Canberra: Discover sights, culture and nature

Canberra combines water, remembrance and nature with experiences that are distinctly different from one another. Lake Burley Griffin is the city’s centrepiece and gives your stay a defining focus: lakeside paths, activities on the water and cultural places offer different ways to discover Canberra.

Lake Burley Griffin: paths and activities by the water

Lake Burley Griffin has walking and cycling paths. There is also kayak and stand-up paddleboard hire, as well as lake cruises and ferry services. If you enjoy getting around on foot or by bike, you can explore the lakeside paths; if you want to make the water a focus, you’ll find a range of activities there. This makes it possible to plan time on land and activities on the lake around different interests during your stay.

Remembrance, history and exhibitions

The Australian War Memorial honours the sacrifice and service of more than 102,000 Australian men and women who died serving their country. Its permanent exhibitions include more than 7,000 objects from the Memorial’s collection. Reconciliation Place offers a different perspective on history: it recognises the importance of understanding the shared history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Its pathway and artworks tell the story of the journey towards a reconciled nation. The collection and public art therefore place different emphasis on remembrance and history.

Plan a visit to Questacon

Questacon recommends allowing at least four hours for the exhibitions, café, shop and surrounding area. To guarantee a visit, Questacon also recommends booking tickets in advance. Check the latest visitor information before your trip.

Trees, paths and animals

The National Arboretum Canberra spans 250 hectares and is home to more than 40,000 trees. Visitors can hike or cycle along more than 20 kilometres of scenic trails, and guided tours are available throughout the year. The trees, trails and tours each offer a different focus when planning a visit.

The National Zoo and Aquarium is home to a variety of native and exotic animals and features Australia’s largest inland saltwater aquarium. Interactive animal experiences include patting a cheetah, feeding a bear and meeting a meerkat. Unlike the Arboretum’s trails and trees, the focus here is on wildlife.

Landscapes in the Australian Capital Territory

In the Australian Capital Territory, Namadgi National Park protects 106,095 hectares of alpine, subalpine and montane bushland. Several hundred kilometres of walking trails provide access to an extensive network of tracks. An easy walk leads to ancient Ngunnawal rock art at Yankee Hat; access status may change, so check access information before your visit.

The Canberra Centenary Trail is a 138-kilometre self-guided route for walkers, runners and cyclists. It includes sites and landscapes of significance to the Ngunnawal. Wildlife watching is also an option in the Australian Capital Territory: animals and birds can be observed in their natural habitats in almost every park or nature reserve.

Choose a focus for your accommodation search

Shape your search around the experiences that matter to you, rather than trying to turn Canberra’s different themes into a single itinerary.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Macgregor, Belconnen, Phillip, Franklin, Hall, Pialligo and Macquarie.

Back to the main travel overview: Australian Capital Territory.