By Nick Zema, Director / Founder
The road trip between Adelaide and Melbourne has long been one of Australia’s great drives. But rather than taking the quickest route from one capital city to the other, why not slow things down?
Travelling via Coonawarra, Mount Gambier and the Great Ocean Road combines some of southern Australia’s best wine country, regional towns and spectacular coastline- and it’s becoming increasingly easy to explore by electric vehicle.
Now there’s another reason to include Coonawarra on your itinerary: Zema Estate has installed an EV charging station at our Coonawarra winery and Cellar Door.
EV charging at Zema Estate, Coonawarra
Visitors travelling by electric vehicle can now recharge at Zema Estate while taking some time to explore our family-owned winery.
Our Zappi 22kW three-phase AC charger features a tethered Type 2 connection, making it ideal for topping up during a Cellar Door visit. Maximum charging speed will depend on the charging capability of your vehicle.
Finding it is simple. As you enter Zema Estate from the Riddoch Highway, turn right at the Cellar Door and follow the driveway. The EV charger is located on the winery wall. Plug in and pop into the Cellar Door while your vehicle charges.
Discover our current-release Coonawarra wines, browse the wines to take home, enjoy a gourmet platter or book one of our premium tasting experiences.
Zema Estate is located at 14944 Riddoch Highway, Coonawarra, just five minutes drive from Penola.
Image: Tailem Bend Playground – Credit: John Montesi
Adelaide to Coonawarra by electric vehicle
Coonawarra is approximately 370km from Adelaide, making it an easy addition to a South Australian EV road trip.
South Australia’s RAA Charge network now has more than 140 charging locations throughout the state, with the majority located in regional South Australia. Rapid and destination charging is available at a number of useful stops on the journey south-east.
Depending on your route, potential charging points include:
- Mount Barker: a convenient early top-up after leaving Adelaide.
- Tailem Bend: charging is available along the Princes Highway before continuing towards the South East.
- Naracoorte: a particularly useful stop if travelling towards Coonawarra via the inland route. RAA lists rapid charging at Naracoorte.
- Coonawarra: Zema Estate: stop at our Cellar Door and use our 22kW Type 2 AC charger while you visit.
- Mount Gambier: around 40 minutes south of Coonawarra, with rapid and ultra-rapid charging options available before crossing into Victoria.
RAA currently lists charging sites between Adelaide and the Victorian border including Mount Barker, Tailem Bend, Naracoorte and Mount Gambier. Because charging locations, availability and pricing can change, it’s always worth checking your preferred charging app before setting out.
Image: Little Blue Lake, Mount Gambier, Limestone Coast – Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission
From Coonawarra to the Great Ocean Road
After exploring Coonawarra, continue south towards Mount Gambier, before heading across the Victorian border towards Portland and Port Fairy.
From here, you’re perfectly placed to join one of Australia’s most famous coastal journeys.
Victoria’s official tourism information identifies EV charging along the Great Ocean Road and surrounding route at locations including Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Port Campbell, Apollo Bay, Lorne and Torquay.
Image: Great Ocean Road, Peterborough, Australia – Credit: Unsplash / XY YEW
Some useful EV stops along the way
- Port Fairy: This historic seaside town makes an excellent place to stop after leaving South Australia. EV charging options are available in Port Fairy, so you can recharge while exploring the town, waterfront and nearby Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve.
- Warrnambool: Warrnambool has one of the stronger collections of charging options along this stretch of coast. Warrnambool City Council currently lists Chargefox, Tesla and other charging facilities in and around the city.
- Port Campbell and the Twelve Apostles: This is the section of the road trip you’ll want to take slowly. Leave time for the Twelve Apostles and the dramatic Shipwreck Coast before continuing towards the Otways. Charging infrastructure is less concentrated along this section than in the larger towns, so it is sensible to arrive with a comfortable amount of range and check current charger status before travelling. Victoria’s tourism information lists charging options around Port Campbell and Peterborough.
- Apollo Bay: Apollo Bay is an ideal overnight stop and another opportunity to recharge. Several EV charging options are available in and around town, making it a useful stopping point before continuing along the coast.
- Lorne: Stop for the beach, a walk and something to eat while topping up before the final section of the Great Ocean Road. Public charging is available in Lorne.
- Torquay: Torquay marks the traditional beginning – or, travelling in this direction, the end – of the Great Ocean Road. There are several EV charging options available before continuing through Geelong to Melbourne.
Image: Alexander Cameron Statue – Penola, South Australia. Credit: Coonawarra Vignerons
An EV road trip worth taking slowly
One of the pleasures of travelling between Adelaide and Melbourne via Coonawarra and the Great Ocean Road is that the journey becomes part of the holiday.
Rather than simply getting from A to B, stop in country towns, explore the Limestone Coast, discover Coonawarra’s famous terra rossa vineyards and continue through some of Victoria’s most spectacular coastal scenery.
And when you reach Coonawarra, we’ll have a place for you to plug in.
Plug in at Zema Estate
Our family has been welcoming visitors to Coonawarra for more than four decades, and we’re pleased to make a visit to Zema Estate a little easier for those travelling by electric vehicle.
Zema Estate Cellar Door
14944 Riddoch Highway
Coonawarra SA 5263
EV Charger: Zappi 22kW three-phase AC
Connection: Tethered Type 2
Location: Enter Zema Estate, turn right at the Cellar Door and follow the driveway to the winery wall.
Plug in, pop in and enjoy some Coonawarra hospitality.
Charging rates and availability at all locations mentioned may change. Check your vehicle requirements and a current EV charging app or network map before travelling. Please plan your journey responsibly and never drink and drive.
