Bring back the Sunday drive
If you are not ready to travel again as yet, then a weekend road trip maybe? Here are my top 5 short drive destinations from Canberra!
Temora warbirds:
Get your Top Gun thrills at the Temora Warbirds display and flying days. The museum’s air shows are legendary and happen several times a year (next flying day is in September). The aircraft from the museum put on a thrilling show with entertainment that will appeal to just about everyone.
But if planes don’t do it for you then how about historic trains? Try out the Temora Railway Museum. The buildings date back to 1892, and there is a Railyard Walk which has some interesting exhibits.
If you have some time to spare, take a drive to Barmedman Mineral Pool. It’s on a four-hectare reserve and is said to have healing properties because of the pool’s high mineral content. It’s less than half an hour from Temora. This is a great day for the whole family!
The alpine adventure trail!
With colder days approaching, it is a great day trip for the whole family to the snow. You’ll have the choice of either Thredbo or Perisher resorts to play at as unfortunately, Mt Selwyn was badly impacted by the recent bush fires.
It takes about 2 ½ hours from Canberra to the snowfields passing through the historic town of Cooma. If you are a garden lover, a friend of mine suggested a side tour to the Tableland Tree & Shrub to entice your green thumb!
Another good side trip is to the Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool to walk and enjoy a swim in the spring-fed natural pool. It's easily combined with a picnic, bushwalk or cave tour in the Yarrangobilly area of Kosciuszko National Park.
Discover the Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery just outside of Jindabyne, pick your own berries and enjoy a homemade German meal while sipping a schnapps!
Canberra’s wine regions:
Great for a full day trip within a 45-minute drive from the city centre. The region primarily focusses on grape varietals like Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Merlot, Shiraz and Tempranillo. Lerida Estate (87 The Vineyards Rd, Collector 2581) should be at the top of the list for any wine tour. Get your hands on a bottle of their pinot noir rosé that has sweet wild strawberries on the nose and a moreish savoury finish. If you are a red drinker like me, you will find your spiritual home at Clonakilla Vineyard (3 Crisps Ln, Murrumbateman 2582) and for whites at the Long Rail Gully Wines (161 Long Rail Gully Road, Murrumbateman NSW 2582) to name but a few. And for food lovers, make a detour to Gundaroo for the best handmade oven pizza around at the Cork Street Café. Or if you want something fancier, check out the award winning Grazing Restaurant just a bit further down the road!
Explore the Tablelands:
The inland areas on the outskirts of the ACT are known as the Tablelands. It’s here that you’ll find charming country towns (all with excellent country bakeries and cafes) that make you long to become a seachanger, ditching the big smoke for fresh, farm-to-table produce, award-winning wineries and enough unique outdoor experiences to make you say “Blue Mountains, who?” Head west to discover the Yass Valley, which is rich in cultural heritage, colonial-style buildings and the colourful annual Irish Folk festival (September). For food lovers, you must check out the Clementine Restaurant (104 Meehan St, Yass NSW 2582). If you fancy driving through wine country, head east through Queanbeyan to visit the historic towns of Bungendore and Braidwood to find antique stores, galleries and classic old-school pubs. Head north and you’ll find the Upper Lachlan region known for the remarkable Wombeyan Caves, which are estimated to be between 400 and 430 million years old. Just west of there, you’ll find the Hilltops region, which is known for its wine and local produce (think pick-your-own experiences and farm gate exploring) as well as events such as the National Cherry Festival.
Sapphire seas on the South Coast
Many of you here will agree with me on just how spoilt we are as Canberrans. We have easy access to the wonders of New South Wales’ South Coast, which boast emerald hills, sapphire seas, uncrowded beaches, epic national parks and several little seaside towns. My favourite route is through the Bundawang Ranges where you can make a side trip to pick your own chestnuts at the Sassafras Chestnut Farm. And if you are a bush walker like me, visiting the Bundawang National Park is an unforgettable experience. This trail will have you scrambling up mountains, searching for hidden waterfalls and picnicking inside caves.
From here you head further south to find the unspoilt charms of the Sapphire Coast. Explore the beachside by foot before taking in the forests and mountains that hug the coastline.
And if you’re missing the right car for weekend drives, consider hiring one. What’s fit for your holidays elsewhere is equally doable when you’re in your home country (or state!). It’s all part of what I do as your travel advisor.