Canberra - the beating heart and capital of Australia - is the country's largest inland city AND is also Australia's eighth-largest city too! It's a place where all Aussie kids remember visiting on that exciting school excursion, thanks to all those amazing things to do with kids!
Canberra really is an incredible destination when it comes to kids education, which is why we're excited to share with you our Canberra City Guide featuring our "Top 9 Family Attractions", with what is really only just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to some of the amazing family attractions that you can find in this fascinating city.
So make sure check out the entire Canberra City Guide which has been put together just for you, so you can enjoy that perfect family day out in Australia's capital city!
Main Image Credit: VisitCanberra
Image Credit: VisitCanberra
In this Canberra City Guide, we are thrilled to share with you our top 9 things to do with kids in Australia's capital, and we list some fun attractions perfect great for all ages!
We know budgets are a factor when travelling, especially with kids, so also in this Canberra City Guide we share with you some free things to enjoy that won't cost you anything!
We let you know how to get around Canberra without a car should you find yourselves needing alternative transportation, plus you can learn some super fun facts about Canberra too!
There is so much to see in and around the Canberra and ACT area, so we list one of our favourite day trips from the city, plus you can learn some famous faces who were born right in the city too!
So whether this is your first trip saying "Yes, take me to Canberra" or perhaps you've lived in the city for years but never explored and you wonder "What is there is to do near me in Canberra?", keep reading because we have the top 9 things to do with the family and kids...and so much more!
Image Credit: VisitCanberra
The area that you know as Canberra today has actually been inhabited by Indigenous Australians for nearly 21,000 years, with the Ngunnawal people representing the majority.
It was in the ealry 1800s that European settlement began, and this can be seen in such structures as St John's Anglican Church as well as Blundells Cottage.
Then, in 1901 the federation of the Australian colonies was formed, leading to a discussion as to whether Sydney or Melbourne should become the country's capital city.
The voting stalled, leading to a compromise that a new capital would be built in NSW, on the proviso that the new city stand at least 160km from Sydney. In 1913, Canberra was officially formed and named the new capital city of Australia.
What's amazing about Canberra is that the city lies in a very mountainous location, making it the only mainland city in the country where you can see snow-capped mountains in winter.
Today, Canberra is one of the best capital cities in the world to visit, as there are a host of things to enjoy including museums, national monumnets and federal government institutions - all offering an invaluable learning experience for children!
Image Credit: Matt Evans
Canberra is a city that every Australian child should visit, as there is a wealth of fun, educational and exciting things to do!
From the iconic Parliament Hill, to the colourful Australian National Botanic Gardens, you will be spoilt for choice!
Australia has some incredible wildlife, so attractions such as National Zoo and Aquarium are perfect to really experience some amazing creatures up close!
Canberra is also filled with opportunities of discovery, so destinations such as Questacon are a must for those curious little ones!
You can't visit Canberra without exploring the city's amazing museums, such as the fascinating National Dinosaur Museum, the fascinating Canberra Museum and Gallery, and even the National Museum of Australia.
From the nature filled Cockington Green Gardens, to the playful Lake Burley Griffin, and everything in between, Canberra really is an amazing place for families - with so much to see, do, learn and explore!
Image Credit: Tourism Australia
Getting around Canberra without a car is really easy thanks to the great public transporation system they have.
First, if you're looking for a cost-effective and easy public transportation option to take you throughout the city, don't miss taking advantage of Canberra's public buses and light rail.
One of the best ways to see Canberra's iconic sights in one easy loop is to use the Red Explorer Loop Bus.
The bus departs from Canberra Museum and Gallery at regular times from Monday through to Saturday. You don't need to make a booking, just turn up 10 minutes prior a scheduled departure time and buy your ticket on the bus!
Then, you have the Light Rail services that operate between Gungahlin and the city up to every 5 to 15 minutes from 6am to 11pm daily. There are even late-night services on Friday and Saturday evenings too, that run until 12:30am.
As for buses, Transport Canberra's bus routes offer a convenient and cheap way for families to get around the capital. These also include easy access (i.e. no step) buses for those with reduced mobility, and these are available on the high frequency routes known as "Rapid services"
It's also worth exploring the MyWay smartcard, which is a prepaid ticketing system that you can purchase and recharge at select locations across Canberra. Daily tickets are ideal for sightseeing and they are also valid until midnight on the day of purchase. Kids under five years travel free.
For more information, just visit VisitCanberra
There are SO many great events happening in Canberra across the year, but one of the most iconic has to be the very colourful Floriade, whichalso happens to be "Australia's Biggest Celebration of Spring"! Held in Canberra's beautiful Commonwealth Park, right on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, Floriade attracts around half a million visitors annually!
With colourful flowers, entertainment, sculptures and displays, Floriade follows a different theme every year so you can keep going back and always see something new and exciting! An Australian event not to be missed for those nature loving families!
Image Credit: VisitCanberra
Our Top 9 Fun Things To Do With The Kids In Canberra
1Questacon - National Science and Technology Centre
Science and technology is made fun for kids at Canberra's iconic Questacon - a staple for all Aussie kids! at this fun, fascinating and extraordinary museum filled with interactive experiences, kids can engage in the wonders of science with over 200 interactive exhibits within eight galleries. Whatever the age, Questacon has something for you!
Questacon even has the Mini Q for those future scientists up to 6 years old. Here they can enjoy a custom-built area perfect for those growing and enquisitive minds where they can imagine themselves as astronauts, or space scientists as they explore mass, fluids, magnification, and more! Then for the over 7s you can find Q Lab, where microscopes, slow-motion and live demonstrations await! Science IS fun at Questacon!
Image Credit: Benny Samuel on Unsplash
The National Dinosaur Museum began life with a small collection of models back in 1993, and has now grown to one of Australia's largest permanent displays of dinosaur and prehistoric fossil materials!
During your prehistorically inspired visit, the whole family can deep dive into the planet's long and dynamic history as you explore life-like dinosaur models, as well as full skeletons, skulls, and even animatronic dinosaurs! The kids will love to navigate through millions of years of earth’s ancient history! The National Dinosaur Museum also offers guided tours as well as birthday party options too
Image Credit: National Dinosaur Museum
Cockington Green Gardens is perfect for families who love exploring the outdoors, strolling through gardens, taking in the wonders of nature and everything that goes with them - they even have nearly 35,000 flowers on display!
The highlight for most who visit (especially kids!) are the incredible meticulously crafted miniature buildings, all set amongst beautiful landscaped gardens and really do look so real! Make sure you get up close to look at the details, from the tiny windows to wildlife in the gardens!
Image Credit: VisitCanberra
An animal-tastic day awaits at the National Zoo and Aquarium, where you can come face to face with some of the most amazing land animals on our planet, PLUS delve into what lies beneath our waters (and no kids, you don't have to get wet!) This fun attraction is Australia's only combined Zoo and Aquarium, so just imagine all the fun encounters you can have.
Set across 7 hectares of land only 5 minutes outside the centre of Canberra, this popular zoo and aquarium is where you can hand feed a tiger, or maybe you'd like to hand feed a shark! With talks, feedings, and even more WILD experiences, there is so much wildlife fun to be had at this Canberra destination.
Image Credit: Tourism Australia
Splash Waterpark is a staple of Canberra kids, as this popular (yet seasonal) Canberra waterpark is ready to offer a host of family splash-tastic fun, complete with pools, slides and plenty of fun in the sun!
From mid-November that water fun begins with a host of activities and adventures waiting to be had for all ages. One of the highlights for kids is always the super fun colourful slides that you will find yourselves heading down again, and again, and again! (They even offer "all slides, all day" tickets for those who can't get enough!) Slip, slop, slap, slide and SPLASH the day away at Big Splash Waterpark!
Image Credit: Big Splash Waterpark
Vertikal Indoor Snow Sports is a wonderful indoor skiing facility where kids as young as 3 years can try their hand at skiing, and snowboarding for those over 7 years!
They offer group lessons, as well as private lessons, and even membership if you want to really find your feet on the snow. Perfect for beginners wanting to learn the basics, as well as experienced skiiers wanting to learn and practice new skills, Vertikal Indoor Snow Sports is the ideal place for all experience levels! Complete with a delicious pizzeria too! Bring your own ski kit or use theirs.
Image Credit: Vertikal Indoor Snow Sports
Indoor bouldering fun for families and kids over 6 years at BlocHaus Bouldering Canberra! Here kids can enjoy a host of challenges and experiences that will build confidence and keep them healthy and fit as they take on the various climbs on the bouldering wall! The climbs are colour coded based on their levels of difficulty, so you know kids can take on what is right for their experience.
BlocHaus also have a family area where families can safely boulder together, plus they offer kids programs too! Complete with shop and cafe on site, active kids will love this fun activity where they can literally climb the walls until their hearts content!
Image Credit: BlocHaus
Canberra Reptile Zoo is a zoo with a difference, as here you can come face to face with over 50 different species of reptiles and frogs, offering a unique family day out for the family!
Kids can learn all about these amazing creatures, which also helps break any barriers if they might have feared them in the past. Say hello to Brown Tree Snakes, see Death Adders up close, and even study the Darwin Python as it slithers in front of you! Also keep an eye out for super cool creatures such as the Eatern Water Dragons, as well as Geckos and Skinks. Canberra Reptile Zoo really is a zoo with a difference!
Image Credit: Canberra Reptile Zoo
Great family fun in the play and pay Yarralumla Play Station, where a host of kids fun awaits! The whole family can enjoy rides on the fun miniature train, or try your skills on one of the two mini golf courses (or try both, why not!). There are also some adorable farm animals who are ready to say hello as well!
Also at this fun Play Station is a Ye Olde Lolly Shoppe for those sweet tooths in the family, as well as a cafe all offering amazing views over Lake Burley Griffin! With kids birthday parties too, there is certainly a reason they call it a PLAY station!
Image Credit: Yarralumla Play Station
Famous Canberrans!
Mia Wasikowska
Mia Wasikowska is an Australian actress who debuted on the TV series All Saints.
She has appeared in films such as Alice In Wonderland and Jane Eyre.
Image Credit: Gage Skidmore
Sigrid Thornton
Sigrid Thornton is an Australian actress best known for her roles in SeaChange and The Man From Snowy River.
She was awarded an Order of Australia medal during the Queen's Birthday Honour in 2019.
Image Credit: Eva Rinaldi
5 Fun Canberra Facts
Impress your friends with your Canberra knowledge!
- The city of Canberra was built with the sole purpose of being Australia's capital - mid-way between Melbourne and Sydney!
- Even though it was an American named Walter Burley Griffin who received all the credit for designing the city, it was actually his wife Marion who did all the drawings that were presented to the assessors to win the bid!
- One of the names suggested for Canberra was "possum"!
- The lastime Canberra saw snow was 1968!
- Canberra is incredibly welcoming, and has been known to be one of the cleanest, safest and most beautiful capital cities in the world!
Free Things To do Canberra
Lake Burley Griffin
Lake Burley Griffin really is the heart of Canberra, offering so much family fun in the sun. This popular family destination is an ideal water playground for rowers, kayakers, stand-up paddle boarders and even those who enjoy a spot of fishing. If being on the water isn't for you, don't worry as Lake Burley Griffin has 40km of shoreline perfect for cyclists and walkers, plus nothing beats a picnic in its numerous parks and gardens!
For those families hoping for a more leisurely experience, why not take a cruise or catch a ferry, or simply enjoy the views from one of the many cafes and restaurants right on the water.
Image Credit: Raelle Gann-Owens on Unsplash
Canberra Museum and Gallery
The Canberra Museum and Gallery is so much more than a free admission museum. This ACT staple for families offers a number of learning experiences for kids, with an emphasis on art and history.
They also offer afternoons of structured workshops led by local artists, ideal for kids aged 4 to 12. Plus each session has different themes so you can keep going back! Don't miss those toddler friendly workshops too, perfect for those little artists who want to explore through interactive play, and yes, they can get messy! A fun Canberra experience for kids where their imaginations can run away with them!
Image Credit: Canberra Museum and Gallery
Australian War Memorial
A moving and important expeirence for the whole family, the Australian War Memorial houses exhibitions, as well as memorials, and even artifacts all related to Australia’s military history. Throughout the exhibits you’ll find an amazing collection of items that tell the stories of the wars and those who were involved. You can see actual tanks, planes, and submarines, and even a huge range of weapons (some still in working order).
The galleries are organized by era, so you can move through the various wars sequentially so children can understand the timeline, with exhibitions on the Boer War, WWI, WWII, and more. You can also see a gallery dedicated to Australian service personnel who’ve served since 1945.
Image Credit: Tourism Australia
National Museum of Australia
The fascianting and engaging National Museum of Australia is an amazing museum experience for the whole family, where exhibitions bring to life the rich and diverse stories of the country through their compelling objects, ideas and events, plus you can find a number of experiences created escpecially for kids!
Children can discover the incredible stories of the vast and vibrant Australian continent in the Great Southern Land gallery, before they can hear shared stories and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who for tens of thousands of years have called these lands home. Don't miss the Disocvery Centre for kids too!
Image Credit: VisitCanberra
Australian National Botanic Gardens
The Australian National Botanic Gardens really are nature at it's best, as here you can explore an impressive scientific collection of native plants from all across the country! These incredible gardens also cultivate plants which are threatened in the wild, meaning during your visit you can learn all about how the ANBG are helping protect them against extinction, which is amazing!
The Australian National Botanic Gardens are home to over 4,500 species of plants, and is the only place where you can see an incredible variety of native Australian plants all in the one location! With exhibitions, a treehouse, and an impressive canopy in Rainforest Gully, this attraction is not to be missed.
Image Credit: Tourism Australia
Catriona Rowntree goes on a foodie adventure in Canberra | Getaway
Located only 40km from the centre of Canberra near Paddys River, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve can be found nestled within the Tidbinbilla Valley as well as surrounded by the Namadgi National Park, making the drive and destination an experience all in itself!
With playgrounds, BBQ and picnic facilities, and even an outdoor theatre, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve really is the perfect nature based family day trip from Canberra!
Photo by Douglas Lima on Unsplash
The Tidbinbilla Valley has had a really key role in the ACT's nature conservation efforts since back in 1936, and was actually gazetted as a nature reserve and national park later on in 1971. Today, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve holds a truly special place within Australia, and YOU can visit!
The name ‘Tidbinbilla’ is actually derived from the Ngunnawal word ‘Jedbinbilla’ meaning ‘where boys become men’. The Ngunnawal people are the true custodials of the lands, having lived and gathered in the valley and its surrounding mountains for tens of thousands of years.
The Tidbinbilla Valley is also a reflection of the region's European history, with evidence of century old earth cottages and eucalyptus oil distillation, offering stark reminders of the lives of pioneers who made their homes here in the mid 1800s through to the mid-1900s.
Today, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve calls visitors from all over the country and the world, thanks to the reserves impressive range of native Australian animals who live within the various habitats including wetlands, grasslands, wet and dry forests and woodlands.
Don't miss your chance either to spot the Brush-tailed Rock-Wallabies - Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is the only place in the ACT where you can find them!
Here’s our top 4 Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve things to do:
- Enjoy the Nature Discovery Playground
- Explore The Sanctuary
- Deep Dive into the 17 hectares of Eucalyptus Forest
- Join a Guided Ranger Tour
We hope you found this content useful! Please share with your friends, and if you have any comments, or want to let us know what we can do to further help you find fun days out with the family, then just email our team at [email protected]!
Let's get the family adventure started!
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Lisa
Lisa has been a content writer for Family Days Out for nearly 10 years, and a keen travel writer for nearly 20. She loves experiencing the best of a city, discovering the many things to do and immersing herself in the culture, and sharing these experiences with others through her writing.
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