The perfect Canberra itinerary for families

Carla GrossettiBy Carla Grossetti
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Canberra has long been a beacon for families and, these days, there are more and more reasons than ever to visit the compact national capital.

Day one

Morning

Drift above the skies of the nation’s capital with Balloon Aloft and you will see the city laid out before you, with the Brindabella Range swathed in fog during winter. You’ll also see the wheel-and-spoke street plan laid out by architect and city planner Walter Burley Griffin and the grand buildings dotted around the lake named after the famed American. The flight (suitable for children aged seven and over) will be followed by a breakfast (with bubbles for adults) at the Hyatt’s Promenade Café where each family member will receive a commemorative flight certificate.

Balloon rides in Canberra
Take a morning hot air balloon ride with Balloon Aloft. (HCreations Photography For Visit Canberra)

Midday

After the excitement of dawn, make the most of a day of dazzling Canberra sunshine by visiting Mt Majura where you can learn firsthand about the First People’s connection with the land. A two-hour Dhawura Tour includes an Indigenous interpretation of the landscape with a member of the Nugunawal people. Discover insights into the cultural significance of scar trees, where bark was removed to make canoes, shelters and coolamons (water carriers), as well as the native habitat, specifically bush foods and medicines and their traditional uses.

Evening

The National Dinosaur Museum offers after-hours tours during school holidays that shine a light on reptiles of the Mesozoic era. Various one-hour torch-lit tours (scheduled to start at 5.30pm and 6.30pm) guide visitors past dino dioramas and into darkened galleries to see gargantuan fossil replicas in exhibitions that bring the ancient predators to life. Although there is a minimum age requirement of eight, the program includes tours aimed at children aged four to 10, which often include workshops to make fossil replicas. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Day two

Morning

Strike a balance between ‘what the kids want to do’ and ‘what the adults want to do’ and meet in the middle for a visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens , a stone’s throw from Canberra’s CBD. The gardens, which open from 8.30am, support a living collection of some 70,000 plants, and have been designed as a place for discovery and play with themed collections dotted around the 40-hectare property. Children can look for water dragons in the Tasmanian Garden Ponds, connect the dots between activity stations along the Children’s Discovery Trail and visit the two-storey Treehouse in the paperbark garden. Refuel on waffles at the popular Pollen Café .

Pollen Cafe, Canberra
Pop in for a feed at the Pollen Café in Canberra.

Midday

You don’t need to be an experienced equestrian to join Burnelee Excursions On Horseback for a one-hour ride near Murrumbateman, just over 30 minutes’ drive from Canberra’s CBD. The property has miles and miles of bushland for lessons and trail rides suitable for families with children aged eight and over. Clip-clop through the rolling countryside on Billie the Brumby and maybe even learn to canter across open paddocks on your Bush Experience, where you will likely encounter local wildlife such as kangaroos, echidnas, wedge-tailed eagles and wallabies. Visit nearby Robyn Rowe Chocolates for hot chocolates all round.

Burnelee Excursions, Canberra
For something a little different, go for a family horse ride with Burnelee Excursions.

Evening

Check out the National Zoo & Aquarium before checking into your accommodation at Jamala Wildlife Lodge in order to maximise the amount of time you get to spend in your suite, which will offer its own unique wildlife experience. Stay in one of the Jungle Bungalows , where lions, tigers and cheetahs prowl outside your big picture window, or in the Giraffe Treehouses within the enclosure that houses the African mammals. Guests at Jamala Wildlife Lodge also receive exclusive access to the zoo on the day of their departure.

National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra
Spend a family fun day at the National Zoo and Acquarium in Canberra.

Day three

Morning

Dedicate most of the morning to bouncing between Canberra’s main cultural attractions, all of which cater to families. The must-visits include: Questacon to see the whimsically arranged Clockwork Universe, which explores scientific theories of astronomy, and RoboQ, a mechanical humanoid; the CSIRO Discovery Centre (currently closed but due to reopen to the public for pre-booked visits during school holidays soon; check online for updates); and the Australian Institute Of Sport , where competitive families can channel their inner champion in the interactive Sportex exhibit (AIS Tours for the general public are suspended until 2022; check online for updates). Head to the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery Of Australia to create crazy reflections in Bert Flugelman’s iconic steel Cones and take in some history at Parliament House .

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT
Bert Flugelman’s Cones at the NGA.

Midday

Take to the waters of Lake Burley Griffin on a GoBoat . No boat license or experience is required to take the electric picnic boats for a loop around the lake, which on a fine day, mirrors the olive-green trees and blue of the sky. You can order a GoBoat Nibble + Nourish grazing platter to go, or pack your own picnic for a cruise up the Central Basin to Springbank Island, where you will find barbecue facilities and undercover seating. Score a shady spot for a siesta under the weeping willows, which hang like leafy green curtains over the lake.

Evening

Arrive at Nils Desperandum as its silhouette starts to sharpen against the fading backdrop of Tidbinbilla Range . No, this rustic rammed earth cottage does not have wi-fi. Nor does it have electricity. What it does have is a fire pit located under a vast sky that might just help families break their tech addiction. Visit in winter when the temperature slips overnight producing a magical thin film of frost that covers the grass, turning it silver.

Day four

Morning

Rise with the sun and you will likely see kangaroos, koalas, emus and the ever-elusive platypus around the gorgeous grounds of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve , 40 minutes from the city. The platypus are most active in August, when they are often spotted along the Sanctuary Loop . Take the 700-metre-long Koala Path to get to a grove of eucalypts where the arboreal marsupials reside high in the trees.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Canberra ACT
Take a sunrise trip to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve to spot some of Australia’s local creatures. (Visit Canberra)

Midday

The award-winning Pod Playground occupies prime real estate at the National Arboretum Canberra , offering panoramic views of the landscape stubbled with native grasses and plantings of more than 44,000 rare and significant trees. The acorn-themed playground, which opens at 7am, has climbing structures, slides, swings, giant acorn cubbies, and music-making instruments. Sign up for a kite-making workshop and float it high in the air from Dairy Farmers Hill. The nearby Children’s Garden also has a mix of active play spaces and areas designed for quiet contemplation.

The Pod Playground, Canberra
Head to the Pod Playground, located within the National Arboretum.

Evening

Watch the Giants play a game of Aussie Rules at Manuka Oval in winter before exploring the streets of Manuka, a neighbourhood crammed with restaurants and shops. Head to whimsical kids’ fashion store Wolfie , watch artists blow molten glass blobs into a desired shape at nearby Canberra Glassworks in Kingston and see what the fuss is about at local cult favourite Brodburger .

Brodburgers Canberra
Stop for a bite to eat at Brodurgers.

Neighbourhoods

Nicholls

Want to keep young minds occupied? Spend the day exploring Gold Creek Village in the suburb of Nicholls, which is dotted with family-friendly attractions: go to Cockington Green Gardens , Canberra Reptile Zoo , Canberra Walk-In Aviary and the National Dinosaur Museum .

Fyshwick

This once-scuzzy suburb has been spiffed up and is now home to designer op shops, artisan bakers, small-batch brewers and edgy markets. While thrill-seeking teens can test their skills at Vertikal Indoor Snow Sports , both little and big kids will enjoy magical Quizzic Alley , home to the largest collection of Harry Potter merch in Australia.

Kingston

Hire bicycles for your brood to tackle the nine-kilometre Eastern Loop of the Lake Burley Griffin Circuit before returning to Kingston, one of the oldest suburbs in Canberra. The artistic inner-south hub is centred around some of Canberra’s historic buildings such as the Kingston Powerhouse and Former Transport Depot and less than 10 minutes from the city centre.

Lake Burley Griffin Canberra
Go for a family cycle around Lake Burley Griffin.

Getting from A to B

Canberra’s light rail network runs from the northern suburb of Gungahlin and into the CBD.

 

Transport Canberra also operates the public bus network, a convenient and cost-effective way to get around the city.

 

Download a city cycling map from Visit Canberra for city riding routes that pinpoint the perfect pit stops. The lake is surrounded by cycle paths and offers picturesque routes for a family bike ride. Share A Bike offers multiple automated bike rental machines. Neuron and Beam scooters are also great for getting around the city precinct for families with children over the age of 12.

 

Read more family travel tips on the Ultimate parents’ guide to our amazing Aussie cities.
Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

    Angela SaurineBy Angela Saurine
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    From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet. 

    Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it. 

    Budj Bim cultural landscape  

    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is on Gunditjmara Country. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim , ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas. 

    eel tank
    The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour 

    Dumawul walkingtour
    Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance.  The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.  

    Kooyoora walking tour
    Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Kingfisher Cruises  

    Kingfisher Cruises
    Cruising the Murray with Kingfisher Cruises. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises . Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.  

    wawa biik 

    Taungurung leaders
    Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik. 

    Bataluk Cultural Trail  

    Bataluk Trail
    Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.  

    Healesville Sanctuary  

    echidna at Healesville Sanctuary
    Get up close with a resident echidna at Healesville Sanctuary. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm. 

    The Grampians 

    Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians
    Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.