Canberra - Surroundings
With the great increase in the Canberra's population in recent years new districts and satellite towns have been developed. Among them are Woden and Tuggeranong to the south and Belconnen to the north-west. After the government offices and shops close Canberra is an empty city; thereafter life continues in the suburbs and outer districts.
Round the city are many picnic and barbecue areas, nature reserves, old settlements and other features of interest (e.g. space observatories).
Round the city are many picnic and barbecue areas, nature reserves, old settlements and other features of interest (e.g. space observatories).
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Related Attractions
Snowy Mountains
About two hours south of Canberra by car are the Snowy Mountains, which rise to a height of 2228 m; they are popular all year round, offering hiking, water sports, fishing and skiing in winter.
Lanyon Homestead
The historic homestead of Lanyon (protected as a national monument), set in attractive parkland on the Murrumbidgee River (40 km south of Canberra), recalls 19th C rural life. Nearby there is a gallery of Sydney Nolan's paintings.
All values are in Australia Dollars
Lanyon Homestead
Tharwa Drive
Tharwa, ACT 2620
Australia
Tharwa Drive
Tharwa, ACT 2620
Australia
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
| Family | $ 15.00 |
| Adult | $ 7.00 |
| Child | $ 5.00 |
| Concession or reduced rate | $ 5.00 |
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Mount Stromlo Observatory
Mount Stromlo Observatory features large silver domes, housing the huge telescope of the Australian National University.
All values are in Australia Dollars
Mount Stromlo Observatory Visitors' Centre
Cotter Road
Weston, ACT 2611
Australia
Cotter Road
Weston, ACT 2611
Australia
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
| Family | $ 25.00 |
| Adult | $ 12.00 |
| Concession or reduced rate | $ 10.00 |
| Child | $ 7.00 |
Tidbinbilla - Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex
A particular attraction is the space station at Tidinbilla, from which the flight paths of manned space missions and satellites can be tracked. Models and some very interesting film and photographic records of various space missions can be seen in the visitor center.
Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex
Box 638
Fyshwick, ACT 2609
Australia
Box 638
Fyshwick, ACT 2609
Australia
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Cockington Green
Nine km north of Canberra on Barton Highway is Cockington Green, a pretty English village in miniature, adjoining the township of Ginnederra.
All values are in Australia Dollars
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
| Family | $ 42.00 |
| Adult | $ 15.00 |
| Senior over 60 | $ 10.50 |
| Child 16 & under | $ 8.00 |
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Corin Forest
Corin Forest Recreation Area offers ample scope for walking and, when snow falls, for winter sports.
The bushland setting allows for the focus on mountain sports and activities including the bobsled slide and flying fox.
The bushland setting allows for the focus on mountain sports and activities including the bobsled slide and flying fox.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Parking
Free
Cuppacumbalong, Australia
(Near Canberra)
The old settlement of Cuppacumbalong with its homestead, outbuildings and facilities for visitors (picnic areas, craft shops, swimming in river) is on the Murrumbidgee River.
The Cuppacumbalong Craft Centre contains galleries displaying works of Australia's leading crafts people.
The Cuppacumbalong Craft Centre contains galleries displaying works of Australia's leading crafts people.
Ginninderra, Australia
(Near Canberra)
Ginnederra which adjoins Cockington Green is older than Canberra and has craft shops and workshops.
Ginninderra - National Dinosaur Museum
In the immediate vicinity of Ginnederra, by Gold Creek, is the National Dinosaur Museum with its many exhibits.
The museum houses the largest permanent display of dinosaurs and other prehistoric fossil material in Australia. There are 23 complete skeletons, and over 300 displays of individual fossils.
All values are in Australia Dollars
The museum houses the largest permanent display of dinosaurs and other prehistoric fossil material in Australia. There are 23 complete skeletons, and over 300 displays of individual fossils.
National Dinosaur Museum
Gold Creek Village
Gungahlin
Canberra, ACT 2912
Australia
Gold Creek Village
Gungahlin
Canberra, ACT 2912
Australia
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
| Family | $ 32.00 |
| Adult | $ 10.00 |
| Concession or reduced rate | $ 8.00 |
| Child 16 & under | $ 7.00 |
| Senior | $ 7.00 |
Lake Cotter
Lake Cotter, an artificial lake 22 km west of Canberra, has excellent picnic sites, play areas and camping grounds.
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Pacific Beaches
It is 150 km from Canberra to the beaches on the Pacific at Batemans Bay, a favourite holiday resort at the mouth of the Clyde River (bird reserves) and the nearby old gold-mining towns of Mogo and Araluen.
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
About 40 km south west of Canberra is the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve; as well as kangaroos and koalas, there are examples of several particularly shy Australian species such as the duck-billed platypus and the wallaby.
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
RMB 141
Tharwa, ACT 2620
Australia
RMB 141
Tharwa, ACT 2620
Australia
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
