EV road trip: Jugiong to Parkes

Before embarking on this trip don’t forget to charge up at the NRMA’s fast charger in Jugiong on Riverside drive, located near the Great Hume Hume Visitor Information Centre – allowing you to charge your car in about 30 minutes all up.

While there's no shortage of places to kick- start your day with a coffee shot in Jugiong, Long Track Pantry is a neat coffee shop which also sells a delicious selection of handmade relishes and jams. There’s also a homewares store within the café selling décor and knick-knacks.

Jugiong is the gateway to the Hilltops Region, where you’ll find some of the best wines in the country. Upon leaving, pick up some local drops from the Jugiong Wine Cellar – there’s a wide selection to delight the red, white and rose drinkers.

Perched on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, Wagga Wagga is a place where the produce is as fresh as the country air.

If you're a fan of the arts, you'll be stoked with what's on offer in Wagga Wagga. A trip to the Regional Art Gallery is a must, where a range of artwork from outstanding Riverina artists are hosted - as well as plenty of other exhibitions. It's also home to the National Art Glass Collection which houses a world class, nationally significant collection of contemporary art glass.

Enriched by historic buildings and cedar-lined streets, Narrandera is the next stop on your Riverina journey.

Known to the locals as Koala reserve, Narrandera Nature Reserve is part of the Murrumbidgee Valley National Park and is home to over 200 koalas. Here, you and the family will see hundreds of these iconic Australian animals in the wild.

Don’t forget to charge at the NRMA fast charging station, located in the Narrandera’s Visitor Information Centre – available to motorists 24 hours a day.

Often a missed treasure on the Mid-Western Highway, West Wyalong is a picturesque town with a wonderful meandering main street.

Discover the town’s goldmining heritage by paying a visit to the Wyalong Museum and at the 25-metre True Blue Mining Poppet Head – the structure above a mine shaft – at Cooinda Park, a popular picnic spot.

While there, take the West Wyalong Heritage Walk, a self-guided stroll that includes the Crooked Mile. Stop for refreshments at Thom, Dick and Harry’s, a café and florist located on the Main Street.

If you forgot to charge up while in Narrandera, don’t fret – head over to 13 Shire Street, across the road from the Visitor’s Information Centre and make use of the NRMA fast charger that’s been installed there.

1 and a half hours journey North West lands you in the 15,000-strong town of Parkes, another gold rush settlement and home to the annual Elvis Festival.

Drive 20 kilometres north through farmlands to see the 64-metre telescope that helped broadcast man's first moon walk and has since found more than 2,000 pulsars. There's an onsite cafe, with glass walls (so you can keep looking for signs of alien life while you're eating), serving beef and red wine pies, burgers and fat sandwiches.

For a slick, four-star stay, check into Hotel Gracelands. This newly renovated 20-roomer is splashed in earthy tones, making it a cool retreat on hot days.

Before you make your way home, don’t forget to charge your electric vehicle at the NRMA's Parkes fast charger It's located at the Parkes Swimming Pool, on Dalton Street.