Drive TV Series 8 Episode 6: Chery Tiggo 4 Pro

Today at 12:00 AM

Introduction: Exploring the Central Tablelands of New South Wales

It's easy to think of Australia's breathtaking coastlines when you picture a road trip, but head inland and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

The Central Tablelands in New South Wales is an area that changed the financial, agricultural, and industrial landscape of Australia permanently over a century ago – and this week, I'm soaking up some of that history in Chery's all-new compact SUV, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro. 

A compact SUV like the Tiggo 4 Pro is the perfect car for anyone who is regularly driving in and out of a city or built-up area and is constantly navigating limited parking spots or tight streets. It's also a fantastic car for parents looking at a first car for their son or daughter. 

As a parent myself, I get that safety is the utmost priority, and this vehicle has all of the safety features that'll put your mind at ease. It has all of the latest tech, and it's a sensible financial choice as it's not only affordable to buy but also to run – a necessity in the current economy. 

Turon Gates

When I say my accommodation for the first night is off the beaten track, I don't just mean a little dirt track off the main road. 

Turon Gates eco-retreat is an hour outside of Lithgow, about half an hour outside of Capertee, but to get there requires winding roads and diminishing phone signal. Once there, I'm in Turon Gates's most recent build, a luxury three-bedroom chalet overlooking the peaceful Turon River.

And before the thought of no phone signal puts you off, picture acres of rolling fields with just the sound of birdsong and kangaroos bopping for company. For a couple of nights, this luxury, eco-friendly, solar-powered oasis sounds absolutely perfect. 

Sofala

To wake up without an alarm clock with just natural light pouring through my windows is a real treat. 

And as much as I'd like to laze around in the chalet making the most of the coffee machine, the hot tub and the general serenity, I have to get going. 

On the way to my next stop, the Drive team and I decide to stop for a coffee in Sofala, the tiny town known as 'Australia's oldest surviving gold town', which is an hour further inland from Turon Gates.

While nowadays it's just a tiny rural village hugging the Turon River, this historic site once housed 10,000 miners and 40 hotels to accommodate the miners flocking to the area in search of their fortune as part of the nineteenth-century New South Wales gold rush.  

And that gold rush is exactly why the final destination on our whistle-stop tour of the Central Tablelands exists. 

Gulgong Gold Experience

Although it has a population of just under 3000, the tiny town of Gulgong has a rich (pardon the pun) history. The area came into prominence in 1870 when gold was first discovered there, and just three years earlier, famed Australian bush poet Henry Lawson had been born in the town. 

Nowadays, people still flock to the area to see if they can make their fortune – though admittedly most people come with slightly lower expectations. 

At Gulgong Gold Experience, visitors can learn all about the history of the area, have an interactive experience of the gold mining experience, and even do some gold panning yourself.

And look, if you don't walk away having made your fortune on this occasion, then you can console yourself with the gorgeous buttery scones made in the Gulgong Gold Experience tearoom by owner Joy, who lives up to her name. 

Farewell to the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro

On this trip exploring the Central Tablelands of NSW, I've revelled in the fact that I've been able to soak up so much history during the day, and then completely switch off and just be amongst nature at night – the perfect remedy for anyone who lives a busy life and just needs a few days to recharge. 

The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro has been the perfect companion on this adventure. This AWD compact SUV is as suited to city streets as it is to country lanes, and thanks to the suite of technology, I've not once felt out of depth in areas I don't know so well. 

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