Goulburn to Canberra: Distance, drive time & road trip stops
The Goulburn to Canberra drive is 91km in distance, and takes just over an hour to drive. Good stops along Federal Highway include the Lerida Estate winery and the Weereewa Lookout at Lake George.
This guide is designed to help travellers make the most of the Goulburn to Canberra drive in Australia.
Goulburn is one of those inland New South Wales towns that doesn’t get much attention. But it does make a handy stop on the Sydney to Canberra drive. The Sydney to Goulburn drive is 195km long and takes just over two hours.
To check out the best Goulburn accommodation deals, look here.
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.
If you stop for a coffee break in Goulburn, or to get a photo of the Big Merino, then it’s not too much further to the Australian capital. The route to Canberra branches off the Hume Highway shortly after Goulburn, joining the Federal Highway at Yarra.
Goulburn to Canberra drive: Distance and driving time
The Goulburn to Canberra drive is 91km in distance, with a Goulburn to Canberra driving time of one hour and five minutes. It’s almost all along the Federal Highway, often known as the M23. This goes past Wollorang and Collector before skirting the edge of Lake George.
Best places to stay in Goulburn
The top Goulburn accommodation choices are:
- For good quality, business traveller-friendly apartments: Quest Goulburn.
- For a cheap, decent motel for a no-fuss one night stay: Black Sheep Motel.
- For road-tripper convenience next to the Hume Highway: Mercure Goulburn.
- For free parking in the city centre: Heritage Motor Inn.
Goulburn to Canberra road trip: Lerida Estate and Weereewa Lookout
The two best stops on the Goulburn to Canberra drive are beside Lake George. The Lerida Estate winery offers wine-tasting opportunities and the Weereewa Lookout majors in photogenic views over the lake.
The Federal Highway then continues past Bywong, before entering the Australian Capital Territory next to the Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve. The Mount Majura Nature Reserve comes up shortly on your left. Then, before you get into properly urban Canberra, there are the Canberra Showground, Thoroughbred Park and Yowani Country Club on the right.
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.
Canberra attractions at the end of the Goulburn to Canberra drive
Once in Canberra, highlights include the Questacon science museum, Australian War Memorial, National Museum of Australia, Parliament House and National Library of Australia.
Other attractions worth a visit include the National Carillon, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex. You can also take a Segway tour or traverse Canberra in a hot air balloon.
The top Canberra accommodation picks
There is a large selection of Canberra accommodation options. But these are particularly good choices…
- The one with the highest guest rating: A By Adina Canberra.
- For something cool and stylish: East Hotel and Apartments.
- The one where the VIPs stay: Hyatt Hotel Canberra.
- For high quality apartments: Quest Canberra City Walk.
- For something much cheaper and family-focused: Alivio Tourist Park.
More Canberra road trips
Canberra road trips: To New South Wales
Albury to Canberra: Distance 338km, driving time 3h47m.
Bathurst to Canberra: Distance 253km, driving time 3h13m.
Canberra to Batemans Bay: Distance 148km, driving time 2h.
Canberra to Bega: Distance 228km, driving time 2h41m.
Canberra to Bowral: Distance 170km, driving time 2h.
Canberra to Braidwood: Distance 87km, driving time 1h7m.
Canberra to Cowra: Distance 189km, driving time 2h23m.
Canberra to Cooma: Distance 116km, driving time 1h17m.
Canberra to Dubbo: Distance 399km, driving time 4h45m.
Canberra to Jindabyne: Distance 179km, driving time 2h3m.
Canberra to Merimbula: Distance 246km, driving time 3h.
Canberra to Narooma: Distance 224km, driving time 3h.
Canberra to Orange: Distance 279km, driving time 3h17m.
Canberra to Wagga Wagga: Distance 245km, driving time 2h47m
Canberra to Wollongong: Distance 244km, driving time 2h40m.
Canberra to Young, NSW: Distance 157km, driving time 1h50m.
Goulburn to Canberra: Distance 91km, driving time 1h5m.
Gundagai to Canberra: Distance 160km, driving time 1h48m.
Sydney to Canberra: Distance 286km, driving time 3h5m.
Yass to Canberra: Distance 60km, driving time 52m.
Canberra road trips to other states
Adelaide to Canberra: Distance 1,159km, driving time 12h12m.
Melbourne to Canberra: Distance 663km, driving time 7h7m.