One-Way Car Hire Sydney to Canberra

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Imagine being able do rent a luxury car for $50-100 per day?

One of Australia’s most famous driving adventures is a one-way car rental trip from Sydney to Canberra. There are two ways to get to the nation’s capital:

  1. A stunning coastal drive along the eastern seaboard
  2. A spectacular drive through the heart of rural New South Wales.

Both of these routes highlight areas of incredible natural magnificence, as well as some very quaint and historic rural towns.

The 285-kilometre road trip from Sydney to Canberra takes around 3 hours and 10 minutes of non-stop driving. Stops include Bowral, Lake George, Royal National Park, Wollongong and Kiama, Batemans Bay and Jervis Bay, depending on your route.

It is just a small selection of the many beautiful landmarks and places of interest you can check out on this incredible journey. So, you’ll want to read on until the end to learn more about them.

Which Car Rental Company Offers One-Way Car Hire From Sydney to Canberra?

The following car hire companies have depots in Sydney and Canberra and offer one-way car hire.

  • Avis
  • Budget
  • Enterprise
  • Europcar
  • Hertz
  • National

How Long Will It Take to Drive From Sydney to Canberra?

The distance between Sydney and Canberra is 287 kilometres if you drive via the M31. The trip should take approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes, which is considered a reasonably short drive compared to other inter-city routes in Australia.

You can also choose to take the coastal route to Canberra. However, it is 387 kilometres and will take you over five hours to arrive.

Why Should You Choose a One-Way Car Hire From Sydney to Canberra?

Driving from Sydney to Canberra is a short trip. You can travel fast or make a day of it by extending the trip. If you decided to hire a car for a day, you would still have the opportunity to explore and see a few sites with the vehicle.

It also becomes very cost-effective if you travel with three or more people.

A Quick Comparison With Other Forms of Transportation?

We’ve provided a table below that will help you compare the value of each transportation mode.

Mode of TransportationTime DurationEstimated Price
Car Hire3 to 5 hours$161
By Air1 hour$258+
By Bus15 hours$38
By Train5 hours$130+

Suppose you’re travelling with four or five people. In that case, renting a car is a practical way for you to explore, experience and indulge in more on your journey.

What Can I See Along the Route?

Parliament house, Canberra, Australia

There are a few landmarks that you can visit when driving from Sydney to Canberra. You will need a car to get to those tourist spots since they can be between a one to 3-hour drive from Sydney, depending on the route you decide to take.

We suggest stopping at the following locations along the way:

Fitzroy Falls

Fitzroy Falls is a scenic village in Morton National Park (Southern Highlands), famous for its breathtaking waterfall that goes by the same name. Around Fitzroy Falls are a couple of thrilling bushwalking tracks through beautiful rainforests inhabited by myriad bird species.

Follow the short walking track from the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre along the creek to a lookout platform with stunning views of the waterfall and the Yarrunga Valley.

Carrington Falls

Carrington Falls is a gorgeous plunge waterfall on the Kangaroo River in Budderoo National Park, situated 150 kilometres south of Sydney.

A short and easy walking trail with viewing platforms offers visitors scenic views of the waterfall and the surrounding valley. Nearby Nellies Glen, on the other side of the river, is also worth visiting, with a picnic area and eclectic walking tracks with lookout points to troll.

Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk

The Illawarra Fly is one of the biggest lures in the Southern Highlands. It’s a place that brings the rainforest to life, presenting the opportunity to walk (or even zipline) above the treetops.

The series of metal walkways provide the unique opportunity to look down into the rainforest canopy, as well as the rolling hills of the Illawarra region to the ocean.

Even though you’ve hiked through quite a few rainforests, you can find the whole place fascinating. You’ll surely love learning more about the rainforest and resident wildlife, which can also amuse the kids.

The Don Bradman museum

The Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame is a 90-minute drive from Sydney, in the pretty rural town of Bowral. The museum is named after Sir Donald Bradman, a cricketing legend with the finest batting average in the sport’s history.

You’ll appreciate the stories, history and statistics about the game and the world’s most significant cricketing personalities from Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. Fascinating memorabilia, interactive touch screens and audiovisual presentations will provide hours of entertainment for sports fans from everywhere.

Bradman’s hometown of Bowral is in the Southern Highlands. It is a two-hour and 20-minute travel from Sydney to Bowral by train. The Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame are open daily, from 10 am to 5 pm, except Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Can’t wait to start your journey? Book your one-way vehicle hire with Car Hire and Rental today!

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Image credit: Image by helen35 from Pixabay

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