Lake Burley Griffin is the centrepiece of Canberra and a good starting point for getting to know the city’s different sides. Walks, cycling trips and water activities each offer a different focus for your stay.
By Lake Burley Griffin: paths and water activities
Lake Burley Griffin has walking and cycling paths. There are also kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals, as well as lake cruises and ferry services. You can explore the lake on foot or by bike, or choose one of the water activities mentioned. This gives you the choice of paths along the shore and activities on the lake, without having to limit yourself to just one way of exploring.
Plan your visit to Questacon
Questacon recommends allowing at least four hours to explore its exhibitions, café, shop and surroundings. If you want to guarantee a visit, Questacon recommends booking a ticket in advance. Check this visitor information before your trip. The time estimate covers exploring the areas mentioned and provides a practical guide for planning your day.
Remembrance and shared history
The Australian War Memorial honours the sacrifice and service of more than 102,000 Australian men and women who lost their lives serving their country. Its permanent exhibitions include more than 7,000 objects from the Memorial’s collection. Remembrance and the collection offer different ways to approach a visit: the focus is both on the people being remembered and on the objects in the exhibitions.
Reconciliation Place in Canberra’s Parliamentary Zone recognises the importance of understanding the shared history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The pathway and artworks there tell the story of the journey towards a reconciled nation. This place adds its own cultural dimension to visits to Canberra.
Nature and wildlife
The National Arboretum Canberra covers 250 hectares and has more than 40,000 trees. You can walk or cycle along more than 20 kilometres of scenic trails, and guided tours are offered throughout the year. This lets you focus your visit on outdoor exercise or a guided tour. In the wider destination of the Australian Capital Territory, the National Arboretum Canberra is also home to the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia.
The National Zoo and Aquarium is home to a variety of native and exotic animals. It also has Australia’s largest inland saltwater aquarium. Interactive animal experiences include patting a cheetah, feeding a bear and meeting a meerkat. These activities complement the Arboretum’s paths and trees with a different way to engage with wildlife.
The wider destination of the Australian Capital Territory
In the wider destination of the Australian Capital Territory, Namadgi National Park protects 106,095 hectares of alpine, subalpine and montane bushland and has several hundred kilometres of walking trails. An easy walk leads to ancient Ngunnawal rock art at Yankee Hat. Check access before visiting, as its status may change.
The 138-kilometre Canberra Centenary Trail is also in the wider destination of the Australian Capital Territory. It is a self-guided trail for walkers, runners and cyclists, and includes sites and landscapes of significance to the Ngunnawal. In the Australian Capital Territory, paved paths for pedestrians and bicycles lead to the entrance of the Australian War Memorial; check current access information before visiting, as arrangements may change. Animals and birds can be observed in their natural habitats in almost every park or nature reserve in the Australian Capital Territory.
Discover more destinations: Macgregor, Belconnen, Phillip, Franklin, Hall, Acton, Campbell, Macquarie.
Back to the wider travel overview: Australian Capital Territory.
