Akmal Azhar
Twenty-three hours and 59 minutes. That’s the time Google Maps predicts from our starting point overlooking Sydney Harbour Bridge at Blues Point to Hobart on the Apple Isle—fuel stops, peak-hour traffic around Melbourne, the ferry crossing on the Spirit of Tasmania, and all speed limits factored in. On paper, it’s feasible. In reality? Entirely different.
The Mustang Dark Horse
Our ride is the Ford Mustang Dark Horse—a muscle car on a mission. Its destination: Hobart, where its owner and our publisher, Matt O’Malley, awaits. Heroic speeds or cop-dodging antics? None of that. This isn’t a stunt—it’s a test of precision, timing, and respect for the journey. With a six-speed Tremec manual, active exhaust, Shelby-derived forged internals, and sharpened suspension, the Dark Horse is no ordinary GT.
Escaping Sydney
Navigation is everything. I’m more familiar with Damascus than Sydney, so I stick to the Eastern Distributor, slipping beneath Woolloomooloo and Darlinghurst. Traffic is light, the tunnels echo with V8 growl, and soon the Hume Highway beckons. Ellen Dewar, our photographer, fights a cold while capturing shots of B-doubles thundering past.
Highway Memories and Pit Stops
Mittagong offers fuel and a pie, Gundagai recalls the Dog on the Tuckerbox, and rough road surfaces rattle the cabin but suppress the car’s persistent chimes. The journey evokes childhood memories of road trips across rural Europe, blurring the past with the present.
Grand Touring Character
The Dark Horse proves itself a capable cruiser. The boot swallows gear, MagneRide dampers absorb the distance, and the seats stay supportive. Downsides remain—tyre roar, awkward mirrors, and fiddly controls. Fuel economy averages around 10.2 L/100 km, enough for 480 km between stops.
Approaching Melbourne
Traffic thickens, rain slashes across the windshield, and the ferry deadline looms. At the Spirit of Tasmania terminal, fortune smiles—boarding is smooth, a guard whispers admiration for the rare Dark Horse, and I collapse into one of the best sleeps in months.
Tasmania Awaits
At Devonport, breakfast at McDonald’s restores us before pushing into wilder country. With few fuel stops, a bakery in Deloraine supplies oversized treats. Highland Lakes Road climbs sharply, landscapes shifting from forests to sub-alpine tundra. The Great Lake dazzles with surreal blue waters, and icy Liawenee chills the air.
Driving the Plateau
Despite its 1822 kg weight, the Mustang dances through switchbacks. Track Mode sharpens the suspension and steering, while 550 Nm of torque launches the car out of bends. Even playful slides for Ellen’s camera feel safe and controlled—a sign of superb tuning.
Arrival in Hobart
Descending into the Derwent Valley, Hobart’s lights finally appear. Constitution Dock marks our finish. After 1421.2 km, averaging 11.2 L/100 km, we’re drained but exhilarated. The Mustang has proven itself a grand tourer—equal parts muscle and precision. Whether or not the journey truly fit within 24 hours matters less than the spirit it captured.
Looking Ahead
The Spirit of Tasmania fleet will see new ferries by 2026–27, but until Devonport’s upgrades are done, road trips like this remain an adventure in timing. For now, the Mustang Dark Horse stands as proof that long-distance drives can still carry romance, challenge, and joy.
Yusri Ng
