This new bushwalking trail lets you experience Canberra's wild side

Lace up your hiking boots – a new outdoor adventure in our capital awaits.

While there are plenty of reasons to visit Canberra, this one deserves a spot near the top of your list. The newly opened Mindjagari Track is a network of hiking trails weaving through pristine bushland and rugged mountain terrain – designed to showcase the capital’s wild beauty and draw nature lovers from across the country.

All about the Mindjagari Track

At first glance, it might seem like just another bushwalk – but the Mindjagari Track is anything but ordinary. The new network spans roughly 14 kilometres between Fishing Gap and Johns Peak in the Tidbinbilla Range, a mountainous region deep in the ACT’s wilderness.

Tidbinbilla Ranges, ACT — Explore Canberra’s wilderness along the new Mindjagari Track. (Image: VisitCanberra)

It comprises four main ascending routes: the nine-kilometre Short ‘n’ Brutal, 11.5-kilometre Snowy Corner Traverse, 12.5-kilometre Banggu Loop and the 22-kilometre Full Traverse. The beauty of the Mindjagari Track is its choose-your-own-adventure style. Each route is connected via a series of trails and loops, so hikers can cut or extend their walk to suit.

You’ll be fully immersed in the Tidbinbilla Range’s remote landscape from the minute you take off, some of which was previously inaccessible to the public. Hikers will also be treated to sweeping views across the nearby Brindabellas and Kosciuszko National Park, home to the new Snowies Alpine Walk.

Wallaby in the Tidbinbilla Ranges, ACT — The Tidbinbilla Range is home to an abundance of native wildlife, including wallabies. (Image: Getty/Daniiielc)

Native wildlife like kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and echidnas are commonly sighted along the way, so keep your eyes peeled. Look a little closer and you may catch a glimpse of its smaller residents, too – from platypus and potoroos to critically endangered species like the northern corroboree frog and grassland earless dragon.

Your experience here will shift with the seasons. In winter, snow can drape the landscape in peaceful silence. Come spring and summer, wildflowers bloom and the Tidbinbilla Range bursts to life with colour and energy. Either way, you’ll see parts of this under-the-radar region few have laid eyes on, from subalpine woodlands and eucalypt forests to rocky outcrops and swampy wetlands.

What to expect

While the Mindjagari Track is an exciting addition to Canberra’s impressive collection of walks, it may not be for everyone. All four trails that ascend the range are listed as Grade 5 under the Australian Walking Track Grading System .

A Grade 5 classification means the terrain is steep, rough and challenging – best suited to very experienced hikers with advanced skills in navigation and first aid. Anyone planning to tackle the track should check their fitness, prepare for all conditions, plan ahead and monitor their progress along the way.

It’s important to note that camping is not permitted within Tidbinbilla. Failure to return before the park closes each day will prompt a search and rescue response. Carrying an emergency Personal Locator Beacon is highly recommended, too – mobile reception is unreliable at best – and can be hired from the visitor centre at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve .

Keen to explore the region but still finding your feet? No sweat – the reserve is also home to shorter tracks suitable for all abilities. There’s the 2.2-kilometre Wandarawari Track and four-kilometre Devils Gap Loop, as well as the wheelchair accessible 700-metre Koala Path and 2.1-kilometre Sanctuary Loop. Or check out nearby Namadgi National Park, another outdoor mecca full of walking trails.

The details

The new Mindjagari Track is accessed via the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, an approximate 45-minute drive (50 kilometres) from Canberra, ACT. All four routes start at the Mountain Creek car park, where hikers can leave their car for the day.

An entry fee is required, with varying prices depending on visitor type. Day passes for a private vehicle with up to eight seats will cost $15.53, while those travelling by coach pay $2.07 per passenger. If you plan on returning, annual passes are also available. You can purchase a pass online through Access Canberra or by popping into the visitor centre.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is open every day except Christmas, from 7:30am–6pm during winter and 7:30am–8pm in summer. However, it may close on days with a total fire ban, severe weather or for management. Visitor centre hours are 9am–5pm daily.

Enjoy the sunshine from one of these sky-high haunts.

You will see the nation’s capital in an entirely new context when you perch yourself at one of the best rooftop bars in Canberra. From sunset vistas over Lake Burley Griffin to lively venues with salsa, live music and luxe lounges, the nation’s capital has a lot to offer.  Here is our guide to the best rooftop bars in Canberra.

1. The Inn at Edgars

diners at Edgar’s Inn, Canberra — Edgar’s Inn is a serene haven for foodies looking for a hearty brunch.

Edgar’s Inn is an institution in Canberra. As well as being one of Canberra’s best places for brunch, it offers the kind of camaraderie that makes it a community hub. By day, the multi-venue destination is a place where families converge for coffee and croissants after Saturday soccer. As day turns to night, the bar transmogrifies into a buzzy night spot for a catch-up with the girls or cosy dinner date under a cloud of giggles and clinking glasses.  Follow the scent of wood smoke upstairs to The Inn where everything from carrots to cauliflower to premium wagyu gets kissed with fire over an asado grill. While the views from the rooftop aren’t sky high, this is prime real estate.

Address: Level 1, 1 Edgar Street, Ainslie

2. Highball

the rooftop bar at Highball, Canberra — Highball sits atop the Melbourne building overlooking London Circuit.

Canberrans know how to al fresco. And Highball feeds into their lofty ambitions. Come spring, you’ll see locals gathering here to admire the trees below with their canopy of feathery, iridescent green leaves. Canberra doesn’t have the towering skyscrapers and soaring views boasted by its big-city counterparts. But it still has some of the best rooftop bars in Australia. Sit – highball in hand, of course – at Highball , which sits atop the Melbourne building overlooking London Circuit. Given its proximity to Parliament House, you’ll find public servants here with all kinds of political persuasions. Sign up for Tuesday night salsa or cocktail-making classes. It’s definitely worth a tipple or two.

Address: Level 1, 75 London Circuit, Canberra City

3. Leyla Bar

the Leyla rooftop bar, Canberra — Leyla Bar features views of the Canberra city skyline.

It’s very easy to lift your spirits when you’re sitting, cocktail in hand, overlooking sweeping views of Canberra’s city skyline, Lake Burley Griffin, and beyond. Watch the sun set and pour liquid amber over some of the city’s most iconic buildings from Leyla Bar so you can contextualise your place in the nation’s capital. The bar is bright and breezy and a top spot for bar bites inflected with a Spanish accent. Canberra’s newest rooftop bar is on the rooftop of the Burbury Hotel in Barton. We recommend the cheese toastie with hot mustard and pickles and a glass of something local and funky.

Address: Level 7, 1 Burbury Close, Barton

4. Howling Moon

the rooftop bar at Howling Moon, Canberra — Head to the Howling Moon for a sundowner.

Looking for a central hotel close to all the action in Canberra? The Rex Hotel is located amid the hustle and bustle of Braddon. And the views are just as vibrant as the cocktails. Do a few laps of Lonsdale St and then retreat to the covered rooftop, which is in action year-round.  Howling Moon is one of the best rooftop bars in Canberra for its location. But there’s also plenty of green corners where you can sit and watch the sun dip over the distant hills. Order the aptly titled ‘Above the Avenue’ and wolf down some wood-fired pizzas. Howling at the moon optional.

Address: Level 6, 150 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon

5. Bar 59

the rooftop bar at Bar 59, Canberra — Sip on local spirits overlooking Lake Ginninderra. (Image: Bar 59)

Bump your way up one of the rutted mountain tracks of Mt Ainslie so you can earn your calories at Bar 59, atop the Mercure Canberra Belconnen . Bar 59 is your absolute go-to for its stunning outlook over Lake Ginninderra.  It’s open from 4pm until late on Thursdays and Fridays, where you can enjoy everything from local spirits and craft beers to wines and classic cocktails. Those who think Canberra remains forged around public servants and roundabouts need a rethink. Invite your cynical mates from Sydney for sunset cocktails using a smug tone (verging on victorious) to Bar 59 for live music on a Friday night. Take that Syd Angeles and Bris Vegas.

Address: 59 Cameron Avenue, Belconnen

6. OHNO!

the entrance to OHNO! rooftop bar in Canberra — Enter this buzzy bar for casual drinks.

OHNO! … is frankly more of a ‘hell yes’. It’s one of Canberra’s newest elevated bars and a standout on the casual drinking and dining scene. You might gather from the almighty Google that OHNO! is your go-to in Griffith. And it’s a civilised experience to be encouraged to wait upstairs for your table with a drink before you dine. Don’t miss out on the house DJs and do ask for the waiter’s advice when it comes to ordering off the menu (which is so extensive it reads like an instructional manual). It is quite likely you will go with the suggestion of mud crab with betel leaf, green papaya, coconut and salmon roe or the Japanese curry donut with apple, carrot, potato and onion. Expect an extensive wine list, too.

Address: 13 & 15 Flinders Way, Griffith

7. The Duxton

diners at The Duxton, Canberra — Enjoy hearty pub grub at The Duxton.

You might find yourself at The Duxton due to the insistence of your local mate, who raves about its Suits & Sips nights. We get it – your vibe is your tribe – but there are plenty of ways you can loosen the necktie at The Duxton.  The recently reimagined pub has DJs and hearty pub grub as well as lighter, healthier meals. Best of all: you can take in the sights of Canberra from an entirely new vantage point when perched at its new rooftop terrace, a leafy extension of The Loft. Let’s face it, enjoying the city views from the dynamic pub is a much better option than staying in at your Canberra accommodation in your PJs. You can also choose your own adventure in The Oak Room or Living Room downstairs.

Address: Corner Sargood and Macpherson Street, O’Connor

8. Yaki Boi

Bounce into Yaki Boi with a bit of swagger so you can feel at home among the rest of the pilgrims converging here for sunshine, pan-Asian snacks and spritzers. Consider your perch to be designed for prime people-watching with the crowd a mix of university students shuffling in after their last tutorial, and some local political pundits engaging in soft chit-chat in the corner. It’s not overstating it to say the Japanese fusion bites are fab. The cocktails are also fun and will get you very excited indeed about the prospect of hunkering down here for the evening. Another round is only an option if you order just one basket of dumplings. Head here for happy hour to beat the #cossylivs crisis.

Address: ORI Building, 72/30 Lonsdale St, Braddon.

9. Public Bar Manuka

the rooftop bar Public Bar Manuka, Canberra — Public Bar Manuka reels you in with its industrial-retro aesthetic.

Make sure you know how to pronounce Mahnika before you start waving your credit card around at Public Bar Manuka . Regardless of how many eye rolls you elicit from the locals if you pronounce the suburb ‘Muhnooka’, it has a ‘visitor’s welcome’ vibe that can’t be manufactured. Public Bar Manuka has a gritty, glam, industrial-retro aesthetic we love, with brass accent lighting, curved wooden tables and velvet chairs. But make no mistake: it’s the locals that hold this place together. Sit upstairs in the dining room and cocktail bar to enjoy a gossip and a giggle while looking out over the neighbourhood.

Address: Manuka Arcade, 1/33 Flinders Way, Griffith.

This new bushwalking trail lets you experience Canberra’s wild side