Even though I’d definitely class myself as a Melbournian these days (sorry mum!) I’m a very proud Canberra born and raised gal. My family and a good whack of my friends are in Canberra, so I visit there several times a year. I quite often get readers asking me about my favourite things to do in Canberra. Some of them (like drinking wine with my parents in their living room, having dinner with my gay husbands in Queanbeyan or drinking beer on my friend’s porch) aren’t an option for most people but here’s a more public friendly list of awesome things to do in Canberra.
7 Awesome Things To Do In Canberra
1. Have pizza and beer at Public
My parents and my brother-in-law live a few minutes away from Manuka so I spend a lot of time there. Manuka is a little hub of boutique shops and cafes and it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for a designer gift, some great books or a good coffee. Public is my favourite and although some die-hard Canberrans might think it’s a bit of an obvious choice, I love it. It’s right on the corner of Flinders Way and Franklin Street and they’ve got outdoor seating, a tasty menu and a variety of different beer and cider on tap. What more could you want really?
2. Run the Bridge to Bridge
I totally understand that not everyone likes Canberra – that’s cool. We don’t all have to like the same things. It’s when people start calling Canberra ugly that I really get my cranky pants on. Canberra is STUNNING and the area around the lake is divine. I do the Bridge to Bridge (about 5km) every single time I’m there, rain, hail or shine. If you’ve never been to Canberra it’s the perfect way to check out some of the main attractions – The National Library, The National Portrait Gallery, the fountain and the Carillon. I usually park near the library and run in a circle over both bridges and come back to where I started – there’s a cafe right nearby so you can get a coffee and an ice cream when you’re done. It’s definitely one of the many awesome things to do in Canberra.
3. Spend an afternoon at the National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery is one of my favourite places in Canberra. I’ll often go to the cafe and work from there for a few hours before hitting up the gallery. Also, the gift shop is one of the most tightly curated in Canberra. They have amazing jewellery, handbags and books. Definitely worth a visit. And it’s beautifully temperate all year round – I know that’s a weird thing to say but Canberra businesses tend to over or under heat their buildings but this one is always perfect.
4. Get coffee at Lonsdale Street Roasters
I never used to be that weird about coffee but since living in Melbourne, I’ve become very fussy. Canberra is one of the few places outside of Melbourne that has decent coffee almost anywhere. My favourite place is Lonsdale St Roasters. They’ve opened it all up recently and it’s a fabulous place to work or hang out with friends.
5. Shop in Braddon
I constantly get asked where the best place to shop in Canberra are and as I’m from Melbourne. I always go to shops that I know will have different stuff to Melbourne and most of those are in Braddon. I love Pink Inc, Unit Concepts and The Hive. Department of The Exterior and Things of Desire in Manuka are also beautiful.
6. Grab a drink at Tilley’s
Tilley’s in Lyneham is one of the coolest places you can go in Canberra. It’s big and kind of dark and mysterious with old-fashioned booths and mood lighting. They often have music acts and there’s plenty of outdoor seating too. It opened in the 80s and it has a really awesome history. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re venturing out of the city centre.
7. Meet friends in New Acton
New Acton is one of my new favourite places in Canberra. It’s just a little bit out of the main part of the city with lovely little cafes, restaurants, bars and a cinema. I’ve found myself spending a lot of time there when I’m in Canberra. I’ve also Hotel Hotel is an awesome place to stay if you’re visiting from out of town.
Extra reading for those travel bugs…
7 Cheap Ways To Travel When You Have No Money
9 Things You Don’t Need To Pack For Travel
5 Ways To Cope With Frequent Travel
Are you from or have you been to Canberra? Any cool places you want to add in the comments? I’d love to check them out next time I’m in town!
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