A weekend in Canberra gives you more than most people expect. The city is compact enough to cover a lot of ground with minimal effort, the food and wine scene is genuinely worth travelling for, and the pace sits somewhere between a city break and a proper escape. For couples looking for a weekend away that doesn’t require a long flight or a packed itinerary, it works perfectly.

What follows is a guide to some of the best romantic things to do in Canberra, from long lunches in the wine region to late evenings in the city.

Start the Morning in the Air

A hot air balloon flight is worth waking up early for, and Balloon Aloft is Canberra’s most established operator, running sunrise flights daily over Lake Burley Griffin, the parliamentary triangle and the Brindabella Ranges beyond. Flights run for around an hour and finish with a champagne celebration on the ground, with the whole experience taking about three hours from meet time to finish. Book well ahead if you’re visiting around Valentine’s Day or during the autumn Balloon Spectacular, when slots fill up quickly.

A Morning at the National Gallery of Australia

The National Gallery of Australia is one of the most underrated ways to spend a slow morning together, and the fact that entry to the permanent collection is free makes it an easy addition to any weekend itinerary. The building is spacious without feeling overwhelming, the rotating exhibitions mean there’s always something new to see, and it sits directly on the Lake Burley Griffin foreshore, making it a natural starting point before lunch. 

A few practical notes:

• Free entry to the permanent collection
• Rotating exhibitions run throughout the year
• Sits directly on the Lake Burley Griffin foreshore
• The Portrait Cafe on-site is a good stop for coffee before or after

Allow at least two hours for this experience, though most people find they want more time than they planned for.

Get Out on the Water

GoBoat hires self-drive electric picnic boats from the Kingston Foreshore. Hiring one for a couple of hours is a cute, simple couple activity in Canberra that often becomes the highlight of the weekend. A boat licence is not required, and you can bring your own food and drinks on board. 

A few things worth knowing before you go:

• Hire runs from one to three hours
• BYO food and up to two drinks per passenger
• You’ll cruise past the National Carillon, Parliament House and Kings Avenue Bridge
• Timing your return for sunset makes for a strong finish to the afternoon

Pick up a cheese board and a bottle from one of the delis on Trevillian Quay before you board, and you’ve got your afternoon sorted.

Lunch at Pialligo Estate

Ten minutes from the CBD, Pialligo Estate sits among olive groves and working market gardens on the city fringe, and it’s one of those places that feels much further from the city than it actually is. The Farmhouse Restaurant sources much of its menu from the estate itself. The setting is quiet and genuinely beautiful, and a long lunch here is one of the better romantic things to do in Canberra for couples who want good food without having to drive an hour to find it. 

Book ahead on weekends, particularly during the warmer months.

Drive Out to the Canberra Wine Region

The Canberra wine district spreads across Murrumbateman and Hall, located around 30 to 45 minutes north of the city. The cellar doors in this area are generally small and relaxed, allowing visitors to engage with the winemakers directly. This personal interaction can make for a more enjoyable and interesting afternoon compared to larger wine regions.

Two strong stops worth building your day around:

• Clonakilla in Murrumbateman is one of Australia’s most respected small producers, best known for its Shiraz Viognier
• Nick O’Leary Wines at Wallaroo combines award-winning cellar door tastings with farm-to-table dining and open countryside views.

Set aside a full afternoon rather than trying to squeeze it into a morning, and don’t rush it. As far as Canberra activities for couples go, a day in the wine region is one of the easiest to get right.

Mount Ainslie at Dusk

The lookout at Mount Ainslie sits above the Australian War Memorial. It gives you a clear, uninterrupted view across the full length of Anzac Parade to Parliament House, and it’s worth timing your visit for the hour before dark, when the light across the city is at its best. It’s a short drive or a 45-minute walk from the CBD, there’s no booking required, and you’re likely to have the view mostly to yourselves if you avoid the middle of the day.

Walk Along Reconciliation Place Before Dinner

Reconciliation Place runs along the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin, between the Commonwealth Bridge and the Kings Avenue Bridge. After dark, it’s one of the quieter, more atmospheric walks in the city. The path is well-lit, lined with public artworks and offers uninterrupted water views for most of its length, and at a slow pace it takes around 20 minutes end to end. It rarely appears on lists of romantic things to do in Canberra, which is part of the reason it’s worth knowing about; it tends to feel like your own discovery rather than a scheduled stop.

Dinner in the City

Canberra’s restaurant scene is strong enough to build a weekend around, and there are a few options that work particularly well for a romantic dinner. A few options worth bookmarking are:

• Water’s Edge on the Kingston Foreshore is a one-hat fine dining restaurant with lake views and a seasonal menu built around regional produce; it’s a strong choice for a Valentine’s Day dinner in Canberra or any occasion worth celebrating.
• Bar Rochford in Civic is a cosy Wine and Cocktail bar with an excellent wine list and an atmosphere where hours pass without you noticing.
• Italian & Sons in Braddon is a restaurant with several accolades and a wine selection that has won Australia’s Wine List of the Year awards. It’s food, wine and ambience at its best, giving you no reason to rush.

Nightcaps at Lume Bar

Lume Bar at Crowne Plaza Canberra is a natural place to end the evening, with a well-considered cocktail list and a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere that suits a long last drink. If you’re staying at the hotel, the fact that your room is a short walk away makes it easier to let the evening run as long as it wants to.

Where to Stay

Crowne Plaza Canberra sits in the CBD, close to the lake foreshore, Glebe Park, and the main dining precincts in Civic and Braddon, making it one of the better-positioned options for romantic accommodation in Canberra. The Deluxe Suites give you enough space to settle in and unwind, rather than just using the room as somewhere to sleep between activities.

Our Stay and Dine package combines overnight accommodation with a dining credit, making it an excellent choice if you plan to have dinner at Redsalt Restaurant or enjoy a relaxing evening at Lume Bar. This package simplifies your planning by removing one decision, allowing you to focus on enjoying your weekend.

Canberra is one of the more underrated weekend escapes on the east coast. It can be very rewarding for couples who go in without too rigid a plan. The distances are short, the food is genuinely good, and there’s plenty to enjoy over two days without feeling rushed.