What's on this winter
Updated 5 Jul 2024
Explore all the best things to do in Canberra this June, July, and August.
Canberra celebrates each season in style and winter is no exception. Why not have a snowball fight at Corin Forest, hunt for truffles, or wander through blockbuster exhibitions on display at national museums and galleries? Discover the best ways to embrace the chill and create unforgettable memories against the backdrop of Canberra's winter charm.
Immerse yourself in the warmth of art at blockbuster exhibitions
Discover the Australian story and beyond at Canberra's national museums and galleries. The National Gallery of Australia's latest major exhibition, Gauguin’s World: Tōna Iho, Tōna Ao, offers a rare opportunity to experience the enduring art of French Post-Impressionist Paul Gauguin. Featuring some of his most recognized masterpieces, many created in the Pacific region, the exhibition explores Gauguin’s life, work, artistic influences, and historical impact.
Exhibition realised with gratitude for exceptional loans from the Musée d'Orsay. Paul Gauguin,Tahitian women (Femmes de Tahiti)1891, Musée d’Orsay, Paris, gift of CountessVitali 1923. Photo: © GrandPalaisRmn (musée d'Orsay) / Hervé Lewandowski.
Taste treasured truffles
Enjoy a paddock to plate experience or join a truffle hunt as you sample the delights of the Canberra region’s truffle growers from mid-June through to August. Get involved with Canberra’s Truffle Season festivities including the much-awaited Truffle Festival returning this year. The prized Black Perigord truffle is on the menu at restaurants, cafes and wineries across the capital thanks to the region’s cool climate growing conditions.
Build a snowman at Corin Forest
You don’t have to travel to the ski fields to hit the slopes. Just 45 minutes from the city centre, Corin Forest has easy beginners’ slopes designed to show kids the snow ropes from tobogganing to the basics of snowboarding. Build snowmen or start an epic snowball fight before feasting on woodfired pizza and hot chocolate at the indoor cosy café.
Find a moment of calm amongst 44,000 trees
Just six kilometres from the city centre, this living collection of endangered and rare species also features spectacular views and remarkable architecture. Each July trees are lovingly wrapped in colourful scarves to keep them warm during winter. With an impressive 94 forests and 20 kilometres of multi-purpose trails, stroll or cycle through the trails that crisscross the National Arboretum Canberra.
Meet animals big and small
Diving, catching crustaceans, and racing each other through the water, the little penguins that call the National Zoo & Aquarium are always entertaining to watch. All named after famous rappers, these penguins are part of one of many breeding programs. Meet and feed giraffes, white lions, meerkats, owls and cheetahs.
Image by @harper.yeats
Indoor fun for friends and family
Step into the whimsical world of Hijinx Hotel and Holey Moley mini golf in the Canberra Centre for an indoor adventure like no other. From quick-play challenge rooms to mind-bending puzzles, Hijinx Hotel offers an unforgettable experience for all ages and group sizes. Plus, don't miss the chance to putt your way through all the uniquely themed mini-golf holes at Holey Moley. The fun continues with an array of arcade games, bowling, and immersive escape rooms at Kingpin.
Taste food flavoured by fire
Indulge in the cozy ambience of Canberra's newest culinary hotspots, where you can unwind by the fireplace and savour the best of seasonal produce.
In the heart of the city, enjoy Celebrity Chef Matt Moran’s two adjacent restaurants, Compa and &Sando. For a leisurely lunch with a view, head to Nick O’Leary’s restaurant and cellar door, Heywood, with vast views of the Brindabellas outside and a roaring log fire inside, you simply can’t go wrong. Or enter into a refined, completely vegetarian experience at Monster Kitchen and Bar at Ovolo Nishi. Here, you'll discover a menu of innovative snacks and share plates that celebrate the versatility of plant-based cuisine, all served in a stylish and welcoming atmosphere.
See sweeping views and endangered animals
Just a 45-minute drive from the city centre you’ll find Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Known for its amazing views and walks, the reserve helps protect and breed native, endangered animals. Winter is a great time to see superb lyrebirds, sight platypus in the sanctuary ponds, and listen to the calls of native frog species.
Time it right and in nearby Namadgi National Park you'll see snow capped mountains and 'roos hopping through winter scenes.
Sip craft brews and local gins
Taste award-winning craft beers at brewpub BentSpoke Brewing Co. in the heart of Braddon. Gin lovers flock to The Canberra Distillery famed for its collaborations and unique flavours. For those who fancy both, head to the Dairy Road precinct where you’ll find Capital Brewing Co. neighbouring Big River Distilling.
Not sure where to start? Join Dave’s Tours to taste all the capital’s best drinks or head on a foodie tour with Eat Canberra Food Tours for a relaxing day out.
Make your way through many markets
Experience the bustling ambience at the Capital Region Farmers Market at Exhibition Park, a Saturday morning staple, where over 100 stallholders sell everything from honey to nitrate-free bacon, accompanied by live music and delicious breakfast options. Or soak up the Sunday serenity at the Haig Park Village Markets in Braddon, where fresh produce, flowers, and local crafts create the perfect picnic atmosphere. Don't forget to explore The Little Burley Markets along Lake Burley Griffin on Saturdays or indulge in Canberra's iconic Sunday Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston.
Cheer on your team
Get ready to show your support and cheer on your favourite teams as winter brings plenty of thrilling home matches to Canberra's stadiums.
Cheer on the Canberra Raiders and Brumbies with plenty of home matches at GIO Stadium during winter. Manuka Oval will see the GIANTS take on fierce rivals throughout the AFL season. With heated rivalries and epic matches, winter in Canberra is the perfect time to come together, show your team spirit, and experience the excitement of top-tier sporting events. So, grab your mates, scarves, hats, and jerseys, and get ready to cheer on your team to glory.
See glass artists and actors in action
Canberra is well-known for its national galleries, but art lovers in the know flock to the local arts scene. Watch glassmakers working with 810-degree kilns in the hot shop at the Canberra Glassworks, see Sir Sidney Nolan's iconic paintings at the Canberra Museum and Gallery, or explore galleries nestled throughout the suburbs, including the newly revamped Tributary Projects.
While many are familiar with the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia as a cultural destination, there’s a lesser-known side to this iconic attraction that promises spine-tingling thrills. Join Tim the Yowie Man to discover the strange, the ghostly and the disturbing stories lurking in the National Film and Sound Archive basement and under the stairs… if you dare. Book soon as spots fill fast.
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