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Family in Canberra

3 min read
Family in Canberra

Finding the best family activities in the nation capital goes far beyond a quick trip to the lake. Local parents know that weekends are made for exploring the interactive galleries at Questacon or discovering the hidden nature trails around Mount Ainslie and Black Mountain. From the sprawling playgrounds in Belconnen to the relaxed cafe strips in Kingston and Manuka, there is always a pocket of the city offering something new for kids of all ages.

Whether you are looking for outdoor adventures at the National Arboretum or a quiet afternoon at a suburban library, Canberra is built for ease and accessibility. Keeping the little ones entertained does not have to be a challenge when you know where the locals go for seasonal festivals and community markets. Browse the latest selection of family friendly events and workshops happening across the city in the list below.

Family events in Canberra

Canberra families have an enviable run of free playgrounds, low-cost holiday programs and weekend events that work for under-12s. The feed at the bottom of this guide lists every confirmed family-tagged event in the next two weeks. This guide covers the year-round regulars.

Indoor anchors

Questacon (Parkes), the National Museum’s Kspace and KidsHQ programs (Acton), and the National Dinosaur Museum (Nicholls) are the city’s indoor mainstays. Birrigai at Tidbinbilla and Canberra Glassworks (Kingston) run hands-on holiday workshops.

Outdoors

Boundless Playground at Kings Park, the Pod Playground at the National Arboretum, John Knight Park in Belconnen and Yerrabi Pond in Gungahlin are the best free outdoor picks. Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Mulligans Flat Sanctuary are reliable kangaroo and bettong spots. The National Zoo and Aquarium in Curtin charges admission but is one of few places to feed a giraffe.

School holiday programs

Libraries ACT runs free story time, baby rhyme time and craft sessions at every branch. NGA, NPG and CMAG run free or low-cost holiday workshops – bookings open about a month before each break. The Arboretum and Tidbinbilla run ranger-led walks in school holidays.

What’s on this week

The feed below picks up family-tagged events for the next 14 days. See also things to do with kids and free things to do.

Frequently asked questions

What's free to do with kids in Canberra?
Boundless Playground at Kings Park, the Pod Playground at the National Arboretum, the National Museum's Kspace, the Australian National Botanic Gardens rainforest gully, the Tidbinbilla Sanctuary boardwalk and Libraries ACT story times are all free.
Where can families see kangaroos near Canberra?
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, 40 minutes south of Civic, is the most reliable free option. Mulligans Flat Sanctuary runs guided night walks. The National Zoo and Aquarium in Curtin guarantees sightings but charges admission.

On this week (2)

Live event feed, updated as venues confirm.

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