Canberra is an easy family holiday destination guaranteed to engage and entertain the kids. Here are some of the top experiences in the ACT for families
The nation’s capital offers buckets of fun for all ages, from toddler-friendly Canberra attractions to exciting experiences for teens. Interactive science at Questacon, dinosaurs, a dress-up museum, miniature train & bike rides provide plenty of school holiday stimulation.
Don’t miss these fantastic things to do on a family trip to Canberra!
Best outdoor activities for kids in Canberra
1. National Zoo & Aquarium
The combined National Zoo & Aquarium is located on around 18ha of land at Yarralumla, just five minutes’ drive from the centre of Canberra. It has a wide variety of native and exotic animals and an open range section.
Aside from getting up close to Sumatran tigers, ring-tailed lemurs and zebra sharks, kids can let loose in the Adventureland playground or get hands-on during the Keeper for a Day program. For the ultimate experience, take the five-hour Family Wonders of Wildlife Tour. Designed particularly for families with younger children, kids can help provide food and enrichment to a whole variety of critters.
The National Zoo is also home to Jamala Wildlife Lodge, a unique accommodation experience suitable for children four and over (with further age restrictions on some Jungle Bungalows).
2. Pod Playground at the National Arboretum
Designed for children of all ages, the award-winning POD Playground is based on the idea of seeds as the beginning of life in the forest. The playground features acorn cubbies connected by rope tunnels and tube slides, as well as climbing nets for younger children.
It’s located at the National Arboretum, which was established by the ACT government after the devastating 2003 bushfires which burnt a significant portion of the territory, including residential areas and pine plantations.
Parents can soak up the views across Canberra with a coffee from the Village Centre while kids busy themselves playing in the giant acorn cubbies and making music in the banksia pods.
3. Cockington Green Gardens
Journey around the globe without leaving the country at the award-winning Cockington Green Gardens, where you’ll find meticulously recreated landmarks from as far afield as Scotland and Peru. Kids will love riding the miniature steam train and peering into the Waverley dollhouse, followed by afternoon tea overlooking the beautifully landscaped grounds.
4. Boundless All-Abilities Playground
Within Kings Park on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, Boundless Playground was built to celebrate the city’s centenary. It’s the first all-abilities playground in the nation’s capital and is packed with state-of-the-art equipment that encourages kids to climb, slide and dig for sandpit treasures.
5. Yarralumla Play Station
The Yarralumla Play Station has been entertaining families since 1973, with a miniature railway, miniature golf courses and a petting farm among its attractions.
The Lake Walter Miniature Golf course is sure to delight light-hearted adaptations of some of the city’s landmarks. They include a mini-Lake Burley Griffin, the Parliamentary Triangle and the Commonwealth and Kings Avenue Bridges.
The miniature farm will delight kids with dozens of animals, including a miniature cow, alpacas, ponies, sheep, pigs, goats, turkeys, chickens and ducks. After riding the miniature train, Bluebell, through the original tunnel, stop and have a bite to eat at the Station Stop Café, perhaps followed by an ice-cream.
6. Explore Canberra by bike
Enjoy a leisurely walk or bike ride around Lake Burley Griffin, taking in many of the city’s iconic attractions en route. The path stretches for 30 kilometres, ranging from the natural (wetlands, bays and woods) to the monumental, taking in the National Gallery, National Museum, Parliament House and more.
The circuit is divided into three easy rides.The most popular is the five kilometre-long Central Loop, also known as the ‘Bridge to Bridge’, which takes you between the lake’s two bridges. There’s also the 16-kilometre Western Loop or the nine kilometre-long Eastern Loop.
Interrupt your cycling with a spin in one of Capital Paddle’s classic paddleboats, or take an electric GOBOAT from Kingston Foreshore to explore the lake’s islands. There are several cafes along the way — or pack some sandwiches and stop in one of the many beautiful parks that dot the shoreline for a picnic lunch.
Tip: The ultra family-friendly East Hotel Canberra offers bikes for guest use.
7. Enlighten Festival
Culture and creativity shine bright at the annual Enlighten Festival, which encompasses five events beginning in late February or March. It kicks off with Enlighten Illuminations, which sees large-scale projections on iconic buildings including the National Portrait Gallery, National Library of Australia and Australian Parliament House.
Wake up to the view of hot air balloons floating across the city during the Canberra Balloon Spectacular, and celebrate the city’s birthday with great food and tunes at Commonwealth Park on Canberra Day. Entry to events is free, but attendees must book in advance.
8. Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Spot wildlife including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, emus and perhaps even an elusive platypus at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, just 45 minutes’ drive from the Canberra CBD.
This nature reserve isn’t just about the animals – there are also wonderful walks showing off the bushland and views over ridges, valleys and peaks. There are 22 marked trails, ranging from a 15-minute walk to full-day hikes. Just grab a map from the visitor’s centre, or download it online.
Gibraltar Peak has a spectacular outlook over the city, as well as the chance to see rock climbers dance up the granite. The walk takes a few hours, so pack a picnic. The 2km Sanctuary Loop is an easier option, following a boardwalk past sculptures and over wetlands, with pools perfect for platypus spotting, if you’re quiet and lucky.
Kids can play on the Nature Discovery Playground before enjoying a picnic or barbecue. Regular guided activities cover topics such as Australian plants, animals and habitats, wetlands and waterbirds. You can also learn about Indigenous culture and heritage at The Sanctuary. School holidays are a great time to visit, with lots of activities to keep the little ones busy.
9. Corin Forest
Billed as the most accessible and affordable alpine resort in Australia, and the closest to both Sydney and Canberra, Corin Forest offers a variety of activities to keep families entertained year-round.
Through the wonders of technology, the resort aims to provide a cheap and fun first snow experience in winter with everything from snowball fights, building a snowman and tobogganing in the purpose-built snowplay area, to learning to ski on the Ski Slope, which has an easy-to-use magic carpet lift and gentle terrain. In summer, ride the Alpine Slide as it descends 1.2km through the mountain ash trees.
10. Floriade
With roving circus performers, a giant Ferris wheel and miniature train rides, Floriade is a fantastic time for families to visit Canberra. For 30 days across September and October, Commonwealth Park comes alive with this festival of flowers, which also includes live music performances and other entertainment and activities. Dogs’ Day Out is an annual highlight of the program — a special day when visitors can bring their furry friends along to frolic amongst the flowers.
11. Mountain biking in Stromlo Forest Park
An epic network of mountain bike trails awaits just 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre at Stromlo Forest Park in the heart of the Molonglo Valley. Surrounded by spectacular scenery, Stromlo’s unique blend of terrain, natural obstacles and hand-built features makes for a great day out. See the trail map here.
12. Canberra Centenary Trail
This 145km track around the city may not be the first thing you think of for a family adventure, but perhaps it should be. Designed as a three-day cycle or seven-day walk, the Canberra Centenary Trail was opened in 2013 to mark 100 years of the capital.
The 9km northern section from Hall Village to One Tree Hill is a family-friendly highlight: there are sweeping views of the city and a scramble to the summit, before you answer the call of Hall’s ice creameries, cafés and brewery. A shorter, southern option follows the track from Kambah Pool to the lookout over Red Rocks Gorge, returning to the pool for a cooling swim.
13. Commonwealth Park
Commonwealth Park wraps around the northern side of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin. The 34.5 hectare park is home to a monster-sized castle playground complete with slides and tunnels for the kids. Originally designed by Dame Sylvia Crowe in the 1960s, it’s continued to evolve over the decades, now boasting play areas, water features, the Stage 88 outdoor amphitheatre and generous bike and hiking trails. For extra family fun, follow the Art in the Park Adventure Map or spot colourful native birds on the Tweet Trail.
14. Hot air balloon ride over Canberra
Soar over Parliament House and Lake Burley Griffin on a magnificent sunrise hot air balloon ride with Balloon Aloft. All flights are conducted by CASA-approved pilots, and last between 45 minutes and an hour. The experience is available for families with kids aged six and over. The Canberra Balloon Spectacular, held in March each year, is a great time to do it, with balloonists from around Australia flying over the nation’s capital each morning.
Best indoor activities for kids in Canberra
1. Questacon
Travel from the heart of a beehive all the way to outer space at this super fun science museum. Located in the Parliamentary Triangle, Questacon has eight themed galleries packed with interactive exhibits exploring the worlds of science and technology. Kids can feel the force of an earthquake in the Awesome Earth exhibit, peer through microscopes in the Q Lab and tinker away on art and design projects in The Shed.
Questacon is one of Canberra’s most popular family museums, so timed sessions apply and tickets must be pre-booked online, including those for babies and children.
2. National Dinosaur Museum
With the largest permanent display of dinosaur fossils in Australia, the National Dinosaur Museum forms part of Canberra’s Gold Creek Village. Whilst there’s a fascinating array of skeletons, skulls and murals on display, it’s the lifelike models and animatronic dinosaurs (complete with roars and blinks) that always leave the biggest impression. The gift shop is a must-visit, selling a fascinating range of natural history books, dinosaur models, apparel, and toys.
3. PlayUP at the Museum of Australian Democracy
Understanding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child might seem overwhelming for young kids, but PlayUP makes it accessible through a range of interactive exhibits. Located at the Museum of Australian Democracy, this engaging family space celebrates all things kids via listening pods, a roleplay Kindness Café, a fuzzy felt wall and craft activities. Bookings are essential.
4. Royal Australian Mint
Ever wanted to see where Australia’s circulating coins are made? Head to the Royal Australian Mint for one of its fascinating guided tours to get a behind-the-scenes look. Kids will love watching the coin-making robots in action and can challenge themselves on the Mint Treasure Hunt, then mint their very own $1 coin.
5. National Library of Australia
A day filled with books is a good day! The National Library of Australia hosts plenty of events and activities for kids, especially during school holidays. Kids can take part in a creative writing workshops, join in story time or get crafty with hands-on activities – so be sure to check the events calendar and see what’s on.
The library’s Bookplate cafe is a great place to have a relaxed bite to eat with lakeside views from the terrace (and plenty of space for the kids to run around).
6. Power Kart Raceway
Do your kids have a need for speed? Get straight into fun mode with a visit to Power Kart Raceway – an adrenalin-charged racing experience using electric go-karts on a Formula One style indoor circuit. Anyone over six years old and 124cm tall can drive, though kids aged four to seven can also join in the fun with Power Kart Kids mini sessions. The complex is also home to an indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf course, VR games, escape rooms and arcade machines.
7. The Australian Institute of Sport
Go behind the scenes at Australia’s elite athlete training institute – the Australian Institute of Sport. One of Canberra’s most popular attractions, you might even catch some top Aussie athletes in training when you visit! Challenge yourself in Sportex, a fun interactive sports exhibit set amongst a unique collection of Australian sporting memorabilia. Best of all, Sportex is included free as part of every AIS Tour.
8. Old Bus Depot Markets
The Old Bus Depot Markets are held in Kingston every Sunday from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. The market is a mix of locally-made handicrafts, gourmet foods, and live entertainment, all housed in a heritage industrial building. Themed events add extra flair to this must-visit Canberra gem – the first Sunday of the month is ‘Multicultural Sunday’, while the third Sunday is dedicated to bespoke ‘designer’ fashion and the fourth Sunday celebrates collectable and vintage items.
9. National Museum of Australia
The National Museum of Australia is dedicated to telling the great stories about Australia and Australians. Explore interactive displays, permanent galleries and informative exhibitions covering 50,000 years of indigenous heritage, settlement since 1788 and major milestones in our history.
NMA also houses the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre, a colourful, immersive play space for little ones of all abilities. Kids up to six years of age can explore five sensory stories from Australia’s history, each encouraging a different style of play. The museum also offers a kid-friendly audio tour, guided tours and VR experiences (recommended for teens over 13).
Be sure to venture outdoors to NMA’s Garden of Australian Dreams where the kids can run wild over a giant map of northern Australia and even play hide and seek in a tunnel that extends beneath a model Uluru.
10. National Gallery of Australia
Get arty at the National Gallery of Australia, which houses over 160,000 individual artworks from around the world. The children’s progams here encourage kids to engage with art in a range of fun, stimulating interactive activities, including story-telling sessions, drawing classes and films. The Sculpture Garden and Australian Garden on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin are another highlight for families.
11. Australian War Memorial
Discover the stories of the men and women who have served — and continue to serve — our nation in conflict, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations around the world at this museum, shrine and research centre. While the Australian War Memorial is a poignant place to honour and remember our fallen soldiers, it’s also highly educational for young minds.
The attraction shares experiences of military personnel through exhibitions, artworks, large technology objects and personal records, such as letters and diaries. Children can learn about our involvement in global wars through the life-like dioramas and models of battle scenes, then get up close to a Gallipoli landing boat and military equipment marked with bullet holes.
Timed tickets to view galleries and special exhibitions, and to attend the daily Last Post Ceremony, must be booked in advance. Tickets may also be available at the Memorial entry, subject to capacity.
Where to stay in Canberra with kids
With free lollies in the lobby, Xboxes in rooms and kids’ mini bars, East Hotel is THE place for families to stay in Australia’s capital. It’s rare to find accommodation with designated kids’ rooms outside a tropical island resort, but East’s two-bedroom apartments have cubbies with bunk beds, Xbox One consoles, games, reading nooks and dress-up clothes.
The 140-room family-owned and operated hotel, located between the vibrant shopping and restaurant hubs of Kingston and Manuka, also offers free bikes of all sizes to explore the area. Its Italian restaurant, Agostinis, has a kids’ menu including pizza or pasta, gelato and a soft drink for $20.
Content contributors: Elisa Elwin, Angela Saurine, Megan Holbeck
Opening image: Discover science at Questacon. © VisitCanberra
