How to have the ultimate luxury staycation in Canberra

Canberra is not only a properly-planned, beautiful city — but it's also filled with great attractions and events. This means that if you’re in need of some well-deserved time off, you don't have to travel far — Canberra can provide you with everything you need for a luxurious yet relaxed weekend.

Things to do

1. Bridge to Bridge Run

Canberra is stunning and there are some stand out places to give your Nike’s some tread time. Check out this full list of great places to run – the area around the lake is simply beautiful. Try doing the Bridge to Bridge run (about 5-6km) if you can. While this doesn’t sound like the most relaxing thing to do, it’s a great way to check out some of the main attractions, such as the National Library, The National Portrait Gallery, the fountain and the Carillon.

2. Go shopping

Marketplace Gungahlin is a great place to spend the day enjoying some retail therapy. It’s a trendy and cool place to get some shopping done — so why not try it yourself for a weekend? Some shops that’ll you’ll find in Gungahlin are Ed Harry, Sunglass Hut, Rockmans, Mini Bling, FSW Shoes, Book Face and many more that’ll surely catch your eye.

3. Go to a winery

It’sime to unleash your inner wine taster and head to the stunning Canberra Wine District. There are 33 wineries located within just 35 minutes of Canberra's CBD, so why not spend the day sipping on some of the region's best wines? Make sure you stop at a local eatery for lunch, and enjoy a quick meal (cheese platter maybe?) so you can pair it with your favourite wine. Start planning by checking out these 10 ways to enjoy Canberra’s wineries.

4. Get a massage

For those looking to find a great massage place in Canberra, you can stop your search. Head to Gungahlin Massage Centre for a consistently great, professional and high quality experience. Choose between a 60 or 90 minute hour oil massage for back pain, deep tissue massage or acupuncture or cupping, amongst others. Miracle Therapy also features well-presented room sand relaxing background music.

5. Get coffee at Lonsdale Street Roasters

For coffee lovers, it can be tricky to nail that one coffee place that does it just right. For those who don’t really care that much, maybe it’s time you treat yourself to a quality cup. Either way, head to Lonsdale St Roasters — just recently opened, it’s a fabulous place to enjoy a perfectly-made coffee, relax or hang out with friends.

6. Discover trendy New Acton

NewActon is a new an innovative cultural precinct that has well and truly put Canberra on the map for design, creativity and originality. At the heart of NewActon you’ll find Nishi, the famous ‘pineapple-shaped’ building which won International Project of the Year at the 2015 Building Awards in London. With plenty of things to see and do, lovely little cafes, restaurants, bars and a cinema, NewActon is the epitome of newly cool and trendy Canberra.

7. Afternoon tea at the Hyatt Hotel

Fancy high teas or afternoon teas can’t be missing from your staycation weekend! Spoil yourself at the prestigious Hyatt Hotel in Canberra and enjoy mouth-watering sweet and savoury treats while you toast your staycation weekend with a glass of sparkling wine.

Where to stay

1. QT Canberra

When you look for a boutique hotel in Canberra, you can’t go past the QT Canberra Hotel. It brings cool and quirky to the table with their luxe politique and pop-chic theme. The lobby is filled with off-beat portraits of world leaders lit with neon tubes. Rooms are furnished simply in a monochromatic palette with pops of colour, but with attention to the quality of details, such as soft linens, incredibly comfy beds, free WiFi, complimentary in-house movies and a signature cocktail station.

2. East Hotel

While its name clearly reveals it’s a hotel, East Hotel is really a self-contained apartment — which gives you the perfect mix of luxury and comfort at the same time. The rooms have a 1960’s feel with plush and vibrant finishes — the perfect fit for a hotel located near the trendy suburbs of Kingston and Manuka.

The details of the hotel are everything: think king beds with feather pillow tops, fully-equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, free WiFi, and a large selection of TV channels. This locale is perfect for the cooler months.

3. Peppers Gallery Hotel

Located in the heart of New Acton, recently-rejuvenated to become one of the premier hotels in Canberra, the rooms at Peppers Gallery still are a little moody, monochromatic with subtle pops of colour and marble bathrooms. Each room features Nespresso machines and rainforest bathrooms.

4. Little National

One of the cities newest hotels, Little National embodies simple design aesthetics transcending space and minimalism. Think dark timber floorboards, earth tones and a palate of muted greys give that sleek, mysterious mood to the whole property. Rooms feature Nespresso machines, free WiFi, cable TV, free in-hour movies, and free local calls.

Unwind and pamper yourself in Canberra

You don’t have to leave the ACT to spend an incredible and luxurious weekend away — the nation’s capital has lots to offer and more. From boutique hotels, cool neighbourhoods, great cafes and restaurants and stunning monuments and buildings, Canberra is the perfect place to unwind and pamper yourself.