Top 4 North East Victoria
road trips - a local expert's view

A ROAD TRIP through North East Victoria and the South East Riverina region of New South Wales, is no ordinary drive. It's a front-row seat to some of Australia's most breathtaking scenery.

This amazing area is bursting with activities for outdoor enthusiasts and indoor explorers alike and, with hundreds of kilometres of fascinating highways and byways, you also will be tempted to 'take the long way home.'

Australia's premier inland playground features some of the finest driving roads and attractions in the country, plus countless scenic back roads just waiting to be discovered.

So, what are you waiting for? Fill your tank/charge your battery and hit the road. - Photo: Nissan Ariya

1. Great Alpine Road - Wangaratta to Bairnsdale
2. Great River Road - Bethanga to Corryong
3. Snowy Valleys Way - Wangaratta to Gundagai
4. Alpine Way - Khancoban to Jindabyne
Visit these amazing drive here

Albury-Wodonga - the dynamic hub to your regional driving adventures

WITH the twin border cities of Albury-Wodonga as your holiday base, there is no end to the many regional cities, towns, historic sites, eateries, wine regions, lakes and alpine ski resorts you can visit, yet still have plenty of time to ‘come home’ for the night before setting off on another adventure in another direction. It is the gateway to everywhere . . . more

Motoring stuff >

Road test: CHRIS Riley road tests a 2025 Kia Stonic GT-Line . . . more

Bits & pieces: BILL Buys . . . and it has only done 51,112km! . . . more

Back words

And another non-starter

THE more you learn about the British motor industry, the more you lament the missed opportunities. One example is the initiative by FF Developments to convert a Triumph Stag to all-wheel drive. In 1971, Ferguson converted an automatic Stag and later, converted a manual (with overdrive) version.

It was years ahead of its time and used a controlled centre differential. Unlike the Jensen FF which used Dunlop-Maxaret mechanical anti-lock brakes, the Stag employed electronically controlled anti-lock brakes called the FF Anti-Skid System (Maxaret brakes could only be fitted to automatics). To install 4WD, the engine was raised 0.9 inches (23mm), necessitating a bonnet bulge.

GKN (who financed the cars) and FFD showed the car (and other FFD prototypes) to various manufacturers, hoping to convince one to commence production. Jensen did enter production of the FF but few were built before the company faced financial oblivion. As for the Stag, Leyland bosses Turnbull and Stokes wanted to concentrate on cars for the masses and the whole project garnered virtually no publicity. - Paul Murrell - seniordriveraus.com