Ask anyone outside Canberra what they know about it and you'll get one of two answers: "isn't it cold?" or "that's where Parliament is, right?" Both technically true and neither remotely cover the full picture.
Canberra doesn't compete with Sydney or Melbourne for attention because it doesn't need to. Canberra quietly gets on with being great while everyone else argues about the best harbour views, coffee culture and the best ways to avoid traffic.
If you're thinking about where to spend your university years, here's why Canberra is the ultimate underrated destination.
Canberra is full of hidden gems around every corner. Image credit: Andy Austin for VisitCanberra
Living here is really good for you
It may sound clichéd but bear with us.
Canberra has the kind of air that immediately makes you want to take a deep breath. Arriving from a bigger city, you notice straight away how clean, crisp, and unpolluted it is. If you’re a cycler, you’re in luck—this city is built for bikes. More than 1,000 kilometres of shared paths run through the city, letting you get around without really needing to ride alongside cars. Stromlo Forest Park, which has even hosted world-level mountain biking events, attracts riders from across the country.
Every April, the Canberra Times Marathon Festival takes over the city. First held in 1976, it’s the longest-running city marathon in Australia and still draws a mix of casual runners and serious athletes, with distances from 5km through to the full marathon. The route moves past Parliament House and circles Lake Burley Griffin, so even a long run comes with a view.
Step just outside the city and you’ll notice the vibe shifts to something calmer. Almost half the ACT is covered by Namadgi National Park, which sits right on Canberra’s edge. The Brindabella Ranges rise along the western boundary, while the Murrumbidgee River moves through the wider region. Here, a quick morning plan can turn into a hike through the mountains or a riverside retreat.
Staying healthy and active is a natural part of daily life in Canberra. Image credit: ACT Government
Canberra is the heartbeat of the nation
Parliament House is a fifteen-minute drive from ANU. That’s not a fun fact, it’s context.
Most national institutions are in Canberra: the Australian War Memorial, CSIRO and the National Gallery of Australia, among others. The people writing laws, funding research and shaping culture work in the same city where you’ll study.
You might study law with a lecturer who worked at the High Court. Your politics class visits Parliament House as part of the course, not just once. Internships with federal agencies become integral to your degree, not an afterthought. The ANU Australian National Internships Program is the only university program offering Commonwealth Parliamentary Internships nationwide, giving students direct engagement in political activity.
When ANU says it is at the centre of national life, it’s not just a catchphrase. This is where the country operates and studying in Canberra places you right in the middle of it.
Canberra is where Australia’s important decisions are made. Image credit: Andy Austin for VisitCanberra
Urban life and rural tranquillity coexist
Canberra has a specific quality that takes most new arrivals a few weeks to name. It's quiet, but not empty and moves at a pace you can choose.
You don’t have to drive far to find the bush in Canberra – it’s part of the city itself. With so many nature parks around, locals often see kangaroos while out for an evening walk. In the mornings, eastern grey kangaroos graze near the Australian National Botanic Gardens, right next to ANU. Birds like crimson rosellas, gang-gang cockatoos, and kookaburras aren’t rare here; they’re just part of the neighbourhood. And only 40 minutes from the city, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is home to kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, platypus, echidnas, and emus living in their natural environment.
Meanwhile, Canberra’s food scene has quietly grown into one of the best in Australia, and locals have enjoyed it for years. Recess Coffee in Griffith is the kind of local café that makes people proud of their suburb, with records playing, house-roasted coffee, and a seasonal menu from the team behind Terra. Barrio in Braddon roasts its own Central and South American beans and serves them in a small, welcoming space. Good Neighbour is the matcha spot people go out of their way to visit.
There’s also Raku for Japanese fine dining, with robata-grilled wagyu, sashimi, and omakase sets, and Pilot, a two-hat restaurant that attracts food writers from other states for its seasonal tasting menus. What stands out is the variety. You’ll find cocktail bars, award-winning restaurants, specialty coffee, and Asian food made with real care, all spread throughout the city. Canberra has worked hard on its food scene, and it really shows.
You can spend a slow weekend here or pack your days with activities. In Canberra, the choice is yours.
Nature and the city perfectly coexist in Canberra. Image credit: Anne Stroud for VisitCanberra
Canberra is home to ANU
The Australian National University was established by an Act of Parliament in 1946 and purposefully built in Canberra. A research university for the nation, in the city that runs the country.
All of this—the trails, fresh air, national institutions, wildlife outside the café, and the marathon route passing Parliament House—defines the ideal setting for your studies.
In Canberra, you gain everything: a dynamic city that continues to improve every day.
You'll figure that out pretty quickly once you're here.
ANU is in the heart of Canberra and close to everything on all sides.
