Leave Adelaide around 7:00 AM for the long but straightforward drive east along the Sturt Highway to Wagga Wagga, allowing roughly 7½–8 hours including stops. The route is mostly open country, so start with a full tank and download music or maps before leaving; mobile coverage can be patchy between larger towns. Plan a proper refuelling and coffee break around Mildura, or stop at one of the smaller Murray River towns for a leg stretch and takeaway lunch. Border and produce-check delays are usually minimal, but don’t carry fresh fruit or vegetables across the South Australia–Victoria border. Expect to reach Wagga around 4:00–5:00 PM, then check in and leave the car at your accommodation before heading out again.
Drive or take a short taxi/rideshare to the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens in Turvey Park for an easy one-hour walk. The themed plantings and rainforest gully are particularly welcome after a day in the car, and the grounds are generally open from early morning until dusk with free entry. Wear a warm layer in August—the gardens can feel chilly late in the day—and keep an eye on the closing light if you arrive closer to 5:00 PM. From here, central Wagga is about a 5–10-minute drive; parking is generally easier than in a capital city, though allow time to find a space around the civic precinct.
Spend about 45 minutes around the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, checking the program for an evening performance or simply wandering the surrounding cultural precinct before dinner. Performance times and ticket prices vary, so check the theatre’s current listings ahead of time; if there is no suitable show, the area still makes a pleasant brief stop. Finish at The Borough in central Wagga Wagga, a relaxed choice for modern Australian food and drinks. Allow around 1½ hours and budget approximately A$30–50 per person. Booking is sensible on performance nights, and after dinner your accommodation should be close enough for a short walk or inexpensive rideshare.
Leave Wagga Wagga around 7:30 AM for the drive to Canberra, following the Burley Griffin Way and Olympic Highway. Allow about three hours, with a short coffee or rest stop around Young if needed; the final approach into Canberra is easy, but central parking can take longer than expected on a weekday. Aim to arrive close to 10:30 AM and use the Australian War Memorial car park or nearby street parking in Campbell. Spend roughly 2½ hours moving through the galleries and commemorative spaces, finishing around the Last Post Ceremony area. Entry is free, though timed ceremony seating and special exhibitions may require advance booking.
From Campbell, drive or take a short taxi/rideshare trip toward Commonwealth Bridge, where a leisurely lakeside walk heads east toward the National Carillon. Allow about an hour for the path, photographs, and Canberra’s broad parliamentary-district views; winter skies can be sharp and beautiful, but bring a warm layer and expect wind beside the water. Parking is available near Commonwealth Bridge and around Regatta Point, although spaces fill during lunch hours.
Continue to the National Gallery of Australia in Parkes for about two hours. The permanent collection is generally free, while major exhibitions charge admission; check the gallery’s current closing time and exhibition bookings before setting out, and leave time for the Sculpture Garden if the weather is clear. From Parkes, allow 15–20 minutes by car to Pialligo Estate, where a relaxed farm-to-table lunch or early dinner among nurseries and gardens makes a good finish to the Canberra visit. Budget approximately A$35–60 per person and check kitchen hours, as the estate can close earlier than a city restaurant. If continuing all the way back to Adelaide, leave after the meal only if you have arranged an overnight stop and are properly rested: the Sturt Highway route takes roughly 10–11 hours without breaks, so confirm fuel, driver changes, and accommodation before departing.