Canberra to Merimbula road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on a Canberra to Merimbula road trip include Cooma, the Pipers Lookout in Glenbog State Forest and Bega. The Canberra to Merimbula drive covers a 246km distance in a three hour driving time.
The Canberra to Merimbula drive takes you from the Australian capital to the most popular seaside town on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales. Merimbula is close enough to Canberra to be a great spot for a weekend break. Hence accommodation can sell out quickly – you need to book your Merimbula hotel in advance if possible.
Canberra offers wine and distillery tours, plus guided visits to the National Museum of Australia. To investigate Canberra tour and experience options, head here. To find the best Canberra hotel deals, book here.
Merimbula, meanwhile, offers whale-watching cruises or dolphin-spotting ocean and wildlife tours. To bag the best Merimbula accommodation in advance, book here.
Canberra to Bega distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Canberra to Merimbula is 246km. That makes for a driving time of around three hours.
7 great Canberra experiences to book before you arrive
- Full day city highlights tour – including Mount Ainslie, Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial.
- Tidbinbilla wildlife and birds tour – see kangaroos, koalas, platypus and emus in the wild.
- Hot air balloon flight – see Canberra’s unique design while floating above the city.
- Small group wine tour – discover the amazing wineries and food producers of the Canberra region.
- Australian Institute of Sport tour – see where Australia’s next generation of sporting greats train.
- Australian Museum – expert-guided tour of the museum highlights.
- Brewery tour – hop between Canberra’s best craft breweries.
Much of this drive is through rural, forested stretches of New South Wales that not many people ever visit. There are, however, a few road trip stops worth considering for the itinerary.
Next up: Canberra to Cooma.