3 days in Canberra
Canberra makes for a perfectly rounded short break full of food, culture, history and outdoor activity.
By Megan Arkinstall
Canberra is more than a city centred on politics or an Australian history lesson brought to life. Indeed, this modern and well-planned capital may be small, but it also boasts a thriving creative culture, a sophisticated dining scene, and some of the best museums and galleries in the country.
Add to that its location – between the Great Dividing Range and Australian Alps – which provides not only an aesthetically pleasing backdrop but also a playground for outdoor adventure. It is a three-hour drive to Canberra from Sydney, or there are regular flights from most capital cities; hire a car at the airport as the city’s wide, uncrowded roads are a pleasure to drive on.
Here’s how to spend a long weekend in the increasingly cool city of Canberra.
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3 days in Canberra
Day 1: Lake Burley Griffin and NewActon
Nishi Building, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © VisitCanberra
Fun fact
Canberra’s nickname ‘Bush Capital’ comes from its natural setting, with national parks and nature preserves making up more than half of the Australian Capital Territory.
A great way to get oriented with the city is by cycling the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, the city’s centrepiece. Make your way to the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre at Regatta Point to hire a bike and choose from three cycling tracks, depending on the sites you’d like to see on your journey. The Central Loop (five kilometres/three miles) and Eastern Loop (nine kilometres/six miles) are both mostly flat, while the Western Loop is a 16-kilometre (10-mile) journey with some hills.
In the afternoon, head to NewActon, an edgy district that is known for its excellent food scene, just a five-minute drive from the visitor centre. Dominated by the striking and modern Japanese-inspired Nishi Building (containing a gallery, cinema and the funky Ovolo Nishi hotel), the area is also home to some of the city’s oldest buildings.
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Day 2: Capital icons
Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Tourism Australia
Insider secret
The Kokoda Memorial Trail, found behind the Australian War Memorial, leads to the summit of Mt Ainslie (about 1.5 hours return). Enjoy views over Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin and beyond.
If you want to see the nation’s cogs in motion, make Parliament House top of your list. Explore on a private tour (bookings required), wander the public areas at leisure, such as the Marble Foyer and Great Hall, or watch the House of Representatives and Senate from the galleries. If you have more of a penchant for the arts, the nearby National Portrait Gallery is home to an incredible collection of portraits of individuals who have helped to shape the story of Australia.
If you have kids or science and technology enthusiasts in tow, Questacon is an absolute must. At this fun educational centre there are more than 200 hands-on exhibitions that cover the principles of sound, human biology, light, force, mechanics, mathematics, computer science, the Earth and more.
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Day 3: National Arboretum and Braddon
National Arboretum, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © VisitCanberra
If you have time
The up-and-coming neighbourhood of Fyshwick is home to great bakeries like Wildflour, quirky stores including Canty’s Bookshop and creative spaces like Niche Markets.
For your last day, spend the morning at the National Arboretum Canberra, about 10 minutes from the city centre. Featuring 250 hectares of rare, endangered and significant trees from across the globe, you can explore the grounds yourself or join a guided walk; there’s also an awesome kids’ outdoor playground.
Head to Braddon afterwards, a hip neighbourhood that has become popular for its ‘eat street’ Lonsdale Street and boutique shopping. Stop by Lazy Su for a casual pan-Asian lunch of Japanese and Korean flavours with a kitsch ’80s vibe, or Grease Monkey for a juicy burger and beer. Coffee connoisseurs should head to Lonsdale Street Roasters for their fix.
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For inspiration and more things to do in Canberra, go to visitcanberra.com.
