VIVIAN ASHER
Fuelled by adventure
Darwin to Bondi electric road trip
Geologically, it’s the world’s oldest continent. Its eight capital cities are separated by a vast 7.6 million square kilometres and its remote conditions are some of the planet’s most punishing. Australia, the land Down Under and its spellbinding Outback, remains an irresistable magnet for explorers. Crossing this unforgiving natural wonderland requires endurance, power and an arsenal of extraordinary capabilities. It also demands a considered approach, making it the ideal adventure for the all-electric – yes, electric – Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo. Starting from Darwin in the country’s tropical north, join an array of Porsche personalities on their adventure-fueled campaign through Australia’s rugged and remote centre on this 5,000 kilometre road trip into the red dust of the Simpson Desert and then all the way to the blonde sands of Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. Tag along for sand dune climbs, plenty of Australian wildlife, campfires, and lessons in whip cracking. Discover the adventurous soul of Australia with the Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo on this epic journey, the Darwin to Bondi Electric Road Trip.
Chapter 1: Charging Ahead
Darwin: Australia’s northern-most capital city. Tropical heat, saltwater crocodiles and natural wonders found nowhere else in the world. Despite the surrounding waters you long for a surf at the most famous break Down Under, Bondi Beach. But it’s 5,000 kilometres away. You decide to take the long way. The ideal sports car for this road trip? The all-electric Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo. Yes, all-electric. In part one of this four-part series, follow the preparations as we load up and charge the 93.4 kWh onboard battery for the 5,000 kilometre odyssey ahead. Cruise between breathtaking cliffs in Katherine Gorge’s Nitmiluck National Park before visiting Crocodile Dundee territory at Daly Waters. It’s then on to Tennant Creek, Camooweal and the mining centre of Mount Isa. Join Porsche Ambassador Mark Webber for the first leg of this vast journey into the rugged terrain and remote beauty of the world’s oldest continent, and discover why the all-electric Porsche Taycan’s capabilities make it the modern Australian adventurer. Welcome to the Darwin to Bondi Electric Road Trip.
Porsche Personalities
Mark Webber
Adventure fuels Mark Webber. The 2015 World Endurance Champion and Porsche Brand Ambassador clawed his way to motorsport’s steepest summit, the pinnacle of an adventure that took him across the world to conquer the world’s best racing drivers. This same thirst underpinned his famous multi-day adventure race through the wilds of Tasmania. It was also on show in Darwin as he prepared to take the wheel for his first endurance driving stint since late 2016. The official Welcome Dinner for the Darwin to Bondi Electric Road Trip didn’t spark any pre-race tension; instead, it was a chance to consider the scale of the 5,000 kilometre adventure ahead, driving a vehicle he helped develop: the all-electric Taycan 4S Cross Turismo. The first stop was Katherine Gorge for a cruise along the awe-inspiring water-filled canyons of Nitmiluck National Park, a vibrant reminder of his home country’s beauty. A quick swim in the natural hot springs let it soak in. But it was on the open road driving towards the next adventure where Mark was most at home.
Pia Muehlenbeck and Kane Vato
“Everyone should stop and take a moment to explore this wonderful planet we call home,” says Pia Muehlenbeck. The popular content creator lives by these words, fuelled by a sense of adventure that takes both her and her partner, photographer and entrepreneur Kane Vato, across the world. They encountered the same scale of wonder driving the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo through the burnt sienna colours of central Australia during the second leg of the Darwin to Bondi Electric Road Trip. Their isolated surrounds offered a smorgasbord of adventures, from roof-top camping on the Taycan to lessons in whip cracking, and even a helicopter trip over the Longreach Solar Farm in central Queensland. The dusty drive from the Karlu boulders to Barkly Homestead in Tennant Creek included some of Australia’s wildest landscapes, as did the route from the Simpson Desert to the Dreamtime Serpent at Birdsville. But the homestead visit in Longreach stamped a special impression at the end of their experience: “It captures the spirit of adventure that fuelled Australia’s pioneers.”
Logan Martin
Riders need more than a dose of daring and skill to win in Freestyle BMX. Logan Martin knows. The Australian professional Dirt and Park Freestyle BMX competitor won Gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Fuelled by adventure and the will to win, Logan embodies the endurance and commitment needed to succeed, a truth also familiar to Daniel Schmollinger, Porsche Cars Australia’s Managing Director, who joined Logan for the third major leg of the 5,000 kilometre Darwin to Bondi Electric Road Trip. While the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo recharged at the Porsche Destination Charger in the Blue Mountains, Logan showcased some of the adventurous freestyle skills that took him to Gold Medal glory. The dust covered Taycan 4S Cross Turismo took an electric lap of Bathurst’s famous Mount Panorama Racing Circuit before crossing Sydney’s world-famous harbour bridge en route to the finish line.
Nikki Van Dijk
Going against the grain is Nikki Van Dijk’s true north. The adventure-loving professional surfer has been drawn to innovation and sustainable practices since the beginning of her career. Her status as a world-class athlete was on show long before hitting the heights of the World Surfing League. Nikki’s love of the ocean was equally ahead of time, which can be found today in her popular surf yoga retreats, where she shares her knowledge and passion for the environment. So when the all-electric Taycan 4S Cross Turismo glided into Sydney, Nikki eagerly threw her board and towel in the back. She took the wheel and headed straight for the aquamarine waters of the world-famous Bondi Beach, fuelled by adventure and an eagerness to cross the finish line of this 5,000 kilometre road trip. Like the Porsche Taycan, Nikki has blazed a trail through the wilderness, making her the perfect pilot for the final drive in the Darwin to Bondi Electric Road Trip.
✅ Source: Porsche