Things to do in Canberra

Classes & Workshops

Canberra Eurosessions

Mon, 26 Oct, 4:00 pm AEDT

Canberra · Free admission

Join the Canberra Eurosession, a musical gathering like no other! As the first session in Canberra to play folk music from across Europe, the session covers a wide variety of traditions, including French, Breton, Scandi, Balkan, Maltese, Greek, Ukrainian, and Klezmer. All instruments, experience levels and playing styles welcome. Get in touch with Smiths to request the sheet music.

Live Music & Concerts

PJs Monday Night Trivia

Mon, 26 Oct, 6:00 pm AEDT

Canberra · Free admission

Join the team at PJs in the City for Monday Night Trivia, where fun meets friendly competition! Gather your friends and test your knowledge across a variety of topics, from pop culture to history with 'pen & paper' trivia. Hosted by Josh from The Ned & Josh Podcast, you will compete for exciting prizes and bragging rights. Whether you're a trivia master or just looking for a good time, this is the perfect way to kick off your week. Enjoy delicious food and drinks while you challenge your brain and bond with fellow trivia enthusiasts.

Live Music & Concerts

Smith's Poetry Thing

Mon, 26 Oct, 7:00 pm AEDT

Canberra · Free admission

Each Monday evening Smith's serves up a feast of words! Two feature poets present readings from their latest publications and most evenings include an open mic section that's inclusive and fun - open to all and you can sign up on the night. Big Open Mic nights once a month are free, otherwise there's usually an entry fee (sometimes readings are free too) - check out the website for what's on this week!

Food & Drink

Bottomless Pasta

Tue, 27 Oct, 12:00 am AEDT

Canberra · From $29

Mangia mangia! Did someone say bottomless pasta? Pull up a seat to Nonna's table every Tuesday and enjoy their dish of the day until you simply can't eat anymore. Book your table at Bottomless Pasta in advance so you don't miss out.

Theatre & Shows

Colour Through My Eyes

Tue, 27 Oct, 10:00 am AEDT

Belconnen · Free admission

Lien To invites you to enter a world of colour and enjoy the stories of her life. This exhibition expresses the beauty and colour that Lien To sees in the world in spite of her vision impairment. It reflects the people who have impacted her life journey, and the places, both real and imaginary, that she keeps alive in her imagination. To's artwork reveals her love of bright colour and detail, with a mix of Copic marker and collage. Lien To comes from a Vietnamese background and has a rare genetic condition, Septo-Optic Dysplasia, which means the nerves that connect her eyes to her brain are underdeveloped, resulting in vision impairment. To's journey with art began when she was in college and saw a book about Picasso. She was inspired by his use of colour and shape to create masterpieces. She began drawing and experimenting with colour and fell in love with the process. For To, art is an escape and a solace, a calming safe space for self-expression.

Theatre & Shows

Phases

Tue, 27 Oct, 10:00 am AEDT

Belconnen · Free admission

Members of the University of Canberra Faculty of Art and Design and their collaborators explore the meaning or the experience of 'phase'. The word "phase" has a number of loosely related definitions, associated with time and change; with making things happen in gradual stages; or with being in (or out) of harmony. The current point of history, globally, is one of rapid and typically unplanned change: one phase has ended, and a number of phases are swinging into operation. Many feel 'fazed' by the changes and the prospects they bring; many fear what comes next in this sequence of events. In this exhibition, members of the faculty and collaborators explore the meaning or the experience of 'phase', and aim to interrogate, illustrate, elucidate, or illuminate something fresh about the term.

Theatre & Shows

Animal Portraits

Tue, 27 Oct, 10:00 am AEDT

Belconnen · Free admission

A series of framed composite digital works by Brenda Runnegar representing pets and favourite animals as majestic figures in historical paintings. These anthropomorphic images are derived from photographs which Runnegar has taken of pets and animals, which she has endeavoured to match with appropriate historical early American Folk Painting. As a Multimedia artist Brenda Runnegar specialises in painting, sculpture, photography and textiles. Her forty-odd year-long practice is characterised by the use of the surreal and dreamlike. She completed a Master of Fine Arts by research in 2007 and has worked professionally as an Educator, Arts Administrator, Gallery Manager and Project Manager in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Since 1981 she has exhibited in numerous prestigious group exhibitions and has had eighteen solo exhibitions. Her most recent work has involved experiments with digital imaging.

Theatre & Shows

Occupying Space

Tue, 27 Oct, 10:00 am AEDT

Belconnen · Free admission

This exhibition by Helen Heslop consists of a series of quilt and collage works created from photographs taken of landscapes in the South Coast of NSW. Helen Heslop says: "I spent time on Yuin Country as part of ANU's Sharing Stories community program in 2025/26. Time spent on country, listening to stories from local elders and artists, was a gift: giving me time to understand more deeply indigenous thinking and culture, intergenerational trauma and steps to healing. It helped me start to unravel my own place in the Australian context: as an immigrant from a former colonial country in Africa and as a woman from a long line of ancestors engaged in colonialism. Our șite-based investigations — of the Bundian Way walking track, Severs Beach and the Davidson Whaling Station — shed light on the indigenous and colonial history, land use and, under the surface, the trauma inflicted by colonial enterprise." Ideas of dispossession, perspective, exploitation and enduring colonial structures are explored using a reparative aesthetic, to enable the viewer to walk gently together through these stories. Quilts, as a medium, symbolise safety, comfort and security. Heslop's artworks tap into the long history of radical textiles, where women's art making has been deeply associated with social change, activism and truth-telling.

Theatre & Shows

Passions, Journeys and Imaginings

Tue, 27 Oct, 10:00 am AEDT

Belconnen · Free admission

Weekly walks in the bush, the constant watching of people and birds, the love of carving, and a lifetime as an artist have combined to create the artworks in this exhibition by Christine Upton. Christine's passions include native birds and flowers, patterns, circles and colours. Her journeys include both the physical and the emotional responses to her surrounds. There is always something that stimulates Christine's imagination including: her need to make social comments, her need to pay homage to nature, and her need to play. Christine uses birds to tell stories and abstract blossoms and circles to explore the idea of memories. Her latest work involves the depiction of memories and their association with blossoms that fade and disappear over time. This concept has been evolving since 2016 when she first started playing with the idea. It has involved responses to teenage years with a mother with memory loss, to losing a soul mate, and to just the understanding of memory itself. "All of my work involves exploration and play as without these, for me, art would simply become a boring production line that creates visual images."

Theatre & Shows

Histories & Habitats

Tue, 27 Oct, 10:00 am AEDT

Belconnen · Free admission

Fenja T. Ringl presents hand-printed works on paper and ceramics that explore the intricate forms of Australia's flora and fauna, the landscapes they inhabit, and the environmental 'archives' — layers of memory and material — that shape understanding of past and present. The exhibition marks the culmination of five years of experimental printmaking following a scientific career in archaeology and palaeo-ecology. Through an artistic lens, Fenja revisits her earlier environmental research and draws upon new encounters with nature's beauty and the fragility of ecosystems, particularly focused on the mountain landscapes of the local region. Explored through detailed subject studies, a 'deep time' lens, and through creative interpretation, the exhibition's central themes are distilled in its title: habitat speaks to the complexity and interconnectedness of ecosystems and landscapes, while histories refers to the transience and inevitable reshaping of those environments.

Live Music & Concerts

Smith's Jazz Jam

Tue, 27 Oct, 4:30 pm AEDT

Canberra · Free admission

Join us at Smith's, upstairs or down, every Tuesday night for a jazz jam lead by a variety of luminaries from the local scene. Instrumentalists and singers, experts and talented amateurs, all are welcome to join us on Tuesday nights for an open jam. Each week selected luminaries from the local scene will get the jam going. if you'd like to run a jam, please email Smith's at smithsalternative@gmail.com. Backline provided: Drums, piano, guitar and bass amp, double bass, vocal mics. Entry is free (a pot will be passed around to help cover costs), but this is no boozy gabfest. Please come prepared to listen and enjoy and keep conversation sotto voce.

Classes & Workshops

Book launch: Fit to Print with Mike Bowers

Tue, 27 Oct, 6:00 pm AEDT

Parkes · Free admission

Photographer and media commentator Mike Bowers has dived back into the Fairfax Photo Archive to produce this deluxe second edition of 'Fit to Print'. Join him in conversation to discover new images, new ideas and why these images continue to strike a chord. 'Fit to Print' features over 150 images from the Fairfax Photographic Archive. In this expanded edition, curator Mike Bowers draws on his favourite images from the 2025 exhibition longlist and National Library of Australia curator Allister Mills writes about the materiality of the glass plate negatives that form the archive of over 18,000 images. Hear from Mike in conversation with Michaela Kalowski about the beginnings of photojournalism and this stunning collection of images from 1890s to 1940s Australia. Mike Bowers is a photojournalist with over 37 years' experience. He currently hosts the Talking Pictures segment on ABC TV's Insiders. He has covered 13 federal election campaigns, and photographed conflicts in Cambodia, Kosovo, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and the Middle East. Michaela is an interviewer, moderator and presenter. She's the curator of Big Weekend of Books, ABC Radio National's on-air writers' festival which began in 2020.

Image: David Slimings

Shopping and Markets

Pom Pom Store

Braddon

Pom Pom Store is a delightful homewares and gift shop located on Lonsdale Street in the heart of Braddon, Canberra. This locally owned business is dedicated to craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and beautiful objects for everyday living. The store features a curated selection of glassware, books, games, candles, art prints, drinkware, and greeting cards — among many other distinctive gifts that bring warmth, style, and joy to the home. By shopping with Pom Pom Store, customers support small local businesses and contribute to Canberra's vibrant independent retail community.

Shopping and Markets

POP Canberra

Braddon

POP Canberra is one door to over 300 local makers, proudly showcasing products from local makers, creators, artists and small businesses. They showcase an ever-growing curation of Canberra souvenirs and memorabilia, artisanal wines, chocolates, food and beverages crafted in Canberra and surrounding regions. POP is a one-stop shop for unique and bespoke gifts, jewellery, accessories, souvenirs, and so much more! A place where people come together to celebrate all things local. They're passionate about local goods made by local people. Their community is made up of makers, small businesses, shoppers, and friends, all connected by a love for community and creativity. They offer thousands of unique products, each crafted by real people who genuinely care about what they do. Every item they sell has been imagined, designed, and created by a local.

Image: National Capital Exhibition

Galleries, Museums and Collections

National Capital Exhibition

Parkes

Visitors are welcomed. The exhibition tells the story of Canberra as the capital city of Australia. Canberra is unique in design and innovative in the history of town planning by being the result of a worldwide competition. The winners of that competition, Walter and Marion Griffin, presented a design where the built and the natural landscapes have equal importance. They designed a city that fits in between landmarks and remains in scale with humans. Come and learn more about what was here before the city, how the site and the design were chosen, what it might have looked like and what may happen in the future. All digital presentations have international translations.

Shopping and Markets

Canberra and Region Visitors Centre

Parkes

The Canberra and Region Visitors Centre sits within the Regatta Point precinct, boasting one of Canberra's best views. Look out over Lake Burley Griffin towards a range of iconic national attractions including Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library of Australia and Questacon. Purchase local and regional wines, beer, and spirits. Pick up designer merchandise, jewellery and souvenirs from local makers, and peruse a range of maps and books, kids' treats and toys. You can also find the entire range of CBR merchandise boasting quality made hoodies, beanies, stationery and more. Chat to the friendly staff and volunteers. They're a wealth of local knowledge, offering valuable insights to help you get the most from your stay, whether it's a last-minute accommodation deal or tips about cool new cafes. See for yourself why the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre won Gold at the 2023 Australian Tourism Awards! Canberra's official and fully accredited tourism information centre is operated by VisitCanberra for the benefit of tourists and locals. Limited free parking available, along with designated free parking for caravans, camper trailers, coaches and RVs.

Galleries, Museums and Collections

St John's Schoolhouse Museum

Reid

St John's Schoolhouse was Canberra's first school and school master's residence. It opened in 1845 to provide elementary education for children from the Campbell estate of Duntroon and surrounding farms. Many family names of former pupils can be seen on gravestones in St John's Churchyard. In 1907, the School was closed, but in 1969 the restored Schoolhouse building was reopened as a museum of Canberra's early history and education. St John's Schoolhouse Museum is proud of its role in the community as one of Canberra's first museums. Displays feature early education artefacts and photographs of the district. These enable visitors to imagine the very different scene of rural Canberra, before it became the Federal Capital. The Schoolhouse is very much a part of the historic St John's Church precinct, which in 2025 celebrated 180 years of serving the local community. A visit to the Schoolhouse should ideally take in the associated historic Church and Churchyard. Schools and other groups are most welcome to visit the Museum throughout the year, for a reasonable charge per head. A modest fee is charged for adult visitors to the Museum. (EPTPOS available). Note, though, that the Museum is closed for a few weeks over the summer school holidays.

Parks and Gardens

Henry Rolland Park

Parkes

Henry Rolland Park is located on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin and offers wide open lawns, landscaped gardens and unmatched views across the water. Opened in 2018, the park was designed as a welcoming green space for both relaxation and activity. It features walking and cycling paths that connect to the lake's broader trail network, along with shaded seating, picnic spots, electric barbecues and fitness equipment. It's the perfect place to unwind, meet with friends, or take in the beauty of Canberra's unique waterfront. Dogs are welcome on-leash in most areas of the park, but are prohibited within 10 metres of playgrounds, fireplaces, fitness equipment or barbeques that are in use.

Image: National Capital Authority

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Captain James Cook Memorial

Canberra City

The Captain James Cook Memorial is on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin - and in the lake! This memorial comprises a water jet and a nearby terrestrial globe commemorating the bicentenary of Captain Cook's landing on the east coast of Australia in 1770. The water jet reaches a height of 114 metres. The bronze globe uses meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude to form an open-cage map of the world, with land masses depicted in copper. Lines on the globe illustrate Captain Cook's voyages.

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

St John's Anglican Church Canberra

Reid

St John's is a Canberra treasure – a sanctuary in the heart of Australia's capital. Canberra's oldest church was consecrated in 1845, almost 70 years before the capital was founded. When you visit, you will walk in the footsteps of pioneering farming families, leaders, service personnel, scientists and scholars. Join the local community at a Sunday service supported by the powerful pipe organ, choir or band. Listen out for the glorious ringing of the tower bells. Find peace with the church's ambience, historic memorials and intricate architecture. Marvel at the 12th century stone from Canterbury Cathedral, originally intended to be the foundation stone of the National Anglican Cathedral. Admire the beautiful stained glass windows, including the magnificent East Window depicting scenes from the life of John the Baptist, after whom the church is dedicated. Sit in the front pew where Queen Elizabeth II sat on her four visits to St John's and visit the tree planted for her Platinum Jubilee. Peek inside Canberra's first school at the Schoolhouse Museum. Wander through the lush parkland, exploring the graves of early settlers. St John's is open daily for visitors. Service times and Schoolhouse opening hours are available on its website.

Natural Attractions

Haig Park

Braddon

Haig Park spans 19 hectares across Braddon and Turner, offering a green retreat with a fitness track, barbecues, and a playground. Known for its long rows of exotic trees, the park is a favourite spot for walks and picnics. Dogs are welcome both on- and off-leash in designated areas, as outlined on the dog exercise map. Visitors can discover art and activations, special events like markets, and striking plantings such as Monterey pines and Roman cypress. At the Lonsdale Street entrance, a sign displays the United Ngunnawal Elders Council charter, complemented by four additional signs designed by Ngunnawal elder Wally Bell that highlight the cultural significance of Mount Ainslie, Haig Park, Sullivans Creek, and Black Mountain. With nature play options, nearby bike tracks, and the Braddon entertainment precinct close at hand, Haig Park blends nature, culture, and community in the heart of Canberra.

Image: None

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Anzac Parade

Parkes

Anzac Parade is the National Capital's major commemorative way. Walk the length of the parade past memorials dedicated to Australian and New Zealand service people who've fought and died in war. The red gravel central strip of this visually powerful landmark was originally made from crushed Canberra house bricks, chosen, in part, to echo the crunch made by military boots during a parade. Anzac Parade's dark eucalypt 'walls' are created by Victorian Blue Gum. Central planter boxes are sewn with native New Zealand Hebe 'Otari Delight' to symbolise the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps connection.

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Great Southern Land Gallery

Canberra

Ours is an ancient land. A continent that is powerful, interconnected, life-giving and ever-changing. It is a land crisscrossed by grand songlines, with an incredible history and a boundless future. There's a place where you can take your time to hear these stories; to listen to the land. There you'll discover the most wonderful tales of power, connection, life and change. And when you do, you can't help but be left in awe. Come Listen to the Land at the Great Southern Land Gallery.

Image: Hcreations

Galleries, Museums and Collections

National Museum of Australia

Acton

Australia's stories come alive at the National Museum of Australia, on the shores of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin. The Museum's stunning architecture provides an extraordinary place to explore the rich and diverse stories of Australia and its people. Take a guided tour or wander solo through the many exhibitions. Get to know the real, the treasured, the surprising and the inspirational objects from Australian history. Discover the stories and meanings hidden in the Museum building, design and landscapes on the Building and Architecture guided tour at 10 am or discover the highlights on the Museum Highlights guided tour at 1pm or the First Australians Tour at 3pm daily. For a treat, why not book the Ultimate Museum Experience with a tour, a meal in the Museum Cafe and a voucher for the Museum Shop.