Outdoor and nature

Drive up through Duntroon to the top of Mount Pleasant for beautiful views over Lake Burley Griffin, the Duntroon Royal Military College and Jerrabomberra Wetlands. Canberra Tracks signposting has wonderful historical facts about the areas below. Visit the grave of General Bridges, Australia’s  ...

Mulligans Flat has long been recognised as one of the best bird watching sites in the ACT by the Canberra Ornithologists Group. The area is also rich in frogs, reptiles, invertebrates and mammals. It includes many rare and uncommon species such as red-necked and swamp wallabies, sugar gliders,  ...

Venture into Namadgi to discover its Aboriginal heritage. Experience wonderful birdlife, picnic and fishing spots and fantastic bushwalks with scenic views. Hire a Personal Locator Beacon from the Namadgi Visitor Centre if you're going to be hiking in remote areas. Enjoy ranger guided walks or  ...

The National Arboretum is Canberra's newest attraction. It's a living museum, entertainment facility and events venue offering a unique visitor experience. Set on a 250 hectare site the Arboretum includes 100 forests of Australian natives and various rare and endangered trees from Australia and  ...

Australia's only combined Zoo and Aquarium is privately owned and situated just five minutes from the centre of Canberra. The National Zoo and Aquarium gives you an opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the world's most amazing creatures. With a wide variety of native and exotic  ...

These gardens offer a pleasant, rose filled place to pause in the heart of the Parliamentary Zone. Located on either side of Old Parliament House are the House of Representatives Garden and Senate Garden. Soon after parliament opened in 1927, sporting facilities for members within the gardens were  ...

See Walter Burley Griffin's grove of majestic Redwood trees. Take the self-guided tour along the three kilometre walking track or just relax and enjoy a picnic. The redwoods were planted against the advice of Canberra's Arborist, Thomas Charles Weston. Only 3,000 of the original 122,000 planted  ...

Walk the marked trail from Pine Island through open grassland to Point Hut Reserve. Enjoy flat ground that's ideal for walking and lovely views of the Murrumbidgee River. Pine Island is a popular barbeque and summer swimming area alongside the beautiful Murrumbidgee River. Point Hit Reserve has a  ...

Stop off en route to or from Tidbinbilla to take the children to the playground at Point Hut Pond Park. Make use of the barbeques and shaded areas. Walk around this serene park and it’s pond and enjoy great views of the hills. Toilet facilities and parking available. Dogs  ...

Come and experience one of the greatest educational fly fishing experiences in the country. Rainbow Springs provides unique teaching facilities surrounded by spring fed waters brimming with fish. The water is so clear you can see trophy rainbow and brown trout feeding in the shallows in the late  ...

South of the city centre, Red Hill offers an amazing lookout over many of our national icons and sweeping vistas of Canberra from the south. In autumn, the brilliant reds and oranges of the deciduous trees in the suburbs below are stunning. Combine the views with food and wine in one of the two  ...

This nature park commemorates the signing of the armistice on 11 November 1918 and the Aboriginal people who served in the armed forces. Walk through the park from the Australian War Memorial and join up with the Mount Ainslie Summit Trail. Make the most of the sealed trail through a series of  ...

Explore the historic Mount Stromlo site, a major observatory before the 2003 Canberra bushfires. Scope Mount Stromlo is now a world-class research and engineering facility. Take in sweeping views of the Brindabella Ranges, from the Cotter Dam to the Yass Valley. Cruise out by bike or foot. Try  ...

To get to Shepherds Lookout, start at the parking area three kilometres from the last traffic island on Stockdill Drive. Walk through Woodstock Nature Reserve to Shepherd’s Lookout for an impressive view along the Murrumbidgee. The return walk is only 600 metres; an easy 45 minutes. Look out for  ...

Enjoy what Spring and Summer have to offer by taking a walk around the beautiful Scented Rose Garden in Bywong. Choose from a selection of cakes, brunch or light lunch with a variety of refreshing drinks in their Teahouse. The Scented Rose Garden and Teahouse is perfect for functions. Open  ...

See koalas, emus, kangaroos, platypus, the endangered Brush-tail Rock-wallaby, reptiles, possums and echidnas in a natural setting. This unique outdoor attraction features high quality boardwalks and exhibits. Road- test the discovery playground. Ask about guided walks, activities and bush  ...

Experience invigorating views, flora and fauna on this four kilometre walk. Park your car or get dropped off at the beginning of Learmonth Drive and walk along the ridges. Alternately head towards almost the end of Learmonth Drive and start your walk from the spot where these images were  ...

Allow 2 to 2.5 hours for this 3.5 km walk with sandy river banks and views. It's mostly flat and easy. Watch out for the steep rocky section along the Molonglo River before the track leaves the river. Make use of toilets, picnic tables and wood-fired BBQs at Uriarra East and West Picnic areas. The  ...

Weston Park is a popular spot. Head to the beach and swimming area on the eastern shore. Ride your bikes on the cycle track that runs through the park. There's plenty of room and facilities for picnicking with picnic tables, electric barbecues and public toilets. Children will love the large  ...

If you feel like exploring parks in the nation's capital with the children, head to Yerrabi Ponds on Canberra’s north side. This skating park and children's playground is near Gungahlin Lakes. The undercover barbecues make it an ideal spot for a picnic lunch or dinner. Shaded areas will help  ...