We took a 1980's Piper Saratoga ( 300 hp ) from Alice Springs up to the Kimberly and loved every minute of it - my favourite GA aircraft for now - the rear seats are a virtual lounge room - the wife or whoever can stretch out feet up and have a snooze. Fully fueled will still take 340- 350 kg or so. Planning TAS over 155 Knots which is handy , and a predictable and easy aircraft to fly with no quirks, and very surprising good on short dirt strips if you nail the approach speed.
I don't hate any aicraft and love them all really - I find the C 182 a bit a a clutz in the flare - agricultural, and nose heavy, but then it has other virtues. Wasnt impressed by the Beech Duchess when i did my twin rating - hardly there, when the S hits the F, but I suppose thats a virtue in a training aircraft....
I'd love to get hold of a late model Mooney.