Where to eat, shop, play and live in Gungahlin
One of Canberra’s fastest growing regions, Gungahlin in Canberra’s north is home to more than 70,000 people. The bustling Gungahlin town centre has shops, restaurants and cafes, plus a huge cinema complex on the way, and easy access to the CBD thanks to the new light rail system. With a younger overall median age, it’s a popular area for families, and has a wide range of schools and health care services.
The area is home to an active community, and there are playgrounds for all ages, from the Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club, to Gungahlin Leisure Centre, Crace Hilltop Reserve Playground, and Crace outdoor fitness park. Natural expanses are also never too far away, and Gungahlin has some of the territory’s best reserves including Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve.
PLAY
Discover a fascinating display of meticulously handcrafted miniature buildings from around the world at Cockington Green. Hop on the miniature steam train for a ride around the beautifully landscaped gardens, and take along a picnic or grab some home-baked scones or a snack at the cafe.
YERRABI POND
Lap up the peace and quiet at Yerrabi Pond. A popular spot for locals to enjoy the outdoors, there’s a walking and cycling track around the pond, a skate park, a playground with a flying fox, bike jumps, exercise stations, and plenty of benches to sit and lap up the water views.
With the biggest permanent collection of interactive dinosaurs in the country, the National Dinosaur Museum at Gold Creek is where you can get up close with skeletons and fossils, and meet the residents of the interactive dinosaur garden including Canberra’s famous big dinosaur, Stan the T-Rex.
SHOP
Held quarterly at Mitchell’s Exhibition Park in Canberra, Handmade Canberra is an award-winning market selling beautiful handmade goods from all over Australia. At each market you can find more than 270 carefully curated stalls of gifts, homewares, fashion and food.
You’ll feel like you’ve won the golden ticket when you walk into The Lolly Shop at Gold Creek. The shelves are stocked full of a colourful array of old-fashioned lollies, chocolates, hard to find treats and other goodies.
Tea-lovers should make a beeline for Adore Tea at Gold Creek. The boutique store has more than 200 teas available, including 30 exclusive blends by Adore Tea. And while you’re there, you can settle in for high tea or brunch at the teahouse, with freshly brewed tea of course.
Get some of the freshest local produce and buy direct from the producers every Saturday morning at the Capital Region Farmers Market. Held at Exhibition Park in Canberra, there are more than 100 stallholders each week to browse, taste and buy from, and even pick up some cooking tips.
EAT
Love fried chicken? Gungahlin pub Young and Frisky is passionate about it, using imported pressure fryers to make the best fried chicken in town. They also serve salads, pub meals, burgers or bar snacks.
And you can wash it down with their wide range of craft beers, cocktails or exotic whiskeys from all over the world.
A little piece of Europe right in the heart of Gungahlin, Le Bon Melange is a modern French patisserie and cafe. Sip on Italian-style coffee while you tuck into their all day breakfast, sandwiches, handmade pastries, petite gateaux, handcrafted chocolates and other colourful sweets.
Situated at the Abode Hotel in Gungahlin, Siren is an all-day restaurant and bar, with a contemporary menu and drinks list which spans from breakfast to dinner and beyond. Their large outdoor deck is equally good for parents and their little ones to share a babycino in the morning, a relaxed lunch, or drinks with friends into the wee hours.
Sitting at the Casey shops, Casey Jones is a friendly neighbourhood watering hole, with all-day dining and a menu that pushes the boundaries of your regular gastropub - from cherry cola sticky wings, to spicy tuna poke tacos, or cajun-style gumbo.
Save room for dessert at specialty ice cream parlour Stripey Sundae in Gold Creek. Their lineup of handmade ice cream flavours changes regularly, from classics through to more creative concoctions like earl grey tea, Red Skin, shiso, including vegan options.
LIVE
Gungahlin has some of Canberra’s newer suburbs, so there’s an abundance of new houses and developments, plus house and land packages. There are also older homes in the more established suburbs, like in Ngunnawal and Amaroo.
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By Zango Team