Favourite country outing?

central cafe at queanbeyan, walk dog by river – bliss…

Checking out the dams is kinda fun too. Cotter, obviously, but Corin and Googong are also within easy reach. As an added bonus, they’ve even got water in them now! If going to Corin you can check out Tidbinbilla Tracking Station on your way.

Lunch at Grazing in Gundaroo would be a nice way to ease yourself into pleasant day trips.

You could head out past Eaglehawk and back through Murrumbateman, or just explore your way back to Canberra. Actually, why not head straight out on Mulligans Flat Rd, which then becomes Gundaroo Rd. Although I’m not sure if it is sealed (if that bothers you).

Do you enjoy wine?

There are stacks of vineyards in the region, some with really nice food.

It needs renaming batemansgey ! mate give it the swerve at all costs. If you want to give the coast a go anywhere from tilba down to Eden is a good start . as another poster has said also around Yarrangobilly the caves and springs are gold and the best bit is you won’t find public servants there wearing socks with sandles like batemansgey.

KB1971 said :

Do you have an AWD or 4WD?

Fantastic drive, a lot of great features along the way and easy to have a break in Cooma, then either return to Canberra via Monaro or head further south.

No need for AWD or 4×4, 2×2 does it fine… although do exercise caution. Any beverages in the centre console, lid or no lid, will defy gravity on some of the rougher parts.

farnarkler said :

Can’t beat a run up the Hume to Bowral/Berrima/Fitzroy Falls and Kangaroo Valley.

Indeed. A pint and a meal in an old pub, just wonderful.

Here’s a recommendation for this coming Sunday if you want to go a little further to beautiful, picturesque Jamberoo: http://www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au/page/FolkintheFoothills/

And a mere five days later, Kangaroo Valley will explode into music, dance and song for their annual festival: http://www.kangaroovalleyfolkfestival.com.au/

Both are cheap as chips and a guaranteed good time. With the latter, there’s the added bonus of getting out of Dodge City for election weekend.

Madam Cholet said :

Don’t do Batemans Bay. Please.

Seconded. Batemans itself is to be avoided at all costs.

Less, not LEDs, missed the Ipod auto correct….

Do you have an AWD or 4WD?

Bobyan road to Adaminaby is a great drive, LEDs than 80km from Lanyon. It has some walks & huts to visit on the way which are close to the roads edge. You will have to keep the dog in the car in Namadgi though. You can have a feed at the Snowgoose once you get there. There are no art galleries but you can slip over to Old Adaminaby for a walk along the shores of lake Eucumbene which is 7 times larger than Sydney harbour when it is full.

Another spot is Jindabyne but it is just under 200km from Canberra, there is the lake, a bunch of great restaurants & cafes, a couple of art galleries & a pleasant atmosphere. There is the trout farm and the Wild Brumby distillery just out of town. Easy drive too.

Bredbo has the Christmas shop & a pretty good pizza shop.

Cooma has the Alpine Hotel but is mainly a supply hub for the Monaro so is not that touristy or artsy fartsy.

Some nice places to have a picnic, Brindabella, anywhere in the Cotter/Tidbinbilla areas, Corin, Honesuckle Creek, Orroral Valley. All within the boundaries of the ACT.

There are many more, you just have to get out there.

I accidentally Momentarily visited Cobargo due to a son who threw up exactly as I should have been looking out for the Canberra turn off on the way back from the Sapphire Coast. It looked really pretty and I would love to have stopped but unfortunaly couldn’t at that time. It looked like a well kept secret.

Other than that would recommend that section of coastline. Don’t do Batemans Bay. Please.

Can’t beat a run up the Hume to Bowral/Berrima/Fitzroy Falls and Kangaroo Valley.

Hmmm…country town, pub, pies, dog walking by a river….

Take the back road to Wee Jasper. It’s a couple of hours of really pleasant driving, although there is a fair stretch on good quality dirt roads. There’s a nice pub at WJ that is worth a visit.

Then turn left after WJ and head up the Goodradigbee river. There are several beautiful and peaceful camping and picnic sites scattered along the river, which is itself absolutely crystal clear. It really is a terrific spot.

I used to go camping and fishing there with my Dad back in the 70’s, and they are some of my fondest memories. I took the kids up there for a day trip in the January school holidays, and they loved it.

poetix said :

Why not the beach? Through Braidwood, stopping for a quiche (or whatever, if you’re meaty) and down the mountain to Batemans Bay and all the lovely hidden beaches? Dogs are allowed off lead at South Durras Beach, about 15km north of Batemans Bay. No dogs at Cookies Beach or North Durras.

Or you could stop at Nelligen, but nothing beats the beach!

Or past Braidwood via Araluen, rustic-sized steak sandwiches with home-made pickle at the Araluen pub, quick game of pool, chat with one of the, er, much-intermarried Wisbys, then down to the beach at Moruya.

Why not the beach? Through Braidwood, stopping for a quiche (or whatever, if you’re meaty) and down the mountain to Batemans Bay and all the lovely hidden beaches? Dogs are allowed off lead at South Durras Beach, about 15km north of Batemans Bay. No dogs at Cookies Beach or North Durras.

Or you could stop at Nelligen, but nothing beats the beach!

Day trip to the caves and the pub at Wee Jasper in the same direction as Yass – find the route through Rupert Murdoch’s property “Cavan” – it’s a spectacular classic landscape, and the stock route passes straight through Cavan, so they are only allowed cattle grids and not gates. You turn left off the Barton Highway only a few kilometres out of Canberra. Cavan is only marked at the other end, so you won’t know when you’re on the property (other than by the spectacular condition of the stock). The dirt roads through that area are amazing – in a couple of places the road has to narrow so you can drive between huge gum trees.

Braidwood has the best lolly shop in the region, some nice galleries, and some pretty fine pies.

See if you can find a small booklet called ‘Canberra region car tours’ by Graeme Barrow. The ANU printed it in 81.

Another good one is ‘Undiscovered Canberra’ by Allan J Mortock and Bernice Anderson. The ANU printed it in 78. I picked up both of these at Jamo trash n trerasure, for a buck each. Best things I’ve ever dragged home.

Is it just you and the dog, or are we talking family friendly outings? Are you located to the north or south?

Anyway, hope the info below helps a bit:

If you like liquorice and/or chocolate,go to the liq and choc factory at Junee (about 200 kms away – slightly under your minimum) – definitely worth it! see http://www.greengroveorganics.com.au

I just have to add the Yass pub. If you live on the southside as I do, going to Yass is pretty much considered a ‘day trip to a country town’. My old Dad swears by it – large servings of good quality, reasonably priced pub grub, with beer! What more could you ask for?!