Getting to and around Canberra - Travel information for ADSA 2010 

This document is designed to give you some travel options for your visit to Canberra - both for getting here, and for getting around while you are in town. 

Most of the information below is taken directly from a website that I found quite comprehensive – you may wish to go straight to the website. 

However, as a brief overview: Getting to Canberra is easy, whether you’re travelling internationally or locally. 

• Download this document as pdf file.

Flying

Fly into Canberra airport with Qantas, Virgin Blue, Tiger Air or Brindabella Airlines. 

International travellers should fly into one of the bigger cities (e.g. Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane), then take a connecting flight. Alternatively, if you fly into Sydney you can take a Murrays Coach to Canberra from Sydney International Airport. This connecting trip will take approx 2hrs 45mins. See info on coach travel below. 

Qantas

Qantas has regular flights to Canberra from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, 

Adelaide and Perth. Website www.qantas.com.au

Tiger Airways

Low budget airline. Does the Canberra-Melbourne route. www.tigerairways.com.au

Virgin Blue

Often has good deals, esp. if you check out their daily ‘happy hour’. Flights available from all  major cities and some smaller ones. www.virginblue.com.au

Brindabella Airlines 

Offers flights to Canberra from Albury, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and  

Brisbane. Brindabella is a Qantas affiliate airline (you can redeem Qantas frequent flyer points 

on their flights). www.brindabellaairlines.com.au

For information on Canberra airport go to http://www.canberraairport.com.au/ 

Airliner Shuttle

There is a shuttle bus from Canberra airport to the City centre, running every half hour. For  timetable information Ph +61 2 6299 3722 or go to http://www.airliner.com.au/

Trains and Bus/Coach

Train

CountryLink has two rail services from Sydney to Canberra, daily. There is also a daily service to Cootamundra that connects with the XPT train service to Melbourne. http://www.countrylink.info/

Murrays Coaches

Murrays offer approx 9 express services between Canberra and Sydney each day. 

Services between Canberra and Wollongong are available also. www.murrays.com.au

For international travellers who fly into Sydney and are looking for the most cost effective mode of transport, Murrays do offer a service from Sydney international airport to Canberra. This trip takes approximately 

2hrs 45mins. See the Murrays website for details. 

Coach travel between Canberra and Melbourne/Adelaide/Brisbane is possible, but not recommended. It’s a long trip from these places and flights are relatively affordable, especially if booked well in advance. 

Driving to Canberra

From Sydney

Driving direct route: 3.5 hours

Leave Sydney via the M5 tollway, connecting to the Hume Highway 31. Turn left after Goulburn on to the Federal Highway to Canberra. This route is a dual carriage freeway. 

From Melbourne

Driving direct route: 7.5-8hours

Follow the City Link tollway to the western ring road then join the Hume Highway. Near Yass, take the Barton Highway turn off to Canberra. This route is a dual carriage freeway. 

From Adelaide

Approx 14 hours

Take the South Eastern freeway towards the Mallee Highway and Sturt Highway. At Yass, take the Barton Highway turn off to Canberra. This route includes single carriage highway. 

Local Transport and Car Hire Options

ACTION Buses

Canberra’s public bus service, ACTION BUSES, will take you to all the major tourist destinations and suburbs. There are a range of ticket options available, including daily tickets and single trip tickets. You can purchase tickets from the bus driver as you board the bus, or from any ACTION ticket agent. For more information, call 13 17 10 or view ACTION’s printable routes and timetables online: http://www.action.act.gov.au

If you’re staying in the city and don’t want to walk to the conference (15 min walk), the number 3 bus runs between the City Interchange and the ANU Campus.

See: http://www.action.act.gov.au/Routes_25_May/Route_3.html

You can refer also refer to http://transport.anu.edu.au/index.php?pid=66

Unisafe bus

There is an on-campus shuttle bus available. See timetable and route map.

Explorer Bus – Canberra Day Tours

This is a Hop on Hop off service that visits most of Canberra’s tourist attractions. You can arrange for the Explorer bus to pick you up from your accommodation. Pre-purchase tix from the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, 330 Northbourne Avenue, Ph: 1300 554 114, or www.canberradaytours.com.au

Taxis

To catch a cab in Canberra, it’s best to phone ahead or wait at a taxi rank. Hailing cabs is not customary.

If you’re booking a cab to pick you up from the conference, avoid directing the driver to pick you up from the ANU Arts Centre (conference venue). If you do so, chances are they’ll drive to the Canberra School of Art, which is located elsewhere on campus. The best pick up spot/drop off point for taxis if you are coming to/leaving the conference, is Union Court, near the Student Union Building, off North Road. (This is close to the conference venue and cab drivers will know where it is). 

There are a number of cab ranks in the City, including one in the bus interchange (outside the Pancake Parlour) and one on Bunda street (near Gus’ café). 

Canberra Cabs

Phone 13 22 27 or SMS your name, pickup address and time to be collected to 0417 672 773

Cabxpress

Phone 6260 6011

Silver Service 

13 31 00

Premium service. They have 7 seater vans as well as regular cabs, and offer guaranteed delivery times for bookings. 

Car Hire Options

There are a number of car hire options. The best thing to do if you are planning on hiring a car, would be to look online at the “Visit Canberra” website. http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/Getting%20here%20and%20around/Vehicle%20hire.aspx 

Links to Maps

The following links may be helpful to you when trying to find your way around Canberra and the ANU Campus.

ANU Campus map: http://campusmap.anu.edu.au/default.asp?script=true

Canberra map: http://www.thisweekinaustralia.com/canberra-map.php

Visitor Information Centre

The Visitor Information Centre website is very helpful. Go to: http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/Visitor%20Info/Visitor%20Information%20Centre.aspx

Facts and Figures – for demographic and tourist info on Canberra the Nation’s Capital! http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/Visitor%20Info/Facts%20and%20figures.aspx

Enquiries about accommodation and travel to Bec Clifford: rebecca.clifford@anu.edu.au