What started as a tradition among friends in the Mercedes-Benz Club of New South Wales has become something extraordinary. The Long Way Euround—our third annual classic Mercedes-Benz road trip—took ten drivers and their vintage cars on a six-day, 3,923-kilometre adventure through southeastern Australia. The destination? The Euroa National Show and Shine. But as anyone who knows us understands, the destination is merely an excuse. The drive is the trip.
The Philosophy
When I tried explaining this trip to my wife, she asked the obvious question: “So you just drive all day?” Yes. That’s exactly it. These cars weren’t built to sit in garages gathering dust. Forty years ago, they were high-end machines designed for the German Autobahns, meant to be driven hard and enjoyed. We’re simply honoring their original purpose, avoiding highways wherever possible in favor of winding country roads, scenic detours, and the kind of driving that makes you remember why you fell in love with cars in the first place.
The Convoy
Ten classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles made the journey:
- 1983 380SEC (mine)
- 1977 450SLC (Bryce)
- 1972 280S (Kanwal)
- 1994 E280T (Paul)
- 1988 300CE (Harley)
- 1990 300TE (William)
- 1978 280CE (John)
- 1982 500SL (Matt)
- 1972 280SE 3.5 (Peter)
- 1979 450SLC (Joel)
The Route
Day 0: Sydney to Bathurst
The quiet beginning, everyone making their own way to our starting point. A straightforward 3-hour drive through Sydney traffic and the Blue Mountains. By the time I arrived at 7pm, most of the group had already gathered at the pub. The car ran flawlessly, though I noticed some concerning low idling between the pub and hotel—a preview of troubles to come.
Day 1: Bathurst to Cobram (650km)
Through Young for breakfast at Wilders Bakery, then onto the magnificent Burra Road—narrow, challenging, and breathtaking. We stopped at the Gundagai Railway Museum (where I tragically deleted all my morning photos), grabbed lunch in Tumbarumba, and photographed our cars at Mount Alfred overlooking the Murray River. Bryce’s muffler mounts broke, but Matt’s hose clamps saved the day. We rolled into Cobram exhausted but exhilarated.
Day 2: Cobram to Horsham (750km)
Started with biblical rain at 4:30am. Breakfast in Echuca, then through flat grazing lands until we discovered Lake Charm—an unexpected gem. Lunch at The Little Vietnamese Cafe in Robinvale, where the owner’s warmth matched the quality of his food. This was also when my fuel starting issues began. We braved washboard dirt roads to reach Lake Tyrell, an otherworldly salt lake that made the rough journey worthwhile. Then onto the Silo Art Trail, stopping at half a dozen painted grain silos throughout the wheat and canola country before reaching Horsham.
Day 3: Horsham to Bendigo (400km)
A relatively easier day that turned challenging. Fog obscured the views at Halls Gap, and my starting problems escalated at Lake Bellfield to the point where the car wouldn’t start at all. The crew rallied together, diagnosing a likely fuel pump relay issue. Will’s improvised device (bridging two pins to provide constant power to the fuel pump) got me running again. We visited the Benz Shed where owner Steve Miles found me replacement relays—one worked perfectly! Then came biblical rain with visibility down to the end of my bonnet, followed by exhaustion and concerning micro-sleeps. By evening, my car was stalling again despite the new relay. The plan became clear: bridge the pins, wait a few seconds for fuel pressure to build, then start quickly.
Day 4: Bendigo to Cranbourne (via Euroa)
Show day! The anchor event of our trip. We reached the Euroa National Show and Shine just as the weather cleared, parking alongside the Mercedes-Benz Club of Victoria display amid a sea of Australian and American muscle cars. Then came the highlight of the entire trip: the Yarra Ranges National Park. These weren’t just roads—they were an automotive paradise, twisting up and down mountainsides for hours. Every section better than the last, nothing in NSW compares. The day ended with a BBQ at the MBCVIC clubhouse in Ferntree Gully, where 30-40 members welcomed us with the same incredible hospitality we’d experienced last year.
Day 5: Cranbourne to Bombala (500km+)
Barista coffee before departure was a welcome treat. My morning ritual evolved: pop the bonnet, bridge the relay pins, sprint to start the car before flooding it, then remove the bridge. Repeat at every stop. Bryce developed a bearing noise (or possibly a handbrake bracket issue). We visited the Gippsland Vehicle Collection in Maffra, where a 1984 Honda XR80 trail bike transported me back to being 12 years old on my family’s farm. Exhaustion was setting in for everyone. We arrived in Bombala to find limited fuel options—one station with only diesel, another with a single pump of “special unleaded.” We’d refuel in the morning.
Day 6: Bombala to Sydney (600km+)
Two degrees at 6:15am as we warmed up the cars for our final push. My fuel issues escalated from inconvenient to genuinely problematic—the car began stalling while driving, sometimes multiple times within minutes. The bridge was showing heat damage with melted plastic and burn marks. Between Cooma and Crookwell, I stalled repeatedly, considering a tow truck as we stopped half a dozen times. At one point I was performing rolling starts—switching to neutral, killing the ignition, and restarting while moving (losing power steering and brakes in the process). Kanwal had to leave early when his father was rushed to hospital—fortunately, he made a full recovery. Our final group stop was Lake Lyell, where we said our goodbyes before everyone headed home.
John and I drove together as insurance against further car trouble. I nursed the car home on minimal fuel, adding just 15 litres in the Blue Mountains to ensure I didn’t stir up tank debris. Made it home without another stall.
The Challenges
This trip reminded me that classic cars are equal parts joy and character-building exercise. My 380SEC developed escalating fuel system issues—starting with warm-start difficulties, progressing to complete starting failure, then evolving into random stalling while driving. What likely began as a fuel accumulator problem revealed itself to be more complex, possibly involving the fuel pump relay, debris in the fuel tank, or an electrical fault causing excessive current draw.
Bryce dealt with broken muffler mounts (resolved with hose clamps) and potential bearing noise. The transmission leak I’d worked so hard to fix before the trip? Still leaking. Peter made a wrong turn on Day 1 that cost him over an hour. Kanwal’s family emergency on the final day.
But here’s the thing about this group: when someone has a problem, we all stop. We pool our knowledge, dig through our spare parts, and refuse to leave anyone behind. That camaraderie isn’t just nice—it’s essential.
The Highlights
- The Burra Road’s challenging curves and perfect visibility
- Lake Tyrell’s surreal, otherworldly landscape
- The Silo Art Trail’s unexpected beauty
- Mount Alfred overlooking the Murray River
- The Yarra Ranges National Park—hours of the best driving roads I’ve ever experienced
- The MBCVIC’s incredible hospitality and their near-concours level cars
- Rolling hills through the Snowy Mountains in spring
- Every single bakery stop for pies, vanilla slices, and lamingtons
- The view of our convoy of classic Mercedes-Benzes snaking through the countryside
The Merchandise
We went a bit over-the-top creating our own merchandise: posters, caps, car number magnets, and polo shirts. Who cares if it’s excessive? It’s tradition now, and it makes these trips feel like proper expeditions.
What’s Next
Before I can think about next year’s adventure, there’s work to do:
- Drain the fuel tank and inspect for debris
- Replace the fuel strainer if needed
- Replace the fuel accumulator
- Replace the fuel pump relay
- Test fuel pressure to rule out other issues
- Finally fix that transmission leak properly
The fuel pump and filter were replaced less than a year ago, along with ignition leads and coil, so I’m confident the problem lies in the fuel delivery system rather than ignition or the pump itself.
The Lesson
Each year we do this, I’m reminded why these trips matter. It’s not just about the cars, though driving a 40-year-old Mercedes-Benz through some of Australia’s most beautiful country roads is undeniably special. It’s about unplugging from normal life, finding clarity in the rhythm of the road, and being part of something that values the journey over the destination.
When I’m behind the wheel for hours, navigating twisting mountain roads or vast outback plains, my mind clears. Problems at work sort themselves out. New perspectives emerge. It’s a form of mindfulness that no meditation app could replicate.
And when the car breaks down? That’s when the real character of this group shows. We’re not just a car club—we’re friends who happen to share a passion for classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The Numbers
- Total distance: 3,923 kilometres
- Days on the road: 6
- Average daily distance: 650+ kilometres
- Vehicles: 10 classic Mercedes-Benz cars (1972-1994)
- Breakdowns resolved by the roadside: Multiple
- New friends made: Countless
- Memories created: Priceless
The Long Way Euround is done. The car needs work. I need rest. But I’m already thinking about next year’s trip.
Because that’s the thing about the long way around—it’s never really over. It’s just the beginning of planning the next adventure.
See the full day-by-day account:
