Whenever we talk about visiting Canberra from Sydney, we invariably get the question: why? Quickly followed by ‘but it’s boring’. But from our experience Canberra is anything but boring! With some of the country’s best museums and galleries, incredible hiking trails, crazy boulder caves and even a huge waterfall you can swim on top of, it really does have it all!
We’ve visited Canberra more times than I can count and this guide will give you the inside track on all the best things to do there, from cultural experiences to jaw-dropping nature.
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1: Swim at the top if Gibraltar Falls
2: Observe the Last Post ceremony at Australia’s most beautiful War Memorial
3: Take in the sensational views from Gibraltar Peak
4: Treat yourself to a cream tea at Lanyon Homestead
5: Admire the world’s largest collection of aboriginal artwork
6: Delight in the antics of the local koala population
7: Find the hidden viewpoint at Red Rock Gorge
8: Feel on top of the world at the gorgeous Booroomba Rocks
9: Admire the amazing bonsai collection at the National Arboretum
10: See the city from Canberra’s best drive up viewpoint
11: Take a fantastic free tour at Parliament House
12: Discover the incredible boulder cavern at Legoland
13: Toast your trip at the local craft brewery
14: Check out “super hero lane”
15: Indulge in a local wine tasting
16: Step back in time at the National Museum
17: Catch a sunset at Square Rock
18: Visit Canberra’s very own pink lake
19: Stroll the beautiful botanic gardens
20: Check out the little known London Bridge Arch
21: Watch a sunset from Shepherds Lookout
22: Marvel at the best aboriginal rock art site in Canberra
23: Take a dip at Woods Creek Reserve
24: Watch or join in at the balloon spectacular
The best things to do in Canberra
1. Swim on top of the incredible Gibraltar Falls
When you think of Canberra you probably don’t think of swimming in an infinity pool on top of a waterfall, and that makes it even more special.
The view from the pool is stunning, looking out onto thickly forested mountains, and you don’t need to go for a dip to enjoy it. You can also sit well back from the water where there is plenty of space to spread out and have a picnic.
The walk to reach this spectacular spot is just a few minutes but you do need to exercise extreme caution as it’s an unfenced cliff edge (don’t get too close to the edge or visit after rain when it can become slippery and the water becomes turbulent).
As well as the top of the falls you can also check out the lookout from lower down (150m walk each way), which offers the best overall view of the whole waterfall. You can read more about this magnificent spot in our Gibraltar Falls guide.
2. Observe the last post ceremony at Australia’s most beautiful War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is a touching tribute to those who have fallen in battle. I have visited many war memorials in different places around the world and have never seen one as visually stunning.
As you stand beside the walls covered in poppies you’ll hear the sound of children reading out the names and ages of the soldiers who have been lost and it really does hit home.
The museum is also excellent and covers many wars, including those in recent history.
However, the most unique feature of the memorial has to be the last post ceremony. Each afternoon at 4.45pm a beautiful 15 minute memorial service is held. A different service man or woman is highlighted each day and it’s very moving.
Entry to the memorial and service is free of charge but donations are welcome.
3. Take in the sensational views from Gibraltar Peak
Whilst we really enjoy the museums and galleries, hiking is the real reason we’ve visited Canberra so much. The walking trails around the city are spectacular, and Gibraltar Peak is easily one of the best.
The views from the top are fantastic, with rolling hills and forest covered mountains as far as the eye can see.
As well as the incredible views, the summit itself is a fun spot to explore with giant boulders that give it a unique feel.
The 8km return walk does have a fair amount of uphill but it’s never very steep and the path is excellent, so it’s by no means a hard trail. All the details on exactly what to expect from the walk are in this post.
4. Treat yourself to a cream tea at Lanyon Homestead
The terrace at this 1850’s restored homestead looks out over the gorgeous Brindabella Ranges and you can visit for brekkie or lunch, but our favourite is the homemade scones with jam and cream.
The scones are lovely and the setting made it extra special.
You can then take a guided tour of the outbuildings or stroll through the gardens. Visiting the outbuildings is by tour only ($10 per person at time of writing) so it’s best to either book in advance or at least check the timings so you don’t miss out.
Lanyon Homestead is located roughly 30 minutes from Canberra and 20 minutes from Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
5. Admire the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal artwork
Although there is plenty of modern art at the National Gallery, it’s the incredible collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art that we fell in love with.
You’ll find room after room of beautiful pieces from different parts of Australia and there are a variety of styles from bark painting to dot painting and then more modern pieces too.
It’s a beautiful collection and rivalled only by that of the MAGNT in Darwin for us.
As well as the main gallery you can also visit the outdoor sculpture garden. Don’t miss James Turrell’s Skyspace which is located just a minute’s walk from the gallery.
Entry to the permanent exhibits is free of charge.
6. Delight in the cute antics of the local koala population
You could spend all day - and in fact all week - checking out the many trails of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. However, assuming you don’t have that long, the one stop you should not miss is the koala sanctuary.
There are a few koalas that live here year round and you’ll find them right by the entrance way, under the shade of the open air enclosure.
The best time to visit is during feeding time when the sleepy residents will suddenly leave their perches and settle in for a long lunch.
On our visit, feeding time was 1pm, but it’s worth calling ahead if you are really keen, as timing can vary slightly from day to day.
You can also find semi wild koalas along the 700m Koala Path loop walk but they are harder to spot, we got lucky on our first visit but not our second. Easier to spot and almost as adorable are the little potoroos which are abundant in the reserve (and totally wild).
Visiting Tidbinbilla doesn’t require an entry fee at the moment as the Visitors Centre is closed.
If you’re planning to walk Gibraltar Peak or any other trails in the park, it’s best to do it on the same day to avoid paying multiple times.
7. Find the hidden viewpoint at Red Rocks Gorge
Who would have thought you could find a gorge with NT vibes right in Canberra?! Sitting beside the towering cliff wall at Red Rocks Gorge is one of my favourite ways to spend an afternoon in Canberra.
Although there is an official lookout at the gorge, it doesn’t offer the best view as you are still quite far away from the most picturesque section.
To enjoy the gorge close up you need to head briefly from the main path along an un-signposted track. To reach the hidden viewpoint is a 7km return walk, if you only want to see the main viewpoint it’s 4.4km return.
All the details on how to find the unmarked track are here.
8. Feel on top of the world at the gorgeous Booroomba Rocks
Booroomba Rocks offer a fabulous view of the rolling Brindabella Ranges and distant city centre. The top of the rocks is one of those spots where you can be as adventurous as you want.
The official track stops just a few minutes before the top and then you can either sit and relax at the nearest point to the trail which is easy to access, or rock and boulder hop your way along the ridge.
The walk itself is uphill but it’s fairly easy and only takes around 30 minutes. For this reason it’s a great sunrise or sunset hike, where the soft light adds a little magic to the scene.
We headed up for sunset, which you can read about here.
9. Admire the amazing bonsai collection at the National Arboretum
The National Arboretum is full of walking trails and a great drive up viewpoint (Dairy Farmers Lookout) which offers a fantastic view over Canberra, but it was the bonsai collection that impressed me the most.
I didn’t even know there was a bonsai collection here, nor that I liked bonsais so much, but as it turned out they are delightful!
There are 75 of these miniature trees on display at any one time and a wide variety of different species. I adored the native Aussie trees and the tiny little maples with leaves that were just starting to turn red as we headed into autumn.
As the collection is housed inside, you need to visit between 9am and 4pm (the rest of the reserve opens earlier and closes later).
Visiting the arboretum is free of charge (although parking isn’t) and there’s also a cafe with a stunning view.
10. See the city from Canberra’s best drive up viewpoint
Although you can walk up to Mount Ainslie, we always head there for sunset when driving up makes it a breeze.
The view from the top is one of the city’s best, allowing you to take in Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin and the War Memorial from a loft vantage point.
It’s a popular spot, but there’s plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the scene. We love it at sunset but it would be pretty at sunrise, or any other time of day too.
If you do want to walk up, the quickest route is on the 4.2km return Summit Track, which is relatively steep in places, but all along a well maintained path.
11. Take a fantastic free tour at Parliament House
We didn’t actually realise before visiting that there are a number of free guided tours on offer and from the snippets we heard as we passed by they are definitely the way to go.
The guides were really engaging with lots of funny anecdotes which really brought things to life.
There are a few different options depending on whether you want to focus more on Prime Ministers, architecture, Indigenous experiences or just a quick overview.
If you simply want to wander at your leisure you can do that too. We enjoyed checking out both the house and senate rooms, as well as the Prime Ministers portraits.
If you want to experience some of the action then you should visit when Parliament is in session, you can find a calendar with when that’s happening here.
Visiting Parliament House is free of charge and open every day but Christmas day, from 9:00am to 5:00pm (non-sitting days) and 9:00am to 6:00pm (sitting days). Parking is also free for the first couple of hours.
12. Discover the incredible boulder cavern at Legoland
The crazy boulder cavern at Legoland has to be Canberra’s best hidden gem. It’s an incredibly atmospheric spot, with giant balancing boulders that have to be seen to be believed.
It’s such a fun place to explore and perfect for photography lovers.
It’s not a marked track and therefore finding the boulders is a bit of an adventure, with small sections being overgrown enough that it’s a bush bash.
Normally you can drive to within 1km of the cavern, but following flood and fire damage the road has been closed which means you now have to walk it (this adds on an extra 4.1km each way).
Despite this we thought it was well worth it and you’ll no doubt be entertained by dozens of wallabies along the way.
Exactly how to find Legoland’s boulder cavern is in this post.
13. Toast your trip at the local craft brewery
Canberra is full of craft breweries and Capital Brewing is one of the best. You can opt for a tasting paddle or try by the glass and there’s a huge range of different beer and ale on tap.
They also have alcoholic ginger beer, which is up there with the best I’ve ever had, as well as wine and cider. You can sit inside at one of the long tables by the brewing equipment or out in the beer garden.
There’s a popular burger van onsite and it’s open every day from 11.30am.
14. Check out ‘Superhero Lane’
Fans of street art should definitely head to Superhero Lane, aka Tocumwal Lane, for some of the city’s best.
The laneway itself may not be the nicest with plenty of large dumpsters, but if you can ignore all that and focus on the art, it’s a really cool spot.
Across a few different walls you’ll find everyone from the incredible hulk, to batman, superman, wonder woman, spider-man and even a stormtrooper.
There are plenty of other street art locations around the city, including a few good ones around the main square in Woden, but Tocumwal Lane was definitely our favourite.
15. Indulge in a local wine tasting
If you love great wine and great views then a trip to Brindabella Hills vineyard is a must. We’ve been doing a lot of wine tasting for various guides over the last few years and Brindabella Hills is one of our favourites.
In terms of tasting it’s also one of the most generous.
For just $5 you can try 10 different wines, a mix of sparkling, white, rose and reds and though I didn’t make it through all 10, I enjoyed every single one I tried.
After a tasting (or instead of if preferred) you can head out into the garden with a platter of cheese and other nibbles as well as a glass of your favourite wine and enjoy the sublime views over the Murrumbidgee river and surrounding mountains.
There is also a gorgeous restaurant onsite if you fancy something a little more formal. As well as the wine and the view, the friendly and welcoming staff really made our visit.
16. Step back in time at the National Museum
The National Museum has two main permanent exhibitions, one outlining First Nations history and the other early settlers history.
Much of the First Nations exhibit is heart breaking but it’s a must visit, with lots of poignant stories on the stolen generation. I also found the video of the apology and people’s reactions to it to be very moving.
The early settlers history is also interesting, outlining the gold rush, agricultural endeavours and my personal favourite section about trying to traverse the Blue Mountains for the first time (first time for Europeans).
Other exhibits come and go, most of which will incur a fee. The main museum is free of charge. You can also park for free for one hour if you can snag a spot, beyond this parking is metered.
17. Catch a sunset from Square Rock
I know we’ve included a few walks with views in this article already, but I couldn’t miss our favourite sunset spot in all of Canberra.
The view from the top of Square Rock is sensational, and unlike many other peaks around the area there isn’t a building in sight. It’s glorious mountains and giant boulders as far as the eye can see and all are bathed in golden light as the sun begins to set.
The walk might sound a little lengthy for a sunset mission, at 9km return, but it’s easy and the path is very well maintained. The majority of the walk is flat and coming down under the stars is a treat in itself.
You don’t need to do any scrambling to reach the fab sunset viewing area, but if you’re feeling adventurous you can definitely climb up some pretty big boulders - all are of course unfenced so caution is advised.
You can read all the details in our Square Rock guide.
18. Visit Canberra’s very own pink lake
Bruce Pink Lake is one of those places which gets photoshopped heavily for social media - don’t come expecting anything like you’ve seen in SA or WA!
It’s not actually the water that is pink, rather the pond is covered with azolla pinnata, a type of fern which has developed pink pigmentation.
Whilst it might not be the wild hot pink that you see on highly edited Instagram photos, it’s still quite a unique sight.
The fact it’s in the city and directly in front of a block of apartments makes it feel even more unusual. You can walk around the pond which doesn’t take long and the nearest parking is on Thynne Street in Bruce, which is just a few minutes walk away.
19. Stroll the beautiful Botanic Gardens
The Australian National Botanic Gardens are gorgeous. The focus is all on native plants so it’s not full of flowers like you might see in other similar gardens, but it showcases the beauty of Australian plants from all parts of the country.
I loved the rainforest section which is full of towering tree ferns and dense foliage, as well as the rock garden with its incredible red soil from the Outback that had me yearning to go back to the Red Centre.
Although you can explore many side trails, the easy 1.4km loop walk will take you around the main areas. Kids will love the tree house and there’s also a cafe which had a fab terrace with tranquil bush views.
We tried the tea and cakes and both were good, it’s also licensed so you can relax with a bottle of wine.
The garden is free to visit and also offers daily guided tours free of charge (11am). Parking is only free for the first 30 minutes though.
20. Check out the little known London Bridge Arch
London Bridge Arch is just over the border in NSW, but it’s worth the short diversion to check out this rarely visited spot.
The walk begins at the old woolshed ruins which are worth a poke around in themselves (although you can’t go inside without advance permission). You then follow an easy path for 800m until you reach the impressive limestone arch which began forming 420 million years ago!
If you want to get right up close you need to cross the small creek and then you can stand on the sandy bank beside the arch itself and watch as swallows fly in and out of the tiny crevices.
There’s also a cave here but it’s unstable and therefore not safe to enter.
To reach the car park you need to drive for 2km down an unsealed road, but it’s generally in good condition. The reserve is open between 8am and 5pm.
There is also a longer circuit walk here but we sadly didn’t have time to check it out.
21. Watch the sunset from Shepherds Lookout
Shepherds Lookout is a great sunset option for those that would prefer a short easy walk as it’s just 600m each way and along a well maintained gravel path.
Coming for sunset means you’re also likely to see a roo or two in the bushland as you head up the track.
The view over the Murrumbidgee River and rolling hills is gorgeous and the viewing platform looks directly to the setting sun.
The parking area is incorrectly marked on Google Maps as we learnt the hard way. Set your maps for Stockdill Drive in Holt (the walk to the lookout starts on the eastern side of the river, not the western side).
22. Marvel at the best Aboriginal rock art site in Canberra (currently closed for renovation)
Yankee Hat in Namadgi National Park is the best Aboriginal rock art site open to the public in the ACT. The paintings are located on the underside of a giant granite boulder and have been remarkably well preserved.
The paintings were made over 800 years ago (and possibly much longer) by the Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of the land. There are an array of different animals including a kangaroo, dingo and turtle.
The walk to reach the site is very easy, almost entirely flat and just 6km return. Both the walk and the road leading to the car park were absolutely covered in kangaroos, and the huge numbers were amazing to watch.
It was the first rock art site we ever visited in Australia and we loved it. We were really hoping it would re-open so we could visit again before publishing this article but sadly it didn’t so we don’t have current photos.
23. Take a dip at Woods Creek Reserve
Canberra has plenty of gorgeous wild swimming spots, but unfortunately for us the last four times we visited whilst putting together this guide were after major rains so most were brown and flooded.
Happily, even after really heavy rain, the water at Woods Creek Reserve ran crystal clear.
There are plenty of great water holes at the reserve but some are much more difficult to reach than others. The area in our pictures is less than a one minute walk from the car park and is a lovely spot for a shallow dip.
Others are more secluded but require bush bashing along the old route to the bottom of the falls (which has fallen into disrepair).
24. Watch or join in at the balloon spectacular (seasonal)
The Canberra Balloon Spectacular only runs for a little over a week, but if you happen to time it right you’re in for a treat.
Watching as 25 hot air balloons slowly drifted over some of the country’s most famous buildings was a truly memorable way to start the day. If you treat yourself to a flight in one of the balloons it would of course be even more amazing.
If you’re just going to watch there are quite a few different vantage points to choose from.
As it was our first time we decided to go down to the lake shore (at Rond Terrace) which offered a great view of the balloons from across the water.
If I had the chance to go again I’d opt for Dairy Farmers Lookout at the National Arboretum, as you’d also get a good view of the sunrise.
Unlike places like Cappadocia, Canberra make it easy for spectators, with all the info you could possibly need on whether the balloons are flying and when they launch right here.
Where to stay in Canberra
We’ve been to Canberra more times than I can count and stayed in a huge number of different hotels (all unsponsored), the following are our favourites.
Abode Tuggeranong
There are lots of Abode hotels dotted around the city and all follow a similar format. We stayed at the Abode Tuggeranong because we wanted to be closer to Namadgi.
The room was great, with a full kitchen and generous living room. There was even a washing machine. The bedroom is really small and you do get a little street noise but nothing noticeable enough that we wouldn’t go back. In fact when we want to self cater it’s the first place we always check for availability.
Deco Hotel
Deco Hotel is easily one of our favourite places to stay in Canberra. It’s incredibly comfortable and you can tell everything has been really well thought out. We’re talking lots of soft mood lighting, curtains you can close from the switch by the bed, a giant comfy bed and rainfall shower. It has more mod cons than many high end 5 star hotels we’ve stayed in.
In fact, we don’t really have a negative to say about this one, apart from perhaps that you have to pay for parking.
Hyatt Hotel Canberra
If you want to stay in a luxury heritage hotel then the Hyatt is the way to go. The rooms are lovely and the bathrooms are very luxurious with lots of marble. Everything is spotlessly clean and relaxing and we really enjoyed our stay. However, it is quite expensive and I think the Deco Hotel is better value for money if you don’t mind that it doesn’t have the heritage style and garden that you’ll find at the Hyatt.
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