Melbourne Scenic Driving with Audi R8 - recommend places

haji on 28/02/2018 - 20:37

So I bit the bullet and am hiring an Audi R8 from Hertz for the day for my wife's 40th.

Other than the Great Ocean Road, can I get some recommendations for a nice drive? I do have Dandenong Ranges in mind being such a large area, is there a particular stretch of road I shouldn't miss? The weather is 33 which is nice (it's not a convertible).

We have 150kms included but an extra km is $1.8. Even if I go 50kms over for the day, $90 isn't that much when you consider the fact that it's costing $1350 for the day :gulp:

Travel

Comments

  • aidhan on 28/02/2018 - 20:48
    +2

    Shoulda hired a Bunnings van and done a road trip.

    • haji on 28/02/2018 - 21:17
      +4

      Maybe for the 50th ;)

  • clubhonda on 28/02/2018 - 20:56

    The problem here is all the places performance enthusiasts love to hang out at (names containing Buang cough cough, or race tracks), probably wouldn't suit the event, and it doesn't sound like you're a hardcore enthusiast.

    What are you looking to do with an R8? Take pictures, spirited driving?

    • haji on 28/02/2018 - 22:23

      Correct. I'm not a die hard racing car enthusiast but would like to give it some grunt. I do semi professional photography as well so some pics to keep as well.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/02/2018 - 21:03

    get a mustang or porsche

  • BuyoTheCat on 28/02/2018 - 21:07
    +8

    I would take a nice drive down from healesville to marysville through the blackspurs. It is a nice twisty road. going through towering mountain ash.

    my usual route to get to healsville is through diamond creek -> kangaroo ground -> yarra glen -> healsville -> marysville

    Do take care. the blackspur is twisty and used to be full of wannabe racers. Not so much these days.

    • haji on 28/02/2018 - 21:17
      +1

      My friend just recommended Black Spur to me, never heard of it but sounds exciting.

      • Third_Gear on 28/02/2018 - 22:41
        +1

        Do the spur. Hit up Warburton for the nice river walk and visit the ice cream shop across from the bakery. Stop here too:

        https://www.visitwarburton.com.au/activity/redwood-forest-ce…

        Great place for Photography and there is a really great loop walk at the end of the forest. Not a lot of people know of this place. Heaps to do in the area.

        The drive up to Lake Mountain is nice too. Go up and back down. Enjoy the views from the top!

    • Randxyz123 on 28/02/2018 - 22:31

      Do take care. the blackspur is twisty and used to be full of wannabe racers. Not so much these days.

      It's the motorcyclists up chum creek road you need to watch out for! (if you are coming from Melbourne left is chum creek road (Healesville Kinglake road) towards Toolangi . Saw one loose it not pretty.

      But +1 to black spur which is right (I think).

  • hasselbladsnapper on 28/02/2018 - 21:09
    +1

    Try the back roads to Buller, you might manage the odd "squirt" if it's quiet and SAFE!! … I would guess there would be no chance of that on the GOR, too much traffic and the boy's in blue/black!. Have done this in the distant past in a Falcon GTHO… what a blast!.

  • Donaldhump on 28/02/2018 - 21:25
    +1

    I'd use at least 100 kms doing burn outs in a car park.

  • slknv on 28/02/2018 - 21:34
    +2

    So I bit the bullet and am hiring an Audi R8 from Hertz for the day for my wife's 40th.

    I wonder who's really getting the present then? :)

    • haji on 28/02/2018 - 22:15

      I'd be lying if I said I don't want to drive it :)

      But honestly, looked at this option https://www.adrenaline.com.au/mornington-peninsula/european-… which is 1 hour in each car. After doing some research, although they're head turners the cars are almost 10 years old, and I can only be a passenger. So I thought why not pay a little more and get the latest Audi and keep it for 24 hours. I'm not after people's attention, would rather drive a less stigma attracting car.

  • Maglia Nera on 28/02/2018 - 21:55
    +2

    Calder Raceway

    • simgue on 28/02/2018 - 22:09
      +1

      Totally! Forget all the long public roads when all you really want is a closed track. Otherwise hire a Corolla and take your time.

    • haji on 28/02/2018 - 22:16

      Thanks, didn't think of this. Will check it out.

    • Darron65 on 01/03/2018 - 17:23

      Last time I was looking for track time, Winton had a lot better availability. Further away though.

  • pegaxs on 28/02/2018 - 22:27
    +1

    Melbourne to Geelong, to Torquay, to Lorne, to Apollo Bay and Great Ocean Road it all the way to Warrnambool… Visit Loch Ard Gorge, 12 Apostles, and London Bridge on the way through…

    I know you said 150km and no GOR… but an R8 on the Great Ocean Road would be so awesome… or, at least go as far as Lorne and have lunch.

    Failing that, the Whittlesea, King Lake loop. Up and around through Yea and across and back down through Healesville…

    Get on some motorbike forums and find out where those guys go. I used to live in Melbourne and loved doing trips up to Alexandra and back down in a big loop.

    Or, if you want some “serenity”, you could drive up to Bonnydoon… ahhh… serenity…

  • y on 28/02/2018 - 23:09
    +1

    Use Waze app for navigation on your phone, it warns you of speed cameras and mobile police speed checks.

    Have fun, I rented an R8 in the UK a few years ago for a trip to the lake district, awesome car.

  • Shadowsfury on 28/02/2018 - 23:53

    My usual loop for spirited driving is Melbourne - Reefton Spur - Lake Mountain - Black Spur - Melbourne. From my house near Chaddy its about 250km round trip

    Apart from the Dandenong Ranges (which is too crowded with cars during the day) the above is the best bang for buck route.

    There are more roads further north like someone suggested earlier back roads to Mt Buller but it's a lot of straight road (boring) driving just reaching it. Ditto the GOR - I love it to bits but its a long trek just to even begin it, and usually by the time you're returning its night time so take the highway instead of the scenic route.

  • Presence on 01/03/2018 - 09:18

    GOR is overrun with tourists and cyclists. Go to Marysville!

  • altomic on 01/03/2018 - 09:45

    $1350 for the day

    that is way more than the cost of the return tickets for myself + 3 kids to Japan.

    if you are going on the weekend then every man and his dog will be on the road.

    • haji on 01/03/2018 - 10:31

      Yeah I know it's a lot of money, been to Malaysia a few times on the cheap and other places but experience wise this is something different. Once is 40 years should be bearable I think.

    • clubhonda on 01/03/2018 - 19:55

      I wouldn't want to fly to Japan right now with radiation exposure still a real problem.

  • ShannonN on 01/03/2018 - 13:19

    Given the area is probably full of radars due to boy racer popularity are you going to get value and 200kph type sprinting without being booked by radar? remember hoon laws state anything over 40? kph past speed limit results in car (whether hire or not) being impounded for 30 days?

    Imagine the cost of hire car for 30 days? whilst impounded, add impound fee up to 800, loss of license?

    Best to just drive your own machine and not opt for megastar status. spend the extra on a few nights accom' seeing the great sites at loch ard, warnambool and meet with locals share stories stay at pubs etc

    • haji on 01/03/2018 - 16:31

      Won't be doing anything ridiculous or risk anyone's lives. Just quick accelerations until the speed limit is reached. Not after a megastar status, just the thrill of driving a supercar. Thanks for the advice though.

  • Broke-Ken on 02/03/2018 - 11:56

    How about a couple of laps along Chapel st and Lygon st? make sure you have enough fuel though….
    https://www.facebook.com/victoriapolice/photos/a.22396055100…

    Or go down the Burnley tunnel in 2nd gear? ;)

    • haji on 02/03/2018 - 15:28

      Chapel and Lygon will be one of the last places I'd want to drive a car like that :)

      Wouldn't mind the tunnel though!

  • lainey13 on 03/03/2018 - 21:36

    Jeez, I thought forking out $340 for a Mustang in Wellington was a bit much… but it was his dream so we did it :) Enjoy your ride!!

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