Electric road trip to Carnarvon Gorge
A Regional Queensland EV Test
Don Grigg
In late 2025 we set out from Palmwoods on the Sunshine Coast for a six-day electric vehicle road trip to Carnarvon Gorge and back – a total distance of 1,565 kilometres. Our destination was Wallaroo Outback Retreat, 165 km north of Roma, where our daughter and her family had invited us to join them for a three-night stay. Wanting to keep daily driving to a comfortable level, we split the journey each way with an overnight stop in Roma.
The trip was a good test of regional EV travel. Although I had owned my Kia EV5 Earth AWD for four months and driven about 5,000 km locally, I had almost exclusively charged at home using the standard 10-amp charger. This would be my first long trip relying on public fast chargers, so preparation mattered.
Before leaving, I made sure all relevant charging apps were installed and working – Tesla, Chargefox, Evie and NRMA. I also did a trial run on local chargers at Yandina, Nambour and Forest Glen to confirm compatibility with the Kia. This proved worthwhile, as one charger was malfunctioning and delivered only a fraction of its rated power. Better to discover that close to home than on the highway.
The recommended EV route inland from the Sunshine Coast includes fast chargers at Gympie, Goomeri and Miles. The most critical stop was Goomeri, which enables the longest leg of the journey – 225 km to Miles. As a backup, we identified an alternative route via Kingaroy in case the Goomeri charger was unavailable.
Another consideration for remote travel is tyre damage. Like many modern cars, the EV5 comes only with a tyre repair kit rather than a spare. Given the distances involved, I purchased a space-saver spare wheel and a compatible jack as cheap insurance.
Our first charging stop was Gympie, where we used the Tesla Superchargers at Goldfields Plaza. Two chargers were free and we recharged to 100 per cent in just 18 minutes. That was enough time for a coffee, lunch supplies and a toilet break – a good example of how charging can neatly coincide with normal travel stops.
At Goomeri, the NRMA fast charger behind the Shell service station was working well, delivering a full charge in about 24 minutes. While the location was functional rather than scenic, it was reliable and essential for continuing west. We drove on to nearby Wondai for lunch in a pleasant park before tackling the longer leg to Miles.
Miles has Chargefox fast chargers opposite the town library. We charged only to 67 per cent, which still gave ample range to reach Roma. That overnight stop was planned around accommodation with charging: the Explorers Inn offers Tesla destination chargers, which allowed us to recharge to 100 per cent overnight at no extra cost.
From Roma, the final 165 km to Wallaroo Outback Retreat was easily within range. At the retreat we charged slowly using a standard power point at our glamping tent. This was more than sufficient to cover a return day trip to Carnarvon Gorge and to recharge fully before heading back to Roma.
Over the entire trip, travelling mostly at 110 km/h in warm conditions with air-conditioning and a car fridge running, the EV averaged 24 kWh per 100 km. Total charging costs were about $115. A comparable petrol SUV would likely have cost around $200 in fuel (pre-fuel crisis and price rises).
The trip was smooth, comfortable and uneventful – exactly what you want on a holiday. With a little planning, this journey showed that regional Queensland travel in an electric vehicle is not only possible, but genuinely enjoyable.
Don Grigg is a member and volunteer with Zero Emissions Noosa. If you would like to chat with him about his experience he will be a private exhibitor at the upcoming EV & Electrify Everything Expo on Sunday 21 June.
