Anyone truly interested in learning more about the country of Australia should probably take a quick trip to Canberra, the country’s capital. Canberra is the city where the country ticks, government meetings and proceedings take place, and where history can be investigated. The destination is often the day excursion for school kids as there are a number of museums and learning centers in the area.
The distance, as the crow flies, from Sydney to Canberra is a short 250 kilometers, which translates into a possible day trip opportunity, but better made an overnight stay.
>> Plan your stay in Canberra with this list of things to do.
Getting from Sydney to Canberra by Plane
Flights from Sydney to Canberra are quick coming in at just a short 52 minutes. Direct flights operate from Sydney around 15 to 31 per day, depending on the day of the week, and can be completed on Qantas or Virgin Australia. For more information, have a look at this article on budget airlines that fly to Canberra, or have a search using the widgets below.
Quick search flights to Canberra (CBR) from Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL) and Brisbane (BNE):
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Getting from Sydney to Canberra by Train
Trains from Sydney to Canberra operate regularly. You can hop a train on CountryLink XPLORER from Sydney and arrive in Canberra around 4 hours and 20 minutes later. Fares in economy class run in the $57 range, but first class is also available. You can book a ticket on this route online, 24 hours a day.
Getting from Sydney to Canberra by Car
Driving from Sydney to Canberra is quite doable in just 3.5 hours along the Hume Highway. This route is 301 kilometers in length and passes through Goulbourn, the home of the Big Merino. Be sure to watch out for peak traffic hours, though, as the city of Canberra itself could become confusing to drive in during those times, especially because of all the roundabouts.
Getting from Sydney to Canberra by Bus
Buses from Sydney to Canberra also run regularly with Greyhound. Murrays Coaches is another option for completing the route, and direct buses run from the Sydney International Airport.