NORTH side

Venture to Canberra’s leafy northern suburbs to find an exciting line-up of attractions and events for the whole family

Taste

LITTLE OINK $$$$

A bacon-lover’s paradise, the focus of Little Oink is firmly on breakfast, but the all-day menu caters to all tastes. The menu at this kitsch café runs the gamut from the Oinko Burger, with bacon and two eggs, to French toast with Nutella. A must visit to satisfy all your bacon cravings.

22 Cook Pl, Cook littleoink.com.au

THE LIGHTHOUSE PUB $$$$

If you want to get to know the locals, head to The Lighthouse Pub. The venue has an actionpacked calendar of events that anyone can participate in, including trivia, happy hour, Flashback Fridays and live sports on the television.

You’ll also save some holiday spending money with the daily specials on offer.

80 Emu Bank, Belconnen lighthousepub.com.au

PIZZA ARTIGIANA $$$$

At Pizza Artigiana, try a pizza that would get any nonna’s tick of approval. The artisanal, handmade dough is matured, the pizza is woodfired and the ingredients are fresh – the trifecta for ensuring maximum flavour. There are almost 20 pizza and calzone variations to choose from. We recommend taking a big appetite.

Bowman and Wiseman sts, Macquarie pizza-artigiana.com.au

TINKER TAILOR $$$$

Tinker Tailor is equipped with all the café essentials, from pastries, tarts and sweets to sausage rolls and pies, coffee and tea. This café also provides a selection of treats for customers who wish to take home a little something, such as bags of coffee, as well as baguettes.

4 Henshall Way, Macquarie instagram.com/tinkertailor_cbr

TO ALL MY FRIENDS $$$$

Throw back a jug of Ginja Ninja or even a Freak Show (yes, these are names of beers) with friends at this pizza and craft beer bar.

Publican Natalie Legg is well known in the area for her popular café (just next door), Little Oink. Wonderfully laid-back, the decoration is minimal and unpretentious and the menu is simple – you’ll find enough bar snacks, share plates and pizzas to satisfy the deepest hunger.

24 Cook Pl, Cook toallmyfriends.com.au

Shop

Belconnen Fresh Food Markets

Shop for an array of goodies at these markets, which contain specialty stores for everything from pastry and fresh produce to books and flowers.

10 Lathlain St, Belconnen belconnenmarkets.com.au

Splatter

A studio, gallery and shop space showcasing original artwork, sculpture, jewellery, prints and furniture from various Canberra artists. Regular exhibitions and workshops turn this shop space into a hub of creativity for the arts community of Canberra.

Level 3, Westfield Belconnen splatter.biz

Explore

Gold Creek Village

This delightful little village is full of fun, presenting an entire day’s worth of shopping and activities for the whole family. The historic area is home to art galleries, gift shops, restaurants, specialty stores and attractions, such as Cockington Green Gardens, Aarwun Gallery and the National Dinosaur Museum. You’ll find a range of kids’ activities, from digging for dinosaur bones through to meeting reptiles.

O’Hanlon Pl, Nicholls

Yerrabi Pond

This innovative skating park and children’s playground is a perfect spot to stop for a picnic or a short walk around the pond. The park features undercover barbecues and shaded areas to keep you dry on damp days, while kids can play all day on the giant Tarzan swing, tandem flying fox and Burmese bridge. Gundaroo Dr, Amaroo environment.act.gov.au

Experience

Aarwun Gallery

Located at Gold Creek Village, Aarwun offers a rich and eclectic collection of works, including Indigenous art, paintings, prints, glass, ceramics, jewellery, woodwork and sculptures. The gallery is open daily 10am–4.30pm. Shop 11, Federation Sq, O’Hanlon Pl, Nicholls aarwungallery.com

Belconnen Arts Centre

Every visit to Belconnen Arts Centre is a new experience, thanks to its vibrant and diverse program. A true multidisciplinary arts hub, Belco Arts’ annual events calendar spoils visitors for choice with varied performances and exhibitions across dance, music, visual arts, theatre and more. 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen belcoarts.com.au

Canberra Reptile Zoo

Come face to face with some of Australia’s largest and deadliest reptiles, as well as some of its smallest and cutest. This reptile zoo is a home for creatures great and small – from the deadly death adder to the adorable thick-tailed gecko – and is on a mission to educate visitors on their evolution. If you’re brave enough, you can even volunteer to touch a python.

O’Hanlon Pl, Nicholls reptilesinc.com.au

Cockington Green Gardens

Discover the minuscule world of Cockington Green Gardens, a delightful and whimsical landscape filled with handcrafted miniature buildings. Kids will love the miniature steam train ride around the International Display, which showcases meticulously crafted replicas of famous buildings.

11 Gold Creek Rd, Nicholls cockingtongreen.com.au

Gio Stadium

Home of the famous Brumbies and Canberra Raiders sporting teams, this iconic stadium plays host to major sports games and big events. The stadium has a seating capacity of more than 25,000. Battye St, Bruce giostadiumcanberra.com.au

National Dinosaur Museum

Discover how dinosaurs evolved and interacted at the National Dinosaur Museum. Walk through the dinosaur garden, meet a huge T-rex, see fossils not on display anywhere else in the world and take home your own small slice of pre-history from the museum shop. Book your ticket online to maximise your dinosaur fun.