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20 BEST THINGS TO DO IN CANBERRA// Lake Burley GriffinLake Burley Griffin is Canberra's centerpiece. There are lovely parks for picnics and areas for swimming as well as walking tracks and cycling paths. The lake is a busy waterway with rowing, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, dragon boating, fishing, model boating and paddle boating being just some of the activities available.
Around the lake there are many services available including boat and bike hire, lake cruises and ferry services, see Lake Operators. // The National Carillion
On the eastern shore of the lake The National Carillion entertains its visitors with the music of 55 bells as it floats. The best way to enjoy it is to take a picnic to Aspen Island and attend one of the regular recitals. // Blundells Cottage
Step back in time to the Limestone Plains at Blundells Cottage and enjoy the view of Parliament House across Lake Burley Griffin with the Brindabella Mountains behind. This cottage museum captures rural life in the 19th century, before the national capital or the nation of Australia existed. // Parliament House
The most recognized symbol of Australia’s Capital City is open to visitors every day from 9.00am to 5.00pm, later when Parliament is in session. // Old Parliament House
Beautiful 1920s building and home of the Australian Parliament for 61 years, with much of the interior offices left just as they were when the tenants left to move up to the big house on the hill. Changing Exhibitions and free guided tours every 45 minutes, 9.30am-3.15pm. // Australian War Memorial
The Memorial is a unique Australian institution. The building houses an enormous collection of pictures, dioramas, relics and exhibitions detailing the events, the weapons and human toll of wartime. There are also a shrine, and an extensive archive. Phone: 02 6243 4211. http://www.awm.gov.au/ // Australian National Botanic Gardens
Walk amongst the finest collection of Australian flora in the world at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Nestled at the foot of Black Mountain, the Gardens are devoted entirely to plants native to Australia with 6,800 species over a 40 hectare site. Wander through the plants of the rainforest, the desert, the mountains in specially created ‘climatic zones’. Explore the Rainforest Gully, the Rock Garden, the Eucalypt Lawn and the Mallee Shrublands on marked trails. Open daily 8.30am-5pm, (extended to 6pm weekdays, 8pm weekends in January) // Floriade
Every spring, Canberra's Commonwealth Park is transformed into a tapestry of colour with more than a million bulbs and annuals in bloom at this Australia's premier spring festival and world-class floral spectacular. Floriade runs for one exciting month from mid-September to mid-October and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. This vibrant festival presents an amazing and ever-changing visual display that makes a single visit never enough. // Telstra Tower
A landmark of Canberra, the Telstra Tower rises from the centre of Canberra Nature Park and offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside. Rising 195 metres above the summit of Black Mountain, the tower was opened in 1980 and provides vital communication facilities for Canberra. The tower provides both inside and outside viewing galleries, a telecommunications museum, cafe, revolving restaurant and gift shop. Phone: 02 6219 6111 // National Zoo and Aquarium
A wide range of animal interaction is possible at this private-enterprise centre, set on 10 hectares of bush land, that helps rescue endangered wildlife from the organ trade and circuses. Try Zoo Venture: a two-hour, behind-the-scenes tour where you can get up close and personal with many of the animals. // National Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery has a stunning collection of over 100,000 works of art: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islender art, Australian art, Asian art, photography, sculpture garden and international art. Open daily 10am- 5 pm. // National Museum of Australia
This eclectic museum, the first devoted to the stories of Australia and Australians, contains 5 permanent galleries and changing exhibitions. Open daily 9am- 5 pm. // Questacon (The National Science and Technology Centre)
With a strong focus on children from grades two to ten and with a charter that seeks to make science and technology both fun and accessible, this is a great family option -stimulating, insightful and highly interactive. // Ballooning
Each March, Canberra hosts the Canberra Balloon Fiesta when some 50 novelty balloons from around Australia and overseas take off from the lawns in front of Old Parliament House. During the rest of the year you can take to the skies on most mornings, weather permitting, with one of several commercial one-hour balloon flight operators. Flights leave at dawn, drifting over the slumbering city, usually waking dogs in almost every backyard you glide over. It’s a great way to get a birds-eye view of the radiating lines of Walter Burley Griffin's original city plan. Visit www.dawndrifters.com.au or www.balloonaloft.com. // Canberra Stadium
Set amidst the native bush land of North Canberra, and adjacent to the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra Stadium offers a range of entertainment and facilities in a venue that continues to make history through ACT, national and international sporting achievements. Phone 02 6256 6700 http://www.canberrastadium.com // Canberra Space Dome and Observatory
The Canberra Planetarium offers a variety of entertaining and educational shows. The Observatory Gallery is the connecting corridor between the domes. It features a static visual display on a host of astronomical subjects. // Gininderra Village
Gininderra Village was built in 1883 with the schoolhouse being the original school for the area now known as Canberra. The buildings are heritage listed and present the visitor with some knowledge of life in the early days. There is an old-fashioned garden where visitors may picnic or use the free electric barbecue facilities. // Canberra Nature Park, Jerrabomberra Wetlands
The Jerrabomberra Wetlands are located on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. These wetlands, the largest in the ACT, are an important habitat and refuge for wildlife including platypus and 77 species of migrating waterbirds. The wetlands are situated across several old river courses which have fluctuating water levels following the varying levels of Lake Burley Griffin. This, together with the adjacent rivers, has created a series of habitats which support a rich and diverse bird fauna. Car parking areas are situated on the eastern side of the wetlands with access from Dairy Flat Road and on southern side with access from Mundaring Road. // Murrumbidgee River Corridor
The Murrumbidgee River, along with major tributaries of the Molonglo and Cotter Rivers, provides great riverside picnic locations and swimming spots. // Canberra Glassworks
Canberra Glassworks is situated in the historic Kingston Powerhouse and combines spacious industrial cathedral interiors, the thrill of the glass bowling and gourmet food for an experience that’s unforgettable.
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