Canberra with kids – what to see and do! [UPDATED]

We visited Canberra at the end of December 2018 and just had to update this post because we found even more things to do in Canberra with kids.  As with all the posts on this site, as we discover new and better things the old posts get changed and new posts get put up. Enjoy!! 

Canberra with kids

If you’re in Canberra with kids and looking for suitable places to visit below is a list of 40 plus things to do in Canberra. There are restaurants listed, activities and places that combine both.

This list is based purely on research I have conducted on Canberra when I was looking for things to do in Canberra when we visited last year.

Personally, I cannot vouch for many of these places. Where we have been I have put a note next to it, together with a link to the review. I loved Canberra and we will be back again so I hope to explore as many of them as I can in the future.

Disclaimer

I am not affiliated with any of the places listed below and I cannot attest to their parking, quality of the food or safety. Please look up each place you intend visiting and confirm for yourself whether it is a place you want to visit of your own accord.

 

 

Places to Visit

  1. Questacon: my absolute favourite place in Canberra. You can check out our Questacon review here. This has some good tips and a point about getting the 3 in 1 pass.
  2. Cockington Green: another lovely place to visit. You can check out our Cockington Green review here.
  3. Telstra Tower gives you a great view of the City and you can send a postcard from the highest post box in Canberra. We did.  It’s at the top of Black Mountain. This is that tall steeple looking thing you see in so many canberra pictures.
  4. Manuka Swimming Pool. An old school pool that’s been operating since 1931. It’s set in a grassy space and art deco building. There is a standard pool and a toddlers pool too that is really shallow. Additionally, there is a little play structure set in the lawns. More information on their website.
  5. Glow in the dark Mini Golf. My 5 year old loved this and would say it’s a great activities for young school goers. You can get some more information here. I would do this if it was raining or you needed an indoor activity, don’t make it a highlight of your trip.
  6. We’ve just found another Mini Golf centre – Yarraluma Play Station. 36 holes with a Canberra theme close to the lake. They also have a mini train that has an 8 minute ride. We are yet to go but will post pictures when we do!
  7. If you’re visiting in Spring, you have to visit Floriade. Its Australia’s “biggest celebration of spring!”. It runs mid Septemver to mid October annually.
  8. Dinosaur Museum, right near Cockington Green. Not my favourite place though.  That’s all I’ll say. You can get more of my thoughts here...If you’re in Canberra with kids and looking for suitable places to visit below is a list of 30 things to do in Canberra. There are restaurants listed, activities and places that combine both.
  9. National Museum of Australia

  10. The Royal Australian Mint. Where Australia’s coins are made. Entry is free as are the tours which start on the hour between set intervals. The kids can see the robot make coins and even make their own $1.  Their website is ramint.gov.au.
  11. The National Gallery of Australia.
  12. Old Parliament House which also houses the Museum of Australian democracy.
  13. The Australian War Memorial is spectactular and something you have to visit if you’re not caught on a rainy rainy day! The things you want to look out for are the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Hall of Valour. There are free tours everyday. You can find it at Treloar Crescent, Campbell. Or check out the website – awm.gov.au
  14. Australian Sport Institute. This is part of the 3 in 1 deal so  if you’re thinking about doing Cockington Green and Questacon, you may as well have a look at this ticket.
  15. CSIRO Discovery center on North Science Road in Acton.
  16. The National Carillon – it has 55 bronze bells and is one of the world’s biggest. It is on Aspen Island, Wendouree Dr, Parkes. I can’t wait to do this next time!
  17. The heritage house called Blundell’s Cottage. It’s only open on Saturdays from 10 am to 2pm.
  18. Another Heritage house in a different part of town is Calthorpe’s House.
  19. National Film and Sound Archive.
  20. Parliament House may be interesting if your kids are old enough. All parliamentary proceedings are open to spectators. There are also free guided tours often.
  21. Canberra Glassworks is something I would love to see. You can observe the process or even get involved. Their website is canberraglassworks.com. If you’ve been before I would love to hear about it.

If you’re in Canberra with kids and looking for suitable places to visit below is a list of 30 things to do in Canberra. There are restaurants listed, activities and places that combine both. This list is based purely on research I have conducted on Canberra when I was looking for things to do in Canberra when we visited last year.

Playgrounds 

  1. The Pod Playground at the National Arboretum. This is the home of that amazing POD Playground. This is apparently the best playground in the whole Canberra area but have a look at the album on our Facebook Page first and decide for yourself. Also, don’t visit on a day hotter that 30 degrees – there is not enough shade!
  2. Weston Park Playground. This is good to go to if you’re going to Yarralumla Play Station. The address is Weston Park Rd, Yarralumla ACT 2600.
  3. Boundless Playground at Kings Park is an all inclusive playground and it’s on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin. The address is Kings Park, Wendouree Dr, Parkes ACT 2600.
  4. Commonwealth Park Playground. This is such a strange playground, it has a stone structure. Stone! It’s like a fort that the kids can climb around and through. There is no proper address other than Commonwealth Park, Parkes.

Markets

  1. Old Bus Depot Markets which are open every Sunday from 10am to 4pm. I believe they are found at Wentworth avenue in Kingston.
  2. Belconnen Fresh food Markets.
  3. Handmade Market in the Exhibition Park in Canberra. It’s only held four times a year and it attracts 20,000 visitors each year. If you’re around for it, you will find it in EPIC, Flemington Road, Mitchell.

If you’re in Canberra with kids and looking for suitable places to visit below is a list of 30 things to do in Canberra. There are restaurants listed, activities and places that combine both.

 Places to Eat

This is where we got stuck when we were in Canberra with kids. I knew there must be kid friendly restaurants but I couldn’t find the information quick enough.

  1. Agostini’s at East Hotel For fantastic Italian. The kids portions are really good and the food is delicious.
  2. Caphs in Manuka is really old school, really really old school. There is a kids’ menu, colouring in sheets, very patient waiters and lots of inside space. You can also eat outside if you want, at the bar or at the window seats.
  3. Patissez is home of the renowned freak shakes.I’ve heard the queues can be insane and so can the waits – up to 2 hours.
  4. If you’re looking for something decadent, you could try Movenpick Boutique!
  5. Olive at Mawson comes highly rated by the locals.
  6. The Knox made in Watson.
  7. Frujii Desert Laboratory
  8. Tulip’s Café at 8 Beltana Rd, Pialligo. It has a playground apparently.
  9. Tommy and Me
  10. Rodney’s Café inside Rodney’s Plants Plus. This is just down the road from Tulip’s Cafe. There is outside seating and a playground.
  11. The Meating Room is a pub with a kids room
  12. Jaimie’s Italian in Canberra seems to be very child friendly with stickers and colourinf in sheets.
  13. Millhouse Café in Queanbeyan has a cubby house and some slides.
  14. Krack’d Peppa Café Tuggeranong
  15. Old Canberra Inn has play area out back and I believe that the kids meals come with Ice Cream!
  16. Stirato in Fyshwick.
  17. Fox and Bow Cafe looks great.
  18. Sprout Cafe in the Village Centre at the National Arboretum. It’s really just snacks in the open plan centre.

 The Random Things

  1. Captain Cook Memorial Jet in the Lake operates from 11 am – 2 pm daily and reaches a height of 114 metres. Not very exciting but if you’re nearby it could be nice just to point out.
  2. Checking out the view from Mt Ainslie. This is where that iconic photo of Canberra is taken. One of the two you always see, the other being in front of Parliament with the flag structure.

We’ve got plenty of pictures and albums up on the Instagram and Facebook pages  of lots of the places above. 

If you have any you would like to add, please reach out to me by email at michal@allthingsmomsydney.com or on the AllThingsMomSydney Facebook Page.