Thanks to El Niño, we may be heading into a warmer, drier weather than a typical frigid Canberra winter. It’s the perfect time to ditch the sofa for all Canberra offers in the winter months! Whether you prefer to embrace nature, find a festival or market, or stay inside sipping a local wine, one of these activities is bound to tempt you.
Play in the snow at Corin Forest Mountain Resort
This time of year, it’s really convenient to have an alpine region just a short drive away from Canberra. Corin Forest Mountain resort appeals to all ages with a wide range of snowy activities. Skiing and snowboarding are both offered, along with group lessons at three different levels or private lessons with professional instructors. If you need ski gear, no worries – equipment rentals are available onsite. If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, try the Alpine Slide. You’ll race down the mountain through a Mountain Ash forest on a 1.2-kilometre track.
For the younger set, the Snowplay area is a safe, supervised area where they can throw snowballs, ride a toboggan, or build a snowman. And after a day in the snow, what’s better than warming up in the lodge’s cafe with some hot food or drinks?
Cost: $65.00 for 3 hours in the ski and snowboard area. Check the Corin Forest Mountain Resort website for prices on other activities.
Where: In the Tidbinbilla Mountains, at 1268 Corin Dam Road
When: Corin Forest is open year-round, but snow falls only when the temperatures do. Lucky for us that autumn brought cold temps and snow to the mountain areas!
Bundle up at the National Arboretum
Every winter, trees are wrapped in colourful scarves as part of the Warm Trees Project. Hundreds of volunteers knit or crochet the scarves for the display to encourage the public to visit the forest despite the cold weather. These cozy mufflers can be wrapped around the smallest bonsai or the largest Himalayan cedar. Hand-crafted fabric art also adorns the stone walls and perches on tree branches. The theme for 2026 is Getting to Know Our National Arboretum.
After communing with some of the more than 40,000 trees in the Arboretum, you can stop at the eclectic Curatoreum gift shop. Or enjoy the panoramic view from the cafe, sipping some hot chocolate. There’s even a Harvest Stall on 11 July from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, where you can purchase home-made jam, traditional chutneys, and garden-fresh herbs.
Cost: Admission to the National Arboretum is free.
Where: Forest Drive, off Tuggeranong Parkway in Molonglo Valley
When: The Warm Trees Project runs from 1 July to 10 August. The National Arboretum grounds are open every day from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm during the winter.
A truffle dog at work
Search for truffles at The Truffle Farm
The truffle season here runs from May to September, and we’re lucky enough to have The Truffle Farm here in Canberra. The only commercial truffle farm in the world in a capital city, The Truffle Farm celebrates its 10th birthday this year. What better way to join the festivities than having a ‘paddock-to-plate’ adventure? You can see expert truffle dogs on a hunt for ‘black magic’ – those ever-elusive black truffles. You’ll learn how to harvest and handle truffles and then savour them in a tasting, a brunch – or go all out in a lavish seven-course lunch.
Weekend truffle hunts tend to book out pretty early, so make sure you reserve your spot in advance through The Truffle Farm website.
Cost: Truffle Hunt alone – $75 per person, Truffle Hunt and Brunch – $175 per person, and
The Truffle Hunt and Degustation lunch is $250 per person.
Where: 23 Mount Majura Road, Majura Valley
When: Hunts run every weekend from early May to September.
Celebrate early at the Christmas in July Festival
Get in the Christmas spirit early with twinkling lights and falling snow at the Christmas in July Festival. You’ll feel as if you’ve been magically transported to Europe with wooden chalets housing an artisan market, live music, and the tastes of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Foodies (and everyone else) can indulge in European-inspired crepes, fondue savoyarde, paella, Belgian waffles, creme brulee, and many other dishes. Want to warm up on a frosty night? Book a spot in the Fire Pit Garden, where you can toast marshmallows and sip mulled wine.
Cost: The event is free, but some of the experiences require paid tickets. Booking a spot in the Fire Pit Garden is $28/person for an hour. Your booking includes a glass of mulled wine and unlimited marshmallows.
Where: Parkes Place West Lawns
When: 1-5 July – see trading hours for each day.
Welcome to the Winter in the City Festival
Every winter in the centre of Canberra, the City Renewal Authority holds the popular Winter in the City Festival. The attractions include an ice skating rink, along with live circus, theatre, and comedy acts. At night, fire performances dazzle the crowd. Local businesses participate with special offers and themed food and drinks. Dynamic performances pop up in the heart of the city.
Cost: Free, although ice skating is ticketed.
Where: City Centre
When: 8-18 July
Skate at Phillip Swimming Pool and Ice Skating Rink
The skating fun at the Winter in the City Festival may convince you to take to the ice all winter long. Phillip Swimming Pool and Ice Skating Rink has you covered. Public skating is available daily, and lessons are offered for both children and adults. The Skate School serves children from ages 6 to 14, with 9- to 11-week terms at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Adults can join a class at any time and pay as they go.
Cost: Public skate sessions start at $20 and require booking on their website. Skate school for children ranges from $225 for a 9-week term to $275 for an 11-week term. Adult lessons are $30 per lesson or $150 for a pack of 5 lessons.
Where: 1 Irving Street, Phillip
When: Every day!
Take a spin at the Fired Up Festival
Want to let your creativity run wild? Try making pottery on a spinning wheel. Canberra Potters holds this winter festival every year, and the celebration includes live music, food, and entertainment. Wander into the open studios for demonstrations of pottery making and firing ceramics. Both kids and adults can have a go at hands-on activities. And if you want to remember the festival, take home a special piece of the ceramic art for sale.
Cost: The festival is free, but some experiences are paid and booked ahead of time.
Where: 1 Aspinall Street, Watson
When: 15 August from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Visit One Of Canberra’s Many Markets
Canberra is fortunate to have so many markets. Every weekend, you can explore a different community and browse fresh produce, gifts, and other locally made products. It’s a fun way to support local businesses. Here are just a few markets that capture that winter vibe. If that’s not enough, read our article on five markets to visit in Canberra.
Winter German Market
The Harmonie German Club’s winter market in Narrabundah returns on 21 June from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The market features authentic German street food and groceries, jams, clothes, plants, and handmade treasures. A jumping castle keeps the kids entertained while you explore the market’s unique finds. Need to warm up? Inside the club, you’ll find imported German beer and schnapps, along with live entertainment.
Handmade Canberra
One of Canberra’s favourite markets for handmade food and design returns on 13 to 14 June at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC). Handmade Canberra will feature more than 260 local designers and producers.
Capital Region Farmers Market
Also at EPIC is the Capital Region Farmers Market. Although this market runs every Saturday from 7:00 am to 11:30 am, visiting in the wintertime lets you really shop the season. Their fresh farm and food products include winter specialties like black truffles, chestnuts, pumpkins, and blood oranges.
Warm up with a wine tour
Ready to travel farther afield? The Canberra District wine region, on the border of the ACT and New South Wales, boasts three distinct wine regions, 140 vineyards, and more than 50 wineries. That’s a lot to explore. If you’d like to enjoy Canberra’s cool-climate winter wines like Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Cabernets, and a hearty Oaked Chardonnay, why not let someone else do the driving?
Wine Hopper
Wine Hopper departs from Civic and goes to the Murrumbateman area. From there, you can hop off to visit any of the 9 wineries on their itinerary. The bus follows a loop, allowing you to hop back on and off again at another winery of your choice. The possible stops include Clonakilla, Eden Road, McKellar Ridge, Four Winds, and more. There’s enough time in the day to visit 3 to 4 wineries. No rush, no fixed schedule, and you’re back in Canberra at the end of the day. Tours start at $89 per person.
Van Du Van
Van Du Vin offers customised tours with an expert wine guide to suit your taste preferences. They focus on the cool-climate wine district and pride themselves on finding hidden treasures. Custom tour options range from $200 – $395 a person.
Canberra Winery Tours
Canberra Winery Tours offer half-day or full-day wine tours. Gourmet foods are paired with local wines for a day you won’t forget. Their tours range from $215 to $260 per person.
Merry Heart CBR
Merry Heart CBR also offers half- and full-day tours. In a half day, you’ll visit 3 to 4 wineries, or you can visit up to 6 wineries on the full-day tour. Costs range from $199 to $249, and your booking includes tasting fees, cheese pairings, and lunch.
Take a day trip to the Snowy Mountains
If you want to experience a true winter wonderland, head to the Snowy Mountains. About a 3-hour drive from Canberra is the Kosciuszko National Park, where two ski resorts and Mount Kosciuszko, the tallest peak in Australia, are located. Perisher is the largest alpine resort in the Southern Hemisphere, with 4 resort areas, 45 lifts, and more than 100 trails. Thredbo also offers skiing and snowboarding, along with the Southern Hemisphere’s first and only year-round Alpine Coaster. If you’re worn out from snow sports, try visiting a few of the Snowy Mountains’ picturesque towns for a bit of alpine magic. Cabramurra, the highest town at 1,481 metres, offers panoramic views. Bredbo features a historic pub, a pie shop, and its famous Christmas Barn – another way to celebrate Christmas in July if you’d like.
Looking for other day trips this winter? Check out our comprehensive list of the best day trips from Canberra.
Cost: A single-day lift ticket to Perisher is $270 on weekends. A single-day lift ticket at Thredbo is $259 on weekends. You can save substantially by booking online for both.
Where: Kosciuszko National Park.
When: Ski season is from June to October, with the best snow in July and August.
If we missed out on a Canberra winter activity that you love, let us know. We hope your winter adventures make unforgettable memories!
