A 60-second guide to doing summer in Canberra right

You don’t need a beach to have a good summer in the country’s capital.

Canberra might not have a beach, but that doesn’t stop locals from embracing long, hot summer days with glee.

With many natural waterholes to dip into (Kambah Pool and Cotter Nature Reserve for starters), never-ending hiking trails and parks, and a beloved lake that sizzles with summertime life, it’s a place to truly embrace outdoor living.

Taste a Canberra summer at these restaurants and bars…

Embrace outdoor living like locals with fish and chips at Yarralumla Yacht Club while the kids play on the lawns. Mix pizza and summer cocktails at lakeside Margot Bar, or chill in Capital Brewing’s beer garden at funky Dairy Road.

Beltana Farm serves farm-to-table cuisine. (Image: Visit Canberra)

Beltana Farm brings rustic fine dining to nursery-filled Pialligo, accolade-gathering Onzieme boasts relaxed, sophisticated fare while Edgar’s Inn in Ainslie elevates pub grub, especially upstairs.

Beltana Farm in Pialligo offers rustic fine dining at its best. (Image: Visit Canberra)

Hit snooze at these Canberra stays…

In the heart of buzzing Braddon with its quirky shops, outdoor cafes, bars and Sunday markets, Midnight Hotel offers a chic stay steps from the city.

At historic Hyatt Hotel Canberra, a stroll from the galleries, step back in time with grand interiors and spacious courtyard gardens perfect for evening tipples.

Midnight Hotel is a sleek stay. (Image: Ryan Linnegar)

Canberra’s summer to-do list…

Summer means balmy nights at the Botanic Gardens’ Sunset Cinema, picnics, cycling and taking to the lake: cruising with GoBoat, paddle-boarding with SupCbr, gliding in paddleboats with Love Boats or circling it yourself.

Take to Lake Burley Griffin in a GoBoat. (Image: Visit Canberra/Lean Timms)

Get revved up in January as Summernats car-lovers’ festival roars into town or taste and travel the world at February’s National Multicultural Festival.

Annual Summernats car festival roars into town. (Image: Visit Canberra/Doug Dobing)

Hot tip: Canberra is a big cultured city with a laid-back country feel. What other capital offers sprawling vineyards such as Nick O’Leary and Mount Majura, with wine tastings and long, slow lunches just 20 minutes from the CBD? And while we love our hot, dry days, what a relief when the temperatures dip at night for sweet, sweat-free slumber.

Nick O’Leary is just one of many nearby vineyards. (Image: Lean Timms)