NSW Central Coast + Seal Rocks 2025
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Selling our beloved Model 3 for $35,000
We’re selling our EV. It’s been a fantastic car, never skipped a beat. It drives as well today as the day we bought it. We’re only selling because we need a car that has seating higher off the ground (arthritic hips). Selling for $35,000. No offers. We have a week to sell it, otherwise we’ll just trade in on a new car (another EV). Tesla Model 3 RWD, 2022 (August) 0 to 100km/h in 6 seconds White paint Includes extra purchases from Tesla: - $1500 white seats/interior - $5100 Enhanced Autopilot - $250 Boom box and Pedestrian Warning System Third party included purchases: - Rubber mats for floor. - Rubber mats for boot, sub-trunk, frunk. - Original unused floor mats. - Mud flaps. Unused, not installed. Included if required. - Roof shades. - Rear spoiler. 91000 km No accidents Rego: CGU321 Rego until March 2026 Runs on sunshine ☀️ Pick up from Emerald, Victoria. Or, we can deliver it within 100km.
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Why we ordered a Model Y 'Juniper' launch edition
Back in January, we took the plunge and ordered a new Tesla Model Y “Juniper” launch edition. “Ultra Red”, white interior, 20” wheels (which was the only option for the launch edition). We chose the same battery and drive as our Model 3: RWD (rear wheel drive), LFP battery (no nickel or cobalt), 0 to 100km/h in 5.9s. The main reason for the upgrade is for the greater ease of getting in and out of the car, which has been increasingly painful on Fran’s arthritic hips. As those of you who follow our Tesla Tripping blog will know, we have looked at and test driven quite a lot of other options. The best contender was the XPeng G6. In the end we stuck with the Tesla Model Y because of the huge storage space, driving performance and the tech. The Tesla app has guided us through the whole process up to now, with registration, trade-in, insurance. Today is delivery day. The final `Start` button is still disabled in the app. I’m guessing it will enable at exactly 3pm, when we’re at Tesla…
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Toasties at Lake Nillahcootie, again
First stop today, at Lake Nillahcootie, near Bonnie Doon, on our way north. We happened to stop here just a few weeks ago, in our Model 3, travelling south. We grabbed a couple of toasties from the weekend food van, stretched our legs, and headed off again. Ultra red seems to be following us 🤔. Earlier, we passed through "The Black Spur" on the way towards Alexandria, where the last of the fern trees and tall trees farewelled us from our mountain ranges near home.
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A solar-powered coffee stop at Glenrowan BP
Coffee stop, just north of Glenrowan, at the BP service centre. The Tesla/Google navigation only knew the south bound service center here, so the directions tried to send us over the highway 🤪. Thanks to the nearby solar farm that provides the power to the grid that found its way to our car. We overheard someone paying $1100 for fuel, presumably a semi trailer. Wow. 😮 Home baked Anzac slice (thank you Krissy) was the perfect accompaniment for the coffee and thermos of tea. The small birds begged us for crumbs. On towards Wagga.
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A 20-minute detour through Brayton dirt
The navigation showed red traffic ahead on the highway towards Goulburn. We saved ten minutes of slow traffic, by taking an off ramp. Pretty proud of myself until the detour turned into a long dirt road through Brayton, which probably added twenty minutes to the trip. The photo shows an easy part of the road, but a few sections were pretty rugged. Glad to have the higher clearance of the Model Y (compared to our previous Model 3), but the 20 inch low profile tyres on this “Launch” model aren’t ideal for off road. I wish the navigation showed which roads are unsealed, and the length before reaching tar. This was our first major christening of the new car on dirt roads. Great scenery. The flat bum of the Model Y Juniper accumulates the dust. But the rain and a quick hosing at our motel sorted it out.
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Barefoot at Rules Club, leaving Wagga
On the way out of Wagga Wagga this morning, we stopped at Rules Club. Looks like a nice place – we’ll try out a meal there next time. Tom waited outside, in his bare feet, like a vagrant, while Fran went in to get a coffee. Our Model Y seating is much more comfortably higher than in our old Model 3. This has greatly reduced pain in arthritic hips, on this journey. The road grime is starting to collect on the previously shiny paint. After polishing off a travel cookie, we unplugged and headed off again. Earlier this morning we were on babysitting duty, with grandson Enzo. Lots of fun. He overpowered Tom into taking him for a walk towards the park. At the end, we drew straws as to who would carry whom back up the hill. Tom lost. We passed an intriguing street sign with added distances to Victoria and Queensland.
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Average-speed monitoring on the Hume Highway
Cruising along the Hume Highway, between Gundagai and Yass. The highway average speed monitoring system is now enforced for all vehicles. Fortunately, our Tesla monitors our average speed setting these sections, showing it on screen, so we can ensure that we comply. And, of course, in Autopilot, the car just drives itself for most of the drive. Driver fatigue is greatly reduced.
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A cafe opposite the Yass Superchargers
Stop for a late lunch, in Yass, at Kaffeine 2582. We picked this place, because it’s opposite the Tesla Superchargers. I wonder if the cafe realises how many EV drivers now eat at their cafe 🤔.
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First wash at Briars Country Lodge near Bowral
After our journey from Wagga and Yass, last night we stayed near Bowral at Briars Country Lodge. Nice motel, set on beautiful grounds, complete with buffet breakfast. Our car got its first wash, from a hose next to the parking. Dinner at The Scottish Arms Hotel, Bowral. Driving on today to Cessnock and Seal Rocks.
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Coffee Guru, opposite Mittagong's Evie chargers
On our way out of Bowral this morning, we grabbed a coffee at Coffee Guru Mittagong. Conveniently located across the road from Evie fast chargers, so we could all be charged up for our long drive to Cessnock and Seal Rocks.
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The scenic route through Wollombi to Cessnock
Taking the scenic route through Wollombi and Laguna, on our way to pick up Mum from Cessnock. Raining. Beautiful countryside. A few years ago, this whole valley suffered major flooding.
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Direct-to-boot groceries in Raymond Terrace
Stocking up on some groceries in Raymond Terrace, before the final leg of our trip to Seal Rocks. We used the Woolworths app to order ahead for “direct to boot”.
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A rainy 'sunny holiday' at Seal Rocks
May 19-22: We arrived at Reflections Seal Rocks. Francis joked at reception “We’re here for our sunny holiday” as the rain continued to belt down. It rained most of the time we were there. The room key mocked us with the label “Life is better outside”. But we made the most of it. We played a few rounds of “brain fart” which was frustrating and fun. I drove 3km down the road to Treachery Camp to pick up Amber. It takes a long time to drive along a road that bad. On the first night, we drove to the closest open dinner venue: The Palms Bistro, Smiths Lake. The satay veg curry was yum and great value. Another night, Fran cooked up a delicious mushroom meal for her mother in law! And sent her home with the leftovers 😉. We did a few days trips out, including a snippet of sun. Stay tuned for those.
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A Turkish find for lunch in Forster
We often fail to get around to lunch in a town before everything starts to close. We trekked out to Forster and after a few failed eateries, we happened across this Turkish restaurant which proved to be the find of the week. Lovely people and great food. We hung around the attached dessert shop afterwards and discovered all types of Turkish Delight that we didn’t know existed.
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Lunch at Kembali Cafe at Blueys Beach
We made the most of the slight break in the weather with a drive out to Blueys/Boomerang Beach, for lunch at Kembali Cafe. We phoned ahead to secure some food before the kitchen closed. Then some pics back at Seal Rocks.
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Packing the subtrunk for the Central Coast
Time to pack some bodies into the subtrunk! There’s so much room in this thing. We prepared for our trip today to the NSW Central Coast, via Cessnock.
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Pies at Heatherbrae's, and flooded Thornton
Quick lunch at Heatherbrae's Pies, on our way to drop Mum back at Cessnock. We swung out through Thornton. One of the many towns with full flood plains. The farmers must have been busy moving livestock and equipment to higher ground.
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Thai Thyme and haircuts at Erina Fair
A couple of visits to Erina Fair, while we’ve been on the Central Coast the past few days. Back to our favourite Thai Thyme restaurant for some pineapple fried rice, and Harris Farm for groceries. Even time for a couple of haircuts.
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KFC in the frunk, on the Central Coast
A few random jaunts around the Central Coast to catch up with family. Ettalong Beach, Terrigal, Woy Woy waterfront. Bringing KFC to lunch in the frunk, to keep the smell out of the cabin.
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Pies and EV chargers in the same car park
When the EV chargers are in the car park of the pie shop, then pies are definitely for lunch. Disappointing to see one of the other EVs occupying a charging park, but not plugged in.
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Find-along-route coffee on a cold morning
We left our motel this cold morning in our preheated EV. No need to run an engine and fill the veranda with fumes. We hit “Home” as the destination in the navigation, then “Find along route”, coffee. It showed various options along our path. We tapped the “Brew Cart” pin, read the details, then added it as a stop. Neat! It turns out to be just a brew cart. Just coffee. As advertised, I guess. No food.
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A fluid swap at Oliver's Real Food, Gundagai
Quick stop for a fluid change (hot chocolate in, wee out) at Oliver's Real Food Gundagai.
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$6 avocados and lunch at Mint and Jam, Yea
Lunch stop at Mint and Jam in Yea, on the way home. Marmalades is closed until June 5, so we had to venture out 😉. A bag of avocados selling for $6 – good value.
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Hume Highway quirks of our Model Y Juniper
The things you discover while cruising along the endless Hume Highway: 1. Our new Model Y Juniper seems to have a bug, where turning off AutoPilot also turns off Auto Wipers, so they immediately start going. Might need to lodge a fault. 2. The navigation shows the weather at our “Final Destination”. Nice! 3. Logging trucks make me nervous, having seen the “Final Destination” movies.
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Destination chargers at every room: Woomargama Hotel Motel
Past the halfway point of our trip home, we stayed last night at the Woomargama Hotel Motel, 15 minutes south of Holbrook. Great find. Good value room ($120 per night), hotel next door serves dinner. Added bonus: destination EV chargers out the front of each room. The room’s (de)odorisers were quite potent, so we tracked them down ina cupboard and moved them outside and opened up the windows while we had dinner.