Canberra One-Day Itinerary (with Food, Stay & Photo Tips!)

Day 1 🕓 18:10 – Arrived at Canberra Airport 🚌 Took public transport to Hotel Realm (slightly remote but well-connected by bus). 📍 Nearby: Ezymart & walking distance to Murrays bus stop. 🍜 Dinner: Bistro Nguyen’s (Vietnamese) Pho was tasty 🍲, hotpot was average. Day 2 🚌 Started by bus to Old & New Parliament Houses (used Apple Pay for fare). 🏛 Old Parliament House Opened in 1927, now a museum showcasing Australian political history. Restored offices and historical exhibits—highly recommended for history buffs! 🏛 New Parliament House Current seat of Australian Parliament (opened in 1988). Highlights: Senate & House of Representatives chambers, rooftop city views (closes 4:30 PM 🕟), giant flagpole, portraits of the Queen and PMs, and the massive Great Hall Tapestry (depicting Australian nature, woven by 13 artists over 2.5 years!). 🚶 Lunch at Little Bird Loved the salmon soba noodles! 🍣 🚶 National Gallery of Australia No booking needed—walked in freely. Photo op with the iconic architecture outside 📸 Saw Monet’s Water Lilies 🪷 (perfect for a quick pic—I’m more of a casual art enjoyer 😄). 🚶 National Carillon + Lake Burley Griffin Viewed the clock tower from across the lake—serene and scenic 🌊 🚖 Took a taxi to ANU Honestly… not much to see 😅 (skipable—head straight to the sunset spot instead!) 🚖 Mount Ainslie Lookout for Sunset One of Canberra’s best panoramic views! Overlooks Parliament, city layout, and the war memorial-to-parliament axis. ⚠️ Note: Days are shorter in autumn—we arrived a bit late and missed full daylight! 🚖 Dinner at Kinn Thai Located in Canberra CBD—finally felt the city vibe! No reservation—waited 25 mins. Worth it! Everything was delicious—order freely! 🍛🔥 Day 3 🚌 Took Murrays Bus to Sydney (~3.5 hrs, toilet on board). Booked online—options to Sydney Central or Airport. Student discount available—only $45! 🎓💸 #MyStudyLife #Canberra #CanberraTravel #TravelGuide #AustraliaDiary