Within a short drive of the the Canberra centre, you can find plenty to see and do.
Namadgi National Park
At the northern end of the Australian Alps, the beautiful Namadgi National Park has colourful birdlife, numerous picnic areas and fishing spots. There are also enjoyable walks with alpine scenery, including ranger guided walks available.
The park covers much of the Australian Capital Territory at 105,900 hectares and has Mt Bimberi, the highest peak at 1911m. The wilderness surrounding Mt Bimberi is rugged, covered by low woodlands, you can go rock climbing and abseiling off the granite rock outcrops found in the park.
Aboriginal Culture
Evidence has been found that Aboriginals inhabited this region more than 21,000 years ago including during the last ice age. Sites remain that show how Aboriginals lived during this time, campsites with bone fragments, rock art sites, quarries where tools were made and sacred sites marked with stone.
From the 1960s to the 1980s, there were Space tracking stations located within the park. At Honeysuckle Creek, the first images of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon were received here.
Adjoining the park is the Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains to the south. Both the Bimberi and Scabby Range nature reserves, along with Brindabella National Park lie to the the north-east. During the winter, you can get chances to play in the snow and go on a ski tour, during the rest of the year, wilderness hiking and camping.
Lanyon
Lanyon is a working sheep farm, located some 30kms south from Canberra. There, they have exhibits relating to the Aboriginals of the area, dating back thousands of years. There are buildings from the early days of European settlement, a restored homestead built in 1859 and farm buildings from the 20th Century. Phone +061 2 6235 5677 for more information.
Australian Institute of Sport
Located in the suburb of Bruce, ACT, you can join guided tours at the Australian Institute of Sport. An elite athlete acts as the guide, and will show you many of the world class facilities used to train Australia’s best athletes, you may even get a chance to see them train.
On tour, you also get to visit the Sportex exhibit - here, you can try the virtual interactive exhibits, testing your skills at virtual football, cycling, wheelchair basketball and rock climbing. You can even match try your golfing skills against world champions. Phone +061 2 6214 1010 for further information and tour details.
Australian Reptile Centre
At Gold Creek Village on the Barton Highway you can see everything to do with reptiles, including prehistoric ones. They have a wonderful collection of snakes, including Taipans and Death Adders. Deadly but beautiful. Phone +061 2 6253 8533.
Mt Stromlo Observatory
You can take a self guided tour of this space facility, it researches the very beginning of our known universe. About 20 minutes drive from the centre of Canberra, it is located just off Cotter Rd.
Canberra Deep Space Complex
Part of NASA’s Deep Space Network, the Canberra Deep Space Complex plays a key role to help in man’s understanding of space. It helps communicate with robotic spacecraft throughout the solar system, including receiving the latest images from Mars and is the largest antenna complex found in the southern hemisphere. Open daily from 9am to 5pm, Phone +061 2 6201 7880.
The National Dinosaur Museum
The National Dinosaur Museum has 23 complete skeletons on display as well as hundreds of individual fossils, a journey through time. Entertaining as well as informative, exhibits follow animals from their known beginnings to the present, including how successful dinos were. Phone: 1800 356 000.
Vineyards in the Canberra Surrounds
In the ACT, there are some 140 vineyards located within thirty minutes drive. The cooler temperatures of the surrounding Canberra area make for great rieslings and pinot gris, as well as viognier, amongst others. Thirty of the wine growers have cellar door sales.
