Canberra and the Sapphire Coast
On this five-day road trip filled with culture, wildlife, and outdoor adventure, you will get to see the sites of the city, soak up the sun, and hit the surf.
Authored by the VisitCanberra team.
Spending a few days seeing the finest that the Australian capital has to offer is a great way to get a real balance of culture, art, nature, and physical activity.
The city of Canberra is a veritable paradise for foodies, and its restaurants are consistently recognized for their excellence. Spend the night in close proximity to exotic creatures and see Canberra’s many areas as you make your way around the zoo.
After that, make your way to the south shore, which is less than two hours away by car. You may engage in polite conversation with the welcoming inhabitants while also discovering a natural splendor made up of parks and beaches here.
Your vacation should end with a whale watching excursion in the natural habitat of these magnificent beasts, the ocean.
DAY 1: DISCOVER CANBERRA’S CULTURE
Lake Burley Griffin is the ideal location from which to launch your adventures in the Australian capital of Canberra. You may either bike, stroll, or use an e-scooter to circumnavigate it, gaze at it from above in a hot air balloon, or spend a bit more time to rest on a floating GoBoat.
No matter what you decide to do, you should make it a point to see it from a variety of perspectives and take use of the numerous Australian national sites that are scattered along the coast. Make a pit stop for a cup of coffee close to Regatta Point.
You will come across the National Gallery of Australia and its stunning outdoor Sculpture Garden as you make your way around the lake as part of your tour around the lake.
The Sculpture Garden has an extensive exhibition of the Gallery’s collection. The design has a total of 26 sculptures that were created by both Australian and foreign artists.
Keep an eye out for the fog sculpture that was created by Fujiko Nakaya as well as the Pukumani burial poles that are located nearby. Angel of the North, a life-sized maquette created by Antony Gormley, with its back to the lake.
Lunch may be had at Bookplate, which is located in the National Library of Australia, which exudes an air of sophistication.
You may choose to take in the scenery while sitting outside on the balcony on a nice day, or you can remain inside and watch the sun shine through the stained-glass windows.
Breakfast is offered till late in the evening, so if you’re someone who enjoys eating it, you’re in luck. Or, for something a little more traditional, how about some fish and chips with a glass of Eden Road Sauvignon Blanc?
A second of Canberra’s lakefront cultural attractions, the National Museum of Australia, may be reached by crossing the Commonwealth Avenue bridge in the other direction.
You will get the opportunity to become familiar with some of the most important and fascinating artifacts from Australian history while you are here.
After approximately ten minutes of driving, you will reach the opulent Jamala Wildlife Lodge, where you may call it a day.
You will spend the night at the National Zoo & Aquarium in a lodge that will be shared with some of the most magnificent creatures in the world.
Your stay will provide you with a memorable experience thanks to the inclusion of an animal encounter in the afternoon, cocktails before dinner, and a delectable meal.
Best advice
Because trips in hot air balloons in Canberra are reliant on the weather, you should get up early and be prepared for an update on your flight.
DAY 2: BRADDON AND NEWACTON
After a leisurely breakfast in your hotel with your zoo buddies near by, go on a morning safari experience, and then travel for a few minutes to the National Arboretum Canberra for breathtaking views over the 250-hectare expanse and beyond.
Spend some time exploring the trails on foot, or go on a tour with a knowledgeable guide. It is also recommended that you have a peek at the gift store and the bonsai garden.
After arriving back in the city, make your way to the lively Braddon area in search of lunch. You may have a wonderful time and some excellent seasonal cuisine at Tipsy Bull, which also has an outstanding gin collection.
Eightytwenty is the place to go for healthful, exquisite foods and fantastic coffee.
It’s time to treat yourself to some shopping therapy. You may get to the Canberra Centre in the heart of the city center by either driving there or walking the few minutes it takes to get there.
The Canberra Centre is home to specialty businesses such as sass & bide and Mecca Maxima. At KingPin, you may enjoy a fun-filled day bowling, gambling, or challenging yourself in an escape room.
When you are completely spent, make your way to NewActon in the car and check in at the opulent and welcoming QT Canberra.
Put on your finest attire and make your way over to the Kendell Lane location of Parlour Wine Room for an extravagant drink or two in one of their cozy couches.
You may walk, drive, or take a cab into the city to dine in extremely chic surroundings at Raku.
The chefs, who are influenced by Japanese cuisine, create edible works of art, including dishes of sashimi, nigiri, and maki rolls, as well as flavors that are flame-grilled. Intimate booths, textured ceramics, and low lighting all combine to create a cozy atmosphere.
Now that our stomachs are satisfied, it is time to make our way back to the QT Canberra.
DAY 3: CANBERRA TO EUROBODALLA COAST
If you are someone who is up and about early in the morning, you should contact Balloon Aloft about booking a magnificent hot air balloon ride above the nation’s capital.
Return to the QT for breakfast at the Capitol Bar & Grill, then take a stroll across to Mocan and Green Grout for a sophisticated cup of coffee and a crossword puzzle.
Take a leisurely ride through NewActon by obtaining a bicycle from the Share a Bike staff (all you have to do is scan your credit card before you set off) You may even go a little farther by walking over the pedestrian bridge and entering Commonwealth Park, which is where Floriade is held each year.
After you have returned your bike, go on over to the Peppers Gallery Hotel’s Bicicletta restaurant for an authentic Italian meal with homemade pizzas, fresh pasta, and antipasti.
Are you hearing the siren call of the beach? Start your drive from Canberra in the direction of Bungendore, and then continue on to the coast.
The Eurobodalla area is located on the south coast of New South Wales, and you will be there in less than two hours. Take in the fresh scent of the ocean and the warm rays of the sun.
Take a right at the roundabout and go in the direction of Batemans Bay. On the way, stop at the Wray Street Oyster Shed and pick up a dozen or two of their freshly shucked oysters.
After there, continue for another ten minutes till you reach the quaint village of Mogo. Stroll through the stores, get some ice cream, and introduce yourself to the residents.
Get back in the vehicle and head in the direction of Narooma, which is a town on the coast. Stop by Bodalla Dairy Shed on the way there and enjoy some of their award-winning cheeses, as well as the opportunity to pet young calves and alpacas, if you’re not in the mood for any of those activities.
As soon as you get to Narooma, make your way to the Whale Inn for supper to take advantage of its high setting and ever-changing cuisine, which always include fresh food from their so-called “whale garden.”
If you book a room at the contemporary Southbound Escapes at the Wharf, you may take in the breathtaking scenery of the Wagonga Inlet.
Fun fact
The Bodalla Dairy Shed churns its own ice cream from scratch, creating flavors that are both fresh and creamy, and the ice cream may be sampled on the spot or purchased to take home.
TRANSITION FROM THE EUROBODALLA COAST TO THE SAPPHIRE COAST ON THE FOURTH DAY
After an energizing swim at the beach early in the morning, make your way into Narooma to have a delicious breakfast at the breathtaking The View Coffee. This treasure is loaded with personality and flavor in spades.
Take a cruise from Narooma that will take you to Montague Island, where you can view the ancient lighthouse and then swim or dive with the friendly seals.
Montague Island is located approximately nine kilometers (5.5 miles) from Narooma, but visitors must take a private charter boat to get there.
The local Aboriginal population refers to the island as Barunguba, and throughout the course of thousands of years, it has served as both a location for religious rituals and a source of sustenance for those people.
Even though these animals spend the most of their time at sea, you should keep an eye out for the enormous colony of fur seals and the small penguins.
You may be really fortunate and see humpback whales, dolphins, or even a green turtle if you’re in the right place at the right time.
Once you have returned to the mainland, take a drive of approximately twenty minutes in the direction of the Tilba Valley.
After some boutique shopping, stop for a traditional Ploughman’s lunch at the Tilba Valley Winery & Ale House, which is a family-run winery located at the foothills of Mount Gulaga on the shores of Corunna Lake.
Get back in the car and drive about an hour in the direction of Bega. Along the way, make a stop at the Stony Creek Farm distillery.
Here, you can sample the heavenly gins produced by North of Eden, or you can even participate in Gin School and learn how to distill ingredients into a bottle of gin that is uniquely yours to take home.
Purchase some essentials for a basic meal in Bega, and then go to Mimosa Rocks National Park, where you will spend the night in the ancient Myer House.
Because to its private and self-contained setting, you will be able to thoroughly unwind while taking in the view of Bithry Inlet.
EXPLORE THE SAPPHIRE COAST ON THE FIFTH DAY
Wake up to the sounds of the birds and go for a stroll around the local eucalypt plantation; alternatively, you might drive to the Middle Lagoon Walking trail for a more relaxed hike.
An fantastic opportunity to see whales awaits you in Merimbula, which is just a quarter of an hour’s drive away from where you now are.
Large numbers of humpback whales may be seen traveling through Merimbula beginning in the middle of August and continuing through the month of November.
These waters are one of the very few areas in the world where it is possible to see humpback whales feeding in a lateral lunge position. Merimbula Marina Ocean Adventure Tours invites you to book a tour with them.
Wheelers Seafood Restaurant in Pambula is the place to go for a delectable seafood lunch after you’ve spent the morning taking pictures of whales and dolphins. You may even have a refreshing drink while relaxing in the oyster bar’s outside seating area.
You may go swimming or paddling at Barmouth Beach, which is located in the most northern part of Ben Boyd National Park and is located at around nine kilometers (5.5 miles) south of Pambula.
Walk to the Haycock Point headland, which is located three kilometers (1.8 miles) away, to continue your hunt for whales or to take in the view of the horizon.
Spend the latter part of your day in the garden of Eden. Visit the Killer Whale Museum to learn about the history of Indigenous peoples’ usage of shore-based whaling and to view the whole skeleton of “Tom,” an orca whale.
Discover the bustling harbor at Snug Cove, where fisherman dump their catches for the day and where Mount Imlay may be seen in the distance.
Topic: Canberra and the Sapphire Coast
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I am arguably the most popular Australian writer of all time. I am from the town of Karrinyup in rural Western Australia. When I was young, I was fascinated by the unique landscape of Australia, and I decided to support himself by writing books about the Australian landscape.
