Canberra - Surrounding Region

Canberra is an excellent self-drive destination, with so many places of interest within only two hours' drive from the city. Visit pristine beaches, go skiing in the Snowy Mountains, sample wines from over 30 regional wineries and explore historic villages.

The Canberra and Region Visitors Centre is an excellent place to begin a trip into Canberra's surrounding regions, with lots of information to help you plan your drive.

It is easy to find your way to the picturesque village of Bungendore, about thirty minutes drive from the city. The highlight of this quaint village is the multi award-winning wood works gallery displaying beautiful hand crafted furniture and artwork. Further towards the South Coast is the historic town of Braidwood, offering galleries and craft and antique stores to capture your fancy.

Two hours' drive east from Canberra, the South Coast is a beautiful, unspoilt coastal wonderland. Enjoy a swim at the beach, go dolphin and whale watching, hire a sea kayak, canoe pristine river systems and visit the pioneer village of Mogo. Mogo also boasts a zoo with a snow leopard, African lion, Bengal tiger, alligators, pythons and more.

North of Canberra you will find the town of Yass, with a main street lined with cafes, galleries and boutique shops. Further afield, you will travel through scenic undulating countryside to reach Young, best known for its national cherry festival in November. East of Young, Goulburn is Australia's first inland city, home to the Big Merino and numerous festivals throughout the year. Close to Goulburn, the Southern Highlands are great for lovers of the outdoors. Golf, fly fishing, four wheel driving and bushwalking are just some of the activities you can enjoy in this lovely region.

A scenic two-hour drive south from Canberra takes you to the Snowy Mountains where you can find beautiful alpine flowers, top ski resorts, wild horses, fishing, hiking, horseriding and so much more. The Snowy Mountains has plenty to offer all year round, including viewing native platypus, enjoying the wafting scents of lavender farms, picking fresh fruit in summer and autumn and visiting amazing limestone caves.

During your travels, head off the main roads to find local wineries, artist studios and road-side fruit and vegetable stalls.

Articles

Canberra's Must-Dos

Canberra has so many fantastic things for visitors to see and do. This list of must-dos will help you plan your trip to make the most of your stay in the nation's capital. more

Events

Canberra is an exciting place to visit, particularly during one of the many events and festivals held each year. Plan your visit around any number of popular events, including Floriade - Australia's Celebration of Spring or the Canberra Balloon Fiesta when hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes fill Canberra's skies with activity and colour. more

Food, Wine and Nightlife

Canberra is bursting with fabulous restaurants, stylish cafes, fashionable bars and award winning wineries. Indulge in fresh pastries from one of Canberra's best breakfast spots, lunch with a difference at a national attraction, sample some of the region's cool-climate wines, enjoy a dining experience fit for a king and then top it all off at one of Canberra's hottest lounge bars. more

Fun for families

Keep the kids entertained with a great range of activities and things to see and do. Many national attractions provide free entry and there is an excellent range of facilities to suit every budget. A trip to Canberra can also be very educational, where you can learn lots of fun science facts, the meanings of Aussie words like “chook” and “yakka” and so much more! more

Getting Active

Canberra reveals Australia's passion for sports and the great outdoors in so many ways. Witness this passion by visiting the Australian Institute of Sport, seeing a football game, going bushwalking, floating through the skies in a hot air balloon, horse riding, playing a round of golf or watching high performance cars burn rubber. more

National Attractions

From the internationally recognised architecture of Parliament House to the moving exhibits at the Australian War Memorial, visitors to the nation's capital are spoilt for choice. Each attraction tells the story of Australia and its people in different ways, so take the time to fully explore all that the nation's capital has to offer. more