Road Trip: Discover Daylesford in the BMW M135 xDrive

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a road trip, especially when you’re behind the wheel of the latest BMW M135 xDrive. As someone who has cherished their BMW X1 since 2013, I was eager to explore how the technology has evolved in this new model. Using the keyless entry and start, I set off from the BMW headquarters in Melbourne for a trip to the picturesque town of Daylesford, nestled in the heart of rural Victoria.

The road is lit by a splendid full moon, and I’m feeling privileged to drive a car with such amazing power and precision. This model’s advanced technology is a revelation compared to my beloved X1, and I’m lapping it up like a kid in a sweet shop.

Instead of the physical buttons on my decade old X1; now, I navigate using voice commands and touchscreens. Much of my interaction with the car takes place through the My BMW app, especially to get your phone connected. The two 10.25-inch displays not only provide clear directions but allow me to listen to my favourite songs on Apple Car Play and there’s an option to also switch to live radio shows, anywhere in the world, so I tune into a local station in Brazil just for the heck of it.

Buckled in with the heated seats on, I’m cosy and warm as I head for those ’em hills.

The head-up display is another welcome addition, showing crucial information without the need to take my eyes off the road. Whether it is the sports mode for a spirited drive or the assisted and simplified views for a relaxed cruise, the ability to customise the car is impressive. The boost feature, which provides a temporary surge in power, is particularly exhilarating on a long drive, allowing for quick accelerations that make overtaking a breeze.

Other new safety features, not present in my decade old BMW, include lane departure warning and front collision warning, plus steering and lane control assistance. My favourite feature is ideal for those like me who have embarrassingly forgotten where their car is parked. Now, the angel in your life is the parking assist on your BMW app which actually tells you precisely where your car is parked and the distance to go to the vehicle. It’s a feature I would have benefited from more than I’d like to admit. There was one time I’d carelessly forgotten which car park I’d used in the Sydney CBD – and let’s face it, they all look the same. I was in a hurry, running late to see Arianna Huffington speak at the ICC in Darling Harbour, and four hours later stuggled to retrace my steps.

It was such a nauseatingly infuriating incident, it still sticks in my mind. So yes, I’ve now taken to photograph my car when I leave it in busy CBD carparks, and I’m not alone. But with this beauty there’s no need, it’s got you covered. Just don’t lose your phone.

Arriving in the quaint town of Daylesford, I am reminded of my own home town of Mudgee, NSW, which is also built on the back of the gold rush and steeped in history. The locals tell me the town is booming ever since it was ‘discovered by tree changers’.

From forest-covered hills, lakes, and waterways, the area experiences distinct seasons, which are a blessing for the local chefs, gardeners and visitors alike. Bush tracks like Tipperary Track lead to the Great Dividing Trail, offer bush walks with historical remnants like gold diggings and stone walls. Notable sites include the Blowhole in Hepburn, a clear pond favoured for dips after hot walks.

There’s a lot to love about this community rich village, as well as the neighbouring town of Hepburn Springs. One minute you are soaking up the village lifestyle, excellent cuisine, wine, coffee; and the next you are walking in the bush where it’s likely you’ll see wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas, and wombats, even platypus.

My final stop is the renowned Lake House Daylesford Spa, where I indulge in a soothing massage by my therapist Michael Cool (great name), who generously stays back late so I can experience the Spa’s heavenly 90-minute signature facial.

The Pure Radiance Botanical Facial uses the Australian owned product Subtle Energies which is made from high-quality herbs to nourish and balance all skin types. My treatment starts with an oil balm cleanse, using beeswax, sweet almond, and macadamia oils to dissolve impurities while keeping the skin soft. Calendula and Davidson’s plum extracts soothe the skin. Floating back to my hotel, I promise myself to return to this gorgeous hotel, founded four decades ago by the Wolf-Taske family. I’m now reading the book by founder and Culinary Director Alla, who is joined in the business by daughter Larissa Wolf-Tasker, son in law Robin Wilson, and the property sits on six acres of country gardens overlooking the lake.

It’s a place of such peacefulness, I find it hard to tear myself away, but I’m equally keen to jump back in my sporty BMW and open the sunroof to let the rays pour in on the way back.

Again, I start reflecting on the contrast between the technology in my much older BMW and the M135 which is, as you’d expect, vast. The X1, which debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009 as BMW’s first luxury compact SUV, was revolutionary at the time. However, technology moves at a rapid pace, and the M135 xDrive is a testament to how far we’ve come. The advancements in safety and comfort are particularly notable. Knowing the car is built with cutting edge technology gives you more peace of mind and a feeing of being more in control throughout the trip.

With its Skyscraper Grey metallic paint gleaming under the sun and the sport package pro trimmings of Veganza perforated in Coral Red and Black, the BMW M135 is certainly the ultimate car for tech-savvy women, who appreciate all the trimmings.

Cost:

$82,500 incl. GST & LCT. Extras: Metallic paintwork: $1,700. M Sport Package Pro: $2,700