Canberra to Sydney backloading
The reverse of our busiest short-haul: Canberra back to Sydney on the Federal Highway. End-of-posting APS moves, graduating students, and anyone leaving the bush capital for the coast. Same-day transit, 3× weekly backloads, fixed price per m³ inc GST.
Real prices for this lane.
Indicative starting prices, GST + goods-in-transit insurance to $20k included. Final price locks when we confirm capacity.
| Home size | Volume | From | What fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 8 m³ | $760 | Bed, sofa, desk, ~10 boxes |
| 1-bed apt | 15 m³ | $1,425 | Queen bed, sofa, dining set, fridge, ~20 boxes |
| 2-bed home | 25 m³ | $2,375 | 2 bedrooms + lounge + dining + white goods |
| 3-bed home | 35 m³ | $3,325 | 3 bedrooms + study + full kitchen, ~50 boxes |
| 4-bed home | 50 m³ | $4,750 | Larger family home with multiple living areas |
Who moves on this lane.
End-of-posting: Canberra → Sydney
The classic Canberra-out move — an APS or Defence posting wraps up and it's back to Sydney. Think Kingston, Braddon or Barton apartments heading to the Inner West (Marrickville, Ashfield) or the North Shore. Usually 1-2 bed with an exact-date pickup tied to a lease end. Around $1,300-2,400, picked up AM and delivered to Sydney the same afternoon.
Graduate leaving the ANU bubble
ANU or UC finishes up and the graduate lands a first job in Sydney. Studio or shared-house loads out of Acton, Turner or Lyneham, 5-12m³, heading to Chippendale, Redfern or Zetland near the city. The $350 minimum applies, so pooling a housemate's boxes or picking flexible dates (±1 week for 10% off) makes the per-m³ maths work far better.
Tuggeranong / Gungahlin family → Western Sydney
Bigger household moves out of the Canberra suburbs — Gungahlin, Tuggeranong or Belconnen 3-bed homes heading to Penrith, Parramatta or the Hills. Often a full house with garage contents, ~$3,000-3,800. Wide Canberra streets make loading quick; we flag any tight Sydney-end access at quote.
Tips for Canberra to Sydney
- 01The route out of the ACT is the Federal Highway to Goulburn, then the Hume north into Sydney — 286km, roughly a 3-hour run with clear year-round conditions.
- 02Northbound into Sydney, aim your delivery window to dodge the M5/M7 afternoon peak (3-6pm). An AM Canberra pickup usually lands a comfortable early-arvo delivery.
- 03Canberra loads out fast — wide streets and good access at the ACT end — so book the earliest morning slot to make the most of same-day delivery in Sydney.
- 04If your posting or lease end date is locked, book 'exact date'; on a lane this short the urgency premium rarely pays off. If you've got even a few days' give, flexible dates knock 10% off automatically.
- 05This is a genuinely balanced lane, but Sydney pulls more return freight than Canberra sends — mid-week Canberra pickups (Tue/Wed) tend to have the most empty space heading north, so rates sit lowest.
Lane questions.
Anything else, call (03) 8612 7234 or start a quote and add a note.
Do you pick up from the outer Canberra suburbs and Queanbeyan?
I'm a student leaving ANU with a small load — is it worth it?
Can I move plants from my Canberra place to Sydney?
Ready to book Canberra to Sydney?
60-second estimate, locked when we confirm capacity. Cancel free up to 7 days before pickup.