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A couple sit and take in a sunset at the National Arboretum.

Getting to Canberra

Canberra is the capital city of Australia, situated inland between the cities of Sydney and Melbourne. You can fly, drive, catch a bus, jump on a train to Canberra.

Fly to the capital

Canberra is less than two hours flying from eastern Australian cities making it perfect for short breaks and weekend getaways.

Daily domestic services are available to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne or fly direct from Adelaide, Hobart, and Newcastle with connecting flights to Ballina Byron, Port Macquarie, and the Gold Coast.

Accessing Australia’s capital from overseas is simpler than ever before. Fly from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Vancouver to Canberra with Fiji Airways. Enjoy a tropical stopover in Fiji, adding a touch of paradise to your journey, and revel in the convenience of direct flights connecting Nadi in Fiji to Canberra.

Batik Air, a member of the Lion Air Group of Indonesia, will commence direct flights between Bali and Canberra three times weekly from June 2024. The new service from Denpasar to Australia’s capital will connect travelers throughout south-east Asia to Canberra. 

Canberra Airport is serviced by Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar, Rex Airlines, Fly Pelican, Link Airways, Fiji Airways and Batik Air.

Drive to Canberra

Driving to Canberra is a breeze. Australia’s capital is a three hour drive from Sydney and eight hours from Melbourne. There are plenty of scenic route alternatives if you like to get off the beaten track and visit one of the many country towns along the way.

Jump on a train

Canberra has a picturesque direct rail service from Sydney. Departing from Sydney Central Station, the daily service travels to Canberra via the Southern Highlands, Goulburn and Bungendore. Terminating at the Canberra Railway Station in Kingston, the trip takes a leisurely four-and-a-half hours. Check timetables and book online through Transport NSW.

While there is no direct Canberra to Melbourne rail service, it’s possible to catch the train to Albury and then be transferred by coach. You can find timetables and booking information from Public Transport Victoria for Canberra to Melbourne (via Albury) route. Alternately, catch the Melbourne to Sydney train and transfer to the Canberra train from the Goulburn railway station.

Catch a bus, coach or hire a chauffeured car

Bus and coach services operate to and from Canberra from the Snowy Mountains, the South Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and beyond. See Murrays Coaches, Buses & LimousinesGreyhound Australia or Road Jet for routes, prices and timetables.