AU · Australian Capital Territory · 35.29°S 149.13°E

canberra

National museums, lake paths and autumn colour in Australia's planned capital.

Best time
March–May brings crisp days and red and gold leaves, and September–October has the Floriade flower festival. June–August has frosty mornings, and summer can bring heatwaves.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly direct to Sydney in about 8 hours, then it's about 3 hours by road or a short connecting flight. Canberra is 2 hours ahead of KL, 3 during daylight saving (October to early April).
Save postcard
AU · Australian Capital Territorycanberra35.29°S 149.13°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,National museums, lake paths and autumn colour in Australia's planned capital.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingCanberraAU, Australian Capital Territory
KLcanberra
≈ 6,527 km from KL, as the crow flies
View from Mount Ainslie Lookout

Photo: The 3B's · CC BY 2.0

1 / 4

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Canberra is Australia's planned capital, with its national museums, galleries and Parliament spread around Lake Burley Griffin. It's an easy, uncrowded city for history, art and cycling, and the food is better than its sleepy reputation.

Makan

  1. Braddon breakfastLonsdale Street's cafés and bakeries are the city's breakfast strip.Map ↗
  2. DicksonCanberra's Chinatown of sorts, with Asian restaurants along Woolley Street.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Australian War MemorialA museum and shrine with the Roll of Honour, and a moving Last Post ceremony at the end of each day.Map ↗
  2. National Gallery of AustraliaEspecially strong on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, alongside Australian and international collections.Map ↗
  3. Parliament HousePublic galleries and art collections, and the chambers in action when parliament sits.Map ↗
  4. Lake Burley GriffinPaths for walking or cycling around the lake, past most of the big sights.Map ↗
  5. Mount Ainslie lookoutThe classic view straight down Anzac Parade, across the lake to Parliament.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The sights look close on the map but are spread around the lake, so hire a bike or group them by shore.
  • Halal is easy to find, from Turkish pide in Yarralumla to Malaysian and Indian places around the city centre.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.