Just 3 hours' drive southwest of Sydney, Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is home to some of the country's most important political and administrative buildings, including Parliament House, the High Court, and the Australian War Memorial. Located in the heart of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Canberra is known for its picturesque parks, and stunning lakes, as well as its world-class museums, galleries, and buildings. This 3-day itinerary introduces you to some of the major attractions in the region, so you get a taste of what Canberra has to offer.
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Getting there
Driving from Sydney to Canberra takes slightly over 3 hours via M31 and you can fly between the cities in an hour. The Canberra XPLORER train operated by NSW TrainLink runs 3 times a day from Sydney Central Station to Canberra Kingston Station and takes less than 4 and a half hours. If you’re flying to Canberra or taking the train, getting around Canberra is easy as well; just take a bus, a taxi or hop on the Canberra Explorer Bus that regularly stops at major attractions throughout the day.
Alternatively, hire a rental car from RentalCars.com below and drive yourself around, like we did!
Alternatively, hire a rental car from RentalCars.com below and drive yourself around, like we did!
Day 1: Stop #1 - National Dinosaur Museum
Our first stop for the day was the National Dinosaur Museum in Nicholls.
The National Dinosaur Museum is home to one of the largest permanent displays of dinosaur in Australia and houses life-like dinosaur models as well as dinosaur skeletons and skulls where visitors can travel back to millions of years to discover what it looked like when these mighty creatures ruled our planet earth. Visit their website for information on tickets, timings and special events. There is ample free parking outside the museum.
Day 1: Stop #2 - Australian National Botanic Gardens
Our next stop was the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Acton.
The Australian National Botanic Gardens maintains and displays a collection of native plants from all parts of Australia. While entry to the garden is free, parking fees apply when using the carpark onsite; more details on visiting the gardens can be found in their website. The Gardens offer various walks and tours for the visitors which can be found in Parks Australia’s website. We took the Main Path Walk, which is a 1.4km easy circuit walk; the kids and the adults alike enjoyed the walk, specifically the arid Red Centre Garden and the Rock Garden. The Main Path is well paved and is wheelchair accessible. We easily spent a couple of hours in the Gardens.
| Australian National Botanic Gardens – Main Path Walk – Key Facts | |
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| Trailhead | Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre |
| Trail Type | Loop |
| Distance | 1.4km |
| Duration | 1 - 2 hours (leisurely walk) |
| Accumulated Elevation Gain | 18m |
| Difficulty | Grade 2 (well paved, wheelchair accessible) |
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Day 1: Last Stop - Telstra Tower
Our next and final stop for the day was Telstra Tower, one of Canberra's most visited tourist attractions.
Staying over 195 meters above the summit of Black Mountain, Telstra Tower offers spectacular 360 degree views of the city and the surrounding countryside. Information on tickets and timing can be found in their website. The views from the tower were truly spectacular!
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We then checked into our hotel for a good night’s sleep.
Pro Tip:
If you can’t make it to Telstra Tower, Mount Ainslie Lookout offers an equally impressive vantage point. Located just a short drive or hike from the city centre, it provides spectacular 360-degree views of Canberra, including iconic sights like Lake Burley Griffin, the Australian War Memorial, and Parliament House. Mount Ainslie is perfect for a sunset or early morning visit, when the soft light bathes the city in a golden glow.
There’s no entry fee at Mount Ainslie Lookout, making it a great, cost-effective alternative to Telstra Tower, especially if you’re after panoramic views and want to soak in the city’s natural beauty without the need for tickets or specific opening hours. It’s an ideal spot for taking memorable photos, and the views stretch far beyond Canberra’s borders, allowing you to appreciate the surrounding countryside as well!
If you can’t make it to Telstra Tower, Mount Ainslie Lookout offers an equally impressive vantage point. Located just a short drive or hike from the city centre, it provides spectacular 360-degree views of Canberra, including iconic sights like Lake Burley Griffin, the Australian War Memorial, and Parliament House. Mount Ainslie is perfect for a sunset or early morning visit, when the soft light bathes the city in a golden glow.
There’s no entry fee at Mount Ainslie Lookout, making it a great, cost-effective alternative to Telstra Tower, especially if you’re after panoramic views and want to soak in the city’s natural beauty without the need for tickets or specific opening hours. It’s an ideal spot for taking memorable photos, and the views stretch far beyond Canberra’s borders, allowing you to appreciate the surrounding countryside as well!
Day 2: Stop #1 - Australian Parliament House
After breakfast, we headed to the Australian Parliament House. Plentiful parking is available in their Forecourt Basement (paid) carpark.
Explore the Parliament of Australia at your own pace or go on a guided tour of the Parliament House, the details of which can be found on their website. Entry into the Parliament House is free however check their website if the visit will need to be pre-booked. When we visited, we were given a 1.5-hour timeslot to explore the Parliament House, which was adequate for us.
Day 2: Stop #2 - Old Parliament House & The Gardens
A short walk across the Parliament House is the National Heritage listed Old Parliament House that is currently the home to the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD).
The walk via the Federation Mall itself was very pleasing. However, if you’d like to take your car to the Old Parliament House, plentiful parking is available in front of the building but do note that parking fees may apply.
Like the Australian Parliament House, entry to MoAD is free however bookings are encouraged. More information about visiting the museum can be found on their website. A place of great historical significance, MoAD is worth visiting when you’re in Canberra! We spent around an hour in the Old Parliament House. The view from outside the Old Parliament House, overlooking Anzac Parade, Australian War Memorial and Mount Ainslie was spectacular!
On either side of the Old Parliament House are the Senate Garden and the House of Representatives Garden, within which are located two main rose gardens. Senate Garden includes the Broinowski Rose Garden and the Rex Hazlewood Rose Garden, while the Ladies Rose Garden and the Macarthur Rose Garden are within the House of Representatives Garden. The Rose Gardens were spectacular and are a must-visit!
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Day 2: Last Stop - Anzac Parade & Australian War Memorial
Our next and the final stop for the day was the Australian War Memorial via the Anzac Parade. Ample free parking is available in the P1 Visitor Carpark.
Entry to the Australian War Memorial is free however bookings are essential. If time permits, we definitely recommend attending the Last Post Ceremony in the Commemorative Courtyard, commencing at approx. 4:45PM every day. Each night, the ceremony shares the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour and visitors will be able to lay wreaths and floral tributes beside the Pool of Reflection, a moment of goosebumps. All visitors require a free timed ticket to attend the Last Post Ceremony as well. More information about your visit to the Memorial can be found on their website.
We then headed back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep.
Pro Tip:
If you're in Canberra during Spring, make sure to visit Floriade, Australia’s biggest celebration of spring, which draws thousands of visitors to Canberra each year. Held in Commonwealth Park, the festival (it's FREE entry!) runs for a month, typically from mid-September to mid-October. As you stroll through vibrant displays of over a million blooming flowers, you’ll be treated to a breathtaking array of colours and scents. Floriade isn’t just about flowers though – there’s also live music, markets, and food stalls featuring local and international cuisine. For families, there are activities to keep the kids entertained, including workshops and educational talks about sustainability and gardening. If you're into photography, the displays offer countless opportunities for capturing the beauty of the season!
Be sure to check the Floriade website for up-to-date information on events and activities. And for an even more magical experience, consider visiting Floriade NightFest, when the garden is illuminated with stunning lights and features live performances and night markets.
If you're in Canberra during Spring, make sure to visit Floriade, Australia’s biggest celebration of spring, which draws thousands of visitors to Canberra each year. Held in Commonwealth Park, the festival (it's FREE entry!) runs for a month, typically from mid-September to mid-October. As you stroll through vibrant displays of over a million blooming flowers, you’ll be treated to a breathtaking array of colours and scents. Floriade isn’t just about flowers though – there’s also live music, markets, and food stalls featuring local and international cuisine. For families, there are activities to keep the kids entertained, including workshops and educational talks about sustainability and gardening. If you're into photography, the displays offer countless opportunities for capturing the beauty of the season!
Be sure to check the Floriade website for up-to-date information on events and activities. And for an even more magical experience, consider visiting Floriade NightFest, when the garden is illuminated with stunning lights and features live performances and night markets.
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Day 3: Stop #1 - Royal Australian Mint
After breakfast, we headed to the Royal Australian Mint, the sole producer of all of Australia's circulating coins.
Entry to the Royal Australian Mint is free and there is ample free parking on-site. Sign up for a free guided tour of the facility and witness the robots making their way through the factory tirelessly producing new coins to meet Australia’s needs! At the end of the tour, don’t forget to visit the Mint Coin Shop to mint your own $1 coin on their Gallery Press. All necessary information for your visit can be found on their website.
Photo Credit: Royal Australian Mint
Day 3: Stop #2 - Cockington Green Gardens
Our next stop was the Cockington Green Gardens in Nicholls. Free parking is available in front of the Gardens.
Within the Gardens, you will witness the spectacular display of meticulously handcrafted miniature buildings from around the world. The miniatures were truly fascinating and looked so real! We completed our experience with a fun ride on the miniature steam train and the kids loved it! Information on tickets and timing can be found on their website. We easily spent a couple of hours in the Gardens.
Photo Credit: Cockington Green Gardens
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Day 3: Last Stop - Warri Reserve Rest Area
It was then time for us to head back to Sydney. Instead of taking the boring M31 motorway, we wanted to drive through the countryside so we chose to take the Kings Hwy/B52 and then the Princes Hwy/A1 back to Sydney. This route gets you back to Sydney via some of the most beautiful countryside sceneries and via south coast however keep in mind that this is a big detour and takes almost twice the time than what M31 takes! We briefly stopped at the Warri Reserve Rest Area for our lunch break.
The rest area is part of the Warri Reserve Campsite that sits along the Shoalhaven River. After lunch at the picnic table, we spent some time exploring this gorgeous place and the kids had fun playing in the water.
We then headed back to Sydney. Welcome back home!
Here’re few other famous attractions in the region for you to explore, if you have got more time:
Otherwise, if you'd rather like to do something quite different than visiting an attraction, hire a GoBoat and chart your own course on Lake Burley Griffin. Hire a GoBoat to be your own captain, via the link below:
- FREE to visit attractions (General admission is free however entry fees may apply to special sessions/exhibits!)
- Paid Attractions
- Questacon (National Science and Technology Centre)
- National Zoo and Aquarium
- Canberra Reptile Zoo
- Canberra Walk-in Aviary
- Lookouts / Picnic Spots
Otherwise, if you'd rather like to do something quite different than visiting an attraction, hire a GoBoat and chart your own course on Lake Burley Griffin. Hire a GoBoat to be your own captain, via the link below:
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