The Best Things to Do in Canberra on a Budget (According to a Uni Student)

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country where the Ngunnawal, Ngunawal, and Ngambri peoples have cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Our day with Mads involved so many different landscapes. We met up with her in the northside of the city and she guided us through the intertwining streets; a beautiful mix of cultures, fresh cuisine, heritage buildings, and modern architecture.

Our wonderful Canberra tour guide – Mads!

This was a big contrast to how this day finished: sunset solitude in a woodland sanctuary. It was really exciting to be able to dip our toe into both sides of Canberra with minimal travel time.

Maggie Knight-Williams, AKA Mads, is an advocate and member of the Uluru Youth Delegate as well as a cultural dancer.

She has a rich history here in Canberra and I couldn’t wait for her to share some of her local knowledge with me throughout the day.

But before we got started on anything physical, our bellies were calling for Vietnamese!

Read more: Dr Kate Grarock’s Top 7 Places to Explore Canberra Like a Local

1. Slurping the Best Pho in the City at Bistro Nguyen’s

Total cost: $18.90 (A bowl of chicken pho)

After walking through the city, we were overwhelmed by the choices for food. One thing people should tell you before you visit Canberra is that you’ll need to prepare for too many good food options.

We stopped into Bistro Nguyen’s in the Melbourne Building for a quick serving of house-made spring rolls and a giant bowl of soup. You can get a huge portion of pho here for under $20 and they have great vegetarian options too.

I recommend getting an avocado smoothie or a Vietnamese iced coffee to keep you energised for the day ahead.

2. National Museum of Australia – Great Southern Land and Talking Blak to History Exhibits

Total cost: Free!

This was one of my favourites. I could’ve stayed the whole day to see every corner of the National Museum of Australia.

‘Great Southern Land Gallery is where I always take family who come here.’ said Mads ‘It’s so beautiful.’

Opens daily from 9am-5pm, Canberra’s National Museum of Australia has free entry and tours of the museum are also available.

Enjoy the colourful interiors while walking around

After entering the Talking Blak to History exhibit, I gained a profound insight into the Indigenous perspective and heard many voices amplified through the artefacts, artworks, and stories shared there.

A heads up! Some of the pieces in the Talking Blak to History exhibit can be confrontational at times, nonetheless, it’s imperative that we recognise these powerful stories and respect the journeys of survival and resilience.

3. Walking the Forest Loop Walk on Galambari/Black Mountain

Total cost: Free!

Located five minutes from the National Museum of Australia is Galambari/Black Mountain. Mads guided me on the Forest Loop Walk, which is an easy, 30-minute stroll that circumnavigates the mountain. It offers insightful views of the city and adjacent Mount Ainslie, which is another significant First Nations women’s site.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Mads has an impressive cultural understanding of the many different plants and flowers on the mountain and their medicinal properties, so our planned 30-minute walk stretched out as I quizzed her knowledge with awe.

She showed me how the deliciously smelling Strawberry gum (Eucalyptus olida) can be used in tea and how Stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua) is used for women’s medicinal purposes.

The Forest Loop Walk is a great trail to get the legs moving, breathe in fresh mountain air, and get a fantastic view of the surroundings.

Read more: Where to Hike & Camp in Canberra 2024

Found a Stringybark

4. Afternoon Tea at Gang Gang Cafe

Total cost: $15.50 (coffee and cake)

How lucky I was to be taken to Gang Gang Cafe. I loved it so much that after we had an afternoon snack here, we came back the next day for breakfast! A beautiful mix of family, dogs, veggie patches, community, and culture all in one place.

Located about a ten-minute drive north of the city centre, Gang Gang Cafe is somewhere you could hang out the whole day and strike up a warm conversation with the locals or even enjoy the bar scene after dark.

Get your gang to Gang Gang for a cosy cuppa

‘Gang Gang is an extension of my living room at this point’, says Mads. ‘The staff are beautiful and bright, and the atmosphere at any time of day gives so much heart to the area.’

They also have an impressive range of comedy showcases, trivia, lawn Olympics, and flea markets. It’s worth carving out some time to attend an event while you’re in town and supporting some of the local talent and small businesses.

Now, I don’t say this often but mark my words: Best. Carrot Cake. Ever. Believe me, I’ve had many cakes in my time, but these guys know how to bake the goods (literally).

Just check the cabinet to see what cakes and goodies the chefs have on display. Other recommendations are the house-made iced chai latte, potato rosti, and a cheeky takeaway brownie.

Can confirm, was delicious

5. Taking a Twilight Tour at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary

Entry cost: Free!
Optional Twilight Tour: $65 pp

Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary is about a 30-minute drive north of the city centre and it has spectacular native, nocturnal nightlife. Entry is free at any time of day, and you can select from a few different walk lengths depending on what you’re feeling up for.

The reserve itself is Australia’s largest single Box-gum and grassy woodland area dedicated just to conservation and protection. This means foxes, feral cats, and other threats are kept out.

‘My cousins, nephews, nieces, and I dance to the songs handed down to us in the legacy of our Harold ‘Crow’ Williams and that are sung by my uncle William Tompkins. Those flats are a refuge for wildlife and for us mob alike’, Mads told me.

Tours in particular are an immersive exploration into the rich biodiversity that can only be seen after dark within the sanctuary. This is your opportunity to spot the cutest quolls, echidnas, bettongs, and various birds and reptiles. Your participation in the tour also helps contribute to the ongoing conservation initiatives that help the sanctuary protect this beautiful habitat.

Just don’t forget to bring your camera for the critters!

6. Student Special for Gyoza at Ka Sushi Ramen

Total cost: $10.00 (plate of gyoza)

After our trip to Mulligans Flat, it was about 8pm and we were hankering for dinner. An awesome Japanese option is Ka Sushi Ramen, located right in the city.  On Mondays and Tuesdays, they have student specials, including $10 gyoza and $15 ramen, curry, udon or rice bowls. It’s open until 9pm. What a bargain!

Visiting Canberra on a budget doesn’t mean you have to compromise the quality of your adventures! There are endless free attractions, as well as public walks, hikes, and community spaces that are dedicated to appreciating the region’s natural beauty.

Make your next trip to Canberra a memorable one without blowing the budget.

Follow Mads on her journey and keep track of what’s happening in the region.

Photos thanks to @mikaylaatkins