One of the unexpected joys of our EV road trip from Brisbane to Canberra — down the coast road and then looping north through regional NSW — was how clearly the country unfolded region-by-region. And, when it came to charging our electric vehicle (BYD Atto 3), the differences of the “coast road” compared with the “inland road” were dramatic.
As we transitioned from coastal humidity into mountain air and expansive farmland, the country towns we stopped to charge in quietly shaped the rhythm of our EV road trip. It wasn’t just about the scenery; it was about the charging experience. Read all about it below…
Southbound: Coastal drive Brisbane → Cessnock
Via the Pacific Highway
This stretch delivered classic east coast scenery: lush green hinterland near Byron Bay, long highway sections framed by bushland, and pockets of coastal humidity that clung to the car.
Charging stops along the way:
- Byron Bay (NRMA Charger at The Farm): Easy top-up in a relaxed setting with a cafe, restaurant, kid’s playground and farm animals to explore. It’s dog friendly!
- Coffs Harbour (BP Pulse): Slower charger with minimal facilities… it was a little bit of an ugly stop, if I’m honest — a reminder that not all stops are equal! (Tesla chargers are available at the dog-friendly Big Banana for those who can use them).
- Port Macquarie (NRMA Charger at Sovereign Place): Shopping centre detour when nearby service-centre chargers were full. IGA, cafes, local gift stores to explore and decent public toilets.
- Karuah (Chargefox charging station at the service station Caltex/BP): A fast, reliable charge as daylight faded. The service station was lacking nice toilet facilities, but we discovered an RSL a short walk away. And, there’s a post office and woodfired pizza joint across the road.
Fun roadside moments included the inevitable Big Banana stop and the novelty of charging becoming just another reason to stretch legs and grab food. I think you have to see at least one BIG THING on any road trip through Australia — wouldn’t you agree?
Into the Capital: Cessnock → Canberra
Via Sydney outskirts and the Hume Highway
Leaving the coast behind, the drive shifted into rolling paddocks, distant hills, and long inland skies. Once on the Hume, the road felt calmer and more expansive.
Charging stops along the way:
- Cessnock (Bridges Hill Park): Small top-up before the day began. There’s a beautiful children’s playground and clean public toilets. And, for the adventurous, a decent walk up Bridges Hill to stretch the legs.
- Asquith (BP Pulse): Stopped here for a quick snack, loo break and a partial charge. It was a boring stop, but thankfully the kids were enjoying their audiobook too much to care at this stage. There’s a Coles across the road and cafes nearby.
- Ingleburn (BP Pulse at the Truck Stop): Lunch stop at Hungry Jacks and full charge before heading south. This was when the big kid declared that he didn’t want any more fast food for the rest of the trip… great.
We made a quick detour to see the Big Merino in Goulburn (our second BIG THING!), which broke up the drive before arriving in Canberra in the early evening.
Coast reset: Canberra → Batemans Bay
Via the Kings Highway
This was one of the most scenic drives of the EV road trip. Busy country towns, forested ranges, winding roads, and long downhill sections made regenerative braking feel like a quiet EV superpower. It’s a treacherous road, but fun to drive. Remember to look out for Pooh Corner!
Charging stop:
- Batemans Bay (Evie chargers at the Village Centre): While the car charges in the carpark under the shopping centre, the kids enjoyed the playground and exploring EB Games. There are toilets, shops and coffee — an ideal charging location.
Central west loop: Batemans Bay → Dubbo
Via Goulburn, Orange, and the Central West
The landscape here opened right up. Wheat fields, wide skies, and long straight roads made this feel like “big country” driving. We stayed in Dubbo overnight so that we could enjoy a fun day at Taronga Western Plains Zoo — which I’m pretty sure the adults enjoyed more than the kids!
Charging stops along the way:
- Goulburn (Chargefox charging station at Goulburn Gateway Service Station): Another UGLY charging stop. However, there was a McDonalds across the road for fast food and kids playground.
(Note: the first charger we went to in Goulburn was at the KFC on the other side of town, but there was a queue of EVs waiting for this one) - Orange (NRMA charger at the Civic Centre): This is a fantastic sport near the gallery, museums and visitor information centre. There’s also a shopping centre and beautiful park to explore within walking distance.
- Dubbo (NRMA charger at the Westin Plains Cultural Centre): A great place to relax under the trees. Nearby there is a play space at Victoria Park and the Aquatic Centre. The Orana Arts gallery was lovely to explore.
The landscape here opened right up. Wheat fields, wide skies, and long straight roads made this feel like “big country” driving.
Central west loop: Dubbo → Tamworth
After a wonderful start at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, we picked up the fur kid from the doggy day care and jumped back in the car for the next leg of our EV road trip. We were aiming for Tamworth, which is where we’d see our next BIG THING and stay the night at a lovely Airbnb.
Charging stops along the way:
- Coonabarabran (NRMA charger at the Visitor Centre): The information centre was a short walk to the beautifully renovated Royal Hotel where the kids played on the playground while the adults enjoyed a lite beverage.
- Tamworth (Tesla Supercharger at the West Tamworth League Club): While we enjoyed a meal at the Southgate Inn across the road, we charged the car at the League Club. We were lucky to have success with the Tesla charger for the first time on our trip. However, there are other chargers in town that we could have used if we needed to.
Driving along the outback highways we saw some of the quirkiest sights of the trip — paddock sculptures that were part of the Animals on Bikes exhibit to sections of the World’s Largest Virtual Solar System Drive, where planets appear scaled across the countryside.
New England High Country: Tamworth → Brisbane
Via Armidale, Waterfall Way, and the Clarence Valley
Climbing from Tamworth to Armidale was the most energy-intensive section, but the payoff came on the descent through the ranges.
Charging stops and key moments:
- Armidale (NRMA charger at the Visitor Centre): Parkside charging next to a fantastic playground for kids of all ages and a delightful visitor centre full of local nick-nacks.
- Ebor Falls (no charging, just a beautiful place): Snack stop and waterfall views along Waterfall Way.
- Grafton (no charging): Chargers under the local library were all in use, so we made the decision to keep going.
- Casino (NRMA chargers at the Casino Historical Museum): Arriving with 11% charge, we were rewarded with a pub dinner at the Tattersalls Hotel nearby. This charger is right near the high street in town with lots to explore during the daytime.
From Casino, the final run home to Brisbane felt triumphant! We were a combination of tired, satisfied, and quietly proud. And the big kid was just happy that he could enjoy a home-cooked meal and no more fast food.
Why our EV road trip worked
Breaking the drive into regions, rather than kilometres, made our EV road trip experience richer. Charging stops weren’t interruptions; they were invitations to explore towns, landscapes, and roadside surprises we’d otherwise rush past.
On this EV road trip, the highways didn’t just connect destinations. They were the experience.
Read more about our experience: A long-distance EV road trip: Brisbane to Canberra (and back) with all the kids | Never Ending Honeymoon
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