A perfect day in Canberra: insights from an accessible tourism expert

I’m not one to rush. My ideal weekend gives me either nature or the arts but because of the way Canberra is laid out, I can do both at a leisurely pace in one day – and eat lots of good food, too. For me, the perfect morning starts with a hearty breakfast at My Café in Manuka. My favourite is eggs on toast with mushroom, spinach and roasted tomato sides and a Refresher juice made with fresh pineapple, watermelon, orange and mint. I never have trouble with my wheelchair there and the staff are amazing. It’s a great example of the community feel in Canberra’s Inner South.

From there, it’s an easy wander past Manuka Oval, where they play cricket and AFL, to the beautiful Art Deco Manuka Pool (October to March). Both have accessible paths and are great spots to meet friends.

I’d continue on to Lake Burley Griffin via Telopea Park – both have fully accessible paths – and once I got to the water, I’d pick which way to turn depending on my mood.

Going right would take me to Kingston Foreshore, with the Old Bus Depot Markets, Canberra Glassworks and dozens of places for a quick lunch; Walt & Burley does reliable pub classics.

From there, I’d follow the lake’s Eastern Loop for two kilometres to the Jerrabomberra Wetlands  to get to the nature trails and bird hides of the Jerrabomberra Wetlands. It’s an unbelievable spot: you can be in native grassland, spotting planes as they come in to land at the airport or watching for Latham’s snipes and waterfowl, and all the while Parliament House hovers in the distance.

If I felt like soaking up some culture instead, I’d turn left at the lake, go past the black swans that hang out near Bowen Park and grab lunch at On Lake cafe.

I'd then head over to the National Gallery of Australia, my go-to of the city’s art hubs. No matter how many times I visit, I always find something new, including in the Sculpture Garden. Lindy Lee's Ouroboros (2024) is the Gallery's newest sculpture and I find it fascinating. 

I love live music and theatre so as evening approaches, I’d go into the city for a show. For dinner, I recommend grabbing ramen at Tenkomori, a great hole in the wall on Lyric Lane, which winds between London Circuit and the theatre door at Canberra Theatre Centre.

Later, I’d make my way to the Melbourne Building to see what’s happening at Smith’s Alternative. It used to be a bookshop but these days it’s a cool spot for a drink and a gig – you might get jazz, folk, classical, big band, comedy or poetry. Canberra is full of quirky secrets and Smith’s is one of the best.

In 2025, GetAboutAble will transition to Empowering Experiences and will continue its mission to help the tourism industry create better experiences for people with disabilities. Go to empoweringxp.com.