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Things to do in Canberra

Discover more than your typical getaway

Canberra is home to iconic national museums and galleries, sprawling vineyards, Australian landmarks and Ngunnawal cultural sites, sweeping city vistas, and mountain bike trails weaving through forests. Find more than you expect in Canberra.

National Portrait Gallery
A couple looking at Sidney Nolan's works.
Canberra Museum and Gallery
Guests viewing artwork at the Gallery of Small Things.
Gallery of Small Things

Museums and galleries

Canberra is well-known for its national attractions, but art lovers and history buffs in the know also love the city's local arts scene and heritage sites.

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Couple walking across bridge surrounded by large, green ferns.
Australian National Botanic Gardens
A family looking out over Lake Burley Griffin and the National Arboretum.
National Arboretum Canberra
Canberra Guided Tours

Outdoor adventures

Natural beauty is right on your doorstep in Canberra with popular lookouts, challenging hikes, and native animals in the wild. Discover waterfalls, gorges, forests, and snow-capped mountains just 45-minutes’ drive from the city at national parks and nature reserves.

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Pride performer dancing on top of the rainbow circle roundabout in Braddon, ACT with crowds watching. | © Cassie Plum Photography
SpringOUT
Couple examining a locally designed product at an auction that is part of the Design Canberra program of events.
Design Canberra

Events and festivals

This year, Canberra is putting on a show with blockbuster exhibitions adding to our famed museums and galleries, plus events celebrating everything you love from floral masterpieces and Aussie artists to cricket and live music.

Search Canberra’s event calendar to find what’s on during your next trip to the capital.

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Park ranger at Namadgi National Park
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Man and two women walking through nature reserve
Traditional Aboriginal Owners Corporation tour
A woman with art supplies sitting on a green hill.
National Arboretum Canberra
Artwork displayed in the National Museum of Australia.
National Museum of Australia

First Nations' art, history and tours

Immerse yourself in some of the oldest and richest cultures in human history with the extensive collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and history at Canberra’s museums and galleries. Take a tour with a local Ngunnawal elder or try your hand at traditional First Nations practices during a workshop at the National Arboretum.

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Man and woman having lunch outside with fields of vegetables growing in background
Pialligo Estate
Three friends clinking glasses over share platters at a winery.
Brindabella Hills Winery
A man pouring red wine into a woman's glass as they look out over Lerida Estate Winery.
Lerida Estate Winery

Canberra's wine district

Home to 140 vineyards and more than 40 wineries within 35 minutes’ drive of the city, Canberra's wine district is the perfect weekend getaway.  Find your new favourite drop as you visit cellar doors, meet the makers, and even stay overnight amongst the vines.

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A couple enjoying cocktails at Lazy Su in Braddon.
Lazy Su
Customers enjoying their meal in the outdoor dining area at Verity Lane Market.
Verity Lane Market
A group of friends dining at Rizla, a restaurant in Braddon.
Rizla

Foodie experiences

Canberra takes its foodie culture seriously. From award-winning coffee to long lunches and craft beers, tantalise your taste buds during your getaway to the capital.

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Mum and son holding hand in outside area of National Museum of Australia
National Museum of Australia
A group of children watching a science experiment at Questacon.
Questacon

Family fun

From playing with snow in forests to Questacon's science wonderland, the kids will want to keep coming back each school holidays.

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