After a brief overnight stay, and a very cold one at that, we set off towards Toowoomba, our next stop for a few days. Taking advantage of the nearby Caltex we fuelled up ready for whatever lay ahead but, with hindsight, we should have stayed where we were. But being surrounded by places such as Stonehenge, Dundee, Diehard and Bald Nob it was time to go.

It was a varied mix of driving today along the A15 starting with kilometres of parched farmland before arriving at the big climb of the day through the twisting hills of Bolivia. It was a little challenging along the narrow road and made even narrower due to roadworks but the dramatic scenery to our left as we crossed Bolivia Hill was rewarding enough. The landscape opened out a little after the hills and followed the low point in the valley with many long, straight sections along the New England Highway before arriving in the town of Tenterfield and time for lunch.

As is becoming the norm on our trip we have another recommendation on the food front and this time it’s The Corner Cafe with its delicious cakes and hot meals. Not just a cafe though but also a clothing, footwear and gift shop – well worth an explore.

Hello Queensland!

Back on the road and some of the longest straight stretches of tarmac so far. This was the Darling Downs and we had just crossed the border into Queensland. Coincidentally it appeared the border also required properties be built on stilts. It started as a bit of a joke but more and more the houses, barns and sheds were raised off the ground. The Queensland border also marked a change of landscape and we were now being surrounded by countless orchards among rolling hills – the region producing the majority of Queensland’s apple crop from over 1-million trees. And then trouble struck yet again.

Once more and for no apparent reason our car decided to choose the start of a moderate hill climb to go into ‘Restricted Performance Mode’ and just after we had overtaken a crawling truck. Again no prior warning. We managed to limp to the top of the hill and continue to a safe point to pull over. Our old issue was back and it looked like the transmission temperature again. After restarting the engine, though, we managed to drive into Warwick and parked up to let the transmission cool down. It was also a good opportunity for a wander around the CBD and take a coffee break though, this time, nothing to recommend.

We had been stopped for over an hour but that was clearly not enough for the car to do what it was designed to do and just 24-KM later we were stopped again with the same Restricted Performance Mode. This time, however, a local mechanic kindly stopped to assist and made a point of the transmission radiator being much hotter than it should. By comparison the engine coolant radiator was cool to the touch. We were concerned with the failing daylight and really needed to get to Toowoomba before dark, if it was possible, to avoid the wildlife straying onto the road. Fortunately a 30-minute stop to cool appeared to be enough and we made it to our caravan site 54-KM later and just before the sun set.

Needless to say we have now lost any remaining confidence in this car, a vehicle designed to tow up to 3.5-tonnes that cannot cope towing our 2.8-tonne caravan. At this point in time we could never recommend anyone buy a Land Rover Discovery 5. It simply is not worth the anxiety and stress knowing your very expensive car could let you down at anytime without warning. Back to Jaguar Land Rover… yet again.  

At least this time, after 4-weeks on the road, we got to do a 90-degree park… and nailed it first time!