

Rockingham

email: info@hearingloss.net.au web: www.hearingloss.net.au

Offer valid until 31/05/24

Members receive $600 off each hearing aid purchased or $1200 off a pair of hearing aid 74

Other offers

THE

ULTIMATE JUMP STARTER ve all experienced that dreadful feeling of We’getting in your car only to ﬁnd out your battery

is ﬂat. Luckily West Aussie company iTechworld has designed a portable jump starter to get you on your way within seconds. Designed to easily jump start any vehicle with a ﬂat battery, the JS80 will jump start your car, boat or motorbike at the press of a button. With a massive 3000 starting amps, the JS80 will start any vehicle, no matter how big or small. With seven inbuilt safety features, jump starting is safer than ever before. With the JS80, you no longer have to rely on clumsy jumper cables or other vehicles, allowing you to explore further with peace of mind. The JS80 will jump start a vehicle up to 40 times

from one charge and hold its charge for six months all while sitting happily in a glove box awaiting use. Once your vehicle is back up and running, the JS80 will continue to be your best friend on the road as it can easily run your 12v fridge and charge your mobile devices. As a proud Western Australian company, iTechworld are offering RAC Horizons subscribers with an exclusive discount code to use across their entire range of power solutions. Simply use the code ‘RAC5’ at checkout online, in-store or over the phone to claim your 5% discount.

KEY FEATURES Jump start any petrol vehicle, diesels up to 8.0L IP65 waterproof & dustproof 3000 cranking amps Runs a 12v fridge for up to 6 hours Fast charging USB ports: USB-C & USB-A

JS80

CALL THE POWER EXPERT

JUMP STARTER

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SAVE 5% OFF WITH CODE

RAC5

291 Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood, WA, 6100 Monday - Friday | 8:30AM - 5:00PM

08 9472 7200 iTechworld.com.au

Members save 5%

FULLY MANAGED PROJECTS WITH FAST TURNAROUND TIMES

LUXURY KITCHEN & BATHROOM RENOVATIONS We provide a turnkey solution for your home renovation with a custom design, a quality build, and experienced project management to provide you with the most luxurious living experience possible.

GET IN TOUCH (08) 9386 0033 info@trager.com.au www.trager.com.au Terms and Conditions *Save 5% off your contract value for all orders placed before 31 May 2024. Simply show your card at your no obligation in-home consultation.

Members save 5% off your kitchen or bathroom renovation* 75

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Other offers

GARAGE DOOR NEEDING ATTENTION?

· Gutters and downpipes · Roof restoration · Ridgecap re-pointing · All general roof repairs

pp p New Doors pp p Replacements pp p Services pp p Spare Parts

· All work guaranteed · Re-roofs/Roof extensions

We install, repair, and service all makes and models of doors & motors

· Free quotes

9303 9334

Call 0439 707 578 or 9414 6405

105 Excellence Drive, Wangara WA 6065

edenrocgaragedoors.com.au *must show or quote your RAC member number at time of booking. Discount applies to garage door spare parts and servicing only. Offer expires 31/05/24.

$230 ZINC $240 COLOURBOND Fully installed

*Conditions apply valid until 31/05/24

www.roofrenewals.com.au

Members save 10% off door spare parts and servicing*

Members get a free whirly bird on a full gutter replacement

Having Diﬃculty on the Stairs?

to 30/09/20 31/07/22 Valid to 30/11/20 Valid 31/03/23 31/05/24 to31/01/23 30/09/22

300mm

Ken Peachey Caravan Repairs

Maintain your independence, let Acorn Stairlifts keep you safe to enjoy your freedom!

Insurance, servicing, modification, accessories and electrical work.

• The only company to supply and install our own stairlifts • For straight or curved staircases • Indoor and outdoor lifts • Free home assessment • Fast installation • Safe and reliable

Call (08) 9277 1381 or Email info@kenpeachey.com www.kenpeachey.com 194 Campbell Street Belmont WA 6104

1800 239 169

*Conditions apply valid until 31/05/24. Licensed repairer MRB1167

CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE BROCHURE & QUOTATION Members receive $100 off any new stairlift purchase

Members save 10% on caravan parts 76

Other offers

Members save 10% 77

Other offers

Stay in the home you love With a stairlift from

Straight Stairlifts

Curved Stairlifts

Outdoor Stairlifts

Get free installation and save up to $2000 Valid until 31/05/24 *conditions apply. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers.

08 6243 4002 • www.motobility.com.au

Visit one of our stores in Osborne Park, Joondalup or Mandurah Members receive free installation up to a value of $2000 on new stairlift purchases

Hidden

WATER BORES 18 METRE BORE

RAC members pay $5,020

$4,440

plus get a free tap and pressure release valve (worth $340)*

More RAC bore packages & depths available – Ask us today!

Save

$1000’s on ongoing water bills

• Submersible bore drilled to 18 metres (ideal in most lower-lying Perth suburbs) • Tier one multi-stage stainless steel submersible pump with an industry beating P. M. Technology Italian 1hp motor • Standard single phase electrical connection to house power • Plumbed to existing reticulation • Your stainless steel pump will be invisible, deep beneath the ground.

Call for a quote on 9246 0111

Troy 0408 454 130 David 0499 248 562 | PERTH METRO Check us out online virginbores.com.au *Subject to obligation-free site visit. Other depths & pump configurations recommended/available as required depending on your location & depth to water. Assumes electrical & reticulation connection nearby & accessible, up to 10m cable and pipe run. Excludes low yield areas. Cannot be claimed in conjunction with any other special offer. Applies to package deals only. Valid until 31/05/24. Must be claimed at time of quotation. EC14442

Members save $920 78

L ife feels good when you feel at home.

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AVA

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OUT

Kallaroo (Nothshore) Carine

Jolimont (Centro)

PERTH

Lesmurdie

Melville FREMANTLE

Murdoch

BUSSELTON

Albany

Mandurah

Find your happy place at St Ives with 8 villages across WA.

WH95828

With decades of experience and a range of lifestyle options, we know it’s not just about finding you a village. It’s about going above and beyond to find your ‘happy place’. It’s a home that feels like yours where you can pursue your hobbies, stay social, and keep healthy. More so, it’s about finding opportunities to share in those moments with like-minded neighbours, all of whom are embracing their own version of a ‘happy retirement’ at St Ives.

Book a tour today at stivesgroup.com.au

Cracked walls? Sinking floors? Our non-invasive technology raises, re-levels & re-supports sunken homes and buildings.

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Terms+conditions

The Royal Automobile Club of WA (INC) 832 Wellington Street, West Perth GPO Box C140, Perth WA 6839 T: 13 17 03 W: rac.com.au

CAR DOCTOR, PAGE 57 Entrants may submit more than one entry. Up to three entrants (winners) will be awarded only one prize as follows: one $50 fuel voucher to use in one transaction at any Puma/Caltex location Australia-wide. The prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. Entries that do not, in the absolute discretion of the panel of judges, comply with these requirements are invalid. The winner will be notified by email, telephone or letter. When the winner is notified of their prize, they will also be provided details as to the collection of their prize. Entrants published in March-May 2024 Horizons must claim their prize by 2 May 2024. In the event that no contact details are supplied, or RAC cannot make contact with the winner, the prize may be withdrawn at the absolute discretion of Horizons magazine. Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s privacy and security statement and group privacy policy.

WINNING MEMBER COMMENT, PAGE 8 Entrants may submit more than one entry. One entrant (winner) will be awarded only one prize as follows: a year’s Classic Roadside Assistance valued at $199. If the winner already has Roadside Assistance, the Classic Roadside Assistance will be applied as credit to their account until their cover runs out. Entries that do not, in the absolute discretion of the panel of judges, comply with these requirements are invalid. The winner will be notified by email, phone or letter. When the winner is notified of their prize, they will also be provided details as to the collection of their prize. Entrants published in March-May 2024 Horizons must claim their prize by 2 May 2024. In the event that no contact details are supplied, or RAC cannot make contact with the winner, the prize may be withdrawn at the absolute discretion of Horizons magazine. Prizes will only be awarded following winner validation and verification. This competition is subject to the promoter’s privacy and security statement and group privacy policy.

Full terms and conditions for competitions available at rac.com.au/competitions

Be a Superhero to WA’s Superkids Make a tax-deductible donation before 30 June to make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people impacted by trauma and adverse childhood experiences.

www.parkerville.org.au/tax

Member Service Centres – Metropolitan CAROUSEL Shop 1098, Westfield Carousel, 1382 Albany Highway DIANELLA Shop 20, Dianella Plaza, 360/366 Grand Promenade MANDURAH Shop SP037, Halls Head Central, 14 Guava Way WEST PERTH (Head Office) 832 Wellington Street Member Service Centres – Regional ALBANY 110 Albany Highway BUNBURY Primewest Centrepoint SC, 60 Blair Street GERALDTON Shop 8, Stirlings Central SC, 54 Sanford Street KALGOORLIE 51-53 Hannan Street Travel Centres CAROUSEL Shop 1098, Westfield Carousel, 1382 Albany Highway T: 6150 6454 DIANELLA Shop 20, Dianella Plaza, 360/366 Grand Promenade T: 6150 6455 JOONDALUP Shop T31, Lakeside Joondalup SC, 420 Joondalup Drive T: 6150 6477 WEST PERTH (Head Office) 832 Wellington Street T: 9436 4830

facebook.com/RACWA instagram.com/RACWA editor@rac.com.au

Home+Life

Ten best MARINE ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS IN WA There’s no shortage of places to spot dolphins in WA’s waterways, but an organised tour can give you a special glimpse into their underwater lives. Tours that take you out to swim with dolphins are available in Rockingham, Mandurah and Bunbury. At Monkey Mia’s renowned Dolphin Beach you can also get up close at one of the morning feeding sessions.

Seals They’re affectionately known as the ‘puppies of the sea’ and it’s not hard to see why. Australian sea lions’ playful nature has made them one of the star attractions off the Jurien Bay coast, which is their main breeding ground in WA. Local tour operators can take you out to swim with them and learn more about the efforts to protect this endangered species.

Sharks This underwater encounter is not nearly as dangerous as it sounds. At AQWA – the Aquarium of WA – you can get into Australia’s largest

single aquarium for an underwater tour with seven different shark species gliding around the tank with you. You’ll also encounter turtles, rays and plenty of big fish.

Blue Media Exmouth

Dolphins

Orcas

ABOVE: Out of only seven sea turtle species in the world, six are found in WA.

The waters off Bremer Bay attract the largest number of orcas in Australia. These highly intelligent animals are the ocean’s most powerful apex predators. They also have complex and interesting family structures, which you can find out all about on one of the orca tours from Bremer Bay.

Whale sharks Whale sharks are the biggest fish in the sea and have been known to reach up to 20m in length. They have a long life span of about 80-100 years and can travel many thousands of kilometres. In Coral Bay, you can swim with whale sharks from late February until the end of June, and in Exmouth from the end of July.

Humpback whales At Exmouth and Coral Bay you can swim with humpback whales as

they migrate along the coast at Ningaloo Reef. Tour operators use spotter planes to locate the whales and direct the tour boat to them. Humpbacks can grow up to 19m in length and are spectacular to watch underneath the water.

Nornalup Inlet in WA’s South West. They often come in close to shore to pick up fish scraps thrown in the water by local anglers. While they’re gentle unless provoked, it’s always best to keep a safe distance from any animal in the wild.

Manta rays

Dugongs

While whale shark and humpback swims along Ningaloo Reef are seasonal, you can cruise along with the manta rays at Ningaloo year-round. These graceful giants are the world’s largest species of ray with wingspans of up to 8m. As they have no barb, mantas are completely safe to swim with.

Dugongs can be hard to spot and while there aren’t tours dedicated to their sightings, they can be seen as part of other wildlife cruises around Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef. These unusual creatures, which resemble a walrus, are endangered but the waters around Shark Bay are home to around 10,000 of them.

Stingrays

Turtles

Watch the resident rays, including smooth and eagle rays, as they cruise the shallows around Hamelin Bay and the Walpole-

There are only seven sea turtle species found worldwide and remarkably WA is home to six of them. Around Exmouth you

can see the incredible journey they take from nesting to hatching and watch the tiny hatchlings take their first tentative steps towards the water on a turtle tour. Further north, turtle-spotting tours are also available from Broome.  Do you have an idea for the Ten Best? Send your suggestions to editor@rac.com.au

Scan the QR code to see these incredible underwater creatures and the best locations to spot them in WA

 WATCH VIDEO

how freedom feels From stunning turquoise waters to the unforgettable red dirt of the outback and everywhere in between; explore the great outdoors knowing your caravan or camper trailer is covered anywhere in Australia.

RAC Caravan Insurance

Issued by RAC Insurance Pty Limited. Check the PDS and TMD at rac.com.au to see if this policy is right for you. Conditions, limits and exclusions apply.