Amazing road trips to explore in the ACT

Canberra is known for being the central spot for all things educational, not to mention its close proximity to some of the best wineries around.

We’ve put together some of the best road trips around the ACT.

1. Canberra museum road trip, ACT

The most culturally enriching road trip on offer in Australia is one that takes you around our very own capital city, laden as it is with world-class museums and galleries that are all easily accessed via its wide, uncongested roads.

Canberra ACT — Immerse yourself in Canberra’s many opportunities to explore Australian culture and art.

National Gallery of Australia & National Portrait Gallery

Start at the National Gallery of Australia on Parkes Place for a roam around rooms filled with everything from abstract masterworks to the affecting Aboriginal Memorial at its entrance (the National Portrait Gallery is a three-minute walk from the NGA so leave the car where it is for this).

Aboriginal Memorial NGA — The Aboriginal Memorial is a powerful installation that commemorates First Nations history.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

National Museum of Australia

Next, head to the National Museum of Australia (six minutes’ drive along Parkes Way) to wonder at Cadel Evans’ bike, the 1866 Melbourne Cup and civil rights campaigner Faith Bandler’s gloves among (lots of) other things.

The CSIRO Discovery Centre & National Dinosaur Museum

The CSIRO Discovery Centre is a five-minute drive from the museum via Clunies Ross Street, with an extra shot of science served up at the National Dinosaur Museum, 14 minutes away in Gold Creek Village.

Australian War Memorial

After that, it’s 18 minutes to get to the Australian War Memorial (via Barton Highway). And if you can squeeze it in, Calthorpes’ House in Red Hill (off Mugga Way) is a hidden gem: a historic house that recreates 1920s life with the Calthorpe family.

Distance:

43.5 kilometres

Stay:

Midnight Hotel has streamlined interiors, a stylish indoor pool and a hip hood locale in Braddon; East Hotel is a vibrant spot close to the cultural action.

Midnight Hotel Canberra exterior — Enjoy a stylish stay in Australia’s capital city.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

2. Canberra’s cold climate wine region, ACT

Spending even the briefest time exploring the area that stretches between Yass and the ACT will instantly make you understand why there is an “it’s mine, no it’s mine" debate about which region can rightfully lay claim to it: technically it is part of NSW’s Southern Tablelands, but the whole area is also affectionately claimed by Canberra. The reason? Because it’s a picturesque, productive cold-climate wine region, with a burgeoning gourmet foodie scene bubbling along nicely in the background.

The shining gem of the region is Murrumbateman, which is best explored on two wheels and pedal power (the sleek, accommodating Abode Murrumbateman has bikes for guests to borrow), cruising between cellar doors at Clonakilla, Shaw Wines, Helm Wines and The Vintner’s Daughter. Fill your basket with a few top drops and grab the fixings for a perfect picnic: treats from Robyn Rowe Chocolates, fresh produce from Murrumbateman Village Market (every second Sunday) and a sourdough loaf or a sausage roll at Clementine Bakery in Yass.

Distance:

50 kilometres from Yass to Gundaroo.

Cycling on the shining gem of the region, Murrumbateman, NSW, Australia — Pedal through picturesque landscapes of the Murrumbateman region.

Keep reading our special Top 100 Road Trips in Australia editorial series.

With its prime position on one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, lush tropical surrounds and exceptional dining, wellness and leisure experiences, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa is the perfect base for exploring the spectacular Kimberley region.

For many travellers, Broome is the gateway to the wild grandeur of the Kimberley – a launch point for epic 4WD journeys along the legendary Gibb River Road, rugged outback tours and expedition cruises tracing the remote coastline. Whether you’re arriving dust-covered from the red dirt or preparing to venture deep into the region’s untamed landscapes, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa offers the perfect place to begin or end the adventure. The only fully integrated resort in Broome, the property unfolds along meandering pathways that wind through lush tropical gardens, past tranquil lily ponds and hand-carved timber sculptures that subtly guide guests towards reception.

Location

camel ride along cable beach broome — Let friendly staff help you book a camel ride on Cable Beach. (Credit: Tourism WA/ Matt Deakin)

Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa lies just steps from the famed Cable Beach, where the silhouettes of camels crossing the shoreline at sunset have become one of Australia’s most enduring tourism images. The only beachfront resort in Broome, it’s also just a few minutes’ drive to the centre of town, where guests can wander through Chinatown and peruse its pearl stores and galleries or catch a movie beneath the stars at the heritage-listed Sun Pictures.

The friendly team at the resort’s tour desk can also help tailor your stay, whether that’s an iconic camel ride along the beach, a visit to Willie Creek Pearl Farm to discover how the gems are harvested or a guided tour to see the ancient dinosaur footprints revealed among the rust-red rocks of Gantheaume Point at low tide.

Style and character

Cable Beach Club Resort broome lobby — Walk into an eclectic blend of influences and eras.

Few resorts capture the essence of their surroundings quite like Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa. First opened in 1988, the resort is a celebration of Broome’s rich multicultural past, from its Japanese pearl divers to Chinese merchants. The result is an eclectic blend of influences and eras. The resort features wide timber verandahs, corrugated iron walls and tin roofs designed to temper the tropical climate. To keep it breezy, Broome’s signature lattice (a distinct painted timber lattice detailing iconic to the tropical architecture of the Kimberley region) has been used across the resort with two functions – allowing a breeze through while maintaining privacy.

Scattered throughout the manicured gardens is an impressive collection of rare Asian and international artefacts. Chinese bluestone lions stand sentinel at the entrance, while terracotta warrior horses, vermillion Japanese torii gates and traditional Shishi (lion-dog) statues lend an air of quiet grandeur. Fragrant with frangipani blossoms and shaded by century-old boab and mango trees, the grounds are also a haven for native wildlife. Birds provide a constant soundtrack, while wallabies and tiny lizards rustle through the foliage.

Rooms

Cable Beach Club Resort broome Price Jones Suite — Sleep in comfort and style.

The extensive accommodation options span studios, bungalows, club apartments, villas and suites. Family bungalows draw inspiration from the grand homes of Broome’s pearl masters, translating that heritage into generous layouts, high ceilings and verandahs that open to the gardens. Studios and villas are perfect for couples and solo stays, pairing soft coastal tones with private balconies or courtyards. While club apartments and suites are designed for longer stays, offering multiple bedrooms, kitchen facilities and seamless indoor-outdoor living.

Food and drink

kichi kichi at Cable Beach Club Resort broome — Tuck into an Asian fusion menu at Kichi Kichi.

The dining scene at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa reflects Broome’s position at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean and Asia, where coastal produce meets a tapestry of multicultural influences.

Contemporary Asian fusion dishes – from crisp fried pork belly and roast Peking duck breast to Burmese lamb curry – deliver bold, vibrant flavours at Kichi Kichi. While the handmade tortellini filled with pearl meat and prawn served at atmospheric Italian restaurant, Cichetti, is the kind of dish that you will remember long after the final bite. Elsewhere on the menu, find effortless flair across dishes like Wedge Island octopus, market fish crudo and silky goat’s milk panna cotta.

As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, Sunset Bar & Grill becomes the place to be. Here, guests gather over freshly shucked oysters, cured meat platters and buckets of sweet Exmouth prawns. Or, for a quieter evening in, guests can retreat to the comfort of their room and order from Cable Eats, the resort’s in-room dining service.

Pools

Cable Beach Club Resort broome ocean pool — Relax by the adults-only Ocean Pool.

Two distinct pool settings invite guests to shape their day exactly as they please. Drift into the calm of the adults-only Ocean Pool, where attentive service delivers dishes such as grilled prawn skewers and salt-and-pepper calamari straight to your cabana or sunbed well into the afternoon.

The mood at the family-friendly Kimberley Pool – framed by a cascading waterfall, the heart of the resort’s recreational precinct – is decidedly more playful. Here, younger guests are catered for with a dedicated kids’ menu of familiar favourites including chicken nuggets, fish and chips and ham-and-cheese toasties, while parents can graze on more refined poolside fare, such as fried squid, soba noodle salad and gourmet burgers.

Chahoya Spa & Salon

Cable Beach Club Resort broome Chahoya Spa — Book a treatment at Chahoya Spa.

Chahoya Spa brings a refined sense of indulgence inspired by its Japanese name, meaning “pamper”, with signature treatments including the Kimberley Dreamtime ritual and Chahoya Pearl Massage designed to soothe tired bodies and quiet busy minds. There is also an on-site salon providing personalised cuts, colour services and restorative hair care, ensuring guests leave feeling polished and renewed.

Other facilities

yoga class in the buddha sanctuary at Cable Beach Club Resort broome — Join a yoga class at the Buddha Sanctuary.

Wellness continues at the Buddha Sanctuary, a serene open-air pavilion just beyond the main resort grounds, where yoga classes are held six days a week amid ornamental gardens and a striking 3.5-metre hand-carved crystal Buddha statue. Beyond the sanctuary, the resort caters to every pace of stay, with a children’s playground, mini golf, tennis courts and a fully-equipped gym. Guests can also browse the resort’s boutique gift shop, home to Allure South Sea Pearls – the brand behind Broome’s first dedicated pearl boutique in Chinatown.

Book the ultimate Broome getaway at cablebeachclub.com.

Amazing road trips to explore in the ACT

Canberra is known for being the central spot for all things educational, not to mention its close proximity to some of the best wineries around.

1. Canberra museum road trip, ACT