Two readers, two Canberra getaways: what to see and how to get around
Two of our team members, both named Kaye, visited Canberra recently and came back with very different trips. Kaye H and her husband Terry drove up via Bright for a few days built around the Australian War Memorial’s new galleries, plus a run through the city’s museums and markets. Kaye Fallick took a different approach, spending three days entirely on foot, discovering that Canberra’s biggest drawcards — the National Gallery, National Library, National Portrait Gallery and more — all sit within easy walking distance of each other in the National Triangle.
We’re sharing both trips in full below, with some practical planning details added afterwards for anyone tempted to follow in their footsteps.
Kaye H’s Canberra Diary
A four-part documentary on SBS, A New Anzac, sparked our interest in the $500 million redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Filmed over three years, the documentary showcases the remarkable engineering feats behind the new development and the meticulously curated modern military history of Australia.
Our journey began with a two-night stay in Bright, north-east Victoria. It’s a town where Terry and I lived for ten years in the 1990s and we always enjoy returning to catch up with friends and enjoy the picturesque surroundings. If you’re visiting the area, one shop I highly recommend checking out is Winding Road Design Studio – Art Gallery located at 3 Barnard St, Bright. Inspired by the surrounding Alpine landscape, the studio showcases Australian botanical illustrations, beautiful textiles, small pieces of furniture and handcrafted gifts.
We planned a four-day trip to Canberra, dedicating a day or two to exploring the War Memorial and revisiting some favourite galleries and museums.
The War Memorial’s exhibits can easily be tailored to fit your schedule, allowing you to delve into the stories that captivate you with your allocated time. The architecture of the new halls create a powerful and moving experience, although contemporary they feel deeply respectful of the site’s history.
The life-size military vehicles and exhibits bring history to life, while the interactive displays and photographs tell the human stories behind Australia’s service and peacekeeping missions.
Most of all, I appreciated how they honour the men and women who have served and continue to serve, while highlighting the lasting impact of war across generations.
If you have an interest in our defence force history, I highly recommend a visit—you will not be disappointed. The experience is both captivating and deeply moving.
This time we included visits to the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of Australia and its current Antarctica exhibition, the National Arboretum, Mt Ainslie and the Old Bus Depot Markets. Exploring the many and varied trails around Lake Burley Griffin is always a highlight for us.
Our preferred accommodation when visiting Canberra is Knightsbridge, located at 3 Leichhardt Street in Kingston. This intimate boutique apartment complex provides first-class accommodation in an outstanding location.
It is within easy walking distance of the dining precincts at Kingston Village, the scenic waterfront of Lake Burley Griffin, and the neighbouring suburb of Manuka.
Also ideally located near the National Cultural Triangle, the property offers easy access to galleries, museums, and cultural attractions, all just a 4-minute drive or a pleasant 30-minute walk away. Public transport is readily accessible, with a local bus service operating from the end of the street, and complimentary uncovered parking is also provided for guests.
A short but truly enjoyable trip, and one I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing and memorable short getaway.
Kaye Fallick’s Canberra diary: the National Triangle on foot
Don’t believe those visitors who insist you need a car in Canberra. Sure it’s handy if you want to visit every far-flung corner. But it’s not necessary to drive to see the main attractions in our national capital.
We spent a very satisfying three days there and discovered that all the sites we wished to visit were located in the ‘National Triangle’ – right beside each other, separated only by stunning parkland. Here are some happy snaps of our time there as we walked from the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House to those old enough to remember), to the National Library, then to the National Portrait Gallery, finishing our ‘big day out’ at the National Gallery where Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly series occupies the central space.
Along the way we enjoyed browsing the current exhibits at the National Library, Kaylene Whiskey and Botanica at the Portrait Gallery and Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles at the NGA. Also located within the triangle are (new) Parliament House, National Archives and Questacon.
It’s not necessarily smart to jam too much into a one-day visit to the triangle, but starting early with comfortable walking shoes means you can cover a lot of Australian history and culture you won’t find elsewhere. Take my word for it, Canberra is NEVER boring!
— Kaye Fallick
Getting around the National Triangle without a car
Kaye Fallick’s point stands up: the Museum of Australian Democracy, National Library, National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery, Parliament House, National Archives and Questacon are all within a comfortable walk of each other, linked by lakeside parkland rather than busy roads. A few things worth knowing if you’re planning to do the same:
- It’s a genuinely walkable day (or two), but distances between the furthest points still add up — comfortable shoes and a relaxed pace matter more than fitness level
- Light rail and local buses also connect the precinct if you’d rather rest your legs between stops; Transport Canberra’s journey planner covers current routes
- Public toilets and café stops are available at each of the major galleries and museums along the way, so there’s no need to plan the whole day around amenities
- Most of the galleries listed offer free general admission, though ticketed special exhibitions (like the Portrait Gallery’s summer show) sit on top of that
The Australian War Memorial redevelopment: what’s actually open
The figure Kaye mentions from the documentary is the earlier costing; the project is now confirmed at $550 million. It’s one of the largest cultural building projects in the country, and it’s being delivered in stages while the Memorial stays open to visitors throughout.
The new Anzac Hall officially opened on 23 June 2026, adding around 4,000 square metres of gallery space and three new permanent galleries covering Afghanistan, peacekeeping and the Middle East, alongside reworked Second World War displays including the Lancaster bomber G for George. The Southern Entrance, Parade Ground, Commemorative Entrance and the CEW Bean Building and Charles Bean Research Centre have all already reopened in earlier stages. The wider project, including the main building refurbishment, is scheduled for completion in 2028.
Good to know before you go:
- Entry is free and tickets aren’t required
- Galleries, shop and café are open daily except Christmas Day, 10 am to 5 pm (galleries close progressively from 4 pm)
- Some galleries may be temporarily closed while redevelopment work continues, so it’s worth checking the current gallery map on the day
- Free underground parking (P1, enter via Fairbairn Avenue) and free outdoor parking (P2, enter via Treloar Crescent), both with accessible spaces
- The 54 bus runs from the City Interchange on East Row and takes 10–15 minutes; alight on Limestone Avenue or Fairbairn Avenue
- Wheelchairs and walkers are available for free hire at the Information Desk on arrival
- Accessible toilets are at the Memorial Entrance, with ambulant toilets in the Hall of Valour
- An accessible pick-up and drop-off point is on East Road near the Memorial Entrance; the path from the coach parking area has some steeper sections, so those with reduced mobility may prefer assistance along it
- A visit can bring up a lot of emotion for some people, particularly anyone with a service connection in the family. The Memorial lists a number of support services on its website, including Open Arms (1800 011 046) for veterans and families
Antarctica at the National Museum of Australia
Kaye mentions Canberra’s “current Antarctica exhibition” — this is the National Museum of Australia’s Antarctica, running from 1 July to 11 October 2026. It draws on the newly donated National Antarctic Heritage Collection and features more than 200 objects covering more than a century of Australian exploration, science and survival on the ice. Entry is free, but bookings are essential.
Old Bus Depot Markets
The Old Bus Depot Markets run every Sunday from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm at 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston, in the former transport depot building next to the Canberra Glassworks.
Expect a good couple of hours of browsing among more than 200 stalls of local arts, crafts and food. Free car parking is available off Eastlake Parade, and it’s an easy walk from Kingston if you’re staying nearby. Worth noting for planning purposes: it’s a Sunday-only market, so it needs to line up with your itinerary.
Getting to Canberra from Melbourne
It’s around 660 km via the Hume Highway, roughly seven hours of driving, or about an hour and 20 minutes if you’d rather fly.
Kaye and Terry’s route via Bright adds a scenic detour through the north-east before heading across to the ACT — well worth it if you’ve got the extra day or two up your sleeve, but it’s not the most direct path if time is tight.
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