driving from sydney to canberra

It’s a straight shot: about 285–300 km from Sydney to Canberra via the M31 Hume then M23/Federal Highway, usually 3–3.5 hours if you behave.

Leaving Sydney you’ll likely cop tolls on the M5/M8; after that it’s smooth, mostly 110 km/h tarmac and wide shoulders.

Stretch the legs at Goulburn (wave at the Big Merino), grab fuel or a coffee, and pretend you’re on a grand tour rather than a snack run.

Watch for highway patrol, roadworks, and roos at dawn/dusk, and you’ll roll into the capital fresh enough to debate policy over a flat white.