Queanbeyan

Queanbeyan is a city of 36,000 people (2016) in New South Wales that could almost be considered a suburb of Canberra. It is a short 15 minute drive from Canberra.

Understand
Queanbeyan is a convenient stopping point on the way to the Snowy Mountains on the Monaro Highway. It is also convenient to Canberra if you have a car. It is close to the airport, and free parking and motel accommodation is easy to come by.

There are some attractions in the town itself, and it certainly offers the full range of facilities and supplies.

There is a large tourism information centre in town, offering information on Queanbeyan, and wherever you may be heading to next.

Get in
Queanbeyan lies to the southeast of Canberra.

The Canberra to Sydney NSW TrainLink service stops at Queanbeyan 3 times daily in each direction.

By car, from Sydney or Melbourne follow the signs to Canberra, and then turn off to Queanbeyan shortly before arriving. Driving from Sydney it is not necessary to go through Canberra at all.

By plane, Canberra airport is as close to Queanbeyan (9 km) as it is to Canberra.

NSW Regional Trains connect Queanbeyan with Canberra and Sydney's Central Station. There is no direct rail link with Melbourne.

Murrays Coaches travel between Sydney and Canberra and can stop at Queanbeyan on the way.

Get around
Canberra's bus network does not extend into Queanbeyan.

QCity Transit bus service have buses to Canberra Civic and to Woden, at least every hour. You can interchange with the Canberra bus network at Civic. The ticketing system for ACTION buses in Canberra (MyWay) is not compatible with the one in use in Queanbeyan, and transfer fares are not available.

Queanbeyan has several dedicated mountain bike trails, making cycling a suitable option to explore the town and its natural surrounds.

See

 * Queanbeyan Suspension Foot Bridge

Do

 * Watch the Queanbeyan Whites Rugby team play at 'Campese Oval'.  Former players include Wallaby Great David Campese, Australia's highest paid player Matt Giteau, Scottish International Dave Muir and James Wark.

Sleep
A list of hotels in Queanbeyan is available on the local tourism website. Hotels in Queanbeyan are generally less expensive than those in Canberra.

Go next

 * You're a short drive away from the nation's capital Canberra.
 * Explore the rest of the Southern Highlands starting with the small town of Braidwood.