In Australian Capital Territory, discoveries range from Canberra’s urban planning and collections to Ngunnawal rock art, bushland and experiences on Lake Burley Griffin. Choose according to your interests: would you like to focus on planning ideas and collections, walks or wildlife watching?

Urban Planning and the Memorial

Canberra is considered an open-air museum of urban planning. Its story spans ideas from “City Beautiful” and “Garden City” to the thinking behind “sustainable environment development”; the evolution of planning ideas itself becomes a subject of discovery. If you’re interested in urban design, you’ll find an urban-planning perspective here. At the Australian War Memorial, paved paths for pedestrians and cyclists lead to the entrance. As access arrangements can change, check the latest information before your visit.

Bushland in Namadgi National Park

Namadgi National Park protects 106,095 hectares of alpine, subalpine and montane bushland and has several hundred kilometres of walking trails. The three landscape terms describe the character of the protected area; the trails add a clear focus on outdoor activity. If you’d like to explore nature on foot, Namadgi offers a concrete alternative to urban and collection-related themes.

Ngunnawal Connections Along the Trails

An easy walk leads to ancient Ngunnawal rock art at Yankee Hat. As access may change, check the current access status before your visit. The Canberra Centenary Trail offers a different experience: it is 138 kilometres long, self-guided and designed for shared use by walkers, runners and cyclists. It also takes in sites and landscapes of significance to the Ngunnawal. This allows you to see a specific rock art destination and a self-guided, shared-use trail as different ways to get around.

Lake Burley Griffin: Trails and Water Activities

At Lake Burley Griffin, you can explore paths around the lake on foot, by bicycle or on an e-scooter. Boat trips, picnics on the water and pedal-boat outings are also available. If you include the lake in your travel plans, you can choose between exploring the trails and enjoying activities on the water. Operator details may change, so check the latest information before making plans.

Wildlife Watching and Collections

Animals and birds can be observed in their natural habitats in almost every park or protected area in Australian Capital Territory. This connection with nature goes beyond looking at a single landscape and suits a trip where wildlife watching is a focus in its own right. The National Arboretum Canberra is home to the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia. Together with the Australian War Memorial’s permanent exhibitions, which include more than 7,000 objects from the Memorial’s collection, it offers another collection-focused option: at the Arboretum, bonsai and penjing are the clearly defined focus.

Discover more destinations: Canberra, Acton, Nicholls, North West Rural Canberra, Kambah, Macquarie, Weetangera, Majura, Pialligo, Curtin, Campbell, Monash, Barton

For the main travel overview: Australia.