Lake Burley Griffin Archives - Destination's Journey

Commonwealth Park Canberra

Located in the centre of Canberra, Commonwealth Park is full of walking tracks, memorials and sculptures. With Lake Burley Griffin as a backdrop, it’s an excellent place for a relaxing stroll, picnic or simply sit and admire the views.

Car parks within the park make access easy, but if you want to walk from the city, there are several overpasses crossing Parks Ways to avoid the traffic.

Lake Burley Griffin

With Lake Burley Griffin as a backdrop, there are some great sights to see from Commonwealth Park. The most spectacular is the Captain Cook Memorial Jet, a giant fountain shooting water up to 147m high. Check its operating times, as it only operates at certain period during the day.

Across the water, you get some great views of Parliament house (old and new) as well as the National Library, Art Gallery, Portrait Gallery, and High Court.

Old Parliament House with New Parliament House Behinf — Captain Cook Memorial Jet

Tracks and Walks

The best way to enjoy the park is to walk along its many tracks. We walked along the lake shore because we wanted to see the sights across the water. The tracks take you past most of the sculptures and memorials, so you can structure your walk to see them all.

With plenty of trees, shade, and seating there are opportunities to stop, relax and take in the scenery.

Memorials in Commonwealth Park Canberra

Scattered throughout the park, memorials to famous Australians and groups such as the Police and Emergency Services commemorate their memory. Some are not strictly within the park itself, but further east in Kings Park.

A special memorial dedicated to HMAS Canberra, a heavy cruiser which sunk during World War Two sits on the shoreline.

Overall, a great place to visit with plenty to keep you busy, while providing places to sit and relax.

Captain James Cook Memorial Commonwealth Park Canberra — Captain James Cook Memorial

National Emergency Services Memorial Commonwealth Park Canberra — Captain James Cook Memorial

Lake Burley Griffin Cruise

This is a great, relaxing way to see the sights of Canberra while you cruise around Lake Burley Griffin.

We parked in the Questacon carpark, only a short walk from the jetty on Queen Elizabeth Terrace where we boarded the “Gull”. Conveniently located near a coffee shop, you can get a snack and coffee if you arrive early.

The boat takes you past many of the attractions of Australia’s capital while giving you a different view of them. The tour guide was very informative, going through the history of Canberra and most of the places we looked at.

Depending on the tour time, the Captain Cook Memorial Fountain may be operating, so you will get a close-up look of the water jet.

This was a fun, informative tour and would be a great introduction for anyone new to Canberra.