Southern Highlands, Canberra & Snowy Mountains
A summer route from English-style highlands to capital museums, ending with a climb up Australia's highest peak
This route connects three distinct landscapes southwest of Sydney: highland towns, capital culture, and alpine trails. The pace starts relaxed and gets busier later. On the fifth day, the climb up Mount Kosciuszko is about 13 kilometers in total, but the path consists of metal raised walkways and gravel, making it moderately easy. The route ends at Canberra Airport, or you can return your car and take a coach back to Sydney. This itinerary is designed only for the snow-free season and does not include skiing.
The snow-free period for climbing the peak is roughly from December to April; chairlifts may close for maintenance in spring
Day by day
Day 1 · Sydney to Bowral
Southern Highlands（Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame、Corbett Gardens、Bowral Town Centre）
Drive along the M5 and Hume Highway for about 1.5 hours to Bowral, covering about 130 km
Stay: Bowral
Day 2 · Berrima Historic Village to Canberra
Southern Highlands（Berrima Village） → Canberra（Murrumbateman Wine Region、Braddon (Lonsdale Street)）
Drive 20 minutes from Bowral to Berrima, then continue along the Hume Highway to Canberra for about 2 hours
Stay: Civic
Day 3 · Parliament House & War Memorial
Canberra（Parliament House, Canberra、National Gallery of Australia、Australian War Memorial、Mount Ainslie Lookout）
Take short drives or public transport within the city; the Parliamentary Triangle is walkable for a full day of activities
The Australian War Memorial holds the Last Post Ceremony every afternoon
Stay: Civic
Day 4 · Tidbinbilla to Jindabyne
Canberra（Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve） → Kosciuszko & Thredbo（Lake Jindabyne）
Drive about 40 minutes to Tidbinbilla in the morning, then take the Monaro Highway via Cooma to Jindabyne, taking about 2.5 hours
There are few petrol stations between Cooma and the snowfields; refuel in Cooma or Jindabyne
Stay: Jindabyne
Day 5 · Chairlift to Mount Kosciuszko Summit
Kosciuszko & Thredbo（Thredbo Village & Resort、Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk）
Drive about 35 minutes from Jindabyne to Thredbo, take the chairlift up, and complete the return hike in about 5 hours
A national park vehicle pass is required; weather changes quickly on the mountain, so bring a windbreaker
Stay: Jindabyne
Day 6 · Charlotte Pass and Blue Lake
Kosciuszko & Thredbo（Charlotte Pass、Blue Lake、Perisher）
Drive about 50 minutes from Jindabyne to Charlotte Pass; the return hike to Blue Lake takes about half a day
Most facilities in Perisher are closed during summer, so treat it only as a transit point
Stay: Jindabyne
Day 7 · Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre to Canberra
Kosciuszko & Thredbo（Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre） → Canberra
Drive about 1 hour from Jindabyne to Cooma, then another 1 hour and 15 minutes to Canberra Airport