Waterfalls, lookouts and national parks in Canberra
Canberra's idea of awe is a hill with a view. The city is ringed with nature reserves and low mountains, and from several of them you can look across the lake and the grid of the national capital to the distant ranges. Mount Ainslie is the classic lookout, popular for sunrise and for sunset when the sky turns orange over the city. Red Hill offers another view from a different side, and the Canberra Centenary Trail strings together a long chain of hills, lakes and paths for those who like to walk or ride a section at a time. Reserves such as Tuggeranong Hill, Urambi Hills, Goorooyarroo and the Molonglo River Reserve add kangaroos, birds and open grassy woodland. These are not waterfall walks, and the landscape is dry and open rather than lush, but it holds a special quiet. Children often find the first kangaroo of the day more thrilling than any view. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times, because kangaroos are active and the light is soft. Dress for wind and sun, take plenty of water, and keep an eye on the weather, since some tracks can be rough and exposed. Not everything here suits prams, so read the listing before choosing a walk.
Our picks
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Mount Ainslie Lookout
Mount Ainslie Lookout sits at the summit of Mount Ainslie (842 metres) in Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve, looking over Canberra, Lake Burley Griffin and the mountains of…
★ 4.7 (5,403)
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Red Hill Nature Reserve Red Hill
Red Hill Nature Reserve is a 293-hectare protected area in Canberra Nature Park, on a forested ridge running more than 3 km from Mount Mugga Mugga north to Deakin.
★ 4.5 (663)
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Canberra Centenary Trail Capital Hill
The Canberra Centenary Trail is a 138-kilometre self-guided, shared-use loop trail for walkers, runners and cyclists, managed by ACT Parks and Conservation.
★ 4.7 (131)
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Henry Rolland Park Parkes
Henry Rolland Park is a public urban park on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, between Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and West Basin on Barrine Drive, Parkes.
★ 4.7 (71)
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Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve Theodore
Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve is a 365-hectare part of Canberra Nature Park in southern Canberra, with woodland and a steep track to the summit giving views over the…
★ 4.5 (203)
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Sparrow Hill
Sparrow Hill is the mountain bike riding area in Kowen Forest, a 4,670 hectare pine plantation north-east of Canberra managed by ACT Parks and Conservation.
★ 4.6 (66)
Before you go
Best for which ages
Short lookout walks suit pre-schoolers and primary-age children, especially if kangaroos are on the menu. Toddlers do better in a carrier on rough ground. Teenagers will enjoy a longer ridge walk or a section of the Centenary Trail, and often prefer going at sunrise or sunset for the photos.
What to bring
Water, snacks, a hat and sunscreen in warmer months, and warm layers in cooler ones, because hilltops are windy. Sturdy shoes are important on loose or rocky tracks. Binoculars add interest for older children, and a small bag keeps hands free for scrambling.
Parking and facilities
Many lookouts have a car park at or near the start, though facilities are often limited to a bench or a toilet block, and some have nothing at all. Check the listing before you leave, and plan your food and toilet stops for before or after the walk.
Prams and accessibility
Some lookouts and paved sections are manageable with a pram, but many tracks are uneven, steep or gravelly. On gravel and rock, a carrier will serve you better than a pram. The listing tells you about surface and gradient, so check first if you need step-free access.
Best time of year
Autumn and spring bring comfortable temperatures and good light. Summer days can be hot and exposed, so go early or late and carry extra water. Winter is crisp and clear, ideal for long views, but mornings can be icy and the wind can bite.
Waterfalls, lookouts and forest walks
Walks the park service or council describes with a length and grade. Each listing says how far, how hard, and what is at the start.
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Mount Ainslie Lookout
Mount Ainslie Lookout sits at the summit of Mount Ainslie (842 metres) in Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve, looking over Canberra, Lake Burley Griffin and the mountains of…
★ 4.7 (5,403)
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Red Hill Nature Reserve Red Hill
Red Hill Nature Reserve is a 293-hectare protected area in Canberra Nature Park, on a forested ridge running more than 3 km from Mount Mugga Mugga north to Deakin.
★ 4.5 (663)
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Canberra Centenary Trail Capital Hill
The Canberra Centenary Trail is a 138-kilometre self-guided, shared-use loop trail for walkers, runners and cyclists, managed by ACT Parks and Conservation.
★ 4.7 (131)
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Henry Rolland Park Parkes
Henry Rolland Park is a public urban park on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, between Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and West Basin on Barrine Drive, Parkes.
★ 4.7 (71)
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Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve Theodore
Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve is a 365-hectare part of Canberra Nature Park in southern Canberra, with woodland and a steep track to the summit giving views over the…
★ 4.5 (203)
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Sparrow Hill
Sparrow Hill is the mountain bike riding area in Kowen Forest, a 4,670 hectare pine plantation north-east of Canberra managed by ACT Parks and Conservation.
★ 4.6 (66)
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Molonglo River Reserve Coombs
Molonglo River Reserve is an ACT Government nature reserve created in 2018, covering 23 km of the Molonglo River from Scrivener Dam to the Murrumbidgee River, about…
★ 4.7 (28)
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Urambi Hills Nature Reserve Kambah
Urambi Hills Nature Reserve is a 246-hectare part of Canberra Nature Park on the southern edge of Kambah, with a ridgetop that looks across Tuggeranong, the…
★ 4.4 (196)
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Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve Throsby
Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve is an 829-hectare protected area in north-eastern Canberra, part of Canberra Nature Park and managed by Parks ACT.
★ 4.4 (169)
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Pine Island Reserve Bonython
Pine Island Reserve is an ACT Government reserve on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River in Canberra's south.
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Namadgi National Park Tharwa
Namadgi National Park protects 106,095 hectares of alpine, sub-alpine and mountain bushland, almost half of the ACT, on Ngunnawal Country.
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Casuarina Sands Cotter River
Casuarina Sands is a picnic and river area on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River near the Cotter, listed by ACT Parks as a fishing location.
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Lake Burley Griffin Bridge to Bridge Walk Parkes
The Bridge to Bridge walk is a 5 km loop around the Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin, linking Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and Kings Avenue Bridge.
5 km · Easy · 120 minutes loop
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Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve Fyshwick
Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve is one of the ACT's most significant wetland habitats, a refuge for the protected Latham's Snipe and many other species, cared for…
Pram-friendly · Wheelchair access
All walks, waterfalls and lookouts in Canberra, free and paid
Questions parents ask
- What is the best lookout in Canberra for kids?
- Mount Ainslie is the best known and offers a wide view of the city and the lake. Check the listing for how to get there and how steep the path is, and pick a clear day.
- Will we see kangaroos on these walks?
- Often, especially at dawn and dusk in the nature reserves, though sightings are never guaranteed. Keep a respectful distance, never feed them and keep dogs and small children under control.
- Are there waterfalls near Canberra?
- The listed places are more about views, hills and bushland than waterfalls. Canberra's landscape is drier and more open than the coast, so look to the lookouts and reserves instead.
- Is it safe to walk on very hot days?
- It is best not to. Hot, dry and windy days can be a fire risk and are tough on children. Go early, take plenty of water and choose shorter walks, or save it for a milder day.