Located on the northern outskirts of Canberra, Gungahlin is a sprawling suburb in the ACT. It centres around a bustling commercial hub surrounded by nature reserves and recreational areas. It is believed to be named after the Ngunnawal word for “white man’s house” after the homestead erected here by early settler Edward Crace.
Things to do in Gungahlin
On the southern edge of Gungahlin’s town centre is the Mulanggari Grasslands Nature Reserve, a low-lying area protecting a remnant tract of critically endangered temperate grassland. It provides habitat for rare and threatened plant species, as well as superb parrots and striped legless lizards. Traversing the reserve are several trails for walking and birdwatching.
On the other side of Gungahlin is the Yerrabi Pond, a popular recreational spot with children’s play facilities, a skateboarding area and walking/cycling paths. You can take advantage of the outdoor gym equipment or stretch your legs on the waterfront trail that links to Eastern Island. On the pond’s southern shore are several restaurants serving Korean, Italian and Persian cuisine.
Gungahlin makes a good base for visiting the National Dinosaur Museum, where you can get up close to dinosaur skeletons, fossils and life-like models. It forms part of the Gold Creek Village, a family-friendly destination also home to Cockington Green Gardens. This famous miniature village features hand-crafted recreations of international landmarks, as well as a small steam train and an impressive collection of Royal Winton China.
Getting around Gungahlin
Gungahlin is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Canberra and 15 minutes from Canberra Airport, which has flights to destinations across Australia. Trams connect to Manning Clark North Station and buses travel through Gungahlin. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.