25 things to do in Canberra in 2025

There’s more to the nations capital than you’d expect, so we’ve spoken to local experts and put together a must see and do guide to the city and surrounds, so you can make the most of your time in the ACT during the Australian Masters Games 2025.

Make the most of every meal, evening out, and free afternoon during your trip to the capital for the Australian Masters Games (18 – 25 October). Delight in a foodie wonderland with a side of world-class art; breathtaking nature and historic sights all within easy reach. Take a heart-pumping hike or cycle the trails through one of the world’s most sustainable cities. Top it off with a taste of the thriving cool-climate wine region. It’s more than you expect and it’s waiting for you.

Start planning your 2025 trip to Canberra with these 25 things to do, see, eat, and drink during your visit to the capital. Can you tick them all off?

Museums and Galleries

1. Meet talented local artists at Canberra’s 30+ boutique art galleries (free entry).

2. Watch classic films at the National Film and Sound Archive.

3. Visit famous faces at the National Portrait Gallery (free entry).

4. Discover local tales at the Canberra Museum and Gallery (free entry).

5. Uncover Australia’s many stories at the National Museum of Australia (free entry).

6. Wander through the National Gallery of Australia’s sculpture garden (free entry) now featuring Lindy Lee’s masterpiece, Ouroboros.

7. Try wheelchair basketball, virtual downhill skiing, rock climbing, and football penalty shootouts at Sportex at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Outdoor adventures

8. Hike Canberra’s four urban peaks and be rewarded with stunning lookouts.

9. Complete a lap of the capital on the Canberra Centenary Trail.

10. See iconic sites including the Australian War Memorial and Australian Parliament House on a walk beloved by locals, the five-kilometre bridge-to-bridge loop.

11. Enjoy a floating picnic on a sustainable, electric GoBoat made from recycled PET bottles or skipper your own luxury Love Boat.

12. Head to the Australian National Botanic Gardens (free entry), home to over 4500 native plants.

13. Walk through 95+ forests of rare and significant trees at the National Arboretum Canberra (free entry).

14. Hike through Namadgi National Park (free entry) or spot koalas at The Sanctuary in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

15. See endangered spotted quolls at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary (free entry).

Foodie Experiences

16. Sip a coffee made by an Australian Barista Champion.

17. Feast your way around Dairy Road precinct, taste Australia’s first carbon-neutral brews, and discover local makers.

18. Find your new favourite wine at one of the 140 vineyards and 40+ wineries within a 35-minute drive of Canberra.

19. Taste local flavours and local produce on a guided food tour.

20. Hop between cafes, restaurants and bars in the foodie heaven that is Braddon.

Historic Sights

21. Learn how women and queer people have shaped history in Canberra on a She Shapes History tour.

22. Walk in the footsteps of decision makers at Australian Parliament House (free entry).

23. Pay your respects at the Australian War Memorial (free entry).

24. Keep an eye out for the ghost rumoured to haunt Blundells Cottage, a 150+ year-old home on the shores of the lake.

25. Choose between eight self-drive heritage trails to learn more about local Ngunnawal culture, Canberra’s limestone plains, ACT pioneers, and regional history.

Don’t forget to pick up a unique souvenir to remember your trip to the Australian Masters Games in Canberra.  Browse The Little Burley Market at the lake’s edge every Saturday or Haig Park Village Markets every Sunday to taste gourmet food and find artisan goods.

Discover more to do at visitcanberra.com.au

Header image source: VisitCanberra.