Greg

I am planning my first visit to Aus. with business obligations in Canberra. My thoughts are to fly to Syd, explore the city a couple of days and then drive to Canberra. I will also have a couple of days before returning to sydney airport.<BR>Having a car and a couple of days, any suggestions on must see spots while getting off the beaten path? I would also prefer enjoying a lodge or B and B.<BR>Thanks in advance.

john

Greg<BR>I would do a loop...go to canberra via blue mountains,cowra and maybe alpine way (From the upper murray).Then on the way back drop down to the south coast..batemans bay ,berry,jervis bay etc<BR>Lots of good B&B's to stay at along the way.<BR><BR>What time of year?<BR><BR>Get yourself a road map of southern new south wales.<BR>Check for b&b's in places like Mt Wison,Cowra,Khancoban,Berry,Jervis Bay <BR><BR>Stay at the classy canberra hotel on the south side of the lake.

greg

Travelling end of October

john

Greg<BR>there are a number of b&b sites...www.babs.com.au is one.<BR> I meant Mt Wilson in the blue mountains but blackheath or leura is good too. Do the walk to the blue gum forest in the Grose valley.<BR><BR>Visit Carcoar,Japanese gardens and wineries in cowra.<BR><BR>Climb Kosciosko from Thredbo on your way over the aussie alps.Will be great in october.<BR><BR>Its the hotel canberra (hyatt in canberra) pretty expensive by oz standards.<BR><BR>Find a cabin by the beach in Jervis bay..Hyams beach is my favourite

Jean

Brindabella Valley is the most beautiful place. Take a picnic lunch and sit beside the Goodradigbie River - or even camp. Oz as it should be.

Alan

Hi, Greg!<BR>If I were you I would drive to Canberra the "long way", by first heading from Sydney along the south coast road, which has a host of charming little towns that are at their best at the time of year you are coming. Buy a road map so that you can then go "off the beaten path" to a little town called Robertson. The town itself is just a town, but there's a night's accommodation there you will love: Ranalagh House. This large and imposing building, reminding one of nothing so much as Mandeley in "Rebecca", was built as a luxury retreat for the wealthy before the Depression (it even had its own railway station). When, in 1929, the wealthy all started to jump out of office windows, Ranalagh became, in turn, a convent (the stained glass windows and chapel are still there), and a TB sanatorium; now it's back to being a guest house again, and some of the suites (and make sure you get a suite, and not just a room) don't look like they've changed in the meantime. Nineteenth-century plumbing, but oh, that antique furniture! If the place is almost empty (check first to see if there is a convention staying there; if so, forget the whole thing), you will enjoy just wandering around. Good luck!