Looking north-east along the Kings Highway (Monaro Street) in 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
• Queanbeyan Printing Museum, 20 Farrer Place, ☏ +61 2 6297 2541, +61 424 699 694, autosystem9@gmail.com. Su 2-4PM except public holiday weekends. The museum has preserved a collection of fully operational printing presses that were used in Queanbeyan from the 1870s to the 1960s. Free admission. (updated Feb 2018)
• Queanbeyan Art Society Gallery, 6 Trinculo Place, ☏ +61 2 6297 8181, rosanna.burston@gmail.com. Daily 10AM-1PM. Showcases the talent of local and regional artists. Competitions, exhibits and art classes are regularly run. Free. (updated Feb 2018)

Do

The entrance to the Queanbeyan War Memorial Swimming Pool

• 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.

Buy

• Southern Harvest Farmers Market, Crawford St, bungendore@southernharvest.org.au. A weekly event every Thursday 3-6PM. All of the produce on offer is locally grown or made. Raw produce includes vegetables, meat, fruit honey, dairy and eggs. Value-added produce ranges from olive oil to wine and preserves to cakes. (updated Feb 2018)
• Riverside Plaza, 131 Monaro St, ☏ +61 2 6299 2466. The main shopping centre in town. (updated Feb 2018)

Eat

• 1 Turquoise Turkish, 72 Monaro St, ☏ +61 2 6297 0209. M-Sa 1-9PM. The most authentic Turkish and Middle Eastern restaurant in the area. The pides, kebabs and meat platters are well spiced. Plentiful salads and vegetarian options too. (updated Feb 2018)
• Melita Food Bar and Coffee Lounge, 45 Monaro St, ☏ +61 2 6297 1071. Coffee with country-style cafe food and country town hospitality. (updated Feb 2018)
• Lime Leaves Thai Restaurant, 24 Lowe St, ☏ +61 2 6299 2000, info@limeleaves.com.au. Very busy and lively. Has a fireplace that crackles in the winter. (updated Feb 2018)

Drink

• Walsh's Hotel, 40-48 Monaro Street, ☏ +61 2 2 6297 1001. The oldest pub in Queanbeyan. It contains the town's biggest garden. There is regular live music playing. Pokers night and raffle events going on. Has accommodation too. (updated Feb 2018)

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.

• Crest Motor Inn, 60 Crawford St, ☏ +61 2 6297 1677. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Has the basic amenities (swimming pool Foxtel, tea and coffee). The building is a bit dated and could do with an upgrade. (updated Feb 2018)

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.