Drive TV Season 8 Episode 1: 2025 Kia Carnival HEV

Today at 12:00 AM

Introduction: Exploring the Shoalhaven region

I drove down the coast of New South Wales into the Shoalhaven region, a popular part of the South Coast, home to some well-known tourist towns such as Jervis Bay, Mollymook and Ulladulla to name but a few. 

But rather than hitting the road well travelled, I headed off the beaten track and discovered some of Shoalhaven's hidden treasures that you won't have read about on the tourist forums or seen on Instagram. 

And what better car to do it in than Kia's people-mover, the 2025 Kia Carnival HEV? It's practical, it's comfortable and, thanks to its hybrid technology, it's economical. 

I was lucky enough to have some peace and quiet, and was able to do this trip on my own – but this road trip is designedfor a family and the Kia Carnival HEV is the ultimate large family car, with three rows able to accommodate up to eight passengers and 627 litres of boot space. For parents of younger kids, there are five ISOFIX points as well. 

You won't be surprised to hear then that the Kia Carnival is a Drive favourite and has won the People-Mover of Year category in the Drive Car of the Year awards several years in a row. But the 2025 Kia Carnival HEV is about to set the bar even higher as the first hybrid Carnival, making a huge difference in fuel economy.

After driving 150km from Sydney’s CBD, I was at my first destination: the Bundanon Homestead and Arthur Boyd’s Studio.

Bundanon Homestead and Arthur Boyd’s Studio

Late, great Australian artist Arthur Boyd was the one-time owner of this 1100-hectare estate. 

To access both the homestead and Boyd's one-time home, both of which hug the Shoalhaven River, you've got to travel down a fairly hairy bit of dirt road.

Not for every car, the Kia Carnival handles these roads with ease. On a dirt road like the ones heading into Bundanon, there were some unavoidable potholes, but the Carnival tackled these without a fuss and I didn't find myself lurching all over the place. 

At the estate, Bundanon's Head of Curatorial and Learning, Sophie O'Brien, gave me a tour of the latest exhibition and a rundown of what visitors can expect from both properties. From morning yoga sessions to live music, this place was a haven of creativity, with the most serene backdrop in the form of the river. 

After navigating my way out of Arthur Boyd's homestead, I made my way back towards the town of Nowra and then south towards Jervis Bay.

Jervis Bay Maritime Museum and Gallery

In Jervis Bay, it was straight on to the Jervis Bay Maritime Museum and Gallery to meet Museum Director Diana Lorentz.

Diana's knowledge of Jervis Bay's rich maritime history is unparalleled and she kindly gave me a tour of the museum, which is quite literally brimming with maritime artefacts, forgotten trinkets and even historic vessels.

For little ones, there is a fantastic treasure hunt in the museum to keep them busy, and when everyone's finished there, a short walk along the mangrove boardwalk is a peaceful way to finish off your visit. 

After checking into my hotel, the sunset was approaching, which meant it was time for my final activity: a spot of stargazing. 

Jervis Bay Stargazing

On Hyams Beach, I met with Dr Dimitri Douchin, an astrophysicist, TEDx speaker and co-founder of Jervis Bay Stargazing with his wife Caroline. 

With his audience rugged up to the nines, Dimitri taught the group all about stargazing, how to use the stars to navigate, and a short history of constellations. After identifying a few constellations ourselves, it was time to get up close and personal with some of those planets using the state-of-the-art telescope provided. 

Farewell to the Kia Carnival HEV

The Carnival has been the perfect companion on my South Coast road trip: the comfort and amenities have taken any of the strife out of a long drive, while the copious number of safety features have put me at ease when driving roads I don't know.

Although it's been fun having a few days to myself, I can't wait to bring my family back here and show off all these fantastic hidden gems in the Shoalhaven region. 

The post Drive TV Season 8 Episode 1: 2025 Kia Carnival HEV appeared first on Drive.