Our final episode of Season 2 pairs two cars, two presenters and two states as we seek to find the best driver's option along the stunning Murray River Road - here's how to get there!
Drive Season 2 screens on Channel 9 at 1 pm each Sunday. The full episode will be available to video on 9Now after it airs.
This week, we started our drive in Albury on the NSW / Victoria border. Albury (in NSW) is an almost six-hour drive (550km) from Sydney or a bit over a three-hour drive (330km) from Melbourne. It's a great town to visit and use as a base, with plenty of accommodation and dining options.
Just 19km from the center of Albury is the stunning Bethanga Bridge on the shores of Lake Hume.
Completed in 1930, the nine-span bridge is just over 750m across (752m) and connects the town of Lake Hume Village on the New South Wales side with Bellbridge on the Victorian side.
It's a pretty drive to this location and a short detour can also take in the Hume Weir, a hugely important part of water supply and irrigation for farmers along the Murray River.
Note too, that although not an official part of our drive route, we filmed some driving sections in the town of Bethanga. It's also worthy of a detour, for a bit more history and understanding of the region.
On the Victorian side of the river, runs the Murray River Road (C542 then C546).
This twists and turns along the natural line of the waterway for about 100km to our first stops in Jingellic and Walwa. The road is easy, but entertaining, regardless of the car you are driving.
We crossed the river into Jingellic for a quick photo stop of the historic bridge, then drove into Walwa for a coffee.
The towns are all beautifully presented with good services and friendly locals!
From Walwa, the Murray River Road continues toward the Snowy Mountains, with white dusted peaks visible in the distance as you look over the valley.
You pass the purple stone monolith of Pine Mountain and there are couple of great lookout spots on the way.
The turnoff to Khancoban, on the Alpine Way, is well signposted and the town, a time-capsule of 1950s alpine life, is always worthy of a stop.
Built to house the Snowy Hydro workers, Khancoban was as much a flagship settlement as it was a community hub for the project.
From here, you can head on through the mountains to Thredbo and beyond, or work your way back to Albury (as we did) along the Murray Valley Highway.
Google maps link for this route (from Albury)
-