Travelling from Sydney to Canberra? Make the most of your road trip!

Planes, trains or automobiles?

Forget the plane, travel by train or automobile … The journey from Sydney to Canberra is worth taking the time.

An easy — some would describe as very “vanilla” — three-hour drive from Sydney, down the Hume Highway, to Canberra can be so much more colourful when you take the time to detour and stop in some of the smaller centres along the way.

Break free of Sydney and awaken the senses with the botanic beauty of an early morning stop at Mount Annan, breakfast in the boutique town of Bowral, or brunch in the village of Bundanoon.

Fire up the adrenalin at Fitzroy Falls or marvel at the mystique of a lake that flows nowhere, before passing through the gateway to more than just the nation’s capital.

Mount Annan

Just over 50km from Sydney, you will find New South Wales’ newest and Australia’s largest botanic gardens.

With over 400 hectares, Mount Annan Botanical Gardens incorporates wide open spaces, natural woodland, and – of course – stunning gardens that serve as the native plant garden of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens.

Wander amongst wattle, meander through the mallee, or let your inner child free on the flying fox in the playground.

Then, as the morning dew dries on this quintessential dose of Australiana, revive yourself with a coffee at Melaleuca House before hitting the road en route to beautiful Bowral.

Bowral

A further 60km and just off the motorway, Bowral is the perfect place to brunch. Munch on an award-winning mince pie at the Gumnut Patisserie, or settle into a café nestled amongst vintage boutiques, bookstores, and galleries.

Pay a visit to Dirty Jane’s, a permanent market offering the best in all things antique. And in keeping with the “flavour”, there’s even a circa 1915 cinema, the Empire Cinema.

Pretty all year round, but if you are there in September, don’t leave Bowral without admiring the tulips in Corbett Gardens.

Finally, a visit to Bowral is not complete without paying homage at the mecca of Australian cricket history, The Bradman Museum – The International Cricket Hall of Fame, the home ground to Donald Bradman, Australia’s cricketing legend and the town’s most famous son.

Fitzroy Falls

Once the body has been refuelled and revived, drive south to Moss Vale, then take the Nowra Road to Morton National Park. Breathe in the essence of eucalypt as Fitzroy Falls tumbles out of the forest and over the edge of the escarpment, plummeting past the warm tones of the craggy cliff face into the valley more than 80 metres below.

Explore the walking tracks and make sure to drop into the visitor centre – not just to learn about the region’s flora and fauna, but for a great insight into local Australian Aboriginal culture and history.

Bundanoon

Tear yourself away from the majestic views at Fitzroy Falls, and just a few minutes further along the road, before rejoining the Hume Highway, drop into the Southern Highlands village of Bundanoon.

Famous for the annual Brigadoon Highland Gathering festival – held every April, this charming community comes together and welcomes visitors to celebrate all things Scottish.

Did you know?… Although historic in personality and presentation, Bundanoon is also environmentally progressive, being the first town in NSW to ban the sale of bottled water!

As if there weren’t enough to see and do in Bundanoon, for the more serious of hikers, the nearby Fairy Bower Falls walking track in Morton National Park rewards the effort with spectacular views.

Lake George

What’s a journey without a little mystery?

Keep left onto the M23, and about 120km further on from Bundanoon, you’ll see a large lake that may look a little odd … There are fence lines crossing it as though it should be dry farmland. And, at times, that’s exactly what it is!

With urban myths embellishing the facts about the source of water in Lake George, it was originally spoken of by the indigenous peoples as “Werriwa/Weereewa”, thought to mean “bad water”. Even when it is full, the water is almost as saline as seawater!

Believed to be more than a million years old, the shallow lake sits on a deep bed of sediment (more than 250m deep!) but has an average depth of only about a metre, so evaporation rates are high. It often dries out to the point where farmers can graze their sheep and cattle, hence the fencing.

Wild theories circulate about the lake’s unusual rising and falling water levels. Stories of missing bodies and basking bunyips lurking in its “depths” abound, while it is reportedly a hotbed of alien activity and ghostly apparitions.

You may not find evidence of these stories yourself, but what you will find is a secret and curious convict-built canal on the north side of the lake … Just one of the quirky lesser-known facts about the mysterious Lake George.

Queanbeyan

You’re on the home stretch of the Sydney to Canberra drive. The Federal Highway leads south-west from Lake George, where you can take a left onto the Sutton Road toward Queanbeyan.

Known as the gateway to Canberra and The Snowy Mountains, this historic country town between the Molonglo and Queanbeyan Rivers is well-worth a look.

Discover significant historic sites from the 1800s on the self-guided Heritage Walk, learning about what has shaped the town into the community we see today.

Stretch out on the banks of the Queanbeyan River in Queen Elizabeth II Park, or if you are passing through on a Sunday, you can sample some local produce and crafts at the weekly market.

Last stop… Canberra

Cruise out of Queanbeyan for the last 20-minute drive into Australia’s capital and your ultimate destination, Canberra.

Relax and re-live the day’s adventures as you wine and dine in one of the city’s wonderland of restaurants before retiring to your choice of the unique accommodation on offer in this incredibly well-planned metropolis.

Ovolo Nishi is one of those boutique accommodation options, with a touch of luxury, perfectly located in Canberra CBD. Its artistic vibe sets the tone to explore this city of culture, with galleries, gardens, cafés, restaurants and shops all on the doorstep!

Alternative modes of travel

Jump on a Sydney to Canberra bus for a straightforward journey down the highway with only the necessary stops and a great view of typically Aussie countryside out the window. Or, relax on a train from Sydney to Canberra – let the rhythm of the tracks play a lazy backbeat to the soundtrack of life passing by the carriage’s picture windows.

In a hurry? Take a flight for a quick and easy option – it seems you are barely in the air before you begin the descent to touchdown. Just a word of advice … the plane flies a relatively short distance at a lower altitude than long-haul, so the ride can get a little bumpy at times.

Looking back over the day, that Sydney to Canberra drive was not so “vanilla” after all.

By taking the time to detour off the highway, you’ve given yourself the opportunity to discover the depth of what this historic stretch between the city of Sydney and our national capital of Canberra has to offer… Breathtaking views, colourful characters, fantastical tales, Australian indigenous culture and European history… All leading to the beautiful city of Canberra, Australia’s seat of parliament and largest inland city.

Whether it be by plane, Sydney to Canberra train, or your own automobile, the trip from Sydney to Canberra offers spectacular views from the air, or overland.

About The Author:

Hi! We Are Chris and Bec. The two salty sea-lovers behind Salt and Charcoal. Exploring life through the lens, living in our 4wd bus – “Bunji”. With us you will find helpful travel tips, motivation to live your dreams and endless travel inspiration to help spark your next big adventure. Check out our website here: https://saltandcharcoal.co/ or visit our Instagram: @salt.and.charcoal