About Canberra

For Tourist information please call 1300 554 114 or visitcanberra.com.au

Facts & Figures

Getting Around

Facts & Figures

Location

150 kilometres inland and 571 metres above the Pacific Ocean.

Population

324,000 people

Weather

(*Degree Celsius)

Back to top

Getting Around  

FLY

Fly into Canberra International Airport with Qantas, Virgin Blue, or Brindabella Airlines. The city centre is a 10 minute drive from the airport by taxi, hire car or shuttle bus.

DRIVE

With a good highway system linking Canberra to surrounding New South Wales,
driving to Canberra is simple.

From Sydney

Direct driving route: 3 hours
Leave via the M5 tollway, connecting to Hume Highway 31.
Turn off after Goulburn on to the Federal Highway

From Melbourne

Direct driving route: 7 hours
Follow the City Link tollway to the western ring road, connecting to the Hume Highway.
Near Yass, take the Barton Highway turn off to Canberra.

From Adelaide

Direct driving route: 12 hours
Take the South Eastern freeway towards the Mallee Highway and Sturt Highway.
At Yass, take the Barton Highway turn off to Canberra.

From Brisbane

Direct driving route: 16 hours
Follow the Pacific Highway south to Sydney then take the Hume Highway to Goulburn, turning on to the Federal Highway to Canberra.

HIRE CARS

DRIVING

Canberra is designed to follow the contours of the land with many roundabouts, that are easy to negotiate and keep traffic flowing smoothly. Parking is simple, with voucher or meter parking in the city centre and the larger shopping centres. Parking is free at most tourist attractions. Service stations are generally not found on main roads. Look for signs to shopping centres for petrol or groceries.

BUS

Canberra’s public bus service, ACTION Buses, covers the major sights and most suburbs. Pick up a bus map and timetable from bus interchanges in the city, Belconnen, Woden and Tuggeranong or visit action.act.gov.au

CABS

Canberra Cabs will take you anywhere you want to go. It is best to ring for a cab or wait for one at a cab rank. Credit cards and EFTPOS are accepted. Phone 13 22 27

CYCLING

Canberra has a great network of on and off road cycle paths, many running past national attractions or through beautiful parks and bushland. Roller bladers and walkers also enjoy these great facilities. Hire bikes from Mr Spokes Bike Hire in Acton, or roller blades from Adrenalin Sports in the city. Buy a "Canberra and Queanbeyan Cycling and Walkway Map" from a newsagent, book store, or at the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre.

ACTION has recently installed bike racks on all their 300 series bus routes giving cyclists greater freedom to explore the city and surrounding region.

BOAT

There’s no better way to experience Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin than by boat. Many cruises are available, or test your legs on a paddle boat from Lake Burley Griffin Boat Hire.

Back to top