Canberra - Food, Wine and Nightlife

Canberra is the perfect destination for lovers of gourmet food, boutique wines and nightlife. Take the chance to watch the passing parade from a stylish café, enjoy fresh regional produce, sample some award winning wines or get dressed up for a great night out.

With a large diplomatic community, the nation's capital has developed highly cosmopolitan tastes. Cuisine of all nationalities can be found in this city of 320,000 people, from modern Australian and Asian fusion, to French, Turkish, Italian, Vietnamese, and Ethiopian. The choices are astounding and the various dining districts are all centrally located, with Kingston, Manuka, Dickson and the city centre having the highest concentration of restaurants, cafes and nightspots.

Great dining can also be found in some spectacular locations at a number of Canberra's national attractions, including the National Museum of Australia and the National Gallery of Australia. From the Museum you can enjoy water views as you dine and at the National Gallery, a drifting fog installation floats towards the restaurant across a beautiful pond.

Canberra's markets are buzzing with people and fresh produce and the treats available are truly delicious. Large sweet strawberries, locally smoked meats, luscious stone fruit, fresh eggs, cheeses, home made cakes and pastries, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee all combine to create a gourmet's heaven.

Wine lovers should pick up a wineries guide from the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre and take a drive into the surrounding countryside to visit the local wineries and restaurants. You might be lucky enough to meet winemakers in person while you sample some of the Canberra region's award winning cool climate wines. With over 30 wineries in the region, you will need more than a day to see them all. Break up your trip with an overnight stay at a stylish B & B and don't miss some of the excellent restaurants and cafes in the region. Gundaroo, Murrumbateman and Bungendore all offer fabulous dining and the wineries guide will direct you to some of the more hidden gems outside of the village centres.

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Canberra's Must-Dos

Canberra has so many fantastic things for visitors to see and do. This list of must-dos will help you plan your trip to make the most of your stay in the nation's capital. more

Events

Canberra is an exciting place to visit, particularly during one of the many events and festivals held each year. Plan your visit around any number of popular events, including Floriade - Australia's Celebration of Spring or the Canberra Balloon Fiesta when hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes fill Canberra's skies with activity and colour. more

Fun for families

Keep the kids entertained with a great range of activities and things to see and do. Many national attractions provide free entry and there is an excellent range of facilities to suit every budget. A trip to Canberra can also be very educational, where you can learn lots of fun science facts, the meanings of Aussie words like “chook” and “yakka” and so much more! more

Getting Active

Canberra reveals Australia's passion for sports and the great outdoors in so many ways. Witness this passion by visiting the Australian Institute of Sport, seeing a football game, going bushwalking, floating through the skies in a hot air balloon, horse riding, playing a round of golf or watching high performance cars burn rubber. more

National Attractions

From the internationally recognised architecture of Parliament House to the moving exhibits at the Australian War Memorial, visitors to the nation's capital are spoilt for choice. Each attraction tells the story of Australia and its people in different ways, so take the time to fully explore all that the nation's capital has to offer. more

Surrounding Region

Canberra is a fantastic base from which to explore the surrounding region. Within only a few hours drive from the city you will find historic townships, beautiful beaches, great skiing, abundant wineries and a stunning natural environment. more