Canberra: Essential Info
Updated: 2024
OVERVIEW
Canberra is an interesting and easy place to visit. The fact that it is a planned city (i.e. designed as a city from the beginning) makes it both unique and pleasant to swan around.
Getting around is easy by car or bicycle, and walking and public transport are not bad options either. It is lacking however in the shopping and nightlife department. With the events, however, Canberra is making an effort to punch above it's weight and compete with the big boys of Australian days out.
Take a look through our list below of all the essential information you will likely need before visiting Canberra and you will be ready for an incredible trip.
Canberra Essential Info
Getting Around
Walking
Canberra is spread out which makes it pleasant to walk around with its wide open spaces and greenery, however, the distances can be a bit of slog sometimes, so it's best to plan out your days so you don't have to walk too far. Most attractions are between Parliament House and the lake, which are all walkable to each other, or they are some distance away and need another form of transport to reach. You can walk around the CBD too, but it's small and there is not much there. For attractions not in the National Triangle area (Parliament House to the CBD), due to the distances involved, you will need another form of transport to reach them.
Bus
Buses are the main public transport option in Canberra and they may be useful for you to visit a couple of the attractions beyond the National Triangle area: the Royal Mint, or the National Museum (If you don't want to walk for 30+ minutes, or use a bike), or for getting between Parliament House and the CBD or your hotel. Buses can also be useful to access the airport. Unfortunately many major attractions that are close to the city centre are not served by the bus network (Botanic Gardens, Arboretum, Telstra Tower, Zoo, etc).
Ticketing: -
Cash is not accepted onboard. You will need a pre-paid ticket or a MyWay card. Pre-paid tickets can only be bought at vending machines at the major interchanges (including the city centre) and the airport and are available as a single or daily ticket. Fares for pre-paid tickets are $5 for a single or $9.60 for a daily.
MyWay is a card that can be topped up with credit and you simply tap your card on the bus (or light rail) to pay your fee. Make sure it has enough money on it to cover your journey before you board. You can buy MyWay cards from agents (various shops and at major interchanges) and top them up using vending machines at the airport, interchanges or light rail stops.
Adult fares are from $3.22 peak and $2.55 off-peak per journey with daily use caps of $9.60 during the week and $5.87 on weekends.
More information can be found by clicking this link: -
https://www.transport.act.gov.au/
Light Rail, Canberra © Visit Canberra
Light Rail
Canberra has a new light rail line running along Northbourne Avenue from the CBD north to Gungahlin. It could be useful to you if you are staying in one of the many hotels along this road and need to get to the CBD. During the week, trams arrive every 10 minutes during the day and every 6 minutes during the morning peak and from 3pm to 7pm. On weekends they arrive every 15 minutes. See above for ticketing and fares (the same as buses).
Share A Bike, Canberra © Visit Canberra
Cycling in Canberra
Cycling is an ideal way to get around Canberra due to it's wide open plan, many pleasant paths to take through parks and alongside the lake, and for practicality reasons: the distances between attractions can be too much to walk but are easy when on two wheels.
If you can't bring your own bike, there are two easy ways to hire one. Share A Bike has 10 stations located around the CBD and Parliament House area where you can take a bike using card payment. It costs $12 for 1hr, $24 for 4hr, or $36 for 24hr rental. Note that you have to return the bike to the station that you rent it from. Cycle Canberra hire bikes and can drop them off at your hotel for free. The rental costs $40 for 4hr or $50 per day but with significant discounts if you hire for multiple days.
Follow this link for more information on cycling in Canberra, including maps of cycle paths: www.transport.act.gov.au/travel-options/walking-and-cycling/cycling
Taxi / Rideshare
Rideshare operators, like Uber, and Taxis both operate in Canberra. They can be a convenient way to get between areas that are lacking in public transport and a bit too far to walk.
Driving
Having your own car in Canberra will be helpful if you plan to visit anything outside of the museums and institutions close to Parliament House due to the distances involved and lack of public transport (unless you cycle, which is great option in Canberra). Most area have ample parking and rates are reasonable compared to most city centres, with parking in the National Capital Area car parks being $3.80 per hour or $16.50 per day.
Car hire, Canberra © Visit Canberra
Car Rental/Share car
If you don't have your own car to get around, you could hire one so you can get around on your own schedule. Most of the major car rental companies are located at the airport and just north of the CBD.
Popcar have several on street cars for self-serve rental if you are a member.
Uber Carshare also operates in Canberra, allowing you to rent other peoples car.
Orientation
This link has a useful tourist map of Canberra: -
https://visitcanberra.com.au/Visit/Publications/city-map.pdf
Food
Canberra has an array of food options to try, including some very tempting fine-dining choices. Most of them are located in the CBD area and in Kingston. Wineries are also abundant near Canberra, so if vineyards are your thing make sure to go check some out on one of your days. If you like truffles, there is a truffle farm available to try truffle hunting followed by a degustation. There are also several food tour opperators you could join.
For more info on food in Canberra, try this link: -
https://www.agfg.com.au/restaurants/canberra
This link will show you some upmarket dining options: -
https://www.australia.com/en/places/canberra-and-surrounds/best-restaurants.html
This link will show you some cheap eats: -
Shopping
Canberra has some interesting shopping options that a worth a detour for. The museum shops are always worth dropping into for their unique items, homewares, and art pieces. The Old Bus Depot markets, open on Sunday's, has over 200 stalls selling a large range of products, including local and artisan (also note that the Glassworks is next door too). Another Sunday market operates at Haig Park, selling fresh produce and handmade products. This is located in Braddon, just north of the CBD, which has boutique shopping and cafes to explore.
For high street shopping, Canberra Centre in the CBD is the biggest. There are also malls in the suburbs. For outlet shopping, try the DFO just east of the city.
Click these two links for some more information about shopping in Canberra: -
visitcanberra.com.au/articles/10-must-visit-shopping-precincts-and-markets
www.australia.com/en/places/canberra-and-surrounds/shopping-in-canberra.html
Events in Canberra © Visit Canberra
Events
The following are the major events that take place in Canberra: -
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Australia Day - While the day is becoming increasingly controversial, taking in the day in Canberra can make it unique for you considering Canberra is capital. A festival like atmosphere of food stalls, performers, and a drone night show, over three days, was on display this year.
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National Multi-cultural Festival - this three day festival in February brings together the many nationalities of the Canberra community through food stalls and stage performances in the city centre.
The Enlighten Festival, over the first two weeks of March, includes the following:-
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Enlighten Illuminations - In March, this festival brings light projections and art installations to the National Triangle.
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Lights ! Canberra! Action! - 10 days of free films in the open air made by local talent.
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Canberra Balloon Spectacular - Multiple and strikingly designed hot air balloons take to the sky at 6am across 8 straight days. They take off from next to the National Library (weather permitting) and you can view them from around the lake.
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Symphony in the park - Free symphonic music on an open air stage from the Canberra Symphony Orchestra.
Additional major festival include: -
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National Folk Festival - celebrate folk music across 6 days at the end of March at the EPIC showgrounds.
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ANZAC day - The dawn service on April 25th is particularly notable in Canberra as it takes place at the Australian War Memorial, and is the biggest of its kind in the country.
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Floriade - In spring across an entire month (September to October), Canberra's flower festival takes place in commonwealth park and features over 1 million flowers. There is a marketplace, food stalls, and live music. The Nightfest lights everything up and brings entertainment and more great food.
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Windows to the world - Embassies of the world open up gates for you to explore and discover far flung cultures right here in Australia.
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Nara Candle Festival - The Japanese garden in Lennox gardens is made magical by being filled with candles. A lantern procession, cultural performances and Japanese food complete a special night.
Check out this link and see what events are on during your visit:
visitcanberra.com.au/articles/events-not-to-miss
Canberra Theatre © Visit Canberra
Nightlife and Theatre
The Canberra Theatre Centre hosts an array of performances across the year including theatre, comedy, acrobatics, music, and performances for children. Click this link to check out what they have on during your visit - canberratheatrecentre.com.au/
The Street Theatre is a smaller venue you may want to enjoy a show at.
Live music can be found in several venues in Canberra. Check this link for a run down of the options - canberra.com.au/study/student-guide/nightlife-and-live-music-scene
There are plenty of bars to discover, mostly in the city centre area or just north in Braddon, with a few more further north in Dickson. There are also some bars alongside the restaurants south of the lake in Kingston. There are also some clubs in the city centre.
This list highlights a few bars that are not so easy to find - visitcanberra.com.au/articles/best-hidden-bars
This link gives a list of some of the best bars in Canberra - www.australiantraveller.com/act/canberra/canberra-bars
Weather
Canberra has hot summers and colder winters than the other capital cities in Australia. It also has a greater variation of temperature during a single day than other aussie cities, so be prepared with the right clothing for your day. The city is known for its clear skies and clean air, hence why so many people get outdoors in Canberra.
Click here for more detailed information - canberra.com.au/live/moving-to-canberra/weather-and-climate
Best Time To Visit
This depends on what you are interested in doing. If you are hitting up the museums and galleries, your indoor adventures can take place in any weather, any time of year. If you want to explore the many gardens, arboretum, national botanic garden, or the zoo, it may be wise to choose a warmish season. Spring is probably the best time to visit, with plenty of flowers popping out and an average temperature high of 18 degrees. Autumn can be lovely with vibrant colours of falling leaves. Summer has an average temperature high of 28 degrees, so it can get hot, but it is a dry heat (not humid) so not too bad to travel in. Winter gets cold, so its best to avoid this time if you can.
Safety
As a tourist in Canberra there's nothing particularly different about visiting than any other major Australian city in terms of the precautions you should take (keep money safe, don't wander alone at night, etc). It is statistically safer than most Australian cities however, since it is both richer and less built up.
Areas around Canberra are prone to bush fires during the extended summer period. Always be sure to keep an eye on the news to make sure you don't unintentionally visit an area with an active bush fire.
If you find yourself visiting during a heat wave, take the obvious precautions we know in Australia to avoid sun damage, but also be aware to avoid dehydration and stay out of the sun during the middle of the day.
See more health and safety tips here.
History
The area now occupied by Canberra has a human history dating back tens of thousands of years with the Aboriginal groups in the area being the Ngunnawal, Ngunawal, and Ngambri people. Archeological evidence dates the occupation of the area back at least 21,000 years. Some of the rock art of the area sits in caves submerged in Lake Burley Griffin.
European settlement started after explorations in 1820 and a sheep farm was established in 1823. This encouraged others to follow and, as settlement grew, the Aboriginal presence dropped as their society was destroyed, they were dislocated from their lands, and introduced diseases took hold.
The oldest surviving building in Canberra, St John the Baptist church, was consecrated in 1845 alongside the schoolhouse bult next to it. Blundells cottage, located on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, was also built around the same time. Refer to out Things To Do page for information on visiting these attractions.
Canberra as a capital city came into being following a dispute between Melbourne and Sydney about who should be the capital following the decision for Australia to become a federation independent of Great Britain. The ACT (Australian Capital Territory) was carved out of New South Wales following the agreement in 1906. A design competition was launched in 1911 and 137 entries were received with Walter Burley Griffin being the winner. The first peg was driven into the ground in 1913. The development of the city was piecemeal up until the post-war period when Sir Robert Menzies, as prime minister, took it upon himself to improve the cities village like appearance. The lake was only completed in 1964.
Read more at the Wikipedia entry here - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canberra
Taronga Zoo, Sydney © Author
Where Next?
Canberra has a major city close to the north, the coast to the east, mountains to the south, and country to the west, so whatever you are after, there is somewhere close by to extend your trip.
Sydney - Only around 3 hours away, Sydney is the best city to visit for tourists in Australia due to it's iconic opera house and harbour bridge. The blue mountains are just as close and definately worth your time. Check out our guide to Sydney at this link.
Coastal NSW - Batemans bay in only 2 hours drive east of Canberra. From there, you can head north to Sydney or south to the border with Victoria. You could even loop around and back to Canberra along a different road to create a nice roadtrip. There are plenty of stunning landscapes and beaches to enjoy. Check out this guide for more information - visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast
Snowy Mountains - While the mountains have been mentioned in the Things To Do in Canberra page, as a trip for snow sports or to climb mount Kozzie, you can make a longer trip of it and spend a few days or a week here. Come during winter for the snow or summer for outdoor adventures.
Country NSW - West of Canberra are country towns like Young, Wagga Wagga, and the outback beyond this. This region is bread basket of Australia, producing 40% of Australia's agricultural economic returns from within the Murray-Darling basin.
Need info on 'How to get to Canberra?' or 'Where to stay?'
Go to the second page of our travel guide for the full run down.
Or, go to page 1 to discover all the 'Things to do'.
AUTHORED BY
Christopher Jubb, Founder of Travel Unpacked
More information available on our About page
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