Getting to Canberra

Transport options for getting to Canberra are excellent. The city has an international airport, albeit with a limited range of international flights, which has good access with the city. Canberra is also fed by train from Sydney and Melbourne, and buses also come in from all over the region several times per day. The major Hume Highway provides access to Canberra from Sydney and Melbourne.

By car

Canberra lies 186 miles to the southwest of Sydney and about 400 miles northeast of Melbourne, and is best accessed by taking the Hume Highway from either city. If coming from Sydney, take the Federal Highway at Goulburn, while those coming from Melbourne should take the Barton Highway after Yass. Canberra is approximately 40 minutes drive from the turn-off. Driving in the city is straightforward, where there are wide boulevards and lots of parking.

By rail

CountryLink trains arrive in Canberra from Sydney (3 hours) and Melbourne (9 hours), the latter of which involves a bus/train combination. There are also several routes within the Australian Capital Territory (ATC). The main train station in Canberra is Kingston Train Station on Wentworth Avenue, and buses and taxis run from here to hotels and other destinations in the city. Trains are reliable and in good condition.

By bus

A cheaper option is to take the coach if coming from Sydney. Murray's Coaches run from Sydney to Canberra five times a day and there is also an express option which is 90 minutes quicker than regular coaches. The cost of the journey is very reasonable and there is even a cheaper option of you book two weeks in advance, although these seats are limited. Although not as comfortable as taking the train, buses do roll into the centre of Canberra whereas trains terminate farther out. Greyhound Pioneer also operates a regular service between Sydney and Canberra for similar prices. Similar services are available from Melbourne with the same companies.

By air

The quickest way to Canberra is obviously by air, and Canberra International Airport is well linked to the rest of the country with good connections with Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Alice Springs and other cities. Qantas Airlines and Virgin Blue are the main providers, with regular daily flights to and from these destinations. Getting to and from the airport is straightforward as it is just a few miles southeast of the city centre. A shuttle minibus runs to various hotels and the city centre, as do taxis.

Canberra International Airport

Canberra International Airport flies two million people per year between major cities throughout Australia, with the flying time from Sydney just 50 minutes; 1 hour from Melbourne and 2 hours from Brisbane. The airport features just one terminal which offers good facilities including a bureau de change, cash machines, gift shops, cafs and restaurants.

Canberra airport transportation

Central Canberra is only a few minutes from the airport and transportation options to the city and hotels are very good. Regular buses run to central Canberra every hour (weekdays), or you can take the airport's subsidised Airliner bus, which goes from outside the airport entrance. If you already have a hotel booked, you should enquire ahead with regards to pick-up services as several hotels offer free airport courtesy shuttle bus transfers. These include: City Backpackers, Novotel Hotel, Crown Plaza Canberra Hotel and the Waldorf Hotel.

In addition, taxis run to and from Canberra day and night from outside the terminal building and fares are quite reasonable. Taxis for disabled passengers can also be arranged in the Arrivals Hall, while limousines are also on-call at the airport. Chauffeured Cars and Limousines and CBD Transport are two long-standing limousine firms operating out of Canberra International Airport.