Six things to do on Canberra’s northside that are worth crossing the bridge for
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Southsiders, did you think we forgot about you? Let us introduce you to some gems on the northside of Canberra, which just might make their way to your “let’s jump over the pond” list.
Here are six things worth crossing the bridge for.
Gold Creek Village, for your fantasy character starter pack
Roaring dinosaurs, miniature buildings, slithering reptiles, and birds flocking to sit on your shoulders? Say no more! A long stroll through the Gold Creek Village in Nicholls will surely make you feel like a character straight out of a fantasy novel. Be ready to cross off a month’s worth of weekend adventures just in this quaint little village.
Featuring Australia’s largest permanent display of prehistoric specimens, the National Dinosaur Museum will be a fascinating visit for kids and adults alike. Rest assured, no Jurassic Park-like experiments are afoot (well, not that we know of!).
Cockington Green displays miniature buildings from around the world set in a gorgeously colourful garden. But don’t take inspiration from the aforementioned dinosaurs, and refrain from stomping on the buildings, please and thank you.
Afterwards, head on to the Canberra Walk-In Aviary, where you will find around 60 different species of birds. The birds fly around in 1000 square metres of area enveloped in net and, as the name suggests, you can walk among them. Many will come sit on you as you feed them the snacks offered at the entry point. This is the perfect place to make your Disney princess dreams come true. A word of advice: wear full-sleeve clothing to avoid the scratch marks – I learned that the hard way.
The last stop on our Gold Creek tour is the Canberra Reptile Zoo. Go meet some slippery friends and learn a thing or two about them in an interactive environment.
O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls | goldcreekadventure.com.au
Capital Region Farmers Market, for your fresh appetite
For 20 years, the Capital Region Farmers Market at EPIC Park has been providing endless options for those seeking freshly picked, grown, and hand-crafted produce.
Held from 7 am–11.30 am on Saturdays, 100 stallholders gather each week to sell fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat and poultry, but you can also fill the garden using their great selection of plants or fill your stomach with freshly baked bread, cakes, macarons, and croissants.
Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Old Well Station Road, Mitchell | capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au
Lake Ginninderra, for one and all
Lake Ginninderra, also known as Ginni Darling (by me), is my favourite lake in Canberra by a mile, which says a lot since Canberra is blessed with so many artificial lakes! After all, it has something for everyone.
Want to grab a bite? The restaurants at Emu Bank have got your back. Have an excited dog? There’s a dog park towards the northern borders. Have bored kids? There’s a park at the Western Foreshore, adjacent to a Learn to Ride Centre educating kids about bike paths and roadways safety. University of Canberra student looking to kill time between lectures? Have a picnic at the John Knight Memorial Park.
Lake Ginninderra certainly has a multi-faceted personality!
Mulligans Flat, for all the sporty spirits
Bushwalkers, trail runners, cyclists, horse riders – this one’s for you. Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve is a woodland protected area sprawling across north-eastern borders of the ACT.
Quite close to the northern suburbs, Mulligans Flat gets extra points for being easily accessible by public transport. Apart from the usual activities one can undertake in a nature reserve, visitor centre at Mulligans offers spectacular twilight tours under starry skies.
At night, a different dreamland comes to life with nocturnal creatures like eastern bettongs, bush stone curlews and eastern quolls ambling about. So go ahead, have a good night, sweet dreams and don’t let the critters bite!
Rosenberg Street, Throsby | mulligansflat.org.au
Riddle Room, for escaping the mundane
Riddle Room in Mitchell offers the classic escape room experience that will tickle your brain. Gather your friends for this team activity, but only if you are ready to see them in a new light. Escape rooms are known to bring out the best (or worst) out of people.
From being transported to an abandoned mine to the mind of a young girl trapped in a nightmare, they offer five theme rooms. Select the one that matches your vibe.
8/160 Lysaght Street, Mitchell | riddleroom.com.au
Treetops Adventure, for feeling at the top of the world!
Want to imitate monkeys by swinging around among the trees? Head to Treetops Adventure in Majura with 90 aerial obstacles and 16 thrilling ziplines. They take outdoor adventure to a whole new level – literally!
Always thought you could win Wipeout easily? Check out Treetops Adventure to see how masterfully you can get past obstacle courses in a safe way. You will surely leave with lots of smiles.
Lime Kiln Road, Majura | treetopsadventure.com.au
