CAPITAL COAST AND COUNTRY TOURING ROUTE CANBERRA–TABLELANDS–SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS– SNOWY MOUNTAINS–SOUTH COAST VISITCANBERRA CAPITAL COAST AND COUNTRY TOURING 1 CAPITAL, COAST AND COUNTRY TOURING ROUTE LEGEND Taste the Tablelands SYDNEY Experience the Southern Highlands SYDNEY AIRPORT Explore Australia’s Highest Peak Enjoy Beautiful Coastlines Discover Sapphire Waters and Canberra’s Nature Coast Royal Southern Highlands National Park Young PRINCES HWY (M1) Mittagong Wollongong LACHLAN Boorowa VALLEY WAY (B81) Bowral ILL AWARR Harden A HWY Shellharbour Fitzroy Robertson HUME HWY (M31) Falls Kiama Goulburn Kangaroo Yass Gerringong Valley HUME HWY (M31) Jugiong Morton Collector National Nowra Shoalhaven Heads Murrumbateman FEDERAL HWY (M23) Park Seven Mile Beach BARTON HWY (A25) Gundaroo National Park Gundagai Lake Jervis Bay SNOWY MOUNTAINS HWY (B72) Hall George National Park Brindabella National Bungendore Sanctuary Point Park Canberra KINGS HWY (B52) Jervis Bay International Morton Conjola Sussex CANBERRA Airport National National Inlet Park Park TASMAN SEA Tumut Queanbeyan Lake Conjola Tidbinbilla Budawang Braidwood National Mollymook Park Ulladulla PRINCES HWY (A1) Namadgi (B23) HWY MONARO Murramarang Yarrangobilly National Park National Park Batemans Bay AUSTRALIA Yarrangobilly Mogo Caves Bredbo CANBERRA SYDNEY PRINCES HWYMoruya (A1) MELBOURNE Bodalla Tuross Head Snowy Mountains Cooma SNOWY MOUNTAINS HWY (B72) Narooma KOSCIUZSKO RD Eurobadalla Montague Perisher National Park Tilba Island Jindabyne Thredbo Wadbilliga Bermagui Alpine National Park National Kosciuszko National TOURIST DRIVE 9 Park Park Mimosa Rocks Bendigo Bega National Park Greater Bendigo Tathra National Park Alpine Bournda National National Park Park Merimbula South East Forests National Park Eden Snowy River Alpine National National Mount Imlay Park National Park Ben Boyd Park National Park Errinundra National Park Nadgee Nature Reserve PRINCES HWY KEY FACTS Alfred National DRIVING DISTANCES (APPROX.) States covered: AustralianOrbost Capital Territory Park (Canberra), New South Wales Croajingolong Cape Conran From To Time Km Miles MELBOURNE CCoastalap Peark Conran Baw Baw Bairnsdale Coastal Park National Park National Park LaChallengeke King LakesLevel: Entrance ✔✔✔✔✔ Canberra Sydney Airport 2 hrs 50 mins 273 170 Stratford The Lakes National Bowral 1 hr 52 mins 170 105 FlightPark gateway: Canberra or Sydney Lake Sale Murrumbateman 35 mins 39 24 Frankston Wellington Gippsland Lakes CoastalHighlights: Park A visit to Canberra and beyond offers Yass 50 mins 70 43 an unforgettable driving experience through Dromana Young 1 hr 53 mins 158 98 Sorrento French Island spectacular coastlines, picturesque historic National Park Batemans Bay 1 hr 59 mins 149 93 Cowes townships, pristine national parks, world-class national attractions and gourmet food and wine. Mollymook 2 hrs 47 mins 205 128 Jervis Bay 2 hrs 55 mins 222 138 Wonthaggi Yarram Inverloch Foster Merimbula 2 hrs 55 mins 243 151 Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park Eden 3 hrs 13 mins 265 165 Cape Liptrap Jindabyne 2 hrs 179 111 BASS STRAIT Coastal Park Wilsons 2 VISITCANBERRA CAPITAL COAST AND COUNTRY TOURING Promomtory National Park CANBERRA Australia’s young and vibrant capital is the perfect place to base yourself to explore the wider region on a self-drive holiday. Whether it’s world-class wining and dining, iconic national treasures that tell the story of Australia or breathtaking outdoor adventures, everything is just moments away. And just a short drive away are the pristine beaches of the South Coast and the beautiful Snowy Mountains. We’ve put together some must-do Canberra highlights before you set off. MUST DO ARTS AND CULTURE FOOD AND WINE • At the National Gallery of Australia view the • Explore the foodie hubs of the waterfront country’s national art collection that includes Kingston foreshore or Braddon’s hip Lonsdale the largest collection of Indigenous artwork Street precinct which feature casual bars, in the world. cafes and restaurants and local craft beer and wine. • Get a snapshot of Australia’s past, present and future at the National Museum of Australia. • Explore 30 boutique cellar doors in Canberra’s cool climate wine region, only 35 minutes’ drive • Watch democracy in action at from the city. Parliament House. • Discover the delight of the NewActon dining • Experience the moving Last Post ceremony precinct for a great cup of coffee or a delicious at the Australian War Memorial — one of the meal incorporating local seasonal produce. world’s great war museums. OUTDOORS AND NATURE FAMILY FUN • Uncover the mysteries of science • Get back to nature at Tidbinbilla Nature with fun, interactive experiences at Reserve and see wallabies, kangaroos, the Australian Tourism Award winning emus and other wildlife in a natural setting. science centre Questacon. • Admire the capital’s ‘city in a park’ charm as • Strike your own coin, and watch Titan the you rise above it at dawn in a hot air balloon. robot in action as he helps makes Australia’s • Get adventurous and explore Lake Burley coins at the Royal Australian Mint. Griffin surrounds on a segway, cross the lake • Cuddle a dingo, walk inside an enclosure on a pedal kayak or Goboat, or hit the downhill with kangaroos and emus at the National mountain bike trails of Mount Stromlo. Zoo & Aquarium. VISITCANBERRA CAPITAL COAST AND COUNTRY TOURING 3 EVENT PICKS From blockbuster art exhibitions to the annual spectacle of massed hot air balloons floating above the city, Canberra offers a diverse calendar of not to be missed events. Below are five must-see annual events. For a comprehensive list of events go to visitcanberra.com.au ENLIGHTEN FESTIVAL Across Canberra, March This 18 day festival encompasses a number of events that include the illumination of some of Canberra’s most iconic buildings such as Parliament House, National Gallery of Australia, Old Parliament House, National Portrait Gallery and Questacon. You’ll also find an array of quirky after-dark events, noodle markets, music and roving performers. enlightenfestival.com CANBERRA BALLOON SPECTACULAR Old Parliament House, March See a stunning array of hot air balloons of all colours and novelty shapes inflate at dawn and slowly drift over FLORIADE AND FLORIADE NIGHTFEST Canberra’s iconic national attractions. Catch the action on the ground with live music and breakfast. You can Commonwealth Park, mid-September to mid-October also book a balloon flight and take part in the spectacle. See the biggest free spring flower festival in the Southern balloonspectacular.com.au Hemisphere when more than one million spring blooms carpet the city’s lakeside park. Flowers, food, entertainment and art combine over 30 days. For two weekends you can see THE TRUFFLE FESTIVAL the festival illuminated at the after-dark Floriade NightFest Canberra Region various venues, June to August (a ticketed event). floriadeaustralia.com A 12-week celebration of the harvest of the Black Winter Truffle grown in the Canberra region. More than 250 individual events are held across the region offering CANBERRA AND REGION the opportunity to taste and experience the prized truffle. VISITORS CENTRE Events range from gourmet degustation dinners, Regatta Point cooking classes and demonstrations, to wine tastings Canberra, ACT 2600 and matchings, farmers markets, truffle hunts and more. T: +61 2 6205 0044 trufflefestival.com.au [email protected] visitcanberra.com.au 4 VISITCANBERRA CAPITAL COAST AND COUNTRY TOURING TASTE THE TABLELANDS CANBERRA–MURRUMBATEMAN–YASS–YOUNG With its proximity to Canberra, the tablelands are easily accessible and the towns and villages provide connections to the sense of place, just waiting to be explored. The food, wine and natural handmade products in the region are world class. From farm fresh produce, to restaurants, cafes, vineyards and cellar doors, the tablelands boast a feast of impressive quality produce. Meet the makers of the tablelands and visit the wine regions of Canberra District and Hilltops. MUST DO • Visit the cool climate wine region of Murrumbateman, with more than 20 boutique wineries now achieving acclaim on Australian and International tables. Every cellar door provides a different and exciting experience. • Soak up the history of Yass as you discover the mid 1800s architecture evident in the town’s main street. DRIVING DISTANCES (APPROX.) • Dine at some the region’s best restaurants in Yass, Murrumbateman and Gundaroo From To Time Km Miles including the acclaimed Clementine Restaurant Canberra Murrumbateman 35 mins 39 24 recently acknowledged as a “One Hat” Yass 50 mins 70 43 restaurant. Dining experiences focus on a paddock to plate philosophy featuring local Young 1 hr 53 mins 158 98 produce matched with local wines. • The Hilltops towns of Harden and Boorowa YASS VALLEY offer country pubs and heritage buildings; INFORMATION CENTRE browse antiques and crafts shops, 259 Comur Street, Yass NSW enjoy Devonshire Teas with homemade scones T: +61 2 6226 2557 and berry jams. [email protected] • Young is Australia’s Cherry Capital, during yassvalley.com.au November and December you can pick your own fruit or buy direct from the Orchard. YOUNG & HILLTOPS REGION Delicious Cherry pies are available INFORMATION CENTRE throughout the year. Anderson Park, Young NSW 2594 • The village of Jugiong is the embodiment of T: +61 2 6382 3394 Hilltops food and wine with a series of fine food [email protected] and wine options, much loved by locals and visithilltopsregion.com.au visitors