The 11 essential things to do in Canberra

Are you going to Australia and a child’s dream come true? Discover Canberra and our selection of 11 things to do in the Australian capital!

Capital of Australia and the State of the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra is enclaved south-east of New South Wales, 280 kilometres south-west of Sydney and 680 kilometres north-east Melbourne . The capital of the island-continent since 1908, Canberra is a new city, built in the early 20th century to host all the political institutions of the country.

At the headquarters of the Australian government, the city also houses the Parliament and the High Court, many ministries and national branches, cultural institutions: the population, estimated at 395,790 inhabitants, is therefore composed mainly of officials, the federal government being the largest employer.

Are you going to visit Canberra? On the road between Blue Mountains , Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra enjoys a young population with a low unemployment rate, a high level of education and a higher overall price index than in other Australian cities. Australia is already a country with a high standard of living, housing and doing activities in Canberra is therefore likely to be expensive! Its geographic location has earned it the nickname of the "Wood Capital" – in the midst of vast areas of natural vegetation – and makes it the largest non-coast city in the country.

So what do you do in Canberra? Here for you our mini-guide of activities to do to visit Canberra!

1. The War Memorial

Located at the end of the ANZAC Parade, the Australian War Memorial is dedicated to soldiers who perished during the armed conflicts of the Commonwealth of Australia, especially during the two world conflicts that enshrine the world in the 20th century.

Opened in 1941, he commemorates the participation – constraint – of young Australian soldiers who died in combat in 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. Testimonials, photos, background documents, costumes and weapons, interactive scenes, etc., make this visit an unmissable stop, if you want to know more about the country, coming to Canberra. Note that the entrance and guided tours are there free .

2. The Questacon Museum

The Questacon , or National Centre for Science and Technology, is a pole representing science and technology through more than 200 interactive exhibitions.

It is located south of Burley Griffin Lake and was opened in 1988 on the occasion of the bicentenary of the arrival of the first European settlers. The centre is divided into seven galleries, where the public can discover science through circus, physics chemistry, geology, predatory animals and their prey, or light and sound. This museum should seduce the small and great science lovers who wonder what to do in Can.

3. The National Gallery of Australia

Right next door. National Gallery of Australia It is the main public museum in Canberra, founded in 1967 as a national museum by the Australian government.

It houses, on a surface of 23,000 m2, Aboriginal art galleries, Asian works of art, and in many small rooms, contemporary Australian art works. If you love both art and history, it is a must-see museum to visit Canberra.

4. The National Museum of Australia

What to do in Canberra? Inaugurated in 2001, Australian National Museum It also traces the history of the country through interactive attractions – like the three-dimensional map of Australia or the rotating theatre, representing the themes of the people, the nation and the earth – the museum commemorates 50,000 years of history, from the Aborigines to the present day.

The galleries are home to many things to see, including the skin of the Tasmanian tiger (disappeared), Aboriginal paints on bark, prisoners of war clothes, equipment that served during the Sydney Olympic Games. There's everything!

5. Parliament of Australia

Parliament House is, as its name suggests, Parliament. Inaugurated in 1988, it is the seat of the Australian Parliament, which houses the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Why visit a parliament? Well, to attend the sessions of the Assembly, see the debates of deputies during questions to the government. There are also numerous exhibitions and public galleries, free access and guided tours. On the outside, 23 hectares of gardens await you to wander and stroll in the beautiful days.

6. Lake Burley Griffin

What to do in Canberra when we've seen all the museums before? What if we were on a fishing Sunday in the middle of town? The Lake Burley Griffin is an artificial lake located in the center of Canberra, created in 1963.

It is therefore logically used as a nautical base for the premises during the high summer heats (difficult bathing), where you practice cycling, walking, fishing or windsurfing: the shores of the lake are indeed lined with multiple green spaces inviting to walk, just steps from the must-see sites to visit Canberra. The "Captain Cook" water jet would almost imagine us being in Geneva.

7. National Botanical Gardens

In Australia, the authorities carefully monitor the preservation of endemic species: at least they try to limit the extinction of endangered species. ♪ Canberra National Botanical Gardens , located on the Black Mountain west of the city centre, are managed by the Australian State and the Ministry of the Environment.

They house a vast collection of endemic Australian plants over 90 hectares, including 40 hectares developed as botanical gardens. More than 5,500 species are cultivated, including the ravine of the humid tropical forest, the flora of the Sydney region, the plants of the Mallee (eucalyptus species with several stems), banksias, Telopeas, mimosas, etc.

8. National zoo and aquarium

Are you visiting Canberra? Located in Yarralumla at the west end of Burley Griffin Lake, on the Molonglo River and near Scrivener Dam, zoo and Canberra aquarium is a private organization that houses a vast indigenous and foreign fauna as well as Australia’s largest collection of fawns, like the tigron – a hybrid species from the cross between a lion and a tiger.

This type of place is unique to the country because there is no association of a zoo and an aquarium elsewhere. The zoo is also engaged in a process of breeding endangered species.

9. The Old Bus Depot Market

What to do in Canberra if there is time? The Old Bus Depot market is one of the most trendy corners of Canberra.

Located close to the Telopea Park , the markets are installed in the old bus station, and are held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the place to go shopping by gleaming clothes, decoration items, food and various organic products.

10. The National Museum of Dinosaurs

Did you like the Jurassic Park movie? Don't miss doing it National Museum of Dinosaur if you visit Canberra for several days.

Located north of the city, in Gold Creek Village, it houses the largest permanent fossil gallery in the entire southern hemisphere. Founded in 1993, the museum is more interested in all prehistoric life on Earth: an interesting trip for anyone who wants to learn more about dinosaurs.

11. Mount Ainslie

Located in Canberra Regional Natural Park, Mont Ainslie makes it possible to hike and take height if you no longer know what to do in Canberra. Its highest point, at 863 metres above sea level, offers a panoramic view of Canberra and the interior of the lands of the State of the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales, 360°.

A paved path, starting from the War Memorial, allows you to climb (facial). It is marked with commemorative plaques of the Second World War, including the battles that took place in the Kokoda Trail, Papua New Guinea (against the Japanese in 1942).

How to go to Canberra?

To visit Canberra, you can land at the airport of the city, located 3.5 kilometers east. From abroad, it will be necessary find a flight for Melbourne or Sydney, especially thanks to the flight comparison Ulysses , which allows to compare flexible dates offers over a whole month. Then we can book a domestic flight with a company low-cost : JetStar, Virgin Blue or Tiger Airways.

By train , it will be necessary to compare rates with several companies – CountryLink for example -, which serves half east of the island-continent. Trains are quite expensive in Australia.

By bus , society Greyhound conducts regular connections to or from State capitals, including Canberra.

Where to stay in Canberra?

As usual, we recommend to aim the city center to visit Canberra, around City Hill and Civic Square, on the north shores of the Burley Griffin. It is the commercial and festive lung of the city.

To stay in quieter green areas, target the area Yarralumla , a hupped neighborhood west of the centre. Forrest , south of Parliament, is the most popular district in the city. Note that as everywhere in Australia, staying in Canberra can be expensive. See you on this. Compare hotels to compare the best accommodation offers on your dates!