Not to miss

Australian National Botanic Gardens

On the lower slopes of Black Mountain, behind the Australian National University, the beautiful 50-hectare (123-acre) botanic gardens are devoted to Australian flora. There are educational walks, including one among plants used by Aborigines.

A highlight is the rainforest area, achieved in this dry climate with a misting system, while the eucalypt lawn has 600 species of this ubiquitous Australian tree. Take a guided walk, or take a seat in the pleasant Hudsons in the Gardens Cafe.

Lanyon

The beautifully restored Lanyon Homestead, beside the river near Tharwa, is about 30km (19mi) south of the city. The early stone cottage on the site was built by convicts, and the grand homestead, which dates from Canberra's grazier days, was completed in 1859.

More than a collection of pretty old buildings, this National Trust homestead documents the life of the region before Canberra existed. The Nolan Gallery in the homestead collects some of Australian painter Sydney Nolan's most famous Ned Kelly works. As you'd expect, you can get a pretty nice Devonshire tea at Lanyon.

Australian War Memorial

The war memorial is more than the usual pointy concrete thing in the middle of town, it's actually a museum of Australian war history. It was conceived in 1925 and opened in 1941. It houses an amazing collection of pictures, dioramas, relics and exhibitions, with a fine collection of old aircraft.

For anyone with an interest in toy soldiers, the miniature battle scenes are absorbing.

The Hall of Memory is the focus of the memorial. It features a beautiful interior, some superb stained-glass windows and a dome made of six million Italian mosaic pieces. The Unknown Australian Soldier was brought here from a WWI battlefield in 1993. Leading to the hall is the reflecting pool, its surrounding walls inscribed with the names of Australia's war dead.