Some of Australia’s best driving roads can be found right on Canberra’s doorstep and they are the kinds of roads we went looking for on this great drive - here's how to get there!
Drive screens on Channel 9 at 12.30 pm each Saturday. The full episode will be available to video on 9Now after it airs.
Our drive started in Manuka, one of Canberra’s prettiest inner suburbs. From there, we headed out of town skirting around the edge of Canberra City past The Lodge and down Adelaide Avenue. From Adelaide Avenue, we joined Cotter Road and headed out of town.
Driving toward Stromlo on Cotter Road, you skirt around the suburbs of Curtin, Holder, Wright and Duffy before leaving Canberra behind completely and heading into the hills. Follow Cotter Road, out through Stromlo and our first stop at the Old Cotter Dam.
You’ll find excellent camping facilities, restrooms, and picnic areas in the shadow of the new dam wall, with plenty of history that details the local area, the indigenous landowners and the building of the dam from its inception
Leaving Cotter Dam, our next stop is the fantastic Brindabella Road and it’s winding corners into the forest. Not long after you leave the dam parking lot, you’ll turn right onto Brindabella Road and climb up to the top of the ridgeline.
Make time to stop and enjoy the view. Brindabella Road continues down through Uriarra Village where you’ll get to a T-junction. Turn left and keep driving until you reach the end of the bitumen. After that, it’s into the National Park and SUVs only – especially if it’s been raining.
The best bit about turning back, is getting to enjoy the same roads you came in on. That’s what we did on the run back to Cotter Road. Next stop – the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.
Leaving Brindabella road, turn left back onto Cotter Road, where you will quickly join onto Paddy’s River Road, and experience some of the best driving of the route. Twisting, picturesque country roads, with very little traffic on them, especially during the week.
The Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex is a short run along Discovery Drive, after turning left off Paddy’s River Road. It was preparing to reopen to tourists after the Covid-19 lockdowns and is absolutely worth the visit if you’re touring around the ACT. Allow a few hours to look at the exhibits and watch some of the amazing documentaries that detail the centre’s importance to historical and current space activity.
Once you’ve finished up at the Communications Complex, you will turn left back onto Paddy’s River Road (which quickly becomes Tidbinbilla Road), and head for Tharwa and the end of our drive in Tennent. Passing through Tharwa, Tidbinbilla Road becomes Naas Road.
There’s plenty to see, too, Gibraltar Peak, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, and Lambrigg’s Lookout among the highlights. And, the best part of our drive, is the short, 42km run back into the centre of Canberra.
The whole run should take about half a day behind the wheel, with time allowed for stops at the dam and tracking station.
The route is fun and suitable for any car.
Google maps link for this route (From Canberra)
-