Canberra is brimming with new and modern hotels, bars and breweries. But that’s only one side of a city so steeped in Australia, every corner contains another piece of our nation’s heritage. Of course, there’s the house on the hill. Two, if you include old Parliament House. But even being at the centre of the nation’s politics isn’t all there is to know about Canberra. It’s an art city. A foodie hangout. A cultural capital. A rural centre. Hard to pack it all in.
Here’s our guide to the best of our capital.
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Canberra is a favourite destination for school trips because there are so many opportunities for discovering the legacies of our past. This meticulously planned city, designed by American architect Walter Burley Griffin and his wife, Marion Mahony Griffin, was built on the lands of the Ngunawal.
Indigenous organisation Thunderstone operates Dhawura Tours which visit sites of cultural significance for the Ngunawal people in and around the city. Thunderstone’s experienced Aboriginal guides interpret the landscape, share stories and teach visitors about traditional bush food sources, explaining the importance of flora and fauna for local Indigenous groups.
The National Capital Exhibition on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin explores why the area was chosen for Australia’s capital in 1908 and covers the new city’s construction. You can see the scale models of the uniquely orchestrated, modern city and an interactive display reveals how it has changed over time. Free tours are conducted daily at 11am.
Nearby, the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) is home to works across the breadth of Australia’s artistic history and is a premier destination for international exhibitions. Next year, the gallery will host Botticelli to Van Gogh, a collection of 60 masterpieces from the National Gallery, London, which will be the largest group of the gallery’s works to travel outside of the UK. The NGA also holds over 7500 pieces by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists – the largest Australian Indigenous art collection in the world.
The Australian War Memorial is a place of national pride and can evoke intense emotional responses from visitors. It honours every one of the many thousands of people who fought wars for the freedoms that Australians enjoy today. Visit the halls and gallery spaces that commemorate fallen soldiers on either a guided tour or a self-paced audio tour. Just before five o’clock every afternoon, the Last Post Ceremony celebrates and remembers the story of an individual serviceperson from the list of names on the Roll of Honour.
The current Parliament House was officially opened by the Queen in 1988. Even today, history is being made here as new laws are debated and accepted. Guided tours of the significant spaces of parliament run regularly but must be booked in advance through the website aph.gov.au. When parliament is sitting, members of the public can observe the question time shenanigans from the gallery. From the steps of Parliament House, you can survey the layout of the city in all its symmetrical glory. A similarly satisfying view is available from the Mt Ainslie lookout, which aligns with Anzac Parade, over the lake and across to the Old Parliament House.
On Saturdays, historic workers cottage Blundell is open to visitors. Venture back to the times when homes were merely shelters from the elements. The 1860 stone dwelling, one of very few to survive in the region, is an example of typical homes of the era: there was no electricity, gas or sewerage connected.
A 30-minute drive out of town in Tharwa, Lanyons Homestead is a convict-era pastoral property near the Murrumbidgee River. You can visit the homestead, outbuildings and the stunning gardens of this property for some insight into the lifestyle of the inhabitants. The property is especially beautiful in spring (which also coincides with Floriade, Canberra’s annual flower festival) when the orchards and bulbs burst into bloom.
Stay
The Canberra Hotel in Yarralumla was the first hotel to be built in the nation’s new capital. It was designed by the Commonwealth’s chief architect, John Smith Murdoch, in the 1920s. During the depression, The Canberra Hotel was one of only two hotels to remain open.
Shut down in the 1970s, the hotel was restored to its former glory in the 1980s, emerging as the five-star Hyatt. These days, the Art Deco hotel is as grand and impressive as ever. The rooms are luxurious with marble bathrooms and deep tubs, and the service in the restaurants and bars is impeccable.
Eat
Caphs in Manuka is an indoor/outdoor cafe in a heritage-listed building. Trading since 1926, the oldest cafe venue in town serves all-day breakfast and has options for even the fussiest member of your family.
European-style steakhouse Charcoal was one of the first restaurants to open in Civic’s historic Melbourne building in 1962. The restaurant serves modern Australian fare, showcasing an exceptional range of steak cuts from Oakey Angus Reserve, one of Australia’s finest producers.
Drink
In Kingston, Canberra’s oldest suburb, you will find Canberra’s oldest pub, the Kingston Hotel. First opened in 1936 when government laws restricting ‘drinking only’ establishments were lifted, The Kingston is the longest continuously operating pub in the capital. A favourite of many political wheeler-dealers over the years, the pub is a place of celebration for the famous and the general public.
* Changes have occurred in all tourist destinations in Canberra. Covid cleaning regimes apply and visitors are asked to use hand sanitiser and maintain social distancing whilst enjoying the attractions. Pre-booking of tours is encouraged and tourists are asked not to visit if unwell.
Did you know?
The ACT owns 65 square kilometres of the NSW coast at Jervis Bay, where you’ll find our national port.
Take me there
Drive: From Newcastle take the M1 and then the M31 south to Canberra. Allow five hours for the drive. As you approach Canberra, look out for signs to some of the region’s vineyards if you need a pitstop.
Stay: The Hyatt Hotel Canberra has rooms starting from $268 for a King Room to $1168 for a Diplomatic Suite.
Cost: Entry to the National Capital Exhibition, the War Memorial, Parliament House and Blundells Cottage are free of charge.
Explore more: visitcanberra.com.au
