Winter Activities to Do in Canberra While Your Friends Are in Europe

Written by Brianna Elliott

Are all your friends having their Euro Summer while you’re stuck in cold, dreary Canberra? Here are some things to do in Canberra that won’t cost you an arm and leg instead: 

Spend the day…

Painting the blues away… Canberra’s Paint and Sip located in Braddon provides an affordable three-hour session of painting and sipping wine (or a cheeky cocktail) during the day throughout June and July. With no artistic skills being required and a wide variety of painting themes being offered, from animals to florals to sunsets, this is perfect for anyone wanting to escape the cold weather, especially if you’re in need of an excuse to day drink. 

Escaping reality… Perhaps instead of painting, you’d rather spend your time in an escape room. Canberra has a wide variety of escape rooms that are located all throughout the Capital so it doesn’t matter what side of the lake you live on; for North Siders, there is The Riddle Room in Mitchell, or The Escape Rooms in Phillip for South Siders, and The Revelation Puzzle Rooms in Fyshwick for anyone in between. 

Letting out your rage… Maybe you are super frustrated that you’re stuck in Canberra while all your friends are living their best lives in Europe, Canberra’s Axe Throwing in the city, or Urban Axxe Throwing combined with their Breakroom in Fyshwick, might be a perfect opportunity to get out that rage. While these activities aren’t as price-friendly as a brunch is, both these locations offer packages to invite all of your friends. 

In a magical display… If these activities sound a little too strenuous, you might be more interested in a quirky niche-themed shop. Canberra’s Quizzic Alley has you covered, as a Harry Potter themed shop that not only has something for everyone but also offers their version of the classic butterbeer drink (unfortunately non-alcoholic) and potion workshops including making bath bombs. While it may not be Scotland, this place does have just as many photo opportunities as well. 

Evening Fun

Perhaps after exams, you’ll need something a little more relaxing; Masterworks for Winds is an orchestral performance joining the Band of the Royal Military College with students from ANU’s School of Music. This event is being performed at Llewellyn Hall on Saturday 15 June and only requires a gold coin donation upon entry. 

However, if orchestral music is not your vibe, the Basement in Belconnen has an Open Mic Comedy Show that runs once a month and is free to the public. Whether you are a comedian yourself or just want to watch other people have their break-out performance in comedy, this is the perfect way to have a laugh with your mates. 

Alternatively, if comedy is not where your interests lie, and instead you’ve got a knack for trivia, Dolly’s Canberra is hosting a Taylor Swift Trivia Night on 17 June at 7 pm. The event includes more than just trivia with bracelet-making and Taylor Swift themed cocktails set to be a big part of the night. 

Maybe what you need to be totally distracted from the Canberra blues is to attend a four-day festival. Canberra’s Christmas in July Festival which is ironically held on the last four days of June, has an extensive amount of food, mulled wine, beer, live music and entertainment, and markets. All set to hide how cold these winter months are by celebrating Christmas early. 

Or even after all the exam stress is over, or after everyone else’s Euro trip, you might just need a late-night meal to catch up on all the juicy goss. Kita is a late-night restaurant open from 6 pm to 6 am which offers gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options. 

Markets

In addition to the local Canberra community holding the Haig Park Village Markets in Braddon every Sunday, many other markets are running throughout Canberra during these winter months.

The Handmade Markets are being held on 29-30 June at Exhibition Park which is accessible from the Phillip Avenue Lightrail stop. With one of the largest Australian-made product lists in the country, these markets have something for everyone. 

While out and about, the Canberra Lifeline Bookfair is running on the same weekend from 28-30 June. This bookfair sells secondhand books, puzzles, games, movies, and CDs. Despite the trek to Tuggeranong, it only costs a gold coin donation to enter.

Fan of the cold?

For those who enjoy the blistering winds and frosty mornings of Canberra, there are still activities suitable for you as well. 

Canberra’s Winter in the City during July will transform part of Glebe Park into a magical ice rink in addition to fire performances in Garema Place as night falls. This event is open from 9 am to 8 pm and actively welcomes everyone, including those with accessibility needs. 

Alternatively, Canberra’s other ice skating rink is located in Phillip. University students with a valid ID from any university located in Canberra have access to a special deal on Wednesday nights between 8-10 pm that includes hiring skates for only $20. 

Despite being a small drive outside of Canberra, Corin Forest Snowplay is the perfect opportunity to build a snowman, ride a toboggan and have a snowball fight with your friends. This is accessible for all ages, however, if you want to ski or snowboard the Snowy Mountains, Perisher and Thredbo are a mere day trip away although you might want to pack some snacks for the road.

If you find yourself in a pickle over not being in Europe this winter, this city has got you covered! There is something for everyone here, and perhaps you’ll find despite Canberra being cold, it’s not that dreary and boring after all. 

Graphics by Annisa Zatalini

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