Inside out in Canberra
Whatever the season, Canberra is a cornucopia of cool. Here, shares some of the capital’s best experiences for kids. alexandra casey
Outside
We all know how good it feels to get a little sun on our skin and fresh air in our lungs. Being in nature helps us relax, and reduces our stress and cortisol levels, heart rate and muscle tension. And we can all breathe easy knowing Canberra is brimming with electrifying, outdoorsy things to do with the kids.
Located a zippy five minutes from the city centre in Yarralumla, at the western end of the famed Lake Burley Griffin, the National Zoo and Aquarium is the only combined zoo and aquarium in Australasia. Families can choose from a collection of thrilling and interactive tours, including the 'Wonders of Wildlife' tour, where you’ll learn the ropes of zookeeping through hands-on experiences like hiding breakfast for sun bears and feeding lions.
If flora is your thing, you’ll find more than 44,000 rare and endangered trees from more than 100 countries in the National Arboretum’s 94 forests. Just six kilometres from the CBD, the botanical garden is dedicated to conversation, education and scientific research. For extra brownie points, let the kids run wild at POD Playground. Based on the idea of seeds as the beginning of forest life, POD features giant acorn cubbies, a nest swing, banksia pods and music-making instruments to encourage kids to have fun while they learn, climb and explore. There are also walks, tours and cultural workshops on offer.
If you’re keen to get among the wilderness, Stromlo Forest Park, just 15 minutes from the city centre, is enveloped by impressive vistas and waterways. It’s a place where the kids can run, cycle, gallop, scooter and mountain bike, with a 1.2-kilometre criterium cycling circuit, 2.5-kilometre grass cross-country running track, a web of equestrian trails and more than 50 kilometres of mountain bike trails suitable for all abilities.
Centenary Trail and Bicentennial National Trail also weave through the park for those eager to explore the park on foot.
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a place of historical and ongoing significance to the Ngunnawal people.
The Nature Reserve is home to a collection of iconic Australian animals including koalas, kangaroos, emus, echidnas and platypuses. Families can join a ranger-guided tour through the sanctuary wetlands or for a game of koala spotto as they learn more about the reserve’s heritage and cultural connections, and the flora and fauna that call it home. Be sure to check out the Nature Discovery Playground, which boasts something exciting for kids of all ages, including a flying fox, nest swing, slide and climbing rope frame.
Inside
Too hot? Too cold? Too wet? Don’t fret! Whether your kid is a dinosaur enthusiast, a science wiz or partial to a thrill, there’s a bounty of indoor attractions begging to be discovered and explored across Canberra.
Since opening in 1965, the birthplace of Australia’s currency has fashioned more than 15 billion decimal coins. Kids can embark on a free guided tour of the Royal Australian Mint, complete with Mint Treasure Hunt. They'll witness real coin-making robots in action from the observation deck and even mint a commemorative $1 coin.
Another classic all-weather attraction is Questacon, an interactive science and technology wonderland designed for the curious with exhibitions, shows and hands-on activities that teach your kids about Earth, space and everything in between as they come face to face with robots, watch lightning strike twice and experience the full force of an earthquake.
Got a Harry Potter fanatic in the house? Hop on your magic broom and transport yourself to Quizzic Alley, home to Australia’s largest range of Harry Potter merchandise. Come face-to-face with a dragon, then try a Qbrew (Quizzic Alley's take on the franchise’s famous butterbeer, which is nonalcoholic and utterley addictive). And don’t miss the magical potions workshop that runs during the school holidays.
Mind Trap takes the escape room experience to another level. Just pop on a VR headset and be transported to another world as you attempt to escape in time. Mind Trap is held at pop-up locations around Canberra, and while kids seven and over can participate, the rooms are best for kids aged 10 plus.
Feel the need for speed? Get the whole family together for a day out racing at the Power Kart Raceway, an indoor go-karting track. Embrace your competitive nature and whip around 320 metres of track, feeling the adrenaline course through your veins. The minimum age for junior kart hire is six, with height requirements also in place.
How about snow play inside? Whether your little ones are naturals on the slopes, adrenaline junkies or just keen to try something new, Vertikal Indoor Snow Sports brings the outdoors in, and will teleport your crew to the mountains. Learn to ski and snowboard without leaving the Capital, or just rock up for a day of fun. Children can begin skiing lessons at three-and-a-half, and snowboarding at seven.
Pack your bags for a wild overnight safari at Jamala Wildlife Lodge at the National Zoo & Aquarium. Suitable for children aged six and over, it offers a family room overlooking a meerkat enclosure, another with a massive aquarium, and even a treehouse where you can feed the giraffes (depending on ages and availability). jamalawildlifelodge.com.au
Upside
Got a couple of monkeys in tow? Let them climb high at Blochaus, the perfect place for them to burn off some energy. This is an indoor climbing gym specialising in fitness, fun and social bouldering. The space has been designed for kids and families to enjoy bouldering together. It also runs school holiday programs for kids aged six to 14.
For the ultimate high, there’s no better way to start the day than watching the sunrise while you float above the city. Canberra’s original balloon operator, Balloon Aloft, offers flights with an optional buffet breakfast after a champagne toast (for adults, of course) at Hyatt Hotel Canberra. In March, the Canberra Balloon Spectacular, an annual two-week festival, sees around 50 balloons take to the skies from the lawns of the Old Parliament House. Share some fun facts with your little flyers, including that the first passengers of a hot-air balloon flight, way back in 1783, were a sheep, a duck and a rooster!
East Hotel nails family accommodation with great service and brilliant studiostyle accommodation. Designed to give young travellers their own space, the Kids Cubby comes with bunk beds, toys and an Xbox adjacent to the main apartment. Parents get a break while the kids have the time of their lives. easthotel.com.au
Down
Dig deep at The National Dinosaur Museum, home to one of the largest permanent collections of interactive dinosaurs in Australia. It's one of Canberra’s most popular attractions, providing both education and entertainment, and visitors can navigate through millions of years of history while getting close to skeletons and fossils dug up from down under. While you’re at it, hold onto your hats and unleash some Night at the Museum energy and explore by torchlight on a night tour.
If your curious kids want to head underground, Careys Cave is located in the beautiful Wee Jasper valley, just over an hour’s drive from Canberra. Set in a spectacular limestone landscape, the cave network features beautiful, naturally sculpted rock and cave formations.