Our favourite picnic spots in Canberra and its surrounds!
Hello autumn and picnic season! Our fabulous chocolatier, Amelia, is here to share her favourite picnic spots in the Canberra region:
March in my opinion is the best time of year for picnicking in our region, we don’t quite have the worst of those infuriating winds yet still the ability to soak up some sun as the leaves change. So, I thought I’d share some of my top choices for this coming season!
Regatta Point
I love Regatta Point for its views and perfectly curated grass. It has easy and accessible parking which is also fairly well-lit for when the party is over. Our Team just recently farewelled someone there and discovered there was a perfect space for cartwheels, and it has a very convenient turn around that made for a great meeting space to have our food delivered. Please keep in mind that Regatta Point does have an area with a few trees that can offer shade, but it is mainly open (which is why I love it).
National Arboretum of Australia
The National Arboretum offers so many potential spots to sit down and connect but also has a range of lookouts and free activities to explore such as the Pod Playground and its Bonsai and Penjing collection. I’d definitely suggest Dairy Farmer’s Hill or Himalayan Cedar Lookout, but I won’t lie, the fondest to me is actually the Amphitheatre, you’ll be sat amid an array of kite flyers whilst also watching adults and kids alike fly past you rolling at speeds you’ve almost never seen a regular human achieve before. Just beware it is notorious for its windiness so it will most definitely get chilly no matter the season you visit.
Shepherd’s Lookout
A fantastically well-kept secret: Shepherd’s lookout offers the most northern viewing point in the ACT to oversee the Murrumbidgee River. Located in Belconnen, there is a very small dirt area to park off Stockdill Drive that I often find the easiest to access via it’s flat 10-15 minute walk to said viewing point. However, it does offer many alternative walk/hike options for some of the more adventurous like local favourite; the Uriarra Loop. In terms of picnicking, I will be honest there are limited spaces to set up but saying that every time I’ve been, we have always managed to find somewhere and it being a great kept secret; you’re not really ever competing for space!
Yass Riverbank
I have often found myself and friends sitting by or strolling the Yass Riverbank and never truly taking advantage of its opportunity for a picnic until recently! Growing up locally, sure I’ve always found myself there for different events, markets or even a (very safe) sticky beak when it flooded a few years back but never to just truly explore it until we found ourselves with amazing weather and decided ‘why not?!’ Located towards the end of the main street (Comur) you have many great food options to stop at en route and once you’ve made your way you have the options of the fantastic playground, benches or my personal go to is the picturesque gazebo. Parking is almost always available on the main street, however if you choose to park closer it is very limited near the playground so I would recommend following that loop around underneath the bridge to a small dirt carpark on the other side.
Picnic Gift Ideas:
The gift of an experience is both thoughtful and memorable. Here are some of our favourite local and Australian made treats to take picnicking with us:
Australian High Country Honey
Trust us, this honey is the bees knees and will elevate any cheese board!
Altina locally made drinks
Perfect for when you want a special treat, but you still need to drive!
Vineyard 1207 paste
Made by our incredibly talented neighbours from their own grape harvest, this is the perfect addition to a cheese or grazing board and also makes a unique hostess gift.
Port Willunga Fine Foods Handmade Picnic Table
This cute foldable table can holds two wine glasses and a bottle, meaning no spilled drinks, even on rocky ground!
