Lake Burley Griffin
A man-made city lake built in 1964. Paths for walking and cycling link the capital's main venues, making it the heart of Canberra.
Lake Burley Griffin is named after Walter Burley Griffin, the city's designer. The shoreline is about 40 km long. You can cycle or walk the roughly 5 km circuit of the Central Basin, passing the National Museum, the Library, the Gallery, and the Carillon. You can rent bicycles or kayaks, or take a sightseeing cruise. Black swans are common on the water. During the March balloon festival, dozens of hot-air balloons lift off from the lawn in front of Old Parliament House at dawn and drift across the lake. Swimming in the lake is not recommended.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- National Museum of Australia
- National Film and Sound Archive
- Australian National Botanic Gardens
- Captain Cook Memorial Jet
- National Library of Australia
- Old Parliament House (Museum of Australian Democracy)
- Parliament House, Canberra
- Questacon