After Sydney, we rented a car and drove south, stopping in Canberra for a day on the way to Melbourne. Australia's purpose-built capital is genuinely interesting — parliament buildings, the National War Memorial and Lake Burley Griffin at the heart of it. Worth a day if you're driving between Sydney and Melbourne.
After Sydney, we rented a car and drove south — stopping in Canberra for a day on the way to Melbourne. Australia's purpose-built capital is genuinely interesting — the parliament buildings, the National War Memorial, the beautiful lake at the heart of the planned city. Worth a day if you're driving between Sydney and Melbourne.
Canberra was designed from scratch in the early 20th century as a compromise capital between Sydney and Melbourne, and the whole city is laid out with axes, geometry and long sight lines. That planned quality gives it a very distinctive feel — spacious, green and calm.
The seat of Australian government — free public tours run daily and the roof lawn is one of the great city viewpoints.
One of the most moving national war memorials anywhere in the world. Free entry, extraordinary exhibits.
The huge artificial lake at the centre of the city — walk, cycle or take a ferry across it.
Home to the country's most significant art collection including major Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works.
The best view over Canberra — you can see the whole planned axis of the city laid out below you.
Free-entry museum on the story of Australia and its people — genuinely well done.
Canberra makes a worthwhile detour on a Sydney-to-Melbourne road trip. From Sydney, it is roughly a three-hour drive south-west; from Canberra you can continue towards Melbourne, rejoining the main Hume Highway route further south.
Renting a car for this leg of the trip is what makes stops like Canberra, the Twelve Apostles and the Great Ocean Road possible at your own pace.
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Want to get a feel for Australia's purpose-built capital before you go? Explore Canberra virtually with Drive From Home — then jump straight into the city drive and see it from the road.
Common questions
What to pack for Australia
A few useful essentials for an Australia adventure — especially for sun, changing weather and long travel days.
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This is just one stop on the huge Australian adventure. See how it all connects — the East Coast, the Red Centre, the reef, the cities and everything in between.
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