Porsche Destination Charging: Shaun Birley discovers some of Queensland’s best roads and destinations

I’ll keep the electric puns to an absolute minimum, but there is honestly no other way to describe the sensation when you put your foot down in the Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo – it’s electric!

Luckily for us, we got to spend a few days and nights seeing what this new battery-powered addition to the Porsche family can really do.

The experience driving up the winding roads made us quickly realise that we were in fact still sitting in a Porsche, despite it being battery-powered.

The start of my journey kicks off in the heart of the Brisbane CBD at Porsche Centre Brisbane, where we were first formally introduced to the Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, Porsche’s first Cross Utility Vehicle and one of the company’s first fully electric sportscar models. 

My crew and I planned to adventure through Queensland’s scenic hinterland, exploring the world-famous holiday destinations that Spicers Retreats had to offer. Spanning over 800 kms and four days of driving, our first destination was Spicers Clovelly Estate in Maleny, just a few km’s inland from the Sunshine Coast. From there the team and I would venture South, back past Brisbane and down to the Gold Coast hinterland at the base of the scenic rim to two more Spicers locations: Peak Lodge and Hidden Vale. 

Besides the locations making these exclusive hotels such a unique experience, it is also that Porsche Cars Australia have installed Porsche Destination Charging units so that we would be able to recharge our car’s battery as well as our own before venturing off again each morning. 

With the first 20km under our belt en route to Maleny, there were a couple of features of the Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo that immediately stood out to us.

The shape and size were not too dissimilar from the Panamera, providing us ample space for our weekend luggage and camera gear that we needed for our adventure, including the handy front boot.

The experience driving up the winding roads made us quickly realise that we were in fact still sitting in a Porsche, despite it being battery-powered. The handling didn’t feel unfamiliar to the cars that we recently drove on a previous Porsche Track Experience. The only difference was that we didn’t have that famous Porsche “roar” when we put our foot down, however that was quickly overshadowed by the intensity of the acceleration that the Taycan provides when you need it most, and the Porsche Electric Sports sound.

Arriving at Spicers Clovelly Estate reminds me of an episode of Downton Abbey, featuring a long winding driveway, the main house which overlooks a Slim Aarons-inspired pool you would possibly see on a Lake Como postcard. We plugged the Porsche in and checked into our rooms and quickly signed up for the four-course degustation meal.

The morning after, we filled our tanks with coffee and croissants. We were 100% ready to take off, and after a full night’s charge the Porsche Taycan indicated the same. With a three-and-a-half hour drive ahead up to Spicers Peak Lodge, we decided to get familiar with some of the driving features on offer, such as adaptive cruise control. Automatically adjusting itself to the speed and distance to the car in front, it also made some slight corrections when it comes to driving within the lanes.

It was probably the quietist car I’ve ever driven. There was zero road noise coming through and it was incredibly peaceful.

Our crew got familiar with some entertainment options, like Apple CarPlay, which can be accessed wirelessly in the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo. It also supports Android Auto, but what they loved about it the most was the multiple charging ports which kept most of our tech topped up throughout the entire trip. 

Entering Spicers Peak Lodge, we all instantly had the feeling of driving into Jurassic Park. A full 35 minutes later driving the single-road driveway, we had safely arrived at our destination.

With one quick push of the ‘gravel’ button available on the 10.9 inch display monitor in the middle console, our Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo literally rose to the challenge, quickly changing heights to conquer the more challenging road conditions. After a 1.3km climb in altitude through thick fog, we rose above the clouds which revealed a stunning ski-style lodge overlooking the scenic rim mountain tops. If you could picture a green oasis above the clouds, this would meet that brief.

After befriending a few of the local bovine which shared a boundary between the hotel and the many walking trails you can explore, we were greeted by the staff of Spicers Peak Lodge with a drink and a warm toasty common area with the fireplace that shelters from the 12-degree cold winds outside. It was hard to believe that we were still in tropical Queensland.

We were again greeted with personal fireplaces at our stunning lifestyle rooms along with kindling to keep them going all night. Every corner of the hotel had incredible features with no thought left unturned, from the accommodation itself all the way through to the incredible fine dining experiences for guests.

Next stop – Spicers Hidden Vale, another full-day drive in the charged-up Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo.

One thing to note about the car was that it was incredibly quiet. The crew and I didn’t put any music on. In fact, we sat there and just enjoyed silence. It was probably the quietist car I’ve ever driven. There was zero road noise coming through and it was incredibly peaceful.

Driving into Hidden Vale felt like we were driving into a small luxurious town with individual cabins and a community garden which links back to the restaurant.

The Taycan 4S Cross Turismo is the future of cars as we know them.

Again, so many elements here stood out to us, including the homestead style breakfast with sheltered views across the valley, the giant fireplace surrounded by big leather couches (something you would usually see in a TV ad), and – last but not least – the Porsche Destination Charging station.

So now the trip has come to an end. It was very tough to hand the car back and bid farewell. Overall, an unforgettable experience that was made truly special by the Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo. This car provided a second-to-none luxury experience from door to door across every destination, and made the long hours we did on the road far more enjoyable.

It also made me realise that the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo is the future of cars as we know them. This is where we are going, and that getting into a non-electric car might one day soon be an obsolete mode of transport. 

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Author and Images: @shaunbirley