Spas, wine tours, and ways to relax in Canberra
Updated 26 Jul 2024
Spend a long weekend relaxing in luxury in Canberra. Who's up for long lunches, wine tours, and massages?
Discover the best way to rest and recover after a long week of work with some of Canberra's most relaxed locations. With activities to suit every kind of leisure, you can find your zen with a spa treatment, food & wine tour, or a self-propelled boat cruise around Lake Burley Griffin. Whether you've come to Canberra to explore with a crew or on your own, there are endless ways to enjoy the tranquillity of the capital city for a weekend trip.
Friday afternoon
Check into your own private bell tent or tiny home at Cubby and Co, disconnecting from the virtual world and sinking into your own private, outdoor oasis. Nestled in the vines at Mount Majura Vineyard, sits a collective of bell tents and tiny homes with breathtaking views. Cubby and Co recently extended their offering to the beautiful bushland of the Yass River Valley at Yarrh Wines, which is 45 minutes from the city centre and 10 minutes from Murrumbateman. Offering getaways with the bare necessities, including a bed, books and board games, an evening at Cubby and Co is a chance to leave it all behind and unwind.
If indoor accommodation is more your style, enjoy the luxury of a stay at the Ovolo Nishi hotel in the creative New Acton precinct; a perfect base to begin exploring the sights of the vibrant city.
Friday night
After settling in, enjoy releasing the reigns and letting awarded chefs feed you, with the ever-changing chef-set menu at Pilot Restaurant. A small venue with only 22 seats, a meal at Pilot is sure to impress.
For a nightcap, duck into Bar Rochford, winner of Gourmet Traveller’s 2018 Bar of the Year, for a delicious cocktail in a spot that spins vinyl records and lights table-top candles for unbeatable ambiance.
Saturday
Saturday morning
Start your morning with a coffee or lazy brunch at Mocan & Green Grout and enjoy the laid-back environment of this eco-friendly café. They serve fair trade coffee, source produce from local farmers, and grow their herbs in a planter at the front door. Or right around the corner, try out Rebel Rebel. Offering all-day dining, this eatery in the heart of Acton features a beautifully designed 50-seat dining room, framed by angular beams of recycled public-housing timber.
After breakfast, take a peaceful stroll around the Australian National Botanic Gardens, which gives you the chance to explore one-fifth of Australia’s diverse and spectacular flora in Canberra’s bushland setting. Treat yourself at the cafe, bookshop, or day spa while you're there.
Saturday afternoon
When it’s time to eat, why not try a bit of everything by enjoying an afternoon well spent with an Eat Canberra Food Tour? Discover some of the best eats and hidden gems in the nation’s capital on a relaxed afternoon out with plenty of background on the food you’ll eat and the places you’ll feast in.
Saturday night
After a big day of food and exploration, you’ll want to take it slow at a casual spot like Parlour. Set amongst the historic NewActon precinct, Parlour is a dining and drinking experience like no other in Canberra. Open until late, Parlour offers Spanish inspired tapas, local and international boutique wine, and classic-yet-obscure cocktails, all delivered with friendly and personalised service.
Parlour's environment is ideal for late nights - they welcome the night-cappers, celebrators, gourmet grazers, and wine lovers. The perfect way to end a perfect day, this popular spot is neighbours with the artsy Palace Electric Cinemas.
Sunday
Sunday morning
Start the day with a luxurious treatment at Hale to escape to a place of complete indulgence and relaxation.
Take in a long brunch at Eighty/Twenty on Lonsdale Street in Braddon, where the philosophy is that clean, natural and unprocessed food should be eaten 80 percent of the time so that the remaining 20 per cent of food can be a little cheekier. The meals at Eighty/Twenty are beautifully presented and leave you feeling refuelled in the best way. Lonsdale Street is perfect for a leisurely stroll and people-watching, lined with many charming boutique shops to browse through.
Sunday afternoon
Enjoy the guidance of the experts on board a Van Du Vin tour of the Canberra Wine District, where you’ll discover Canberra’s best boutique wineries in the private luxury of your very own tour car. Van Du Vin can design a tour around your wine preferences - whichever drop you like, you'll be sure to meet the winemakers and owners on your tour.
Before you end a weekend of soaking up all the rest and relaxation Canberra has to offer, spend some time reconnecting with nature on Lake Burley Griffin. Enjoy a cruisey ride around the lake in your very own private GoBoat or Love Boat. Explore the famous lake and all its waterside attractions from the comfort of an exclusive electric boat, where you can be your own captain with no boat license or previous boating experience required.
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