We’re driving down a winding and thickly canopied road in the Shoalhaven region, two hours south of Sydney on the South Coast of New South Wales. The hairpin turns, light drizzle and a moody mist require travel with caution, but there’s no rush. We’re alone on the road and native bushland makes for a scenic drive.

The sense of stillness and tranquillity is undisturbed by the all-electric EQA, which confidently tackles the slick roads in near-silence. From inside the cabin, there’s only the sound of raindrops on the windscreen, and the odd crackle of wayward twigs beneath the tyres.

Today, we’re headed to Bundanon, a destination familiar to art lovers in this part of the world thanks to its association with one of the country’s most influential artists, Arthur Boyd.

Boyd and his wife Yvonne gifted this 1,000-hectare estate on the banks of the Shoalhaven River to the Australian people in 1993, and it has served as a centre for creative arts and education ever since.

Now, a new era dawns for Bundanon with the addition of a contemporary art museum, dining, and upscale accommodation, transforming this beloved site into a modern-day cultural destination.

“When I was growing up, [Bundanon] was pretty sleepy, to be honest,” says Doug Innes-Will, executive chef at the new Ramox Café, and our personal guide for the day. “Now it’s really turned on.”

A return home

Doug was raised on the South Coast. After spending a decade travelling the country and working as a chef at luxury resorts such as Hamilton Island’s Qualia and Spicers Peak Lodge, south-west of Brisbane, he returned home to take the helm of Bundanon’s dining offering.

“When I was a kid, [Bundanon] was this magical place up the river … that you occasionally got the opportunity to visit if there was an open day or markets,” says Doug. “It was small, with some lovely buildings. To come back and see the transformation 15 years later, it’s incredible.”

As we reach the end of Riversdale Road, the dense bushland clears to reveal The Bridge, a 165-metre-long by nine-metre-wide architectural marvel designed by Melbourne-based Kerstin Thompson Architects. It contains 32 rooms, several breakout spaces and Ramox Café.

Designing for the landscape

While its physical presence is undoubtedly impressive, what truly makes The Bridge stand out is the way it structurally complements the landscape. The design retains the natural water flow system through a flood gully, proposing a shift in thinking about how we respond to the natural landscape – working with it, rather than against it.

Bundanon’s Art Museum sits at one end of The Bridge as its counterpoint. Where The Bridge towers over the gully, the Art Museum is buried within a reinstated hill. Its subterranean position offers the thermal stability required to protect the artworks inside, and fire-resistant glass and airlocks keep them safe in a region often under threat from bushfires.

The site includes many sustainability features such as passive temperature management, black water treatment and harvesting and storing of rainwater, as well as drawing on solar energy for its day-to-day operations. “The sustainability vision for Bundanon is a net-zero energy result,” Doug says.

Environmentally conscious travellers will relish this eco-friendly approach. It’s also fitting that there will soon be electric vehicle charging stations on the property, so EV drivers will be able to recharge during their visit.

A sense of place

This vision for sustainability carries through in Ramox Café. “The kitchen is electric and powered by solar energy,” Doug says. “We’re keeping our food miles low, really homing in on our local suppliers to give every dish a sense of place. So, people feel like they’re in the country, they are on the Shoalhaven River and that’s reflected in what they are eating.”

It certainly is. The menu at Ramox Café is seasonal and changes regularly to showcase regional produce such as kingfish from Currarong, just near Jervis Bay, and Schottländers Wagyu from Rose Valley. Highlights when we visit include local kingfish served with squash, fennel, and lemon, and beef skirt steak with artichokes, onion and mustard jus.

“What I really relate to with Arthur Boyd’s vision for Bundanon is that he left this to the people of Australia to showcase its beauty,” says Doug. “That’s what I’ve tried to do throughout my career, is contribute to something greater and extend the experience of something that is already special through food.”

Preserving a legacy

Boyd’s presence remains a constant throughout the property, starting with the artist’s original 19^th century Homestead and Studio, which are open for public tours.

Rooms within The Bridge have been crafted in locally sourced blackbutt panelling and painted in the palettes favoured by Boyd in his work. The blue used on the walls and ceilings in the majority of the rooms captures a sense of his night skies.

The Art Museum, while modern in appearance, has been designed to celebrate the artist’s legacy. The collection store houses Boyd’s collection of more than 4,000 pieces, which includes works by Joy Hester and Sidney Nolan. Curators are also planning a strong program of contemporary works – Boyd’s ink drawings served as inspiration for 12 new commissions by Australian contemporary artists for the most recent exhibition From impulse to action.

A diverse region

You could easily while away an entire weekend at Bundanon, taking in the museum, exploring the bushland, enjoying a long lunch or simply switching off with the views from The Bridge. Yet the other beauty of Bundanon is its proximity to other gems in the region.

“I really like how diverse the South Coast is,” says Doug as we leave Bundanon and head home after a day of appreciating the fine food and all the experiences this cultural institute has to offer. “I can drive in any direction – to Kangaroo Valley or to the coast, and they’re two very incredible places, but uniquely different.”

For those looking to stretch their legs – or test out the dynamic performance of the EQA – Kangaroo Valley is an easy 30-minute drive north of Bundanon and well worth a visit for a bit of gentle outdoor action. Hire a kayak and cruise down the Kangaroo River, or tackle one of the area’s spectacular walking trails. A short, scenic drive towards the coast will take you through the pretty town of Berry, where you’ll find award-winning restaurants and a stylish village full of independent boutiques.

From here, you could hit the highway and head further south along the coast to stunning seaside locations like Hyams Beach or Mollymook. The EQA has a 66.5kWh battery that delivers a range of around 400km, so you could make it down the coast and back quite comfortably without needing to charge. If Bundanon is part of a longer road trip through the region, there are public charging stations in most major towns along the coast.

Discover the all-electric EQA and book your test drive today.

By Constantina Demos