Five towns near Canberra you should road trip to this weekend

Canberra was dubbed “a good sheep paddock ruined” back in the early 1900s when the area was earmarked to become Australia’s capital. But the fact Canberra was developed from nothing in a rural area means you don’t need to travel far to escape the city and explore some of the area’s history, natural beauty and gastronomic scene.

While this Weekend Drives article lists five towns to road trip to, there are many more in each pocket of the country which we encourage you to visit also. Think of this as your starting point. The devastating bushfires have affected many regional towns across the country so there has never been a more important reason to pack the car with mates and an empty esky and visit the towns around your region to support local and in many cases, family businesses.

It’s only a 40 minute drive north to the Yass Valley where you’ll find Murrumbateman on the Barton Highway. The town is a relic of gold mining days so check out the old buildings, or stop for the honey, mead and a produce platter at Win’s Creek Meadery. But it’s the 20 or so wineries that surround Murrumbateman that are the area’s drawcard and makes it the heart of the Canberra District wine region. Helm Wines has a tasting room in a historic 1888 schoolhouse; Clonakilla is a must for fans of handcrafted specialty wines and Four Winds Vineyard has wood-fired pizza as well as wines.

Bungendore dates back to the 1830s and a stroll through the streets uncovers gorgeous historic buildings such as the railway station, Bungendore Inn and post office. Visit the impressive Wood Works Gallery featuring artistically hewn homeware and furniture, browse for antiques at Village Antiques or stock up at the farmers’ market every Saturday morning. There’s wine tasting and a restaurant at Lark Hill winery, a French-style cooking school and bistro at Le Tres Bon, and black truffle hunts at Turalla Truffles. And all only 40 minutes east of Canberra.

Not far north of the capital is Gundaroo, a village for which the cliché “frozen in time” could have been invented. Okay, the historic police station stables are now the Cork Street Cafe with yummy pizzas in a rustic setting and the Royal Hotel has the menu of a 21st century gastro pub showcasing local produce and the best regional wines. But you don’t have to look far for wattle-and-daub buildings from more than a century ago. Head out of town to find wineries such as Tallagandra Hill that offers tastings, cheese platters and cottage accommodation.

This bustling outpost on the way east to NSW’s south coast has plenty to offer, including a farmer’s market twice monthly on Saturdays in the main street’s National Theatre. Braidwood is a colonial showpiece with antique stores, shady verandas and some interesting gold rush history at its museum. Taste and shop for local produce and cider at The Old Cheese Factory and check out the many galleries operated by local artisans including painters, potters and metal-workers.

For a taste of Canberra’s wild side head west towards Tumut. A fair swathe of the Brindabella Road is unsealed and needs some commitment, but okay for cars and SUVs in fine weather, and the forests are astounding. Tumut’s placement in the Snowy Mountains means bushwalking, fishing and camping are natural outdoor activities or check out Tumut River Brewing for a crafted beer and a top feed. For the more culturally minded, there’s the 5 Ways craft gallery or gardeners will love Tumut Valley Violets with hundreds of flowering plants and the opportunity of a Devonshire tea in garden surrounds.

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