This place is a delightful way to spend a few hours wandering, having a picnic, or a snack in the impressive main building. The Bonsai display area is beautifully presented with Bonsai's of all ages and styles. Take a walk in the several growing forests. One minute you are in a Himalayan Forest and the next walking amongst palms. The children's play area is like no other and will hold the attention of any child whilst you enjoy a coffee. The Arboretum is a must see and do for any visit to Canberra.

A great place to meet or take visitors to Canberra. Beautiful landscaped grounds displaying many of the beautiful species of trees available to this region and many walking (running) paths that wind around each grove. The cafe is open from 9am until 4pm each day and located in a very impressive dome shaped building with beautiful exposed timber beams and glass walls that allow spectacular views across the arboretum grounds and Lake Burleigh Griffin. The cafe provides quite good coffee and a good selection of snack and small plate brunch/lunch food. It can be very busy and counter service only. There is a lovely gift store within the building and plenty of parking, including ‘disabled’ area parking.

Beautiful in autumn especially just before sunset. We went there around 4pm on May 9, just as people were making their way out from sun baking. We saw people flying kite, kids rolling down the hill, and it’s dog friendly (with a leash). Perfect for a Sunday picnic.

This is a pretty amazing place! The grounds are open from 7am - 5:30pm and most of the other areas are open from 9am - 4pm daily. When you drive in up the winding road you are greeted with hills of trees and signs indicating their name, genus and species. Luckily its a 40km/h road so you can easily look at the signs without affecting traffic. There is plenty of paid parking available and its not far to walk to the main building. The coffee in the Cafe is really nice and food seems reasonably priced (although I haven't eaten there yet). The views of the city and surrounding suburbs is spectacular. There is an amazing bonsai display area and plenty of places to sit and take in the views. There appears to be lots of walking and bike riding trails and playground areas for kids. The surrounding gardens have many of the plants labelled so you can learn what they are, knowing that you too can grow them if you live in Canberra! This was only my first visit and I didn't get to see a fair bit of the grounds so Ill update this review once I do. In summary, go check out the arboretum if you haven't been. Its free to look around so get a coffee and have a look. Its a nice place to visit if you have an hour to spare!

Beautiful landscaped grounds displaying many of the beautiful species of trees available to this region and many walking paths that wind around each grove. The cafe is open from 9am until 4pm each day and located in a very impressive dome shaped building with beautiful exposed timber beams and glass walls that allow spectacular views across the arboretum grounds and Lake Burleigh Griffin. The cafe provides quite good coffee and a good selection of snack and small plate brunch/lunch food. It can be very busy and counter service only. There is a lovely gift store within the building and plenty of parking, including ‘disabled’ area parking. Just outside the main building is the bonsai display room, which was absolutely beautiful and had so much variety in the types of bonsais After looking at the bonsais, we went back into the main building and grabbed a few books from the gift shop, and tried out one of the cafes for a quick morning tea. Overall, I'd say this is a great place to visit if you like bonsais, or even if you want to go for a long walk or bike ride as there are paths all around the hills.

The fog lifted to allow us to see the magnificent views of winter in Canberra. The cork tree forest is a must see, just a short 10 minute easy walk. Bonsai art is fascinating, take the time to read the details of the artists. Sadly limited gluten free options in the cafe, the young staff not very knowledgeable about what GF is .

I had not been to this South Side of the arboretum before, and oh, what have I missed. The grassy bowl had children playing, flying kites, running and laughing, it as wonderful to see and hear. And then the Bonsai exhibition is on the next level of enjoyment. Don't miss it, it is so special.

Beautiful and varied nature, amazing views, you can fly kites with children on the large hill. Inside a beautiful bonzai tree show, cafe, shop, outdoor playground open until 8pm. Free admission.

Nestled within this picturesque landscape lies a stunning array of diverse trees, each contributing to the beauty of the scenery. As the seasons change, the charm of this place magnifies, particularly during the enchanting autumn. The trees, adorned with vibrant hues of red, orange, and yellow, create a breathtaking mosaic of colors, drawing visitors into a world of awe and wonder. During this season, the area comes alive with an ethereal beauty, captivating all who venture here. The serene rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze provides a soothing soundtrack to the mesmerizing visuals. It's a true feast for the senses, an invitation to immerse oneself in nature's breathtaking artistry. However, the enchantment doesn't stop there. An annual event, the Balloon Spectacular, adds another layer of magic to this already captivating setting. The sight of colorful balloons soaring gracefully against the backdrop of the autumnal forest is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Visitors flock to witness this majestic spectacle, driving up to the summit to get a panoramic view of the balloons floating across the sky, painting it with vibrant strokes. It's an experience that transcends mere visual beauty; it's a moment that embeds itself in the memory, leaving an indelible mark of wonder and delight. The juxtaposition of nature's splendor and the playful dance of balloons creates an ambiance of pure joy and fascination, leaving all who witness it in sheer amazement. Each year, this spectacle continues to draw crowds, each person seeking to be part of this wondrous celebration of nature's grandeur. The trees, the colors, the balloons—each element contributes to an experience that words cannot wholly encapsulate. It's an invitation to step into a world where nature's beauty and human ingenuity harmonize in a breathtaking symphony, offering a glimpse of sheer, unadulterated wonder.

We happened to see the National Arboretum on the road in Canberra. We stopped to have a look. There are lots of things to do here. The facilities are great. There are toilets and there is a small café. The Café is located in the Visitors Centre. Outside, you can look at different types of trees. There is lots of great information on all different kinds of plants. There are a total of 21 different Forests here where you can see lots of birds. There are also lots of spaces to have a picnic. If the kids get bored, there is play equipment nearby.

Its a wonderful, excellent and peaceful nature's wonder. Its a huge 250 acres site, making it world's largest collections of rare and significant trees procured from within Australia and different parts of the world. This unique Arboretum offers a very good eperience to public and particularly to students to know about the nature, vegetation, trees which has a direct impact on our environment. Its a great place to visit and enjoy.

The Arboretum is a beautiful place. From its groves of different trees to the magnificent bonsais on display, this is a place of inspiration and joy for any lover of trees. The staff are wonderful, the gift shop is excellent, and the cafe makes really good coffee. There are also wonderful views to be enjoyed, overlooking the trees and looking toward the city. This was my first visit, but I definitely plan to return.

This is the number one spot to go in Canberra. A small garden of Bonsai with ages up to 150 years is excellent to spend some time. Entry is free. Outside landscape is amazing with wonderful view. Also,a nice Cafe with great tasting sandwiches and coffee.

this is my favourite place in all of Canberra! The landscaping is so unique and beautiful. The bonsai exhibition at the main centre is definitely worth a look. But make sure to drive up to Dairy Farmers Hill Lookout - one of my favourite views :)

Best landscape in Australian Capital Territory. A sunset will be very awesome in this place. Cycling and walking can be done. Peaceful place to find yourself and the view. Walk from the bottom to top is very exciting. People enjoy picnic and spend nice evening here.

Lovely outdoor area to enjoy and explore. Weekly activities to keep the kids & adults interested and wanted to stay and play. Spent a couple hours exploring the garden areas near the main building but have plenty more of the grounds to see and explore another time. Kids playground was a hit for many ages from the little ones all the way up to the big kids. Could have spent hours of endless play here if we let them. Some shaded areas but a lot is exposed unless they are hiding inside the features (acorns).

Beautiful gardens, an award winning playground and views of much of Canberra make this a great place to go whether you’re a local or visitor. There’s lots of walks so crowds aren’t an issue and in summer it’s just amazing.

To be honest, I found it a little underwhelming. But I suppose it's a nice spot for family picnic and outings; the views are nice. I personally enjoyed their bonsai garden--easily the highlight for me.

Over 44000 rare and endangered species of trees being displayed and saved. Great drive or walk, do it at your pace. Lots of parking bays to stop and explore the surroundings. Cafe, education centre, restrooms and a Bonsai exhibition. Free of charge, sights back to the city, Telstra Tower and surrounding suburbs. Can spot Govt House from top of the hill. You can learn lots, not all about trees!

Love this place and it is still fairly young as far as the trees are planted. Quite a way to get to from the CBD but love the space out here. Love the Bonsai garden ❤️❤️❤️ People were flying kites and it was a sight to behold. Would love to pack a picnic basket and rugs n throws and just lazed under some of the groves enjoying the peace, quiet and serenity. Would be my go to place had I lived in Canberra. Would be a totally awesome place in decades to come when the trees starts to tower.

This place in Canberra is absolutely stunning! The landscape is simply breathtaking. It's one of the iconic spots that truly showcase the beauty of this city. One particular feature that stands out is the bonsai gardens. They are a sight to behold! These gardens beautifully display the artistry and patience involved in creating and maintaining these miniature trees. They add an extra touch of elegance and tranquility to this already amazing place.

Lovely open space. Great for just wandering amongst the trees and gardens. It has a busy cafe serving tasty food with many options. There is a park for young children and games for kids including kite flying and find the hidden clue. The outlook from the promenade provides an expansive view of Canberra city.

A must see for budding Bonsai enthusiasts, gardeners, naturalists. With cultivated forest trees from around the world this land will be a legacy for future generations of visitors. Not sure how much land the Arboretum possesses but this place is a must see destination for local and international visitors alike. The kids will love the playground area.

So much greenery and trees as far as the eye can see. Gorgeous place to get those steps up, beautiful to walk around, great views and the playground was fun for the kids. Parking is easy too, but you have to pay. The restaurant was closed when I came, so no comments there. Would have been amazing to sit inside and enjoy a coffee with a view.

There's a cafe with vegan choices and a bonzai display. Highly recommend a visit. You can walk, hike, cycle and drive around the Arboretum. Had a great time and beautiful scenic view across Canberra. Dog friendly on leads. Our furbabies loved this location.

Family-friendly environment, good food and the best coffee. Kids will enjoy the cone playground for sure. Don't miss out the kite part.

This place is incredible. A must visit when exploring Canberra. The views are spectacular and very well maintained. Drive or walk up the mountain for 365 views! Also...bring a kite!

A must visit place while in Canberra. See the beautiful bonsai collection and enjoy the view! They have a very nice cafe if you are keen for coffee and cake.

Wish we had more time to enjoy a whole afternoon here and explore the grounds of which have been impeccably maintained and planned. The architecture and scenery was amazing and was a non-regretable visit we made in our short stop in Canberra. The national Bonsai collection was also very interesting and the art well presented in this Australian setting. Bring a kite to fly in the valley.

Excellent place to visit either individually or with the family. The views are expansive provides a great perspective of Canberra as a city. There are beautiful walking tracks through the various plantations. The food in the cafe is also good. There is ample parking but getting here early is recommend.

Really enjoyed this visit to the Arboretum. The vistas from the dining area were superb and the mini meat pies were delicious. We drove to the Dairy farmers lookout and the Cedar forest as well. They had a National Bonsai and Penjing Collection that was fantastic. Worth the visit just for that.

Beautiful playground. If you have a toddler and are in Canberra this is a must go place. Vast fields, amazing cafe ofln site and wonderfully designed playground it's a perfect combination to spend few hours.

Recently, I came here for a few hours to have a look around and enjoy the bonsais and the views. Just outside the main building is the bonsai display room, which was absolutely beautiful and had so much variety in the types of bonsais on display. While I personally don't know much about bonsais, there were amazing staff members nearby who answered heaps of questions we had. After looking at the bonsais, we went back into the main building and grabbed a few books from the gift shop, and tried out one of the cafes for a quick morning tea. Overall, I'd say this is a great place to visit if you like bonsais, or even if you want to go for a long walk or bike ride as there are paths all around the hills.

Lovely views over Canberra. Has not been open very long and the trees and gardens are maturing. Good coffee shop and the gift shop had lots of interesting items.

Late spring and summer would be even better for all the deciduous plants, bit the evergreen forests were great value. The cafe is roomy, with good food & great espresso. The bonsai area is definitely a must see.

There are so many great trails here ranging from 2-7km which can be experienced either on foot or mountain bike. Some areas can also be explored in the comfort of your own vehicle as roads meander through various sections of the park. I recommend grabbing a free map from the information table located at the entrance. Whilst entry is free, visitors should note the parking fee applicable all days 9am-4pm.

Go here to be one with nature. It's a serene haven not too far from Canberra's city centre. The arboretum's elevated location gives it a vantage point to see the surrounding areas. A wide variety of trees and plants which are still in the nascent stages. A few "famous" trees on display as well planted by world leaders and royals. The Play Pod is a great place of the kids to be left loose while the grown ups grab a coffee and enjoy the views. The bonsai displays inside the Village Centre are a bonus.

The bonsai display is a must see. Great views while you sit and have coffee.

There are several really nice gardens - definitely worth to visit

The parking and cafe is very expensive but the views are amazing.

Very good natural view...

Excellent facilities, view, coffee and food.

Loved it

(Translated by Google) Tree potted 🪴 very artistic The staff takes care of it very well👍 (Original) 樹木盆栽🪴很有意境 工作人員照顧的非常棒👍

This is pretty amazing place. Worth visiting

Fascinating, loved the different areas/gardens. Amazing lookout too. Good food at the main visitors centre with excellent service and views. I mean, visit it, why wouldn't ya?

Great views and lovely spot to have a light lunch. Wonderful playground.

Excellent place to visit. Good for families and picnics

Great spot to look around

Every time I go to Canberra this is my favourite place to visit. Love watching it grow.

Great space for family and friends catchup. Stunning views, great facilities!

A nice place with several trails to hike while enjoying nature and bird watching. I specifically enjoyed the bonsai section next to the information center. We visited autumn, and trees were bare. I imagine this to be a beautiful place in spring or summer.

Great spot to fly a kite.

Beautiful views, will be back again!

Great views. Great tracks for bikes n PEVs

Awesome views good coffee and wide range of cakes.

This will be amazing when the young trees grow and provide more shade, currently there is very little. The playground design is thematically awesome but can be difficult for parents supervising multiple children. We'll be back as there's so much to explore, it will be an overcast outing for us in the future.

One of my favourite places in Canberra. Be sure to check out the Bonsai museum. Lots of small walks to be done on the grounds. The Himalayan Cedar forest has excellent BBQ facilities. Make sure you bring coins or credit card to pay for parking within designated hours.

This is one of my favorite places in Canberra. It's a hundred forests of a hundred rare or endangered trees from all over the world. I love the design and the ambiance. The on-site food and coffee are good too. There's a gift shop with quality books and collectibles. Always worth a visit if the weather is pleasant.

Well worth a visit. This is a young place so plenty if growing to be done to make it 5 star. Views are lovely, the amphitheatre is impressive and the varieties of trees is good and seems well planned. Cafe does nice food and coffee. Kid friendly and figs on a lead make it good for families There are running and cycling tracks to keep the energetic from getting bored. Peaceful gardens for the more relaxed among us.

Very nice project and mission. Beautiful architecture and use of space. Magnificent views from up there. The Bonsai section was also very nice and Barry was very helpful with his thorough explanation. I think they could expand the gift shop with more plant-themed and plant-derived products and maybe they could also have a nursery where they can sell plants.

Amazing location W the best views of Canberra. Bonsai collection is astonishing as is the home food garden. Cafe is tops and plenty of space outside for picnics. Best is the gumnut playground. Absolute delight for kids and adults alike. Must do.

First time I've been there, walked in the cork forest, loved seeing the bonsai "room", talking with the volunteers there and in the Southern Tablelands garden gave interesting more detail to the beauty on display. Had a nice lunch with great views in the big pavilion whatever it's called. Wish I was a kid so I could play in the Pod playground. The best views in Canberra are from the top of Dairy farm hill (surely it has a Ngunnawal name?) Admission is just the cost of paid parking.

Well worth a visit. A short drive from the National Zoo. Beautiful scenery, and the Pod Playground is very unique and fun for the kids. Note that at the highest point of the playground climbing structure, the only way down (rather than backtracking and going against traffic) is a rather steep spiral slide which may be a bit daunting for younger ones. Saw people flying their kites in a nice open space. Would be good for scootering too.

A beautiful area with walks, picnic spots & views all around. Lovely gift shop with unusual & fun items and a great cafe. The playpark is also a bit hit with our little ones. We had our Wedding reception in the pavilion and it was a perfect backdrop.

Breathtaking views. The scale of this project is unbelievable. Incredible playground and visitors centre

Very expensive parking every Day even week ends or public holidays $$2.00 per hour,

A beautiful scenic place , enjoy the nature with amazing views . The coffee shop inside offers good food .Try the corner seats to get the nice views !!!

Great location. Some signs and facilities a little faded and tired.

Lovely spot with beautiful views of the lake and Canberra.

Amazing playground

The ONLY complaint I have about the playground is there is not enough seating.

This place has some of the best views in Canberra. The scenery is beautiful.

Must do activity in Canberra. The Track 5 walk had the best views. Track 4 to track 5 link track had the best forest walk.

Marvelous!

Lovely scenic views! Chill out at the Cafe while enjoying the beautiful views. Admire the beautiful bonsai. And enjoy a relaxing day, playing and running around 😌 There's a playground for the kids to play as well. Ps. Paid parking ☹

Magnificent concept in its early days. The walking track up to Dairy Farmers Hill loockout is well worth it. Panoramic views of the city, suburbs and surrounding countryside. The National Bonsai and Penjing collection showcases amazing bonsai designs, many over 50 years old. Morning coffee and cake in the Village Centre. Don't miss the sculpture at the top of the Himalayan Cedar Forest. Wide Brown Land. Extraordinary.

Breath taking scenery. Incredibly well maintained.

What an amazing place to visit with friends, family and young kids! Perfect place to bring a picnic and spend time here. It has great variety of trees from all over the world planted here.

This place will be amazing in years to come when the trees are fully grown. Views of Canberra and surrounds are wonderful. Great place to take the kids for a picnic, fly kites and gives them plenty of space to run around.

A hidden gem of Canberra. Must see. Lovely gardens and walking tracks. Dairy Farmers Hill provides a fantastic view over Canberra and Telstra Tower. I found the amphitheater effect of the gardens down from the entrance to be spectacular.

Great place to see

The boy had a blast playing in the playground, having lunch and going for a walk. Good family day out.

An impressive drive in from the highway - landscaped hills with impressive architectural structures atop them. Lots of parking and amenities. A beautiful interior, gift shop and the bonsai exhibition is beyond amazing. The sole reason I visited in the first place.

Nice place for a bbq or a walk. It will be spectacular once the trees have grown up.

Great views

Beautiful views and so lovely to see trees being grown from around the world. Cafe and restaurant available in very clean surroundings.

We love visiting the Arboretum whenever we get the chance. It offers beautiful views of the surrounding area. There are plenty of walks and cycle rides one can do across the numerous forests in the area. It is also a great place to learn about plants. The bonsai section at the Arboretum also showcases a beautiful selection of bonsai plants.

Absolutely stunning location & it’s so nice to be surrounded by nature & beautifully landscaped backdrop. It is free entry to the public which is a bonus & parking is $2.20 an hour or $8.80 for the day. Enjoy scenic walks, take your kids to the Pods playground or have a coffee at the cafe to soak in the views. The bonsai garden was a such a beautiful sight to behold. In fact, we went there twice last week & the whole family thoroughly enjoyed it!

Booked a tour guide for me and my family (including 2 elderly) during Easter period. The guides were volunteers but very well informed about the arboretum and gave us so much insight about the place and trees planted there. They were really friendly and I definitely recommend a tour if possible.