Sydney to Canberra road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops
Sydney to Canberra road trip: Federal Highway attractions
This goes past Wollorang and Collector before skirting the edge of Lake George.
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.
Attractions between Sydney and Canberra: Australian Capital Territory
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.
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 Lake Burley-Griffin cruise 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 travel
What to see on a Griffith to Canberra road trip.
Canberra to Sydney train fares.
Which Australian airports does Qatar Airways fly to?
Stop at the Weereewa Lookout on the Port Macquarie to Canberra drive.
Stay at the Alivio Tourist Park.