Queanbeyan

Queanbeyan is a city in New South Wales that could almost be considered a suburb of Canberra. It is a short 15 minute drive from Canberra.

Queanbeyan is 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.

• Queanbeyan Suspension Foot Bridge
• Queanbeyan Printing Museum, 20 Farrer Place, +61 2 6297 2541, +61 424 699 694. Sun 2pm-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 1960s. Free admission.
• Queanbeyan Art Society Gallery, 6 Trinculo Place, +61 2 6297 8181. Daily 10am-1pm. Showcases the talent of local and regional artists. Competitions, exhibits and art classes are regularly run. Free entry.

Queanbeyan Suspension Foot Bridge

Queanbeyan Printing Museum, 20 Farrer Place, +61 2 6297 2541, +61 424 699 694. Sun 2pm-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 1960s. Free admission.

Queanbeyan Art Society Gallery, 6 Trinculo Place, +61 2 6297 8181. Daily 10am-1pm. Showcases the talent of local and regional artists. Competitions, exhibits and art classes are regularly run. Free entry.

• Watch the Queanbeyan Whites Rugby team play at 'Campese Oval'. The Whites are the current title holders of the John I Dent ACT Rugby championship. The 2008 First Grade squad includes the electric Josh Hasting, dynamo flyhalf Johan Kevin and the prolific Henri Seavula. The Whites are renowned locally for expansive running rugby and are ably coached by New Zealander Glen Christina. Former players include Wallaby Great David Campese, Australia's highest paid player Matt Giteau, Scottish International Dave Muir and James Wark.

Watch the Queanbeyan Whites Rugby team play at 'Campese Oval'. The Whites are the current title holders of the John I Dent ACT Rugby championship. The 2008 First Grade squad includes the electric Josh Hasting, dynamo flyhalf Johan Kevin and the prolific Henri Seavula. The Whites are renowned locally for expansive running rugby and are ably coached by New Zealander Glen Christina. Former players include Wallaby Great David Campese, Australia's highest paid player Matt Giteau, Scottish International Dave Muir and James Wark.

• Southern Harvest Farmers Market, Crawford St. A weekly event every Thursday 3pm-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.
• Riverside Plaza, 131 Monaro St, +61 2 6299 2466. The main shopping centre in town.

Southern Harvest Farmers Market, Crawford St. A weekly event every Thursday 3pm-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.

Riverside Plaza, 131 Monaro St, +61 2 6299 2466. The main shopping centre in town.

• Turquoise Turkish, 72 Monaro St, +61 2 6297 0209. Mon-Sat 1am-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.
• Melita Food Bar and Coffee Lounge, 45 Monaro St, +61 2 6297 1071. Coffee with country-style cafe food and country town hospitality.
• Lime Leaves Thai Restaurant, 24 Lowe St, +61 2 6299 2000. Very busy and lively. Has a fireplace that crackles in the winter.

Turquoise Turkish, 72 Monaro St, +61 2 6297 0209. Mon-Sat 1am-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.

Melita Food Bar and Coffee Lounge, 45 Monaro St, +61 2 6297 1071. Coffee with country-style cafe food and country town hospitality.

Lime Leaves Thai Restaurant, 24 Lowe St, +61 2 6299 2000. Very busy and lively. Has a fireplace that crackles in the winter.

• 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.

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.

• 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.