Bryce leaves Canberra as GG term ends

Quentin Bryce has left Canberra as her term as governor-general comes to an end.

Dame Quentin boarded a RAAF flight back to her home town of Brisbane after a ceremonial farewell at Defence Establishment Fairbairn in the nation's capital on Wednesday morning.

She inspected the Federation Guard and farewelled Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Opposition leader Bill Shorten, Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, Chief Justice Robert French and Defence chief David Hurley before boarding the plane.

Earlier, the 71-year-old left Government House for the last time and then laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Australian War Memorial.

Dame Quentin, Australia's first female governor-general, assumed office in 2008. Her replacement, General Peter Cosgrove, will be sworn in on Friday.