Kings Highway: route guide

The Kings Highway runs east from the edge of Canberra at Fyshwick and Symonston, leaves the Australian Capital Territory near Queanbeyan, and crosses into New South Wales. It heads northeast through Bungendore and Doughboy, then turns southeast over the crest of the Great Dividing Range to Braidwood.

From Braidwood the road climbs and drops over Clyde Mountain, running between Budawang National Park to the north and Monga National Park and Clyde River National Park to the south. It crosses the Clyde River at Nelligen, then descends to the coast and meets the Princes Highway (A1) at Batemans Bay.

The highway is numbered B52, but the first few kilometres inside Canberra are signed as Hindmarsh Avenue and Canberra Avenue, not B52. Drivers heading west towards Canberra often miss the turn because of this.

The table below lists the main settlements in order. Distances and driving times are approximate and marked check; the whole route is about 140 km, so treat the segment figures as rough planning numbers rather than measured values.

Summer is the busiest period, when Canberrans head to the coast for water activities, and the road can become very slippery in rain. Take extra care on the bends in wet weather.

Conditions over the Great Dividing Range around Braidwood and Clyde Mountain can change quickly; check road status before travelling if snow or ice is forecast (check).

If you want lighter traffic, aim for a weekday outside school holidays (check).

Braidwood is the most practical overnight stop if you want to break the drive before Clyde Mountain, with motels, pubs with rooms and guesthouses (check), and it puts you close to the mountain for an early start.

Batemans Bay at the eastern end has the widest choice, from motels and holiday parks to apartments near the water (check), and works well as a base for the coast. Bungendore and Nelligen have smaller options; Nelligen is quiet and close to the river (check).

Book ahead in summer and on long weekends, when coastal accommodation fills quickly (check).

This is a self-drive route for most travellers. You need a car and time to take the bends slowly; fuel up before Braidwood, where the next stretch over the mountain has no services (check). If you cannot or do not want to drive, Murray's runs a daily express coach between Canberra and Narooma that stops at Queanbeyan, Bungendore, Braidwood and Nelligen; the eastbound coach leaves Canberra in the morning and reaches Batemans Bay before continuing.

Carry water and food, especially if you plan to stop between towns. Mobile coverage can be patchy in the national park sections around Clyde Mountain (check).

Drive to the conditions, not to the traffic around you. Stick to the speed limit and advisory speeds, and avoid overtaking on the Clyde Mountain descent unless it is clearly safe.