Canberra Neighbourhoods, Locations and Districts

(Canberra, Australian Capital Territory - ACT, Australia)

Canberra has a compact city centre, with its main neighbourhoods often being divided by the vast Lake Burley Griffin. This is a particularly beautiful modern city and many of the districts are surrounded by scenic valleys, green hills and woodlands.

Sightseers often favour the city centre, while for those dining out, Chinatown is a safe bet and packed with tasty Asian fare. Both North and South Canberra offer a selection of attractions, hotels and eateries.

Also of note, Tuggeranong and Woden Town have much to offer holiday makers, with Tuggeranong Hill providing impressive views and the centre of Woden Town functioning as an important commercial district within the Woden Valley area.

City Centre

The city centre contains many of Australia's premier historic landmarks, such as the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery, New Parliament House and the striking Telstra Tower, with panoramic views across Lake Burley Griffin. Central Canberra also features large entertainment complexes and a lively nightlife, including wine bars, cinemas, theatres, nightclubs and casinos.

Commonwealth Avenue, in the city centre, is where you will find some of Canberra's most luxurious accommodation, including the Hyatt Hotel, one of the city's most lavish. Other popular hotels here are located one both sides of Lake Burley Griffin and close to Commonwealth Park.

Chinatown

Chinatown is situated in the Dickson area, around Woolley Street and to the north of the city centre. Home to a large selection of authentic Chinese and Cantonese restaurants, the Chinatown district also contains numerous interesting local buildings and Asian food markets.

North Canberra

The North Canberra district includes Northbourne Avenue and the O'Conner area, where there is large concentration of hotels and budget lodging alternatives, such as the city's popular Youth Hostel. Ainslie and Braddon are close to the National Park, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in this location.

Lyneham and Turner are other important areas, as are nearby Bruce and Belconnen, where there are excellent shopping facilities and a number of large shopping centres. The Belconnen district is a notable nightspot in Canberra, with lively bars, public houses and vibrant nightclubs. Belconnen is also known for its exceptional Turkish and Asian restaurants.

South Canberra

South Canberra is home to a thriving street café culture and a relaxed pace of life. With a number of shopping arcades, speciality shops, fashion boutiques, antiques stores, highly regarded restaurants and attractive architecture, the neighbourhood is conveniently close to the city centre and can be reached in just a few minutes by either bus or car.

The inner suburbs of Kingston and Manuka contain many serviced apartments, affordable hotels and stylish accommodation options, often with great city views and sited close to some upmarket restaurants. Travel further south and you will soon reach Tharwa, Tidbinbilla and Namadgi National Park, with large open expanses of parklands, scrublands and caravan parks.

Tuggeranong

Located on the far southern side of the city, Tuggeranong features many friendly, local public houses, serving a variety of inexpensive bar food and snacks. One of the main attractions in this area of Canberra is the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, which contains an enormous amount of local wildlife and many popular walking trails.

Woden Town

Woden Town is a lively entertainment hub located within the suburb of Philip, where it comes with several live music venues and renowned jazz clubs. Nearby, popular attractions include both the Cotter Reserve and the Mount Stromlo Observatory.