With this in mind my husband and I took the scenic route last week between points A and B – Albury and Broken Hill.

840 kilometres to go

We fail to let Google Maps in on our plan to go the Victorian side of the Murray where the roads are better and the coffee safer. By the time we reach Strathmerton, British Google lady in Queen’s English asks us for the 455^th time to make a U-turn at our earliest convenience.

"That’s not bothering you?" I finally say to my husband.

"No, actually," he replies.

"I don't think Margaret Thatcher is going to reroute any time soon."

665 kilometres to go

We make our own way to Mildura and check back with the best of British Google Maps for the Broken Hill leg. We grab a flat white at Echuca to go the distance.

512 kilometres to go

Born at Swan Hill and having moved to the Border aged 18 months, nothing looks familiar here. On the way out of town we see Buller Wines’ other vineyard and Cobram Estate at Boundary Bend. Finally feels like home. The majestic Murray and the picture-perfect retro post office are Instagram-worthy but we’re on a mission to Mildura, now within two hours’ reach.

295 kilometres to go

We stay overnight at Mildura, where we eat at Stefano’s, a bucket list restaurant for foodies or anyone who likes Italian food done well. Stefano de Pieri (A Gondola on the Murray fame) works the basement restaurant dining room and kitchen like the Victorian Governor is in town. Oh look, Linda Dessau is on the table across from us! But those who watched Stefano’s SBS foodie series will know everyone is his “very good friend” and he is equally charming to all.

255 kilometres to go

Road sign says: Kangaroos next 255km. We see only one dead kangaroo but dozens and dozens of goats in mallee country that butts heads with the Silver City Highway.

0 kilometres to go

We arrive at Broken Hill and gain half an hour, now on Australian Central Standard Time. Surrounded by semi-desert, this intriguing outback capital is Australia’s only city on the National Heritage List. Our hotel host suggests the Silly Goat for a caffeine hit before we board a bus for the rollercoaster road to outback Silverton Hotel. Like Mad Max 2, this village is country charm in full leathers. Broken Hill highlights are Mundi Mundi Plains, Pro Hart Gallery and Two-Up at The Palace Hotel. As I google whether Jack Absalom is still with us in the middle of his gallery, I am brought back to earth when the man himself enters the room from behind a curtain. That settles that then!

840 kilometres to go

As we head back home through goat country, the sun rises on the horizon. Somewhere along the line we lose the half-hour we gained through ACST.

587 kilometres to go

First flat white of the day from Artback Australia Gallery at Wentworth. British Google Maps urges us to return to the route promptly, but politely.

364 kilometres to go

Either side of Hay, white balls of cotton line the road like the season’s first snow.

160 kilometres to go

During a quick cuppa at Tuppal Station, my Dad asks why we went through Hay. “Because Google said so,” I say.

Anyway, it’s all about the journey, not the destination. And a bit about the coffee.