Goulburn to Yass drive: Distance, driving time & best stops

The Goulburn to Yass drive through New South Wales covers an 86km distance in a driving time of approximately an hour. The main road trip attractions on the way are the Pye Cottage Museum in Gunning and Cooma Cottage.

The drive from Goulburn to Yass, New South Wales, connects the two main turn-offs to Canberra. If coming from the east, you turn off at Goulburn. If coming from the west, you turn off at Yass. Both towns have something to offer, but neither is essential. And, if you’re skipping Canberra to travel from Sydney to Melbourne along the Hume Highway, you’ll pass between them.

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Goulburn to Yass distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Goulburn to Yass is 86km. That makes for a driving time of around an hour. Obviously, that’s an easy distance to conquer in one hit, but there are a few road trip stops that are possibly worth adding to the itinerary.

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.

There are a couple of designated rest areas – the French VC Rest Area and Windmills Rest Area. But these are better saved for longer drives. You’ll not need them on the Goulburn to Yass drive.

Goulburn to Yass drive: Road trip stops

The biggest town between Goulburn and Yass is Gunning. Here, you can stop for a bite at the Merino Café or step back in time to the 1860s at the Pye Cottage Museum.

Later on, you’ll need to leave the Hume Highway at Manton, then head into Yass along the Yass Valley Way. You’ll pass Cooma Cottage en route. This was the former home of explorer Hamilton Hume, who the Hume Highway is named after. It’s now a National Trust property offering insights into Australia’s colonial era past.

Other things to do in Yass include the 2.8km walk to the top of Mount Mundoonen. Yass accommodation options include the centrally-located Yass Central Bed and Breakfast and the highly-regarded Colonial Lodge Motor Inn.