Australia's Capital Territory
Things to Do
in Canberra
"A city designed to embody a nation — and quietly becoming one of its finest."
Purpose-built as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra has quietly assembled the finest collection of free museums and galleries in the Southern Hemisphere — all set beside a serene lake, within sight of wild Brindabella mountain country, and surrounded by the spectacular deciduous colour of the world's most photogenic autumn.
The City Australia Built for Itself
Canberra was the compromise that ended a decade of argument. Sydney and Melbourne both wanted to be the national capital; neither would allow the other the honour. The solution, in 1908, was to create a new city equidistant between them — on the plain of the Limestone Coast, between the Brindabella Ranges and the Molonglo River, far enough inland to be safe from naval bombardment. Chicago architect Walter Burley Griffin won the design competition with a plan centred on a formal geometry of circles and axes, oriented to the hills and anchored by a man-made lake.
Over a century later, the city Griffin imagined has become something he couldn't have — a genuinely remarkable place. The Australian War Memorial is widely considered one of the finest military museums in the world. The National Gallery of Australia holds the Southern Hemisphere's largest art collection. Parliament House is open to the public, every day, free of charge. The lake that sits at the city's centre is a place of extraordinary beauty in the morning mist.
And in April and May, when the European deciduous trees that line every Canberra boulevard simultaneously turn amber, gold, and crimson — the city produces one of the most spectacular autumn displays in the world, entirely by accident of its own climate.
The National Capital's Cultural Estate
Canberra's National Institutions
No Australian city concentrates more world-class cultural institutions within walking distance of each other — and almost all are free. Set aside two full days to do them proper justice; rushing any of them is a mistake.
Treloar Crescent, Campbell · Free · Must-Visit
Australian War Memorial
Widely considered one of the finest military museums in the world — the Australian War Memorial is not merely a war museum, but a complete act of national mourning, commemoration, and historical interpretation housed in a Byzantine-domed building at the foot of Mount Ainslie. The galleries span Australia's involvement in every conflict since the Sudan War of 1885: the Gallipoli and Western Front displays are among the most emotionally powerful museum presentations in the country. The Lancaster bomber and Japanese midget submarine are unforgettable centrepieces. The Last Post Ceremony at the Roll of Honour at 4:55pm daily is one of Canberra's most moving experiences — free, accessible, and attended with the quiet reverence it deserves. Allow a full day; the collection is enormous and consistently underestimated.
One of the world's finest military museums
Open to the public, free, every day of the year
Capital Hill · Free Entry · Open Daily
Parliament House — walk inside democracy
Australia's Parliament House is open to every citizen and visitor, free, every day of the year — including when parliament is sitting. Completed in 1988 after eleven years of construction, the building is itself a remarkable architectural achievement: Romaldo Giurgola's design embeds the building into Capital Hill so that the public can walk over the parliamentary roof on a grass forecourt — symbolically, the people above their representatives. Walk through the Marble Foyer, see the Great Hall tapestry (based on an Arthur Boyd painting), observe the Senate and House of Representatives chambers from the public gallery, and climb to the flag mast for panoramic views over the lake and city. Book a free guided tour for the full experience; arrive early on sitting days to queue for the public gallery.
The Southern Hemisphere's largest art gallery — 166,000 works from ancient Aboriginal bark paintings to Monet, Warhol, and beyond. The Aboriginal Memorial installation is unmissable. Free permanent collection; ticketed major exhibitions.
A magnificent Parthenon-inspired building holding 10 million items — Trove (Australia's free digital archive) is built here. The Treasures Gallery houses historic documents including Captain Cook's journal. Permanent collection free.
Australia's national social history museum on the Acton Peninsula — the story of people, country, and nation told across rotating thematic galleries. The Eternity Gallery's examination of Australian lives through one word is extraordinary.
Australia's gallery of great Australians — a remarkable portrait collection from 1770 to the present. The full-length formal portraits share walls with intimate photographic works; the temporary exhibitions regularly rank among Australia's finest.
The National Science and Technology Centre — 200+ interactive exhibits across six galleries, ideal for families. The free-fall slide and earthquake simulator are perennial highlights; the temporary exhibitions change regularly.
The Museum of Australian Democracy, housed in the original Parliament House (1927–1988) — where Gough Whitlam was dismissed and Bob Hawke won a glass of beer. The chambers, the prime minister's suite, and the press gallery are all accessible.
Australia's only coin production facility — the visitor gallery overlooks the production floor where every Australian circulation coin is struck. Strike your own coin as a souvenir. Free entry; the numismatic collection covers the history of Australian currency.
Over 40 kilometres of physical records — Canberra's reading rooms allow access to classified government files released under the 30-year rule, original immigration records, and war service files. The digitised access point is open to all.
Galleries, Performance & First Nations Culture
Arts & Culture in Canberra
Beyond the national institutions, Canberra has developed a thriving contemporary arts scene — anchored by a strong First Nations cultural programme, a world-class indigenous art market, and performance venues that attract major touring productions.
Southern Hemisphere's largest art collection
Parkes Place · Free Permanent Collection
National Gallery of Australia
The NGA holds 166,000 works — one of the most significant art collections in the world outside North America and Europe. The permanent collection ranges across ancient Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works, Asian and Pacific art, European masters from the 14th century, Australian colonial and modernist painting, and contemporary international art. The Aboriginal Memorial — 200 hollow log coffins by Ramingining artists from Arnhem Land, displayed in a forest formation — is one of the most powerful works of art in any Australian museum. The sculpture garden is excellent for summer evenings. Major international blockbuster exhibitions arrive regularly; book well ahead for these.
National Portrait Gallery
A remarkably intimate gallery for a national institution — the portrait collection spans formal oil paintings of early governors and prime ministers through to photographic works by contemporary artists. The quarterly Archibald-style portrait prize announcements bring genuine public engagement. Free; the café is excellent.
Canberra Theatre Centre & Llewellyn Hall
The Canberra Theatre Centre presents theatre, dance, and music across its main stage and intimate playhouse — touring productions and locally produced work. Llewellyn Hall at the ANU School of Music is the city's concert hall for classical performance and the annual Canberra International Music Festival.
Museum of Australian Democracy
Old Parliament House (1927–1988) is now the Museum of Australian Democracy — the original chambers, prime ministerial suites, and press gallery corridors preserved as they were when Whitlam was dismissed, Fraser was sworn in, and Hawke was elected. A powerful walk through the 20th century of Australian political life.
Lake Burley Griffin · Cycling · Parks
Outdoors & Lake Burley Griffin
Canberra's outdoor lifestyle centres on the lake and its 35-kilometre circumference cycle and walking path — one of Australia's finest urban cycling routes, passing every major institution, the Parliamentary Triangle, and the city's finest parkland.
35 km Circuit · Cycling · Walking · Kayaking
Lake Burley Griffin — the Living Centre
Lake Burley Griffin is both the centrepiece of Walter Burley Griffin's plan and Canberra's finest recreational asset — an artificial lake completed in 1964 by damming the Molonglo River, whose 35-kilometre foreshore path connects every major landmark in the parliamentary triangle. Hire a bike from the Boathouse District or New Acton, cross Commonwealth and Kings Avenue Bridges, pass the National Gallery, Questacon, the National Library, and National Museum, cross the water to the Parliamentary Triangle, and return via the north shore and the Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet. The full circuit takes 2–3 hours by bike and is flat and well-maintained throughout. Kayak and paddleboard hire is available from the eastern foreshore in summer.
35 km circuit connecting every landmark
National Arboretum Canberra
250 hectares of rare and endangered forests from around the world — 44,000 trees across 100 forests planted on a hillside west of the CBD. The Bonsai and Penjing Collection in the Village Centre is internationally significant. The hilltop village offers panoramic views across the city and lake. The playground and café make it ideal for families. Free entry; extraordinary in autumn and spring when planting species change colour.
Mount Ainslie Lookout
The finest view in Canberra — a direct line from the Australian War Memorial up the hill to Mount Ainslie's summit lookout, from which Griffin's original axial geometry reveals itself perfectly: War Memorial, ANZAC Parade, Lake Burley Griffin, Commonwealth Avenue, Parliament House, and the Brindabellas beyond. A 3.6-km return walk from the War Memorial; also accessible by car. Sunrise and sunset are both extraordinary.
Commonwealth Park & Floriade
Commonwealth Park on the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin is Canberra's finest urban park — the venue for Floriade each spring when over one million flowering bulbs create an extraordinary garden display across themed beds. Outside Floriade season, the park is a favourite for lake walking, picnicking, and the views back across the water to Parliament House.
April – May · Canberra's Secret Season
Autumn — Canberra's Finest Hour
When Walter Burley Griffin designed Canberra, he specified that the boulevards and parks be planted with European deciduous trees — oaks, elms, liquid ambars, Japanese maples, claret ashes, and planes — to create seasonal colour in a landscape that natively has none. In April and May, this decision produces one of the most spectacular urban autumn displays in the world.
The transformation is total. Anzac Parade's oaks turn gold and bronze. The Canberra Arboretum becomes a forest of Japanese maple red. Araluen and Narrabundah's suburban streets disappear under drifts of amber leaves. The lake reflects a curtain of colour. And Canberra Balloon Spectacular sends dozens of hot air balloons over the autumn canopy at dawn — the most distinctive single image of any Australian festival.
Autumn in Canberra is the city's most photographed season. And because it's autumn rather than spring, when Floriade takes the headlines, you can often experience it without the crowds of spring.
Colours begin on the early-turning species — Japanese maples, liquid ambars. Mornings sharp, days warm. Balloon Spectacular typically held in mid-March.
Peak foliage season — the city at its most golden. Anzac Parade blazes; Arboretum explodes in red and amber. Cool, perfect walking weather. Anzac Day ceremonies on 25 April.
Leaves falling; crisp mornings with occasional frost by month's end. The last oaks and claret ashes still holding. Budget Canberra, quiet, intimate — the city for Canberrans rather than tourists.
Winter begins — bare deciduous trees against blue sky have their own austere beauty. The War Memorial and Parliament House look magnificent in winter light. Cold but memorable.
Wilderness at the City's Edge
Namadgi National Park & Tidbinbilla
Forty-five percent of the ACT is national park — a remarkable statistic that gives Canberra one of the most accessible wildland borders of any capital city on earth. The Brindabella Ranges begin where the suburbs end.
106,000 hectares · Alpine & subalpine wilderness
106,000 ha · 30 min from Canberra CBD
Namadgi National Park
Namadgi National Park covers 70 percent of the ACT's land area — 106,000 hectares of alpine meadows, sub-alpine eucalypt forest, granite tors, and deep valley creek systems beginning just 30 minutes south of the Canberra CBD. The Brindabella Ranges rise to 1,911 metres at Mount Bimberi — the ACT's highest point. Walking tracks range from short wildflower walks near the visitor centre to multi-day wilderness routes following the Australian Alps Walking Track. Aboriginal rock art sites are scattered throughout; the Yankee Hat rock art is accessible on a 4.5-km return walk. The Gudgenby area is outstanding in spring for wildflowers and in autumn for colour. Snow falls on the higher peaks through winter.
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve's main walk through native wildlife enclosures — platypus, koalas, eastern bettongs, southern brush-tailed rock-wallabies, and echidnas are all reliably seen. The platypus viewing platform in the early morning is one of the ACT's finest wildlife experiences.
A walk through sub-alpine grassland and woodland to rock shelter sites containing Aboriginal rock art of the Ngunnawal people — hand stencils, animal tracks, and geometric patterns that may be several thousand years old. The walk offers excellent views of the Brindabella Range throughout.
The ACT's highest summit at 1,911 metres — a demanding full-day walk through sub-alpine woodland and snow gum forest to a granite summit with views across the Australian Alps into NSW. Snow possible October–November; carry full wet weather gear year-round on this walk.
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
The ACT's finest wildlife experience — a dedicated nature reserve 40 km south-west of Canberra where koalas, platypus, eastern bettongs, brush-tailed rock-wallabies, and echidnas are all routinely seen. The reserve has successfully bred the now locally extinct eastern bettong for reintroduction into Mulligans Flat. The Sanctuary Walk circuit is the core experience; arrive by 8am for the most wildlife activity. Adjoins the CSIRO's Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex (Tidbinbilla Tracking Station) — free to visit and extraordinary for space enthusiasts.
Tidbinbilla Deep Space Tracking Station
Adjacent to the nature reserve — NASA's Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex tracks spacecraft in the deep solar system and played a critical role in the Apollo 11 moon landing (though the famous footage came from the Honeysuckle Creek station, later consolidated here). The visitor centre is free and extraordinarily well-explained; the massive dish antennas remain operational and visible throughout. A genuine wonder.
Canberra's Cultural Calendar
Annual Events
Canberra's event calendar is anchored by three exceptional seasons — the Balloon Spectacular in March, Floriade in September–October, and Enlighten in February. Each draws visitors specifically from Sydney and Melbourne.
September – October · Commonwealth Park · Free Entry
Floriade — Australia's Largest Spring Festival
Floriade is one of Australia's largest and most beautiful public events — a four-week festival held in Commonwealth Park on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin each September and October, when over one million flowering bulbs and annuals are planted across elaborately themed garden beds. The scale is difficult to convey: the entire northern lake foreshore becomes a carpet of colour visible from Mount Ainslie's summit. NightFest — the after-dark illuminations programme held on selected weekends during Floriade — adds projections, light installations, and live performances that transform the park into something entirely different. Entry to the gardens is free throughout the season.
Australia's largest spring flower festival
Hot air balloons launch from the lawns near Old Parliament House at dawn each morning for nine days — up to 30 balloons rising simultaneously over the autumn canopy, with the Brindabellas behind. Free to watch from the ground; tethered and flight rides bookable.
Free to WatchCanberra's cultural institutions illuminated by large-scale projection art — Parliament House, National Portrait Gallery, and old Parliament House become canvases for Australian and international digital artists. Three nights; free to attend outdoors.
Mostly FreeThe National Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial is the nation's most significant — attended by veterans, dignitaries, and thousands of Australians who queue from 4am. The March through the city and the Commemoration at the Memorial follow at 10:30am.
FreeThe Canberra Cup and associated race meetings through October draw the ACT's social calendar together at the Thoroughbred Park track in Northbourne — the October meeting is the ACT's most-attended regular sporting event outside AFL and rugby.
TicketedRestaurants, Wineries & Markets
Food & Drink in Canberra
Canberra's food scene has transformed dramatically in the last decade — driven by a highly educated, well-travelled public service population with disposable income and no tolerance for mediocrity. New Acton, Kingston Foreshore, and Braddon are three of the most exciting dining precincts in Australia.
New Acton & Braddon
Canberra's two most vibrant dining and bar precincts — New Acton on the lake edge concentrates upmarket restaurants, bars, and cultural venues in a striking precinct of new architecture. Braddon's Lonsdale Street is the city's laneway dining equivalent — independent cafés, natural wine bars, and Eightysix (Canberra's longest-running quality restaurant).
Manuka & Kingston
The inner south's two dining villages — Manuka Oval's surrounding café and restaurant strip, and the Kingston Foreshore's waterfront dining precinct. The Boat House by the Lake and Raku are Kingston institutions; Onzième and Italian & Sons in Manuka are the inner south's finest dinner options.
Murrumbateman & Canberra District Wineries
The Canberra District wine region — 30–50 minutes north of the city in the villages of Murrumbateman and Hall — produces exceptional cool-climate Shiraz and Riesling. Clonakilla (the region's most celebrated winery), Eden Road, Nick O'Leary, and Shaw Wines anchor a cellar door circuit. The altitude and cold nights give Canberra District Shiraz an elegance and pepper quality unlike warmer regions.
EPIC & Old Bus Depot Markets
The EPIC Farmers Market (Saturdays, 7:30am–11:30am) is Canberra's finest — dozens of ACT and regional producers selling direct, excellent coffee, and the best selection of artisan bread, cheese, and produce in the city. The Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston (Sunday, 10am–4pm) focus on handmade arts, crafts, and artisan food.
Where to Explore
Canberra's Precincts
Seasonal Guide
When to Visit Canberra
Canberra is good in every season for different reasons — but autumn and spring are the showpieces. Summer is hot and the institutions are at their busiest; winter is cold but uncrowded, with brilliant clear days.
Hot, dry, and sunny — lake swimming and cycling are excellent. The national institutions are busiest with school holiday crowds. Bushfire risk in Namadgi may close some trails. The nights are pleasantly warm for outdoor dining.
The finest season — spectacular foliage across every boulevard, the Balloon Spectacular in March, perfect walking weather, and the city at its most photogenic. The absolute best time to visit if dates are flexible. Book 2–3 months ahead.
Cold — frosts every morning, occasional snow visible on the Brindabellas — but consistently clear and brilliant. The institutions are uncrowded and unhurried. Namadgi walks in crisp air are extraordinary. Snow fields at nearby Perisher and Thredbo are an easy 2-hour drive.
Floriade season — one million flowers in Commonwealth Park from September, the city buzzing with visitors. Wildflowers emerging in Namadgi. Warming days, unpredictable weather. Accommodation books out for Floriade weekends; reserve 4–6 months ahead.
Need to Know
Getting to & Around Canberra
Getting to Canberra
- Canberra Airport: direct flights from Sydney (50 min), Melbourne (1 hr 10 min), Brisbane (2 hrs), and Adelaide. Qantas, Virgin, and Rex all service the route
- By car from Sydney: 300 km via the Federal Highway — approximately 3 hours; spectacular autumn drive through the Southern Tablelands via Goulburn
- By car from Melbourne: 650 km via the Hume Highway and Federal Highway — approximately 7–8 hours; break at Albury or Gundagai
- Murrays Coach and Greyhound buses: Sydney Central Station to Canberra City Bus Station — 3.5 hours; multiple daily services
- NSW TrainLink XPT: Sydney Central → Canberra station — approximately 4 hours; scenic route through the Southern Highlands
Getting Around Canberra
- ACTION buses serve most areas; the Rapid routes connect Civic, Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong, and Gungahlin
- Canberra Metro light rail: from Gungahlin to Civic (CBD) — 17 stops, fully accessible
- Hire car or rideshare essential for Namadgi, Tidbinbilla, and the winery region north of the city
- Cycling: hire bikes at Mr Spoke (New Acton) or Pedal Power — the lake circuit is entirely flat and well-maintained
- Uber and taxis operate city-wide — generally very reliable; wait times short outside peak periods
- Most institutions in the Parliamentary Triangle are within a 30-minute walk of each other
Visiting the Institutions
- Most major institutions are free to enter — Australian War Memorial, NGA, NLA, National Museum, Portrait Gallery, Old Parliament House, and Royal Australian Mint
- The AWM sells out its Last Post Ceremony reserved seating for group bookings; individual visitors attend freely without booking
- Parliament House: free guided tours run at 9:30am, 11am, 1pm, 2:30pm, and 4pm on non-sitting days — join at the main forecourt entrance
- NGA major exhibitions sell out — book online well in advance for international blockbusters
- Questacon is ticketed; book online to avoid queuing; popular with families on school holidays
- Parking across the Parliamentary Triangle is metered and limited on weekdays; public transport or cycling is strongly recommended
Common Questions
Canberra & the ACT — FAQs
Canberra is best known as Australia's purpose-built federal capital — home to Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial (considered one of the world's finest military history museums), the National Gallery of Australia, and a concentration of free world-class cultural institutions unmatched in any Australian city. The city is also celebrated for its spectacular autumn foliage (April–May), the Floriade spring flower festival (September–October), the Canberra Balloon Spectacular (March), and its remarkable natural setting — 45% of the ACT is national park, with Namadgi's alpine wilderness beginning just 30 minutes from the CBD.
Two to three days covers Canberra's major cultural institutions comfortably. Day 1: Australian War Memorial (full day — the collection is vast). Day 2: Parliament House (morning), National Gallery of Australia (afternoon). Day 3: Lake Burley Griffin cycling circuit, Mount Ainslie, National Arboretum. Add a day for Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and another for Namadgi National Park hiking if nature is a priority. During Floriade (September–October), the festival itself can occupy most of a day; during Balloon Spectacular (March), an early morning is essential. Autumn (April–May) visitors often find they stay longer than planned.
Yes — most of Canberra's major national institutions are free to enter for permanent collections. This includes the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House), the National Museum of Australia, the Royal Australian Mint, and Parliament House itself. Questacon (National Science and Technology Centre) charges admission. Major travelling exhibitions at the NGA and other institutions may have a separate ticket price — check ahead for blockbuster shows, which sell out. The Last Post Ceremony at the AWM is free and requires no booking for individual visitors.
Floriade is Australia's largest spring flower festival, held annually in Commonwealth Park on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin each September and October. Over one million flowering bulbs and annuals are planted across elaborately themed garden beds — the entire northern lake foreshore becomes a carpet of colour visible from Mount Ainslie. The festival includes live music, food markets, cultural performances, and NightFest — an after-dark illuminations programme on selected weekends that is ticketed and completely transforms the experience. Entry to the day gardens is free; NightFest and some events require tickets. Book accommodation 4–6 months ahead — Canberra fills completely for Floriade weekends. Visit floriadeaustralia.com for exact dates each year.