Canberra Region

CANBERRA

REGION

Long Rail Gully Wines, Murrumbateman Credit: Destination NSW

From the award-winning wines and rolling vines of the Canberra District Wine Region, to the unspoilt coastline and fresh seafood at the South Coast, and plenty of country charm, impress your delegates with time to explore the wider Canberra Region.

COOL CLIMATE WINE REGION

Within an easy 35-minute drive of the city is the Canberra District Wine Region, home to 140 vineyards and more than 30 boutique cellar doors. While distinct wines have been made in the region for more than 160 years, the past decade in particular has seen the wines receive national and international recognition and acclaim. Discover the local cool climate wines at Clonakilla Wines, created by world-renowned winemaker Tim Kirk, or enjoy elegant wines with tongue-in-cheek names at Contentious Character. Their restaurant also caters for groups, with hearty meals in front of the roaring fireplace. For a memorable experience, Shaw Wines in Murrumbateman has a private cellar dining room, where your VIP delegates can enjoy a unique dining and tasting experience.

SOUTHERN TABLELANDS

From the city to the countryside, Canberra is surrounded by small towns bursting with rural charm, history, art, and local delicacies. In Yass, Bungendore and Braidwood, shop for locally crafted goods as well as hand-selected and imported wares from around the world. Step back in time and marvel at the 400-million-year-old rock formations in the caverns of Wombeyan Caves. Settle in for exceptional food and warm, country hospitality at the charming Grazing at Gundaroo. And Murrumbateman is the place to indulge, with countless wineries like Poachers Vineyard, and the handmade delights at Sweet Pea and Poppy.

Cascades Trail at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Credit: We Are Explorers for VisitCanberra

NATIONAL PARKS AND NATURE RESERVES

With 70% of the ACT made up of open spaces, parklands, and nature reserves, it’s no wonder it earned the title of the bush capital. Just a short drive from town, your group can experience Canberra’s remote alpine bush at its finest, such as the fishing spots, animal encounters, walking and biking trails, and beautiful vistas of Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. There, you can also learn about the rich Aboriginal history of the Ngunnawal people through a visit to archaeological sites dating back over 21,000 years. Tidbinbilla is also home to the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, which forms part of NASA’s Deep Space Network. Your delegates can discover the role the giant dish plays in supporting interplanetary spacecraft missions, and monitoring signs of life in the solar system.

ALPINE ADVENTURES

Breathe in the crisp mountain air and take in the pristine countryside of Australia’s Alpine region, just 2.5 hours’ from Canberra. The area is most famous for the winter months, and snow enthusiasts will love a trip to the slopes of Perisher, Thredbo, Guthega, Charlotte Pass and the family-friendly Selwyn Snowfields. But the area caters to visitors year-round, from alpine horseback treks to mountain biking, fresh river trout, white water rafting, or hiking Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko.

Capturing the year-round beauty of the area is Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa, where event planners can find meeting spaces and boutique accommodation.

Lake George Winery Credit: VisitCanberra

Blue Cow, Perisher Credit: Destination NSW

SOUTH COAST

Canberra may not have its own coastline, but just a scenic two-hour drive away is the picturesque South Coast. Running from Jervis Bay, an annexe of the ACT, down to the Sapphire Coast, the region boasts unspoilt coastline, making it the perfect antidote to a busy conference program. Here, your delegates can snorkel with the seals, discover historic villages, learn to surf, explore beautiful national parks, or just watch the waves roll in from the stunning beaches. The area is also renowned for its oysters, which you can enjoy at the many eateries, or even join a tour of the oyster farms and taste them fresh from the river. Event planners will delight in Willinga Park at Bawley Point, an architecturally designed conference venue offering sophisticated spaces with vast bushland views.

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