Articles by Tim O'Brien

Often overlooked, understated and uncommercialised, beautiful Mt Baw Baw is the family ski resort.It's an easy 2.5-hour drive from Melbourne, but there is more to see in this hidden corner of Gippsland than the ski-slopes of Mt Baw Baw. So, why not extend the adventure and, before hitting the snow, take the family deep into the temperate rain forests sitting below the snow-line for some off-the-track exploring?Best of all, even in winter you don't need a low-range 4WD to get a long way into these mountains.A little light-duty SUV, such as the Toyota's AWD C-HR Koba we're driving, is easily up to the task. You just need a bit of extra ground clearance (tick), a bit of caution on narrow bush roads (tick), and a bit of pre-planning – like checking the status of the roads for temporary closures (tick).We chose a family-friendly three-day adventure, heading first to the historic gold-mining town of Walhalla; taking another day to explore the back roads around the Thomson Dam, before overnighting at Mt Baw Baw for our third day in the snow.

Driving on icy alpine roads can be dangerous, even for seasoned winter travellers, so it pays to be prepared for the sometimes-challenging road conditions.

So, you're ready for a winter trip into snowy climes.

Road Trip: Gawler Ranges - the magical gateway to 'the West'

Buyer remorse, it's such a downer. You know, you get it home and you're suddenly hit by a wave of sinking clarity that had deserted you when buying, "What the hell was I thinking?" Those jeans, or that couch... in that colour? "OMG... I'm an idiot...!" This new car? Whoa, that's a biggie. That's not one you want to

It's comfortable, capable and better looking than ever before, but is that enough to finally propel Mazda's BT-50 to a place in the upper echelon of Australia's dual-cab ute brigade?

Crest the Strzeleckis above Foster in Victoria's south-east and the physical presence of 'The Prom', Wilson's Promontory, is overwhelming and breathtaking. And here, from high above, the ocean is everywhere.