7 unexpected things to do in Canberra
Tell someone you’re visiting Canberra for a holiday and chances are they’ll roll their eyes and say, “Boring!”
That might have been true once, but Canberra no longer deserves its reputation as a cold and dreary ‘bush capital’ that has Questacon, Parliament House and little else to entice visitors.
In fact, it’s one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, with a blossoming café and restaurant scene and an ever-increasing number of tourist drawcards.
But guess what? The average Aussie has no idea they exist. Here are seven cool Canberra experiences you probably haven’t tried before.
1. Take an electric boat on Lake Burley Griffin
If you like the idea of boating but don’t care for the noise and stress and yahoos, then Lake Burley Griffin is for you. All watercraft must be either electric or sail/paddle powered, which makes for a much more tranquil experience.
Love Boats on the Kingston Foreshore has an armada of electric boats for hire, each with comfortable seating, a canopy, and a Bluetooth music system so you can choose the soundtrack.
There’s no need for a licence and you can take your electric boat all the way from the marina up to Springbank Island, getting a unique perspective on Canberra landmarks including Parliament House, the National Library, Black Mountain/Telstra Tower, the Captain Cook Memorial Jet and loads more. You can also BYO food and drinks to enjoy while aboard.
The boats do have windows to keep out wind and rain, but it’s an experience best savoured on a still and sunny day.
2. Sip a hot chocolate while stargazing
Snuggle into comfy camping chairs and warm your insides with a hot chocolate as knowledgeable astronomers explain our galaxy using only a light pointer and infectious enthusiasm. Your hosts love answering questions, no matter how simple or complex, and they can even tell the difference between a satellite and a space station!
This is the Canberra Stargazing experience, conducted on the shores of the Murrumbidgee River about 25 minutes from the heart of Canberra.
Feel small as you come to understand the vast distances and time involved in the universe and marvel at astrological bodies you can only see through a powerful telescope. Observing a star cluster or the rings of Saturn (which appear a burning white from Earth) feels otherworldly – literally.
This is something adults and children alike can appreciate, and the visible constellations will change depending on the time of year, making return visits a must.
3. Sample some gin at The Canberra Distillery
The Murrumbateman wine region has become almost as famous as Mudgee and the Hunter Valley in recent years, but what you might not have heard is that gin distilleries are fast making a name for themselves in Canberra as well.
One of the gin OGs in this region is The Canberra Distillery, which started in owner Tim Reardon’s garage back in 2015. “We’ve been in business 11 years this year, so we’re Canberra’s oldest distillery,” says events and customer engagement manager, India Brown. “We moved to this location in 2018.”
Last year The Canberra Distillery received a grant from ACT Tourism to do some renovations and now the facility in the Mitchell industrial area has dedicated tasting and retail spaces to go along with the stills out the back.
Gin and whisky tastings are free and your hosts can tell you what to pair each one with, including locally made chocolate. One tasting session = one standard drink, so the designated driver can get involved, too. Gin varieties include Summer (with more than 30 botanicals), Winter (spiced and infused with basil) and Blood Orange. Our pick is the scrumptious Sloe Gin, which is a London dry gin infused with hand-picked sloe berries.
4. Work up a sweat in a floating sauna
Launched in late 2025, the Floating Sauna on Lake Burley Griffin is one of Canberra’s newest and most unique attractions. Tucked away on a bushy shorefront at Yarralumla, it comprises two authentic wood-fired saunas on a large deck overhanging the water.
Temperatures inside the saunas hover around 90ºC and on a cold Canberra day it can be enough to simply step out onto the deck and expose your skin to the frigid air. But in spring and summer you can plunge straight into the cooling waters of Lake Burley Griffin – a pool ladder lets you climb back up onto the dock.
The Floating Sauna is most popular during the colder months and on winter weekends, when over 100 people a day can sweat it out in its pinewood saunas. The sauna masters put in long shifts, with the first patrons often arriving at 6am for an invigorating pre-work sauna.
There are basic change rooms on site, but the nearest toilet is a bit of a walk and no towels are provided, so make sure to bring everything you need. You cannot make a booking less than 15 hours ahead – the sauna masters need to know when they’re working.
5. Enjoy the Kingston nightlife
If you want to experience some Canberra nightlife without the hassle of parking in the Civic precinct, head to Kennedy Street in Kingston.
Along this strip you’ll encounter several fine-dining restaurants, pizza parlours, south-east Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, and a sushi train.
If you feel like a tipple or two, you’ll find an extensive selection of drinking establishments including Queenies (a trendy gastropub with a 100 per cent gluten free menu), Kodiak (an American-style bar) and Tintino (a wine bar). More options await just around the corner, including the British-inspired Durham Castle Arms Pub and the Canadian-themed Caribou Kingston.
Another Kingston option is Eastlake Parade, which boasts an esplanade of cafés, bars and restaurants. If you want a good meal day or night, you’re sure to find something to suit your palate with Thai, Italian, Mexican, Nepalese and Chinese food all on offer. A couple of lakeside beers at The Dock on a sunny afternoon is a rewarding holiday experience.
6. Take a tour of the Royal Military College Duntroon
If you’re over 40 you might remember the TV ads promoting the Royal Military College Duntroon. What you might not know is that Duntroon is almost a small town unto itself and its sprawling, landscaped streets are open to the public.
The site was once a massive estate belonging to wealthy sheep farmer Robert Campbell. In 1912, the federal government compulsorily acquired the land to establish the military college, which opened in 1913. Robert Campbell’s manse-like home now serves as the officers’ mess.
Unlike many high-security military barracks around Australia, RMC Duntroon functions as an ungated or ‘open’ base during daytime hours. Members of the public are legally permitted to drive or walk through the base to view historical sites, provided they stay within the public areas and comply with security signage.
Historic attractions include Changi Chapel, which was built by Australian prisoners of war in Singapore in 1944. After the war ended, the chapel was brought back to Australia in pieces and remained in storage for more than 40 years. In 1988, it was reconstructed as a memorial to over 35,000 Australian prisoners of war.
You’re welcome to explore Duntroon yourself, or more in-depth guided tours are available with experts who can elaborate on the beautifully preserved history of this remarkable institution.
7. Raise a toast to the Hotel Kurrajong’s centenary
Restored with careful attention to period detail in 2014, the historic Hotel Kurrajong is celebrating its centenary in 2026. The hotel became synonymous with Prime Minister Ben Chifley, who lodged at the Kurrajong and would walk to work at Old Parliament House each morning – something you can re-enact on the Chifley Walk.
Historic photos of Canberra landmarks and portraits of prime ministers past line the Kurrajong’s art deco hallways and at present it has some special additions to celebrate its 100th year.
For instance, there’s a telephone box in the lobby where you can sit and listen to a recorded history of the hotel. Alternatively, Chifley’s Bar & Grill has introduced The Centenary cocktail, a mixture of lemon-scented gum gin, Lillet Blanc wine, honey and eucalyptus syrup, and lemon myrtle syrup. Each ingredient symbolises an era in the hotel’s existence and the finishing touch is an ice cube stamped with the hotel’s ‘100 years’ logo.
