Nicknamed Australia’s Bush Capital because of the forests surrounding it, Canberra is a fascinating city that blends nature with excellent museums, restaurants, wine and rich cultural heritage. Nearby Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve offers a chance to view koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and other species endemic to Australia.
Canberra boasts two parliaments; the New Parliament sits behind the old one, and from its rooftop one can enjoy superb panoramic city views. The city is also famous for Questacon, its National Science and Technology Centre that offers workshops, a chance to interact with robots and other fun activities. In a similar vein, there’s NASA’s Deep Space Communication Complex in Tidbinbilla Valley where visitors can see all sorts of space memorabilia including a rock from the moon that is 3.8 billion years old.
What we love about Canberra
- The city hosts numerous festivals and events including the annual Canberra Balloon Spectacular, one of the biggest hot air balloon events on earth.
- There are more than 30 wine cellars to visit and sample the area’s excellent wine.
- It’s the ideal base from which to explore the country on a road trip – Sydney is just 3 hours away and the Pacific Coastline a 2-hour drive.
- It’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with so many activities to enjoy.
Canberra is completely different from any other Australian city, making a Canberra trip a unique experience. This fascinating city is full of history, nature, culture and plenty of fun. Whether you’re an art aficionado, or would prefer to go camping or hiking, love gourmet food and fabulous wine, or enjoy exploring museums, you can do it all in Canberra. Travel to Canberra in 2024 with Thompsons Holidays on an unforgettable journey.
Canberra offers a wide range of activities, most of them located around the city’s beautiful man-made lake, Lake Burley Griffin. The entire city was planned and built by Walter Burley Griffin in the 1920s. Canberra was chosen as the country’s capital as it’s exactly halfway between Australia’s most popular cities, Sydney and Melbourne, both of which were vying for the honour of being chosen as the capital.
While it may not be as famous as both Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra offers plenty of sights to see and great activities, including museums and monuments to explore, markets to shop in, great wine, beer, and whiskey to sample and vibrant café culture.
Top things to do in Canberra
- Walk from Commonwealth Bridge to Kings Avenue Bridge on the bridge to bridge walk around Lake Burley Griffin.
- Explore Canberra’s National Museum, which offers an insight into Australia’s history.
- Discover the stars in NASA’s Deep Space Communication Complex.
- Enjoy more than 200 interactive science exhibits at Questacon.
- Sample superb street food at the Old Bus Depot Market on a Sunday.
- For the best view of the city, head for the top of the Telstra Tower.
- Sample a selection of the city’s fabulous craft beers on a Beer Tour.
- Take a day trip to the beach at Bateman’s Bay.
- See Canberra from the sky on an exciting hot air balloon ride over the city.
- Explore Canberra’s cool-climate wine regions.
- Embark on an Australian-style safari in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
- Discover an incredible selection of art in the National Gallery of Australia.
Enjoy adventure activities like hiking, camping, horseback riding, and fishing. Or, visit the city during the Flower Festival, Floriade. Visit Australia and explore Canberra with Thompsons Holidays. Book your package today.
