Top 10 Hidden Gems Things to do in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is nestled at the base of the Tidbinbilla Range, and is only a 40 minute drive south-west of Canberra’s city centre. Located within the reserve is a Sanctuary of five ponds and weirs abundant with wildlife including platypus. There is an over 80% chance of seeing these rare and usually elusive animals! Other native animals you may encounter include koalas, emus, kangaroos and many bird and reptile species. Tidbinbilla is also a leader in conservation with a breeding program focusing on the Northern Corroboree Frog, Southern Brush-Tailed Rock-Wallaby and the Eastern Bettong. Tidbinbilla has a rich cultural landscape dating back over 25 000 years and is the traditional Country of the Ngunnawal people. The Tidbinbilla Valley also reflects the European history of the area with historic homesteads and evidence of farming scattered throughout the reserve. Unique accommodation is available at one of the historic homesteads, Nils Desperandum.

Eat Canberra Food Tours are a unique way to explore Canberra’s food scene! The tours are for locals, interstate and international visitors and are a great way to meet other people and enjoy a day out in the nation’s capital. You will discover hidden gems and hot spots and indulge in lots of delicious food. We offer a range of tours and can also arrange private tours for all occasions.

Truffle Hunting and Cooking School.

The team at Canberra Guided Tours are passionate about providing expert guided tours in and around Australia’s National Capital. When the business first started in 1961, our city was just starting to grow. Canberra was a country town with a small population and no Lake. Original operators, Mary and Jack Dando gave visitors a memorable experience to the Nation’s Capital. At that time, Civic was known by the Sydney and Melbourne buildings; Duntroon, a country area; Albert Hall, The Canberra Hotel (now The Hyatt) and Old Parliament House. These were the main points of interest to see. All were brought together by a bridge that went over the Molonglo River, now Lake Burley Griffin. Today, Canberra has grown into a thriving hub, and we’re delighted to showcase the city and the region.

What is an Escape Room? An Escape Room is a fun and exciting experience like no other. You are placed into a specially designed room with your friends and you have to solve a series of puzzles using only the items in the room to progress through a story and find your way out. You will have 60 minutes to successfully complete your objective. Each puzzle is different and will require you think inventively. You will need to think about clues carefully, analyse your surrounding, use objects in unusual ways and work as a team to escape. As you solve each puzzle you’ll uncover new information that will make you rethink everything in the room. Communication with your team is the most important tool to use if you want to get out in time. Escape Rooms first begun in 2007 in Japan and have quickly spread to all corners of the globe. In Australia, escape rooms started in Melbourne and then made their way across the country. As the awareness of escape rooms grew it was important that Canberra has its own escape room so we weren’t being left behind. The Nightmare Room You are contacted by the DreamWake Corp. an experimental science facility that specialise in Oneirology, the study of dreams. They have developed a new technology which can transfer a conscious mind into another's subconscious. They need your help with a particular case; a patient is trapped inside a recurring nightmare. The DreamWake Corp. believe that if you are able to go deep into her subconscious and find out what is causing the nightmare she’ll be able to wake up. This procedure has never been fully tested and once inside you'll only have 60 minutes before you lose your connection and become trapped inside her nightmare forever. Anything could happen in the Nightmare Room.

Escape Rooms Canberra is one of the areas leading escape the room companies. With experiences ranging from escaping a doomed house during the Salem witch trials to outsmarting a deranged toy shop owner to infiltrating a vault set in a post apocalyptic landscape, there is no shortage of challenges to face. With friendly staff, a great atmosphere and an ever evolving repertoire of escape games, there's no more exciting way to spend 60 minutes. Accept the Challenge, Escape the Room.

Locked in a themed immersive space, you have one hour to discover hidden secrets, find your identity, save your expedition! Time is running out. A challenging and fun experience for family, friends and people of all ages.

Canberra Secrets personalised tours provide a true local perspective of what makes this city tick, highlighting the secrets and the quirky within — from the national attractions, through to the city’s thriving cafe culture and the wonders of the Australian bush. Check out tour options and discounts on our website. We tailor tours to provide you with a unique experience. You’ll see the sights but also discover the ‘secrets’ and the quirky things that are little known, behind the scenes. Tours vary to allow flexibility, spontaneity and to give you the best possible experience. You will receive factual up-to-date information, entertaining narrative, great stories of things from ‘behind the scenes’, and, most importantly, you’ll have fun! Why not experience a Canberra Secrets Highlights Tour, private tailored tour, beer and brewery tour or a winery tour. Or let is create the tour perfect just for you!

The Visitor Centre is now open to the public from the Visitors Car Park entry. Please ring reception on 6249 9111 upon arrival, and they will open the front entry doors. Visitors will then need to complete the Check-in CBR App. The Visitor Centre is designed for self-guided tours, and is usually open to the public from Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, excluding public holidays. Explore Australia’s National Mineral and Fossil Collection and enjoy the Geoscientific displays throughout. Study the building's ecologically sustainable design features and learn about the unique geothermal heating system. Located outside the front of the building (and available every day of the year) is the Geological Time-Walk (1.1km). Take a walk from the beginnings of the Earth to the present day. FREE admission and parking available onsite.