Sydney to Canberra: the ultimate road trip guide

Chris SinghBy Chris Singh
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The short drive from Sydney to Canberra is packed with interesting things to do and some of regional NSW’s best food.

The easy three-hour road trip from Sydney to Canberra doesn’t need to be uneventful. Be mindful of all the great stops you can make along the way to keep you busy and unlock the beauty of Southern NSW.

There are two main routes you can take if driving from Sydney to Canberra. First, you can opt for the coastal route which will take you past Wollongong. Obviously, this is a more scenic option, but it also takes much longer which is why most people driving the Sydney to Canberra route would go inland and follow the motorway.

Inland is actually a more rewarding option, not just because it’s much faster, but it’ll also take you through the Southern Highlands with some great stops along the way. Take note of a few fast facts below before we dive into what to see and do on a road trip from Sydney to Canberra.

  • The driving distance from Sydney to Canberra is 285km
  • The time it takes to drive from Sydney to Canberra is 3 hours
  • The main stops along the way from Sydney to Canberra are Bowral, Berrima, Mittagong,
  • Moss Vale, Fitzroy Falls, Sutton Forest, Exeter, Goulburn and Lake George.

Stop 1: Go antique shopping in the Southern Highlands 

The Southern Highlands villages of Moss Vale, Mittagong, Bowral and Berrima are all great places for antique shopping. The most famous antique shop is Lydie du Bray Antiques  in Braemar, perfect for unique homewares and furniture.

a couple browsing through antique items at Dirty Janes Bowral 
Dirty Janes is a must-visit destination for collectors. (Image: Destination NSW)

However, you’ll want to spend most of your time in Bowral where both Dirty Janes Bowral  and Lancelot Hill Antiques  sell incredible vintage jewellery alongside eclectic fashion pieces. You’ll easily find your next favourite swag.

the Lancelot Hill Antiques in Bowral
Pop into Lancelot Hill Antiques for all things vintage. (Image: James Horan / Destination NSW)

Stop 2: Race a fast car at One Raceway

One Raceway , formerly known as Wakefield Park Raceway, offers a 2,200-kilometre racing circuit where you can take some hot laps with or without a pro driver in some slick, well-maintained vehicles. Grab a V8 supercar or V8 Auscar and blow off some steam around the circuit.

Stop 3: See the International Cricket Hall of Fame

The Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame  is located in the town of Bowral, which is almost the halfway point between Sydney and Canberra.

the Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame, Bowral
Visit the Bradman International Cricket Hall of Fame. (Image: Destination NSW)

Modern technology is used to pay homage to cricket legends, including many Australians who have been shaping the sport for decades.

men playing a game of cricket at the Bradman InternationalCricket Hall of Fame, Bowral
Experience the excitement of a cricket match unfolding on the pitch. (Image: Dee Kramer Photography)

Pair your visit with a stroll around the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens and pick up a pie at Gumnut Patisserie before you jump back in the car.

Stop 4: Take a detour to Fitzroy Falls

Feel like a hike? After you’ve left Bowral, take a short detour off the motorway and you’ll end up in the beautiful setting of Fitzroy Falls . While Canberra has some beautiful walks waiting for you, it’s worth getting those hiking boots out and tracing the well-maintained West Rim Track which will take you through diverse landscapes and past those roaring waterfalls. Fitzroy Fall lookout is only a short hike from the visitor’s centre so even if you can’t dedicate two hours to the entire walk, it takes little effort to reach the best view in the Southern Highlands.

an aerial view of the Fitzroy Falls
Take a short detour to see the stunning Fitzroy Falls. (Image: Kramer Photography; www.kramer.photography)

Stop 5: Take an architecture tour of Exeter

While the Southern Highlands has plenty of quaint little villages to see, the most beautiful from an architectural perspective is Exeter . This thriving village has a large number of English-style estates and historic churches, earning its sometimes nickname of “Little England." Pop by for a quick, pleasant walk around town and don’t miss the historic Aidan’s Church of England with its beautiful stained-glass windows.

the Exeter village in Southern Highlands, NSW
Inside the Exeter village, you’ll find English-style estates and historic churches.

Stop 6: Visit the historic pubs of Goulburn

Goulburn is one of the bigger towns that you’ll hit just before you arrive in Canberra. If all the cafes in the Southern Highlands didn’t do it for you, sit down to a classic Aussie pub meal at any one of the town’s five major pubs. The Hibernian Hotel , the Southern Railway Hotel  and the Gordon Hotel  are the best of them, giving you one last essential slice of Southern NSW before you reach the tail-end of your Sydney to Canberra road trip.

Stop 7: Snap a selfie at Lake George Lookout

You’ll pass by Lake George on the Federal Highway just before you hit Canberra. The endorheic lake is famously calm and is surrounded by striking landscapes and wind farms.

There’s a lot to take in, so it’s always best to take the easy hike up to Weereewa Lookout  which offers incredible views of the lake and beyond, taking in the best of the Southern Tablelands.

Stop 8: Grab lunch in Gundaroo

After you’ve visited Lake George, hop on over the other side of the highway and check out the village of Gundaroo. Make a beeline for the historic National Trust Royal Hotel with the multi-award-winning Grazing restaurant .

Grazing restaurant Gundaroo
Tuck into refined country fare. (Image: Ash St George / Pew Pew Studios)

Here, you’ve got some of the best local fresh farm produce and an exceptionally long list of the region’s best wines to choose from. And while Canberra is packed with some incredible restaurants, having a satisfying meal here is the only way to cap a short and sweet road trip.

the Grazing restaurant signage
Stop by the Grazing restaurant over the other side of the highway. (Image: Ash St George / Pew Pew Studios)

Discover the best things to do in Canberra.

Chris Singh
Chris Singh is an arts, travel and food journalist with 17 years of experience in digital media and 4 years of experience in SEO writing. He is the former travel editor of premium men's lifestyle title Boss Hunting and currently balances his role as Deputy Editor-At-Large of the AU review with freelance travel writing gigs at Australian Traveller, Luxury Escapes, Cruise & Travel and Sydney Travel Guide. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences (Sociology and Psychology) from the University of Sydney and once worked as a line dancer for steakhouse chain Lone Star (no, seriously). He's always got his finger on the pulse for good live music and delicious new restaurants, has a particular love of historic hotels and is starting to see the restorative value of the ever-present wellness industry. Although he is a born-and-bred Sydneysider, his favourite Australian cities are Hobart and Adelaide. Internationally, he can never get enough of big cities like Tokyo, New York and Chicago. If you're looking for him, he's either at a concert, on a plane or behind a laptop.
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This hidden region in Victoria is home to a peaceful lake trail

    Craig TansleyBy Craig Tansley
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    Video credit: Tourism Australia

    From pink salt landscapes to oases fringed by forests of red gums, the lakes of this rural region are astounding. 

    You’re going to find peace and quiet when you take a road trip through the lakes of the Wimmera Mallee region. Whether it’s mirror-like pink salt lakes that look like an inland sea, or lakes fringed by forests of red gums that showcase Victoria’s arid beauty, there’s a lake for you out here somewhere.  

    1. Lake Tyrrell  

    Lake Tyrrell
    The colours of Lake Tyrrell blend into the sky. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

    Located in the dead heart of the Mallee, Victoria’s largest salt lake, Lake Tyrrell , is a landscape photographer’s dream – especially at sunrise and sunset when the pink salt flats look like a gigantic mirror. It’s easy to camp or park a caravan nearby, too, though the tiny town of Sea Lake is just south (with accommodation). In winter, shallow water covers the salt, creating surreal reflections of the sky.  

    2. Nhill Lake  

    There’s a permanent water source here, so there’s always plenty of water for water skiing, swimming and fishing (the trout and redfin fishing here is legendary). Located beside the pretty heritage town of Nhill with its main street of historic buildings, there’s options for eating and drinking right next door. There’s also a barbecue area with plenty of shady picnic spots and a boardwalk for walking around the lake.  

    3. Lake Bringalbert  

    Lake Bringalert
    Lake Bringalert is a great spot for aquatic adventures.

    Located south-west of the pretty Mallee town of Kaniva, Lake Bringalbert epitomises the best of ‘outback’ Victoria. It’s ringed by red gums and red mallee and feels completely hidden from the world – you’ll barely ever see another person. There’s basic camping on its foreshore and Kaniva offers more accommodation options. It’s the perfect lake for swimming, kayaking and skiing, and the stars at night come without even a hint of city glow.  

    4. Lake Hindmarsh 

    If you’re a bird fan, you’ll love Lake Hindmarsh . Located north of Dimboola, Victoria’s largest natural freshwater lake is like an inland sea full of pelicans, swans and numerous species of ducks – but it also teems with everything from spoonbills to parrots. Sunsets here will blow your mind – the lake is a mirror for the pinks and golds you’ll see on the horizon. There’s free camping spots along the foreshore if you’d like to really contemplate the magic of the lake.  

    5. Pink Lake 

    pink lake
    The Pink Lake is most vivid after rain. (Image: Visit Victoria/Anne Morely)

    Also known as Loch Lel , the summer months offer up some seriously vivid pink water colour at this lake north of Dimboola. The pink varies throughout the year, but is best after rain (hence why summer is the time to visit).

    pink lake
    Pink Lake, also known as Loch Lel, is located near Dimboola in the Grampians. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    There’s plenty of birds, including wedge-tailed eagles, but you’re as likely to spot big lace monitors, kangaroos and echidnas. Nearby, check out the uber-cute heritage town of Dimboola and its eclectic shops, and Little Desert National Park, full of walking trails through mallee heathland. 

    6. Lake Lascelles 

    Lake Lascelles
    You can camp at Lake Lascelles.

    On a hot summer’s day, there’s nowhere better for a cooling dip, kayak or boat ride. You can camp by the lake , or at powered caravan sites – or the pretty town of Hopetoun offers numerous accommodation options a short walk away. At night you’ll see the lights of Hopetoun reflect off the lake. Fish for yellow belly, redfin or catfish, or try water-skiing. There’s also a great walking trail around the lake, where there’s more birds than you can count.