Eco-road trips in the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV

Planning an eco-friendly road trip can be a challenge in a fully electric vehicle, where navigating between public charging stations can add time and stress to what should be an entirely relaxing experience.

But not so in a plug-in hybrid, like the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV, which produces zero tailpipe emissions in its all-electric EV mode, but also offers the confidence of a hybrid petrol engine allowing you to travel as far and wide as you'd like.

Eco-tourism is a booming industry in Australia, and there are plenty of stunning,  green-leaning destinations you can head to when you want to get out of town and have your car stretch its legs a little.

Here are a few of the best eco-road trips our country has to offer.

Sydney

Located a little more than an hour, or 60km, away from the Sydney CBD, the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, resplendent with dramatic cliffs, waterfalls and postcard-perfect views, are about as perfect a destination as you can get for a quick eco-friendly road trip.

Although there are plenty of free spots to soak up the stunning scenery, you might want to consider an overnight stay to experience the ‘Glow Worm Night Walk' run by Tread Lightly Eco Tours, which takes you on an after-dark tour of the bush to seek out incredible electric-blue glow worms.

The Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV's up to 84km of all-electric driving will easily get you to the Blue Mountains, and there are plenty of places to charge up for the trip home, including charger-equipped accommodation options like the Fairmont Resort Leura, the Hydro Majestic Hotel in Medlow Bath and the Carrington Hotel in Katoomba.

Melbourne

Nothing says "Aussie" quite like spotting koalas in the wild, something you can do on Raymond Island in the centre of the Gippsland region of Victoria, which is a four-hour drive from the Melbourne CBD.

The island's ‘koala trail' takes about 20 minutes to walk, and you can pack a picnic lunch to enjoy while the cuddly critters above munch on eucalyptus leaves.

The Gippsland region also has some of the best hiking trails in the state, including the popular Mt Oberon Summit Walk, Cape Conran Nature Trail and the Genoa Peak Walk.

If you'd rather check out the sights from your Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV, you'll find several places to charge the battery for your trip home, including Orbost, Omeo, Cann River and Bairnsdale, with more EV fast chargers planned for the region by the end of 2023.

Brisbane

Queensland has more than its fair share of sparkling, pristine beaches, including the ones found on Bribie Island, the world's third-biggest sand island (the top dog of course being Fraser Island/K'Gari, which is further up north) and the only one that's connected to the mainland via a bridge.

Bribie Island is less than two hours' drive from the Brisbane CBD and is an oasis of rolling dunes, freshwater lagoons and aquifers and abundant vegetation, a true natural wonder that's the perfect spot for fishing or checking out some of the native turtles, dugongs and dolphins that frequent the area.

There's an EV charger outlet located in Bongaree Park on the island to top up your Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV, as well as several EV chargers peppered about on the journey between Brisbane and Bribie, making this road trip as green as possible.

Eco-tourism is a booming industry in Australia, and there are plenty of stunning, green-leaning destinations you can head to when you want to get out of town and have your car stretch its legs a little.

Adelaide

The Flinders Ranges is one of the locations in South Australia that (rightfully) hogs the limelight when it comes to natural wonders within the state, but if you're driving there from Adelaide, you're looking at a not insubstantial journey of about five hours. Sure, the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV - with its clever combination of electric and petrol power - will get you there stress-free, but it makes for one long day trip.

It may not get quite as much shine, but the Fleurieu Peninsula is not only closer - a relatively swift 40 minutes south of Adelaide - it's just as breathtakingly beautiful.

If kayaking or stand-up paddle boardingare your thing, you can hire kayaks and SUPs to explore the area's many secluded coves and secret caves.

If you're up for an overnight stay there's the beach-side Second Valley Caravan Park, with Newland Head Conservation Park, a top spot for surfing, fishing and hiking, a short 40-minute drive away.

There are several EV chargers in the area, too, including one at Second Valley for guests.

Canberra

If the politicians and endless roundabouts of Australia's capital start to get a bit too much and you need some time out, you could do a lot worse than heading for the hills via a scenic drive to Lark Hill Winery, located about 35 minutes from the Canberra CBD.

Specialising in organic, vegan and biodynamic wines from the Canberra region, Lark Hill Winery has a range of eco-friendly rieslings, chardonnays, pinot noirs and grüner veltliners on offer, and on-site restaurant Agostinis promises to transport you to the heart of Tuscany with its mouth-watering selection of Italian-inspired food.

If you want to take in some scenic serenity, Lake George, one of the world's most mysterious lakes (when there's water in it) is located nearby.

There's no EV charger on site at Lark Hill Winery just yet, but considering it's a 68km round trip from Canberra, the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV's up to 84km of all-electric driving range will still have you covered.