Moss Vale to Canberra road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time
The best stops on a Moss Vale to Canberra road trip include Goulburn and the Weereewa Lookout. By car, the distance from Moss Vale to Canberra is 160km, with a driving time of around 1h47m.
The Moss Vale to Canberra drive takes you from New South Wales’s Southern Highlands region to the Australian capital.
It’s an easy enough drive to complete in one stint, although you may wish to make a few scenic stops along the way.
To select your favourite Moss Vale accommodation, look over 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.
This guide is aimed at helping travellers plan their perfect Moss Vale to Canberra road trip itinerary.
Click through on the links for more detailed links about individual towns and attractions – and remember to stock up on your road trip essentials before setting off.
Moss Vale to Canberra distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Moss Vale to Canberra is 160km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 47 minutes. Obviously, that will be longer if you make a stop or two along the way.
5 great Southern Highlands experiences to boost your visit
- Personalised private Southern Highlands wine and attractions tours – tailored to your tastes.
- Tutored wine-tasting and canapes experience.
- Beekeeping experience – learn how honey is made.
- Guided wine-tasting at the Mill – with tasting notes procided.
- Behind the scenes tour of a sustainable winery in Berrima.
On the way from Moss Vale to the Hume Highway, there’s the opportunity to stop at the Southern Highlands Winery and the Red Cow Farm Garden.
Moss Vale to Goulburn drive
On the way towards Goulburn, most people end up refuelling at the Forest East Service Centre on the way. If you don’t need although Sutton Forest Estate Wines is a more amiable spot for a journey break.
A little further along, there’s a good swimming spot in Paddy’s River to the east of the highway.
There’s another big services at Marulan before you reach Goulburn.
You turn off the Hume for Canberra at Goulburn, home of the Big Merino, the Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre and the Goulburn Historic Waterworks.
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.
Moss Vale to Canberra road trip: Hume Highway to Canberra
The two best stops on the Goulburn to Canberra leg of the 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.
What to do in Canberra
Once in Canberra, there’s loads to do. Suggestions include…
- Go hot air ballooning across the city.
- Learn how the city was designed at the National Capital Exhibition.
- Taste local drinks on a winery and distillery tour.
- Putter around Lake Burley-Griffin on a GoBoat.
- Let the kids loose at interactive science museum Questacon.
- Discover the wealth of artworks at Australia’s Parliament House.
- Learn about the first Australians on a special tour of the National Museum of Australia.
- Take an Aboriginal-guided tour at the National Arboretum.
- See wildlife at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
- Discover Australia’s role in space research at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.
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.
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.
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