Sunday Drive

A long career racing single seaters and sports cars has seen Mark Webber spend less time than he might have liked in his native Australia. But the off season gives the former Porsche works driver-turned-ambassador the opportunity to revisit some great local roads—a firm favourite being a picturesque loop through the hills that fringes Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

“It’s a route I probably do eight or so times a year, through the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland,” said Webber.

“I leave Noosa Heads on State Route 12 and head west towards a town called Eumundi. As you drive out of Noosa, you head through the lush, sub-tropical forest and you really appreciate what a beautiful area this is… the locals call it ‘living in a biosphere’ because so much of the area is protected forest. You cross the M1 motorway at Eumundi and hang a right to pick up the ‘22’, the Eumundi-Kenilworth Road. Then it’s about 30 minutes due west to get into some spectacular elevated driving, a good 500 to 600 metres above sea level. The temperature really drops, and you’re into a lot of tight hairpins and superb twisty stuff.”

One of the best things about this drive, Webber explains, is that you can vary the route, with great roads, great views and coffee stops in abundance whichever way you choose to go.

“The loop swings left onto Obi Obi Road just before Kenilworth. If you are hungry, keep going into the town and stop at the bakery on the main street. The food there is amazing, and they are famous for their doughnuts. They have a one kilogram doughnut and if you can finish it, you get your name on the wall. The record is two minutes and 28 seconds, which is impressive and scary all at once!”

Obi Obi Road runs alongside a fast-flowing creek of the same name and presents the first tight and technical section of the loop.

“What I love about a cracking road like this is the undulations—steep and punchy—with some sensational blind crests. There’s rainforest, mist, those great elevation changes and not one pothole! Considering the amount of rainfall in this area, which is probably north of 50 inches a year, they maintain the road really well.”

Stunning ocean views 

The route follows the ridgeline at this point, offering stunning views towards the ocean some 50 kilometres to the east. “It’s lush all year round up there,” adds Webber, “like a sunny Scotland every day. When it rains, it rains heavily and it can be quite humid, but it’s always picturesque.”

Obi Obi Road finishes in the town of Mapleton. Turning right, you drive along the crest of the ridgeline with views all the way down to the coast and the Pacific Ocean. When reaching the town of Montville, Webber suggests adding a lap down the mountain along a pass simply known as ‘Hunchy’ before driving back up a narrow and challenging section along the Palmwoods-Montville Road. If you like, you could do this steep and narrow section in either direction, he suggests.

From the beach to the mountains 

“I remember taking Timo Bernhard up there once in a Cayenne,” Webber recalls. “It was incredible to see his reaction. We’d just gone from the beach to this almost-alpine environment and he couldn’t believe this was Australia. That was pretty cool to see from someone who has travelled so much.”

As we catch our a breath after this challenging section, the route continues south towards Balmoral Ridge, onto yet another heart-racing section, Bald Knob Road. This quiet road offers some of the best views available of the spectacular Glass House Mountains, famous for their unusual volcanic-era shapes.

The drive then continues on to the town of Peachester. Now at the bottom of the main loop you turn left to head north up Old Gympie Road, which takes you past Australia Zoo, the wildlife sanctuary established by late Australian conservationist and celebrity Steve Irwin, aka the Crocodile Hunter. 

Yet more twisting sections await until you eventually reach Palmwoods. Here, Webber suggests visiting Rick’s Garage for lunch. The American-style burger joint is built in a former mechanical workshop and reserves its best parking spots for ‘Cool Machines Only’. The ‘frozen’ Porsche Taycan 4S that Webber is driving gains the approval of staff, and takes pride of place right by the front entrance.

‘The Big Pineapple’

After lunch, we take Kiel Mountain Road around more of the Glass House Mountains, driving past ‘The Big Pineapple’, before passing through Diddillibah, Bli Bli and Yandina. The drive then joins the coastline at Peregian Beach and heads north towards spectacular Sunshine Beach, where some of Australia’s most luxurious homes are situated.

Although a Cayenne was ideal for some gentle sightseeing with his LMP1 team-mate Bernard, Webber would normally recommend something slightly sportier to get the best out of the trip.

“This is a loop for a well-balanced sportscar. Until recently, my recommendation for this loop would have been a 911, especially something with four-wheel drive like a Turbo S or 4S. But any 911 really. A 718 would be great through the tight stuff.

“But driving the Taycan 4S today has been an eye opener. I’ve driven it a lot in Europe, but this is my first spirited drive of a Taycan in Australia and it’s great to steer it for a day on home turf. It ate up the road with ease and didn’t miss a beat all day.

“I’d recommend getting to Noosa Main Beach to start the drive as early as about 5:30 am, before it gets too hot. You always get people up there enjoying their cars, so start early and take it steady. It’s not a particularly long drive, or that fast, but it is beautiful. And it’s a great way to get away from it all and back in touch with nature.

“When you finish over at Sunshine Beach, have a look out into the Pacific Ocean and listen to the waves breaking. This is one of the most magical places in the world.”