Kangaroo Valley Twilight Run 2025
08 January 2025 / Story by Bryan Shedden, Photos by Phil Betts, Senia Gaunson, Joe Kovacic, Bryan Shedden
The Kangaroo Valley Twilight Run is a popular annual staple for Illawarra Chapter, kick-starting the new year in style. This year was the seventh running of the event. Previous iterations have contended with heavy fog, torrential thunderstorms, bushfire, searing heat, and plague. Fortunately, the last two years have been bliss, and 2025 was no different. We met at Hungry Jacks Haywards Bay on a warm afternoon in the mid-20s, although some ominous thunderstorms on the Southern Highlands raised questions about whether to raise roofs. The rain radar revealed that we had nothing to worry about, and so it proved. A perfect summer evening for a country drive and pub meal in a beer garden!
But I’m getting ahead of myself. A couple days before the event, I checked the online registrations and confirmed final numbers with The Friendly Inn at Kangaroo Valley: 59 people. An impressive number, but I jumped the gun. Registrations continued to roll in, and come Saturday afternoon, 56 members and 3 guests, in 32 MX-5s and one Mustang rocked up at Haywards Bay. Plus, Wilco and Joe phoned to say they’d be late and would catch up at Robertson. Another 4 members were due to meet at Kangaroo Valley for dinner, so the final tally was 65 people for dinner. It would have been more except for 5 apologies due to illness. Whew!
How on earth would I manage 33 cars on a convoy run? We used CB radios to communicate, but with all the mountain roads ahead, I knew they’d not cope with the convoy expected to stretch at least 3km. At the briefing, I called for a few volunteers to assist on the CB radios with relaying messages. Huge thanks to Lena, Julie, Pam and Paul for helping out. You did an amazing job and it worked! We only lost one car momentarily at Robertson, and the entire convoy arrived together, including the two late additions. Miracles happen!
The drive itself was gorgeous. This is my favourite local route, taking in Marshall Mount, Macquarie Pass, Tourist Road, Kangaloon, Robertson, Myra Vale, Fitzroy Falls and Barrengarry Pass. The roads have plenty to offer in twists and turns, nearly all the potholes were filled in, and the scenery was spectacular in the late afternoon sunshine. I had considered changing it up this year but was glad I didn’t because it was wonderful. We’ll excuse the caravan driver on Macquarie Pass that obstructed the back half of our convoy – you can’t avoid that.
The Friendly Inn handled our meal and drink orders promptly, despite the queue meandering through the bistro and down the outside stairs. The kitchen was exceptionally quick, and meals were collected within 15 minutes of ordering. We had our usual spot reserved under a large marquee, plus a couple of extra picnic tables to squeeze everyone in. Roberto approved the beer selection at the bar – Reschs on tap! Celebrity spotters also noticed that Tim Minchin was ordering beers from the bar.
Phil & Zan capped new members Zane, Graham & Lorraine
Checking the Club attendance records afterwards, I discovered that this was the second biggest Chapter Run in at least ten years. Josh & Lindsay’s Run to Hunter’s 10th Anniversary Celebration has the record with 79 people. Thanks everyone for supporting this event and making it a success. I look forward to doing it again in 2026.
Fabulous drive home afterwards too!
